Device for generating a haptically perceptible impulse

Abstract

Device (1) for generating a haptically perceptible impulse within an interaction space (6) of a user interface with at least one emitter (2) which emits the impulse, characterized by a cover (3) of the at least one emitter (2) which has a reversibly closable opening (4), wherein the cover (3) is configured to open or close the opening (4) in response to a control signal such that the path between the emitter (2) and the interaction space (6) is open during the generation of an impulse and closed otherwise.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device for generating a haptically perceptible impulse within an interaction space of a user interface with at least one emitter that emits the impulse.

[0002] Conventional user interfaces, as known according to the state of the art, are typically operated via switches, buttons, touchscreens, or other physical controls. By activating such controls, the user receives immediate haptic feedback through their sense of touch, allowing for precise operation of the user interface.

[0003] In recent years, user interfaces with virtual representations of information and controls have also been developed. Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and holographic environments, in particular, allow users to access information from a virtual environment and input commands within an interaction space. An interaction space is defined here as an area within three-dimensional space where inputs can be made to control the user interface. For example, users can operate virtually represented buttons or switches, or inputs can be made via gesture control. For this purpose, the user interface incorporates camera systems that register and analyze movements. Such user interfaces are commonly used in motor vehicles to control the infotainment system or other features.However, such user interfaces are also known on operating terminals outside of motor vehicles.

[0004] When controlling a user interface with a virtual representation of controls, there is a lack of haptic feedback between the user interface and the operator, which would allow the operator to recognize whether the desired input was successful or not. Devices of this type were developed to address this issue by using controlled emitters to generate a haptically perceptible area within the interaction space.

[0005] The signal quality of the emitters known according to the state of the art for generating the pulse depends on whether the path between the emitter and the interaction space is blocked or unobstructed by objects. Therefore, to improve signal quality, the emitters are not completely covered, which, however, has several disadvantages. First, there is a risk that dust or other dirt will accumulate on the emitter, thereby reducing the signal quality. Furthermore, the emitters interrupt the surrounding cover, resulting in a less than aesthetically pleasing appearance, especially if the surrounding cover of the emitter is designed as a decorative surface.

[0006] User interfaces of the type mentioned are known, for example, from WO 2016 / 038347 A or DE 10 2016 210 213 A1.

[0007] US Patent 9,092,953 B1 discloses a method for providing a remote feedback stimulus to a participant's body in response to a computer-simulated event, the method comprising: testing system state information of the computer-simulated event to identify haptic and tactile associations; classifying the haptic and tactile type of the computer-simulated event using a predetermined model when a haptic and tactile association is identified; sensing the participant's position to generate sensed position information; transmitting the sensed position information to a control unit; comparing the sensed position information with a predetermined threshold and generating an activation signal when the sensed position information exceeds the threshold;and transmitting the activation signal to at least one actuator located at a certain distance from the participant in order to generate at least one vortex ring directed towards the participant, which produces a haptic or tactile feedback stimulus for the participant.

[0008] US 7,339,572 B2 describes a device comprising: a housing with a touch surface designed to be touched by a user; a sensor coupled to the touch surface and configured to detect at least one position or movement of the user's touch on at least a portion of the touch surface, the sensor being configured to output sensor signals associated with the position or movement; and an electroactive polymer actuator coupled to the housing and configured to output a haptic feedback force upon receiving a control signal from a processor, the control signal being associated with the output sensor signals.

[0009] Based on this, the object of the invention is to create a device for generating a haptically perceptible impulse within the interaction space of a user interface, thereby overcoming the aforementioned disadvantages. In particular, it aims to enable interference-free emission of impulses and to improve the aesthetic appearance of the device.

[0010] This problem is solved by the device according to claim 1. According to the invention, a cover for the at least one emitter is provided, which has a reversibly closable opening, wherein the cover is configured to open or close the opening in response to a control signal such that the path between the emitter and the interaction space is open during the generation of a pulse and closed otherwise.

