MANUALLY OPERATED COMMAND INPUT DEVICE AND SENSOR ARRANGEMENT FOR ITS OPERATION

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a command input device according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] Such a command input device is known from EP 3 579 088 A1.

[0003] Especially in the recent past, it has often been necessary to provide a command input device that has a predefined and familiar feel, since command input on smooth surfaces requires visual contact between the user and the functions to be controlled during the operation process. . For example, an operating arrangement on a touchpad or touchscreen is known from DE 102019 101 611 B3. A manual touch on a corresponding input area triggers a change in a capacitor, by means of which several measuring capacitances generated by an array of measuring electrodes can be detected regardless of location.

[0004] To establish a manually perceptible correlation between the control symbol on a display and a command transmitter, the transmitter is attached to the display side, for example, using an adhesive. When the command transmitter is moved, a measurable change in an electrical field occurs, which corresponds to the respective control symbol and its underlying function.

[0005] German patent DE 10 2016 121 076 A1 discloses an operating device for a vehicle component, in particular a human-machine interface. Especially while the vehicle is in motion, visual contact between the operator and the operating device is often not possible or only possible for a very limited time. The operating device has a display surface on its front side and a rear side facing away from the front. A manually operable control element is positioned on and / or in front of the cover plate of the operating device housing. To supply the power supply unit of the control element with electrical energy, at least one first coil faces the rear side of the cover plate, and at least one second coil, inductively coupled to the first coil and connected to the power supply unit, is arranged in and / or on the control element unit.In this way, an inductively formed eddy current field is generated, which is changed by the movements of the command transmitter.

[0006] Further such command input devices have become known from DE 10 2017 120 952 A1, DE 10 2017 121 896 A1 or DE 10 2018 131 573 A1, which are based either on the physical basis of a change in capacitance in an electric field or changes in inductively generated eddy current fields.

[0007] Both of the two physical operating principles, namely capacitive or inductive changes, can be used to detect manually initiated movements. However, these command input devices have the disadvantage that only a switching signal is generated, since either a change in the electric field or a change in an inductive eddy current field can be measured and evaluated. Such command input functions are extremely susceptible to interference and can lead to accidents due to malfunctions, especially when controlling vehicles, machine tools, or similar equipment. For example, moisture particles can trigger changes in an electric field, or metallic foreign objects, e.g., in a metalworking plant, as well as temperature fluctuations, can influence the settings of an inductive eddy current field to such an extent that a reliable control function fails.

[0008] It is therefore an object of the invention to further develop a command input device or a sensor arrangement for the operation of such a device of the aforementioned types in such a way that a redundant switching signal can be measured, evaluated and used for conversion into a switching signal for a vehicle, a machine tool or other electrical device independently of each other by changes in an electric field and changes in inductively generated eddy current fields.

[0009] This problem is solved by the features of claim 1.

[0010] Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are set out in the dependent claims.

[0011] In the command input device according to the invention, it is particularly advantageous if two sensors of the sensor arrangement are provided aligned with each command transmitter, by which the electric field and the inductive eddy current field are generated independently of each other and in parallel overlapping with each other, if the electric field and the eddy current field are influenced simultaneously by the movements of the command transmitter, and if the respective changes in the electric field and the eddy current field can be detected independently of each other by the evaluation device and converted into predetermined switching signals, since this results in a redundant, i.e., verified, switching function, because the changes in the electric field and the inductive eddy current field can be detected simultaneously by the evaluation device. Only this temporal coincidence enables the inputted switching function.

[0012] However, it is technically possible to provide only the sensor structure according to the invention if the first sensor is formed from two galvanically isolated sensor glasses, if a plurality of electrically energized conductor tracks are provided in each sensor glass, if the conductor tracks of the first sensor glass run perpendicular to the conductor tracks of the second sensor glass, if a circuit board is arranged spatially spaced from the two sensor glasses and galvanically separated from them, and if the circuit board is aligned above or below the two sensor glasses, and if at least three coils are positioned on the circuit board that generate an inductive eddy current field.

[0013] Eddy current changes are received when an electric field is generated at the respective node by the conductor tracks of the two sensor glasses, which is radiated through the cover plate on its outside, when two spatially separated detection objects are arranged on a manually operated control device, whose movements change the electric field and the eddy current field inductively generated and received by the coils, in such a way that these field changes can be detected by an evaluation device and converted into electrical switching signals, because this creates a retrofittable or flexibly usable kit that can be installed in any human-machine interface and has a redundant switching function.

