Control device for a vehicle

Abstract

Operating device (10) for a vehicle, comprising: a housing (12) with a front wall (14); at least one operating button (20) arranged on the front wall (14) of the housing (12), which is pivotably mounted on a pivot axis (34) and can be pivoted from a rest position to an operating position when manually actuated, and which has a front surface (22) and on this surface a symbol field (24) with symbols for the functions that can be triggered when the operating button (20) is manually actuated; an actuating arm (32) projecting from the operating button (20) into the housing (12); and a switch (38) associated with the operating button (20) with a switch actuating element (40), on which the actuating arm (32) of the operating button (20) acts when the button is manually actuated to move the switch actuating element (40) from a rest position to a switch release position, characterized in thatthat- the switch (38) is arranged laterally to the side of the actuating arm (32) and the actuating arm (32) of the operating button (20) has a switch contact point (48) at which the actuating arm (32) rests against the switch actuating element (40) in the rest position of the operating button (20), and- a first distance (L1) between the symbol field (24), in particular between an actuating point (66) located within the symbol field (24) of the front of the operating button (22) on the one hand and the pivot axis (34) on the other hand is smaller than a second distance (L2) between the symbol field (24), in particular between said actuating point (66) within the symbol field (24) on the one hand and the switch contact point (48) of the actuating arm (32) on the other hand.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an operating device for a vehicle and, in particular, for a vehicle component such as an air conditioning system, a navigation device, or an infotainment system. In particular, the invention relates to a human-machine interface (HMI) for a vehicle.

[0002] Vehicle control devices are designed and configured according to different operating concepts. For control devices with push buttons, it is sometimes desirable to keep the button travel as short as possible (so-called short-stroke buttons). Furthermore, it is sometimes desirable to keep the perceptible button travel as short as possible, even when using switch concepts with comparatively large manufacturing tolerances and / or relatively long travel distances. Examples of such switch / button concepts are touch mats or so-called key-top systems.

[0003] The object of the invention is to create an operating device for a vehicle whose design allows short-stroke pushbuttons to be used with switches that have larger manufacturing tolerances and / or switching distances, in a simple manner.

[0004] To solve this problem, the invention proposes an operating device for a vehicle which is equipped with - a housing with a front wall, - at least one operating button arranged on the front wall of the housing, which is pivotably mounted on a pivot axis and can be pivoted from a rest position to an operating position when manually actuated, and which has a front side and on this side a symbol field with symbols for the functions that can be triggered when the operating button is manually actuated, - an actuating arm extending from the operating button and into the housing and - a switch associated with the operating button, with a switch actuating element on which the actuating arm of the operating button acts when it is manually actuated to move the switch actuating element from a rest position to a switch release position, - wherein the actuating arm of the operating button has a switch contact point at which the actuating arm rests against the switch actuating arm in the rest position of the operating button, and - wherein a first distance between the symbol field, in particular between an actuation point located within the symbol field of the front of the operating button on the one hand and the pivot axis on the other hand, is smaller than a second distance between the symbol field, in particular between said actuation point within the symbol field on the one hand and the switch contact point of the actuating arm on the other hand.

[0005] The invention essentially proposes a control device for a vehicle that features control buttons with small strokes or pivoting / tilting movements. The control buttons are pivotable, meaning they can be pivoted from a rest position to an actuation position. A symbol field is arranged on the front of the control button, containing symbols for the function that can be triggered by manually pressing the button, such as symbols for functions of the air conditioning, radio, or navigation system.

[0006] Typically, the switches associated with the operating button are mounted on a carrier element, such as a printed circuit board (PCB), located behind the front panel of the housing. In addition to electrical conductors, other electrical and electronic components are also arranged on the PCB. The switches might be, for example, key-top switches integrated into a switching mat resting on the PCB. Other switches with relatively large manufacturing tolerances and / or travel distances can also be used.

[0007] According to the invention, an actuating arm is rigidly arranged on the rear side of the operating button, projecting from the button and into the interior of the housing. At its rear end furthest from the button, the actuating arm has a contact point with the switch's actuating element. In the button's rest position, the actuating arm rests against the contact point of the switch's actuating element. When the button is pressed, the rocking motion of the button is transmitted via the actuating arm into a typically translational movement of the switch's actuating element, thereby actuating the switch.