[0011] This allows the opening to be opened during pulse emission, enabling undisturbed pulse transmission because the pulse's propagation along the path from the emitter to the interaction chamber is not blocked by the cover. Conversely, if no pulse is emitted, the opening can be closed, resulting in a closed cover. This prevents the emitter from becoming clogged with dust and / or dirt during periods of inactivity, and the closed decorative surface also ensures a pristine visual appearance.

[0012] Preferred embodiments of the invention are specified below and in the dependent claims.

[0013] Preferably, the emitter is designed as an ultrasonic loudspeaker that transmits the pulse as an ultrasonic signal along a path. Several such ultrasonic loudspeakers, typically arranged in a matrix or freely around the interaction space, generate ultrasonic signals whose phase, frequency, and amplitude are tuned to create a haptically perceptible area at predefined points within the interaction space. The phases, frequencies, and amplitudes of several ultrasonic loudspeakers are adjusted such that the ultrasonic signals in the desired area of ​​the interaction space superimpose constructively, resulting in a perceptible pulse. Outside this area, the ultrasonic pulses superimpose destructively, and therefore no perceptible pulse is generated.Because the ultrasonic loudspeakers emit the ultrasonic signals in a directed manner, there are also areas where the ultrasonic signals from different ultrasonic loudspeakers do not overlap, so that neither constructive nor destructive interference can occur in these areas. Apart from the cover with the reversibly closable opening, such devices for generating a haptically perceptible ultrasonic pulse are known from the prior art, for example from WO 2016 / 038347 A or DE 10 2016 210 213 A1.

[0014] Alternatively, the emitter is designed as an air nozzle that releases the impulse in the form of an airflow along a path.

[0015] The cover is designed to open or close the opening in response to a control signal, such that the path between the emitter and the interaction chamber is open during pulse generation and closed otherwise. A suitably configured control unit is provided for this purpose. The control unit may incorporate artificial intelligence that enables the opening to be opened early, thus preventing a delay in generating the ultrasonic pulse. The artificial intelligence recognizes the operator's typical movements prior to inputting a control command and can predict such input.

[0016] Furthermore, according to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, a mechanical, electrical and / or pneumatic actuator is provided for opening and closing the opening.

[0017] Preferably, the cover is a flexible membrane. The membrane can be multilayered and, for example, comprise a protective layer and a core layer. The opening of the cover, in particular the opening of the flexible membrane, is preferably at least partially bounded by electroactive polymers that repel each other to open the opening or attract each other to close it, depending on the polarity of an applied voltage, and deform in the process. The electroactive polymers preferably each have a sandwich structure consisting of an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte arranged between them. The electroactive polymers are preferably bonded to the edge of the core layer of the membrane. In contrast, the protective layer of the membrane covers not only the core layer but also the electroactive polymers.This makes it particularly easy to create a uniform decorative surface with a consistent design. Electroactive polymers such as electrostrictive or ferroelectric polymers are especially suitable for use.

[0018] Alternatively, in an advantageous further development of the invention, it is provided that the cover is an elastic membrane which, in the force-free state, has the opening in the form of a cutout, wherein the cutout closes in response to a tensile force acting on the elastic membrane.

[0019] Furthermore, in an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the cover is provided to be an elastic membrane which, in its unloaded state, has a point-shaped opening. This opening enlarges in response to radially acting tensile forces until it completely exposes an emitter located beneath it. In its unloaded state, i.e., without any preload, the cover is therefore closed. Various actuators can be provided for applying / adjusting the tensile force or preload. In particular, an electrostatic actuator is provided which has an annular anode and an annular cathode that clamp the membrane with the opening in a ring-shaped manner when preloaded. The anode, cathode, and the opening of the cover are preferably aligned or arranged coaxially.An electrostatic field compresses the anode and cathode, and consequently the membrane material sandwiched between them, so that the preload-induced tensile stress within the ring-shaped actuator disappears and the membrane opening closes. To open the opening, the strength of the electric field is reduced so that the membrane's preload causes it to open.