[0014] Consequently, the functional and structural features of a fully encapsulated control input device can advantageously be combined with a manually operated control transmitter. The movements performed by the control transmitter, which can be either rotary or linear, are perceptible to the operator, so that each control transmitter has a specific and therefore recognizable tactile feel. Such combinations of control transmitters are particularly suitable when operating moving machines or during work processes on machine tools, where the operator must constantly monitor the machine's operations visually, and thus operating the control input device visually is not possible. This allows the operator to focus their attention on the movements of the vehicle or machine.can fully align the workflow of the machine tool and the input of control commands is carried out via the tactile command transmitters.

[0015] The control elements are positioned in alignment with two sensors located inside the control input device. The sensor setup is advantageously designed so that, spatially offset from each other and running parallel, both an electric field is generated by the capacitive properties of the two sensor lenses, and an inductively generated eddy current field is formed by a circuit board with at least three coils. Two separate detection elements, made of a metallic and / or other conductive material, are arranged within the control element. As soon as the control element moves accordingly, changes occur in the electric field and the inductive eddy current field, which are detected independently by the two sensors. .

[0016] Only when the evaluation unit detects a temporal correlation between changes in the electric field and the eddy current field does it release the corresponding control signal. Therefore, the redundancy inherent in the sensor design prevents unintentional triggering of control signals, which could be caused by environmental factors such as temperature fluctuations, humidity, foreign objects like metal shavings, or similar substances.

[0017] The sensor assembly is extremely compact because the individual sensor lenses and the circuit board have a very thin profile, preferably 0.55 mm or 1.10 mm for the two sensor lenses and 0.14 mm for the circuit board. Furthermore, the sensor lenses are transparent, so the operating symbols are visible from the outside.

[0018] The drawing shows a command input device according to the invention as well as the structural design of a sensor arrangement according to the invention, which are explained in more detail below. Specifically, it shows: Figure 1 shows a schematic section of a vehicle cabin with a control input device arranged laterally next to the steering wheel, which has a cover plate on the outside of which a multitude of differently designed control transmitters are arranged for manual operation; Figure 2 shows an enlarged section of the control transmitter according to Figure 1 along the section line II" with two sensors through which an electric field and an inductive eddy current field are emitted in the direction of the command transmitter, Figure 3a a top view of the command transmitter according to Figure 2 , in which two detection objects are arranged spatially and galvanically separated from each other, Figure 3 legs the second sensor according to Figure 2associated circuit board, on which three coils are arranged as transmitters and receivers for the inductive eddy current field, in top view, Figure 3c two sensor glasses of the first transmitter according to Figure 2 , with a multitude of conductor tracks running perpendicular to each other, Figure 3 shows an enlarged section of the two superimposed sensor glasses with the resulting nodes according to Figure 3c , Figure 4a an enlarged section of the command transmitter according to Figure 3a with associated paths of the sensor trajectories of the inductive eddy current field, triggered by the movements of the second detection object, Figure 4b the phase shifts at the two receiving coils that detect the changes in the eddy current field and Figure 5 the sandwich structure of the sensor arrangement and the command transmitter, in perspective view.

[0019] In Figure 1A manually operated command input device 1 is located in a vehicle 2. The driver of the vehicle 2 should focus their visual attention on the road, so that commands are entered via the driver's sense of touch at the command input device 1. The driver's sense of touch recognizes different geometries and movement possibilities of the control elements 8 attached to the device 1. These can be, for example, designed as a rotary knob, a linear guide, or a push button.

[0020] Out of Figure 2It is evident how the command transmitter 8 is initially mounted on an outer surface 3' of a cover plate 3 of the command input device 1. The command transmitter 8 has a housing 4, the underside of which, facing the cover plate 3, is attached to the outer surface 3' by means of an adhesive 10. The command transmitter 8 rotates about an axis of symmetry 30'. Two detection objects 31 and 32 are arranged in the command transmitter 8, which are separated from each other both spatially and galvanically. Both detection objects 31 and 32 are made of a metallic material that is electrically conductive.