[0008] The crucial aspect of the invention is that the (first) distance between the actuation point located within the symbol field when the operating button is manually actuated and the pivot axis of the operating button is smaller than the (second) distance between said actuation point within the symbol field and the switch contact point on the actuating arm. More precisely, the first distance is the distance of the actuation point on the symbol field, in particular the center of the symbol field, to the pivot axis of the operating button, i.e., the length of an imaginary line that runs radially to the pivot axis and parallel to the plane spanned by the symbol field up to the level of the actuation point, i.e., up to a plane orthogonal to the plane spanned by the symbol field. Fig. 6) extends and to which the imaginary line is perpendicular. The point of action is located on the plane that runs parallel to the plane spanned by the symbol field.

[0009] The second distance is therefore the distance of the switch contact point to a plane spanned by the symbol field, i.e., the length of an imaginary line that runs perpendicular to a plane spanned by the symbol field and through the switch contact point. These two distances define a transmission ratio according to which the pivoting / tilting movement of the operating button is converted into a larger movement of the actuating arm at its switch contact point, and thus into a larger translational movement of the switch actuator. This allows switches with a relatively large travel distance or relatively large manufacturing tolerances to be actuated with a small pivoting / tilting angle of the operating button.This means that switches with large manufacturing tolerances, which are known to be more cost-effective to manufacture compared to switches with low manufacturing tolerances, can also be used in the operating device for vehicles, resulting in significant cost savings.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the switch is designed as a key-top switch, the actuating element of which has the form of a hollow cone-shaped dome. Typically, several such actuating elements are integrated into a switching mat, which is typically made of silicone. The hollow cone-shaped domes are manufactured integrally with the switching mat, which is made of elastic material. The conical wall of the dome has a centrally arranged plunger on both its inner and outer surfaces, which is formed integrally with the conical wall. The plunger projects outwards from the upper end of the conical wall and into the interior of the dome on the inner side of the conical wall. The surface of the end of the plunger located on the inner side of the conical wall is coated with an electrically conductive material, for example, graphite. Two contact fields are located on the support element below the plunger.When the plunger is depressed by the actuating arm as a result of pressing the operating button, causing the dome to deform, the inner coated end of the plunger comes into contact with the two contact fields on the carrier element, thus short-circuiting this circuit and establishing an electrical connection between them. When the operating button is released, no further force is exerted on the plunger, and it automatically returns to its starting position due to the elastic, resilient material.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the actuating arm comprises, at least in its front end adjacent to the rear wall of the operating button, a light guide that directs the light from at least one light source to the operating button. The light from the light source is first captured by an optical element on the light guide, for example, a prism, and then guided through the light guide to the operating button. The light source, which is arranged on the support element, emits either backlighting for the operating button or feedback light to visualize the activation of a function that can be triggered by the operating button. Frequently, two light sources, for which LEDs are typically used in practice, are assigned to one operating button, with one providing the backlighting and the other the feedback light. In this respect, each light source may optionally be assigned its own light guide.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the pivot axis about which the operating button is pivotably mounted from the rest position to the actuated position can be located either inside or outside the operating button. In the embodiment where the pivot axis is located inside the operating button, the pivot axis is optimally arranged on the side of the operating button facing the switch actuator, so that the switch actuator can be moved from its rest position to its actuating position by manually actuating the operating button. If the pivot axis is located outside the operating button, it can be arranged on a lever that serves as an extension of the operating button and is connected to it. The lever can be any type of rigid connecting element. Here, too, it is important that the lever or...the pivot axis located on it is mounted in such a way that the switch can be triggered when the operating button is pressed.

[0013] The inventive concept makes it possible to use push-button systems with a very short travel distance of up to 0.3 mm and simultaneously a tolerance range of, for example, up to + / - 0.2 mm. Due to the transmission ratio between the travel distance of the push button and that of the switch, for example, 1:3, the tolerance range of the switch can be extended to 0.6 mm. This allows the use of commercially available switch systems with relatively large tolerances. System tolerances can be compensated for, enabling components to be designed with high tolerances without compromising the small system tolerances required by end customers.

[0014] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the operating device can be provided with haptic feedback. User comfort is enhanced when the user is signaled that the operating element has been validly operated. This is particularly advantageously achieved through tactile feedback. Such haptic feedback can be implemented, for example, mechanically, electromechanically, or electrically / electrostatically. Mechanical tactile feedback can be achieved by mechanically stimulating the display with an impulse using an actuator. Another way to implement haptic feedback is by imprinting bending waves into the display or the display's cover glass. A further possibility for implementing haptic feedback is a purely electrically operating variant using locally generated electric fields.