[0020] Specific embodiments of the present invention are explained below with reference to the figures. These show: Fig. 1a, b Cross-sectional views of a device for generating a haptically perceptible impulse, Fig. 2a, b Top views of a device for generating a haptically perceptible impulse, Fig. 3a - c Top views of a device for generating a haptically perceptible impulse, Fig. 4a, b Top views of a device for generating a haptically perceptible impulse and Fig. 4 c, d Cross-sectional views of a device for generating a haptically perceptible impulse.

[0021] Each of the following is shown in a cross-sectional view: Fig. 1a, b a device 1 which has an emitter 2 for generating a haptically perceptible impulse, which in the illustrated embodiment is designed as an ultrasonic loudspeaker 21 or as an air nozzle 22. The emitter 2 is covered by a cover 3 with an opening 4, which can be opened and closed in response to a control signal from a control unit 5 such that the opening 4 is open when the emitter 2 generates an impulse, and closed otherwise. Fig. Figure 1a shows a situation where emitter 2 does not generate a pulse, so cover 3 is closed, resulting in a closed decorative surface. Fig. 1b The opening 4 is opened in response to a control signal, and the emitter 2 generates a pulse, so that a haptically perceptible pulse is created within an interaction space 6, which can be felt by the hand 7 of a user. If no further pulse is generated by the emitter 2, the opening 4 is closed, and the state according to is restored. Fig. 1a.

[0022] The Fig. 2a, b show top views of a device 1 according to the Fig. 1a, b. The cover 3 is a flexible membrane 31 with an opening 4, which is bounded by four electroactive polymers 81, 82, 83, 84, each having a sandwich structure consisting of an anode 9, a cathode 10, and an electrolyte 11 arranged between them (for clarity, only electroactive polymer 81 is numbered). The electroactive polymers 81, 82, 83, 84 are each connected to a separate voltage 12, which determines the polarity at the anodes 9 and cathodes 10. Furthermore, the two electroactive polymers 83, 84 shown on the left are attached to a holding structure 131 on the left, while the electroactive polymers 81, 82 shown on the right are fixed to another holding structure 132 on the right. This causes the left-side electroactive polymers 83, 84 and the right-side electroactive polymers 81, 82 to collide with each other at their free ends when the opening 4 is closed.The cover 3 has a slot 14 perpendicular to the electroactive polymers 81, 82, 83, 84 and extending from the free ends of the electroactive polymers 81, 82, 83, 84, which allows the opening 4 to be opened.

[0023] When closed ( Fig. 2a) The polarity of the electroactive polymers 81, 82, 83, 84 is set such that the upper pair of electroactive polymers 81, 84 and the lower pair of electroactive polymers 82, 83 attract each other due to electrostatic attraction. This closes the cover 3 and forms an opening-free decorative layer.

[0024] In Fig. In step 2b, the polarity of the lower pair of electroactive polymers 82, 83 is reversed, causing the upper pair of electroactive polymers 81, 84 and the lower pair of electroactive polymers 82, 83 to repel each other. As a result, the free ends of the electroactive polymers 81, 82, 83, 84 move upwards and downwards, respectively, and the opening 4 of the cover 3 opens until the emitter 2 is completely exposed. In this state, the path between the emitter 2 and the interaction space 6 is clear, and the emitter 2 can transmit the pulse without interference. If no further pulse is to be transmitted by the emitter 2, the polarity of the lower pair of electroactive polymers 82, 83 is reversed again by the control unit 5, causing the opening 4 to close due to the attractive electrostatic force, and the state returns to the previous state. Fig. 2a is taken.

[0025] The Fig. Figures 3a to c show top views of an alternative embodiment of a device 1 according to the Fig. 1a, b. According to this, the cover 3 consists of an elastic membrane 32 which, in the force-free state, has an opening 4 in the form of a cutout 41. The opening 4 exposes the emitter 2 located below it, so that the emitter 2 can emit a pulse without interference. If the emitter 2 no longer emits a pulse, the elastic membrane 32 is closed by a (in the Fig. 3a to c) actuator (not shown) is pulled outwards in the direction of arrow 15, so that the opening 4 closes with increasing pulling force. In Fig. 3b, the opening 4 is approximately half closed and in Fig. 3, the opening 4 is completely closed, resulting in a closed cover 3 of the emitter 2. As soon as it is triggered again to emit a pulse, the tensile force acting on the elastic membrane 32 is released, and due to the elastic properties of the membrane 32, the opening 4 of the cover 3 opens, so that the state according to Fig. 3a has been reached.