[0021] The command input device 1 according to Figure 1In the illustrated embodiment, the device is modeled on a touchscreen, and the cover plate 3 is transparent so that the operating symbols 7 located on the inner surface 3" of the cover plate 3 are visible from the outside. Furthermore, a display 6 is provided inside the device 1. Each of the control buttons 8 is positioned in alignment with a corresponding operating symbol 7. Consequently, the control button 8 can be assigned to one of the operating symbols 7 both visually and via the geometric design of the respective control button 8.

[0022] Furthermore, Figure 2The following section describes the structure of the sensor arrangement. It consists of a first and a second sensor, 11 and 12 respectively. Sensor 11 generates an electric field 13, and sensor 12 generates an inductive eddy current field 14, which are generated and evaluated independently of each other, as explained in more detail below. Both the electric field 13 and the inductive eddy current field 14 are emitted by sensors 11 and 12 respectively towards the cover plate 3 and pass through it towards the control transmitter 8. The two detection objects 31 and 32 of the respective control transmitter 8 are thus positioned within the immediate area of ​​influence of the electric field 13 and the inductive eddy current field 14, respectively. The axis of symmetry 30' of the command transmitter 8 is also aligned with a center point 30 of the two sensors 11 and 12, so that the command transmitters 8 are aligned with the two sensors 11 and 12.

[0023] Furthermore, the two sensors 11 and 12 are connected via electrical lines 15 to an evaluation unit 9, through which both the flow of the sensors 11 and 12 is measured and possible changes of the electric field 13 or the inductive eddy current field 14 are measured.

[0024] Especially the Figures 3a and 3b The alignment of the command transmitter 8 with the second sensor 12 can be seen from the fact that the respective center points 30 of the command transmitter 8 and the second sensor 12 are coaxially aligned with each other. The sensor 12 consists of a circuit board 25 according to Figure 3bOn the circuit board 25, three coils 26, 27, and 28 are arranged in a circle, their respective distances or radii from the center point 30 being constant. Thus, each coil 26, 27, 28 forms several windings that run around the center point 30. The three coils 26, 27, and 28 are connected to a power source 16 or the evaluation unit 9 by means of electrical conductors 15. The outer coil 26 serves as a transmitter for generating the inductive eddy current field 14. The two inner coils 27 and 28 are the receivers and measure changes in the inductive eddy current field 14 when movements are caused by the movement of the command transmitter 8 and the associated second detection object 32.

[0025] A change in the inductive eddy current field 14 can the Figures 4a and 4bcan be extracted. As soon as the second detection object 32 sweeps over the two receiving coils 27 and 28, which are arranged spatially offset from each other on the circuit board 25, a phase shift occurs according to Figure 4b of 90°, which can be measured by the evaluation unit 9 and converted into an electrical switching signal.

[0026] According to Figure 3c The structural design of the first sensor 11 is recognizable. The sensor 11 consists of two sensor glasses 21 and 22, which have a layer thickness of 0.55 mm or 1.1 mm. A plurality of galvanically isolated conductive traces 23 and 24 are provided in or on the respective sensor glass 21 and 22. In the assembled state, the conductive traces 23 run in the Y direction and the conductive traces 24 in the X direction, so that they run one above the other and form a plurality of nodes 29. This is shown in Figure 3d Shown in an enlarged view.

[0027] Each of the nodes 29 represents a first capacitor plate through which the electric field 13 is generated. As soon as the first detection object 31 of the command transmitter 8 is moved over one of the nodes 29, the electric field 13 changes to the area of ​​the respective node 29 being traversed. Consequently, the evaluation unit 9 can detect the movement of the command transmitter 8, as well as its direction or rotational speed, and convert it into a corresponding control signal.

[0028] Only when the evaluation unit 9 detects a change in both the electric field 13 and the inductive eddy current field 14 is a switching signal enabled. This prevents unintended malfunctions that might be triggered by environmental influences, because the changes in the electric field 13 and the inductive eddy current field 14 must be detected simultaneously and independently of each other by the evaluation unit 9, thus providing a redundant command input device 1.

[0029] In Figure 4aA section of the circuit board 25, to which the two conductor tracks 23 and 24 are assigned, can be removed. The two conductor tracks 23 and 24 independently generate the inductive eddy current field. The second detection object 32 is arranged in the control transmitter 8, aligned with the two conductor tracks 23 and 24. As soon as the detection object 32 is moved relative to the control transmitter 8 via the two conductor tracks 23 and 24, a change in the inductive eddy current field occurs.