[0015] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to several exemplary embodiments and the drawings. Specifically, the drawings show: Fig. 1. A front view (perspective) of the operating device, Fig. 2 a sectional view through the operating device according to II , III , IV the Fig. 1 in resting position, Fig. 3 a sectional view through the operating device according to II , III , IV the Fig. 1 for the embodiment with a light guide in the rest position, Fig. 4 a sectional view through the operating device according to II , III , IV the Fig. 1 for the embodiment with a light guide in the actuation or switch release position, Fig. 5. A perspective view of the control button to illustrate the concept of the “first” distance. L1 , Fig. 6. A top view of the operating button and the actuating arm to illustrate the concept of the “second” distance. L2 , Fig. 7 Force-displacement diagram of the operating button, Fig. 8 Force-displacement diagram of the key-top switch, and Fig. 9 an alternative embodiment with an inclined operating plane.

[0016] In the Fig. 1 to Fig. 2 is the basic construction of an exemplary embodiment of an operating device. 10 shown. In this embodiment, the operating device 10 a case 12 on, on whose front wall 14 for example a display 16 as well as a control element 18 in the form of a bar with three control buttons 20 Each control button20 has a front 22 on which a symbol field 24 is arranged with a symbol for when the operating button is manually activated 20 It is equipped with a triggerable function. Inside the housing 12 There is a support element 26 for various electrical and electronic components. This carrier element 26 It is typically a printed circuit board. 28 Furthermore, there is, for example, a switching mat. 30 on the support element 26 , the integrated key-tops as switches 38 exhibits. However, the invention is not limited to the design of the switches as key-top switches. 38 limited.

[0017] According to the sectional view of the Fig. 2 is located behind the control button 20 an actuating arm 32 , which with the back 36 the control button 20 is rigidly connected. The operating button20 is about a pivot axis 34 pivotably mounted, located in the area of ​​the lower edge of the back 36 the control button 20 is arranged. In the present embodiment, the actuating arm is 32 orthogonal to the back 36 the control button 20 arranged. Alternatively, the actuating arm can be 32 also from any angle from the back 36 the control button 20 protrude and / or extend, as e.g. in Fig. 9 shown. Below the control button 20 away free end 37 of the actuating arm 32 There is a mechanical switch, which in this embodiment is a key-top switch. 38 trained. The key-top switch 38 , which is in the switching mat 30 It is integrated and features a switch operating element. 40 and a hollow cone-shaped dome 44 up. The cathedral 44has a conical wall 46 on whose outer and inner sides a one-piece with this conical wall 46 trained pestle 41 is centrally located. The outer end points 42 of the pestle 41 from the cone wall 46 outwards and the inner end of the plunger 60 inside the cathedral 44 In the rest position, there is a switch contact point. 48 at the free end 37 of the actuating arm 32 on the switch operating device 40 to.

[0018] Fig. Figure 3 shows a sectional view of an embodiment in which the actuating arm 32 at least in its rear 36 the control button 20 facing section or along its entire length as a light guide 50 is trained. The fiber optic cable 50 features a feed-in optic 52 to introduce light onto a circuit board 28located light source 54 on, whereby the feed-in optics 52 one piece with light guide 50 is trained. Alternatively, the feed-in optics can be used. 52 also as a separate one with the light guide 50 The connected component must be designed accordingly. Furthermore, the operating button indicates 20 a lever 56 on, which is connected to the lower edge of the back 36 the control button 20 is formed in one piece. Alternatively, the lever can 56 also as a separate one with the control button 20 The component must be rigidly connected. The pivot axis 34 the control button 20 In this embodiment, it is located in the area of ​​the lower edge of the lever. 56 .

[0019] Now, in the exemplary implementations of the Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 the operating button 20 When activated, it rotates around its pivot axis. 34tilted and moves from the rest position to the operating position, while the operating arm moves simultaneously 32 and therefore also the switch 38 from the rest position to the switch release position. Fig. 4. shows for the exemplary embodiment of the Fig. 3 the position of the control button 20 , Actuating arm 32 and switches 38 the operating device 10 in the actuation or switch release position, wherein in the switch release position the outer end 42 of the pestle 41 through the actuating arm 32 with deformation of the cathedral 44 is depressed.