[0026] The Fig. Figures 4a-d show a further concrete embodiment of the invention. According to this embodiment, the cover 3 is an elastic membrane 32 which, in the force-free state, has a point-shaped opening 4 ( Fig. 4b), wherein the opening 4 enlarges in response to radially acting tensile forces to such an extent that it completely releases an emitter 2 arranged below it ( Fig. 4a). In the force-free state, that is, in a state without a preload, the cover 3 is therefore closed ( Fig. 4b). Different actuators can be provided for applying / adjusting the tensile force or preload. According to the present embodiment, an electrostatic actuator is provided, which has an annular anode 16 and an annular cathode 17 that clamp the membrane 32 with the opening 4 in a ring-shaped manner in a preloaded state. The anode 16, cathode 17 and the opening 4 of the cover 3 are coaxially aligned or arranged. By means of an adjustable or controllable electrostatic field, the anode 9 and the cathode 10 and thus the material of the membrane 32 clamped between them are compressed ( Fig. 4c), so that the preload-induced tensile stress within the annular actuator disappears and the opening 3 of the membrane 32 closes. To open the opening 4, the strength of the electric field is reduced so that the preload of the membrane 32 causes the opening 4 to open ( Fig. 4d). Reference symbol list 1 Device 2 emitters 21 ultrasonic loudspeakers 22 Air nozzle 3 Cover 31 flexible membrane 32 elastic membrane 4 Opening 41 Cutout 5 Control unit 6 Interaction space 7 Hand 81 electroactive polymer 82 electroactive polymer 83 electroactive polymer 84 electroactive polymer 9 Anode 10 Cathode 11 Electrolyte 12 Voltage 131 Support structure 132 Support structure 14 slots 15 Arrow direction 16 ring-shaped anode 17 ring-shaped cathode

Claims

[1] Device (1) for generating a haptically perceptible impulse within an interaction space (6) of a user interface with at least one emitter (2) which emits the impulse, characterized by a cover (3) of the at least one emitter (2) having a reversibly closable opening (4), wherein the cover (3) is configured to open or close the opening (4) in response to a control signal such that the path between the emitter (2) and the interaction space (6) is open during the generation of a pulse and closed otherwise. [2] Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized by , that the emitter (2) is designed as an ultrasonic loudspeaker (21) which emits the pulse in the form of an ultrasonic signal along a path. [3] Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized by, that the emitter (2) is designed as an air nozzle (22) which releases the momentum in the form of an airflow along a path. [4] Device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by , that a mechanical, electrical and / or pneumatic actuator is arranged to open and close the opening (4). [5] Device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by that the cover (3) is a flexible membrane (31). [6] Device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by , that the opening (4) of the cover (3), in particular the opening (4) of the flexible membrane (31), is at least partially limited by electroactive polymers (81, 82, 83, 84) which, depending on the polarity of an applied voltage, repel each other to open the opening (4) or attract each other to close the opening (4) and deform in the process. [7] Device (1) according to claim 6, characterized by, that the electroactive polymers (81, 82, 83, 84) each have a sandwich structure consisting of an anode (9), a cathode (10) and an electrolyte (11) arranged between them. [8] Device (1) according to claim 5, characterized by , that the cover (3) is an elastic membrane (32) which, in the force-free state, has the opening (4) in the form of a cutout (41), wherein the cutout (41) closes in response to a tensile force acting on the elastic membrane (32). [9] Device (1) according to claim 5, characterized by , that the cover (3) is an elastic membrane (32) which in the force-free state has a point-shaped opening (4), wherein the opening (4) enlarges in response to radially acting tensile forces to such an extent that it completely exposes an emitter (2) arranged below it.

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