[0030] According to Figure 4bThe phase shift of the two eddy current fields of the conductor tracks 23 and 24 can be determined when the detection object 32 has passed over them. The radius of the detection object 32 and the conductor tracks 23 and 24 is dimensioned such that the detection object 32 runs directly in alignment with the conductor tracks 23 and 24, regardless of the position of the command transmitter 8. This is achieved through the arrangement of the conductor tracks 23 and 24, or rather their relative offset arrangement according to... Figure 4a arises in Figure 4b Partially shown phase shift.

[0031] According to Figure 5The sensor glasses 21 and 22 are attached by means of a glass adhesive film 33, the circuit board 25 is attached to the inside 3" of the cover plate 3 by means of a glass adhesive film 33, and a glass adhesive film 33 is also provided between the circuit board 25 and the first sensor glass 21. Consequently, an extremely compact sandwich structure is created for the sensor assembly, which is available as a separate kit for retrofitting existing command input devices 1 as well as for installing newly manufactured devices 1.

[0032] This description outlines several embodiments. However, the described embodiments are not to be understood as necessarily defining the invention. The described embodiments only define the invention if they fall within the scope of the appended claims. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention is defined exclusively by the appended claims.

Claims

1. Command input device (1) with a command generator (8) and a sensor arrangement for detecting manual movements of the command generator (8) on an outer side (3') of a cover plate (3) of the command input device (1), - wherein at least two sensors (11, 12) emit an electric field (13) and an inductive eddy current field (14) through the cover plate (3), - wherein at least one manually operable command device (8) is arranged on the outer side (3') of the cover plate (3), - and wherein an evaluation device (9) is electrically coupled to the at least two sensors (11, 12) - wherein a first sensor (11) is formed from two sensor glasses (21, 22) that are galvanically separated from each other, - wherein a plurality of electrically energized conductor tracks (23, 24) are provided in each sensor glass (21, 22), which are galvanically separated from one another, - wherein the conductor tracks (23) of the first sensor glass (21) run perpendicular to the conductor tracks (24) of the second sensor glass (22), so that two intersecting conductor tracks (23, 24) each represent a node (29) forming a capacitor plate, through which the electric field is generated, and wherein the conductor tracks (23, 24) of the two sensor glasses (21, 22) generate an electric field (13) in the respective node (29), which is radiated by the cover plate (3) on its outer side (3'), wherein a second sensor (12) is formed from at least three coils (26, 27, 28) positioned on a conductor board (25), wherein the printed circuit board (25) is arranged at a distance from the two sensor glasses (21, 22) and is galvanically separated from them, and is provided in the vertical direction aligned above or below the two sensor glasses (21, 22) parallel to the sensor glasses (21, 22), wherein the at least three coils (26, 27, 28) positioned on the printed circuit board (25) generate the inductive eddy current field (14) and receive eddy current changes when the position of the command generator (8) changes, and wherein two spatially separated detection objects (31, 32) are arranged on the at least one manually operable command device (8), the movements of which simultaneously change the electric field (13) and the eddy current field (14) generated and received inductively by the coils (26, 27, 28) simultaneously, such that these field changes (13, 14) can be recognized by the evaluation device (9) as a redundant, i.e., verified switching function and converted into electrical switching signals.

2. Sensor arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the at least one command generator (8) and the respective electric field (13) and the inductive eddy current field (14) are arranged in alignment with each other.

3. Sensor arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, wherein one of the coils (26) functions as a transmitter and two of the coils (27, 28) function as receivers in the generation of changes in the inductive eddy current field (14), and wherein the three coils (26, 27, 28) each have at least one circumferential winding, which are galvanically isolated from each other and run around a common center point (30).

4. Sensor arrangement according to claim 3, wherein the outer coil (26) forms the transmitter for generating the inductive eddy current field (14) and the two inner coils (27, 28) form the receiver of the eddy current field (14).

5. Sensor arrangement according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the two receiving coils (27, 28) are excited by the detection objects (32) arranged in the command generator (8) in a phase-shifted manner, preferably offset by 90°.

6. Sensor arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the height of the sensor glasses (21, 22) is 0.55 mm or 1.10 mm and the height of the printed circuit board (25) is 0.14 mm.

7. Sensor arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a glass adhesive film (33) is inserted between the two sensor glasses (21, 22), between the first sensor glass (21) and the conductor track (25), and between the conductor track (25) and the cover plate (3), respectively, thereby creating a position-oriented sandwich construction of the sensor arrangement.