[0020] The exact construction of the switch 38 will be Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 also shows the cross-section of the switch. 38The switch actuator is shown in the rest position and in the switch release position. As previously described, the switch actuator features 40 a centrally arranged plunger 41 up, with the inner end 60 of the pestle 41 with a coating 62 is made of electrically conductive material. In the resting position, the inner end 60 of the pestle 41 no contact with the circuit board 28 The inner end is located in the switch release position. 60 of the pestle 41 on the circuit board 28 up, so that its coated surface 62 with the two on the circuit board 28 arranged contact fields 64 comes into contact, resulting in an electrical connection.

[0021] As already mentioned, the core of the invention lies in the fact that the first distance L1 between one within the symbol field24 horizontal actuation point 66 , especially the center 68 of the symbol field 24 , and the pivot axis 34 the control button 20 is smaller than the second distance L2 between the aforementioned point of action 66 within the symbol field 24 and the switch contact point 48 of the actuating arm 32 , where this is attached to the switch operating device 40 is involved. In the Fig. 5 and Fig. Section 6 illustrates these distances in detail.

[0022] Out of Fig. 5 becomes apparent that the first distance L1 the length of an imaginary line that extends radially to the pivot axis 34 and parallel to that of the symbol field 24 spanned plane 72 up to the point of actuation 67 extends, i.e., to a point orthogonal to that of the symbol field. 24 spanned plane72 ( Fig. 6) extends and to which the imaginary line is perpendicular. The point of action is located there. 67 on the level 70 , which are parallel to the symbol field 24 spanned plane 72 proceeds.

[0023] According to Fig. 6 is the second distance L2 the length of an imaginary line perpendicular to that of the symbol field 24 spanned plane 72 and through the switch contact point 48 at the free end 37 of the actuating arm 32 proceeds. In the exemplary embodiments according to the Fig. 2 to Fig. 4 is the second distance L2 approximately three times as long as the first distance L1 , 1 , resulting in a translation ratio of 1:3. The path taken by the switch contact point 48 when pressing the operating button 20The distance traveled is therefore approximately three times the distance traveled by the center of the symbol field. 24 enters. This now makes it possible to install a switch. 38 with a switch operating device 40 to use which is subject to larger manufacturing tolerances or longer path lengths, without this affecting large actuation distances of the operating button. 20 has an effect; this is rather achieved through the transmission mechanism of the lever system consisting of a swiveling control button. 20 and operating arm 32 compensated.

[0024] According to the translation ratio between L1 and L2 The commute is approximately 1:3. S SO , which the switch operating device 40 between its resting position S SO0 and its switch release position S SO2 travels three times as long as the commute to work S BT , the control button 20 between their resting position SBT0 and their switch release position S BT2 travels ( Fig. 4) This transmission ratio is shown in the comparison of the force-displacement diagrams of the (key-top) switch 38 and the operating button. 20 in the Fig. 7 and Fig. 8 illustrates, where in the Fig. 7 and Fig. 8 The force-displacement characteristics when pressing the control button and switch are shown as a solid line, while the dashed lines show the return movement to the rest positions.

[0025] Fig. Figure 7 shows the curve of the force required to actuate the (key-top) switch 38, depending on the distance traveled by the switch actuating element. 40 when the switch is activated 38 from resting position S SO0 up to the switch release position S SO2 It can be seen that the force initially increases continuously until the force reaches a certain point. F1 is achieved, wherebyF1 the force required to build the cathedral 44 to bring about "collapse". While S SO1 the path position is that of the switch actuator 40 with the beginning of the collapse of the cathedral 44 occupies, represents F1 represents the maximum force that can be exerted when the switch is actuated. 38 is needed. The contact force then drops. F2 from, until the inner end 60 of the pestle 41 with the contact fields 64 the circuit board 28 comes into contact, i.e., until the switch release position S SO2 has been achieved.

[0026] Analogous to Fig. 7 is in Fig. 8 the force-displacement curve of the operating button 20 The operating button is also shown here. 20 starting from the resting position S BT0 pressed until the cathedral 44 of the switch operating device 40by pressing down the actuating arm 32 "occurs". The control button then... 20 the way to position S BT1 back, with the force on F3 increases. Then the control button 20 It pivots further until it reaches the actuation position corresponding to the switch release position. The force then falls on F4 away.

[0027] Compared to the force-displacement curve of the switch 38 according to Fig. 7 shows that, due to the previously mentioned translation ratio, the working paths of the operating button 20 up to position S BT1 or position S BT2 only one third of the travel distance of the switch operating mechanism 40 to S SO1 or S SO2 This shortening of the commute reduces the commute of the counter confirmation officer. 40 between S SO1 and S SO2 to the activation button20 related shortened (whose path between S BT1 and S BT2 is “compressed”), which means that the force of F3 and F4 within a shorter distance, the negative slope of the force-displacement characteristic is therefore greater, which in turn leads to a significantly more noticeable haptic sensation at the fingertip than is the case when the switch 38 through a translationally moved, directly onto the switch 38 Acting control button 20 would be activated.

[0028] The Fig. Figure 9 shows another embodiment of an operating device 10' , where the front wall 14 of the case 12 and the control button 20 run diagonally. In the Fig. The 9 elements are the components of the operating device. 10' , insofar as they are those of the operating device 10constructively and / or functionally correspond and / or be the same, with the same reference symbols as in the Fig. 2 to Fig. 6 shown, labelled. Reference symbol list 10, 10' Operating device 12 cases 14 Front wall of the housing 16 Display 18 Control element 20 operating button 22 Front of the control button 24 symbol field 26 Support element 28 circuit boards 30 switching mat 32 Actuating arm 34 Swivel axis 36 Back of the control button 37 free end of the actuating arm 38 Key-Top Switches 40 Switch operating element 41 pestles 42 outer end of the plunger 44 Cathedral 46 Conical wall of the cathedral 48 Switch contact point 50 fiber optic cables 52 Feed-in optics 54 Light source 56 levers 60 inner end of the plunger 62 coated surface at the inner end of the plunger 64 contact fields on the circuit board 66 Actuation point 67 Actuation point on a plane spanned parallel to the symbol field 68 Center of the symbol field 70 plane spanned parallel to the symbol field 72 Plane spanned by the symbol field L1 first distance L2 second distance S SO Working path of the switch actuation mechanism S BT Operating path of the control button F1 Actuating force F2 contact force F3 Actuation force F4 contact force

Claims

[1] Control device (10) for a vehicle, with - a housing (12) with a front wall (14), - at least one operating button (20) arranged on the front wall (14) of the housing (12), which is pivotably mounted on a pivot axis (34) and can be pivoted from a rest position to an operating position when manually actuated, and which has a front (22) and on this a symbol field (24) with a symbol for the function that can be triggered when the operating button (20) is manually actuated, - an actuating arm (32) extending from the operating button (20) and into the housing (12) and - a switch (38) associated with the operating button (20) with a switch actuating element (40) on which the actuating arm (32) of the operating button (20) acts when it is manually actuated to move the switch actuating element (40) from a rest position into a switch release position, - wherein the actuating arm (32) of the operating button (20) has a switch contact point (48) at which the actuating arm (32) rests against the switch actuating element (40) in the rest position of the operating button (20), and - wherein a first distance (L1) between the symbol field (24), in particular between an actuation point (66) located within the symbol field (24) of the front of the operating button (22) on the one hand and the pivot axis (34) on the other hand is smaller than a second distance (L2) between the symbol field (24), in particular between said actuation point (66) within the symbol field (24) on the one hand and the switch contact point (48) of the actuating arm (32) on the other hand. [2] Operating device (10) according to claim 1, characterized by , that the actuating arm (32) is at least in its front end connected to the operating button (20) a light guide (50). [3] Operating device (10) according to claim 2 characterized bya light source (54) whose light shines laterally into the light guide (50). [4] Operating device (10) according to claim 3, characterized by , that the light source (54) either emits backlighting light for the operating button (20) or function feedback light to visualize the activation of a function that can be triggered by the operating button (20). [5] Operating device (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that a support element is arranged in the housing (12) on which the light source (54) and the switch (38) are located. [6] Operating device (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the switch is designed as a key-top switch (38) and has a hollow cone-shaped dome (44), wherein the dome (44) has a conical wall, on the outer and inner sides of which a centrally arranged plunger (41) formed in one part with this wall is arranged, which at the end of the dome (44) facing away from the support element (26) projects outwards from the conical wall (46) and into the interior of the dome (44) and can be depressed into the switch release position by reversible deformation of the conical wall (46) down to the support element (26) and can be moved back into the initial position automatically due to the elastic material of the dome (44). [7] Operating device (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by that the pivot axis (34) is located inside or outside the control button (20). [8] Operating device (10) according to claim 7, characterized by, that a lever (56) protrudes from the operating button (20), which has the pivot axis (34). [9] Operating device (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by an electrically, electromechanically or electromagnetically operating feedback unit for tactile feedback of a valid manual actuation of the operating button (20) by mechanical excitation of the operating button (20).

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