Shaped operating element for influencing vehicle functions, and vehicle comprising the shaped operating element

Abstract

The invention relates to a shaped operating element (10) for influencing vehicle functions, and to a vehicle comprising at least one shaped operating element of this kind. This shaped operating element is in the form of a raised portion or recess in relation to a surface (12) surrounding the shaped operating element and can be actuated within this plane and perpendicularly thereto. The shaped operating element (10) according to the invention additionally has an actuation path (d) in the plane of the surface (12) surrounding the shaped operating element, which actuation path is no more than 0.4 millimeter.

Description

[0001] Description

[0002] Control sculpture for influencing vehicle functions and vehicle with the same

[0003] The invention relates to a control sculpture for influencing vehicle functions and to a vehicle with at least one such control sculpture. This control sculpture is designed as a raised or recessed surface relative to it and is actuated within this plane and perpendicular to it. The control sculpture according to the invention also has an actuation travel in the plane of the surrounding surface of no more than 0.4 millimeters.

[0004] Today's vehicles feature a multitude of buttons, switches, and other controls for controlling functions such as audio, driver assistance, or the climate control system in the vehicle interior. Many of these are located on the steering wheel or in a central input area on the dashboard or center console. Some are also designed as multifunction buttons with touch-sensitive functionality.

[0005] The sheer number of controls, their arrangement, and their technical implementation can lead to unintentional operating errors, which reduce driving comfort and, with regard to the driver assistance functions being controlled, can also compromise safety while driving. With such a large number of controls, blind operation while driving is often no longer possible. Furthermore, such systems take up large areas due to individual controls, so these areas quickly become confusing and uncomfortable to operate.

[0006] In an attempt to solve these problems, multifunction switches with mechanical buttons have been developed. While these offer an improvement in blind operation, they are complex in design and do not offer a contemporary design. Furthermore, the known solutions have relatively long actuation travels, which in turn requires a correspondingly large amount of installation space. The object of the invention is therefore to propose a control element with which, in particular, a multitude of functions in a vehicle can be controlled, while having a compact design, being intuitive to use, and preferably also offering good blind operation.

[0007] The object of the invention is achieved with an operating sculpture according to claim 1 and a vehicle according to claim 10. Further preferred embodiments of the invention result from the remaining features mentioned in the subclaims.

[0008] According to the invention, an operating sculpture is provided for influencing vehicle functions, wherein the operating sculpture is arranged or designed as an elevation or depression relative to a surface surrounding it in a vehicle, is to be actuated in the plane of a surface surrounding it and perpendicular to this plane, and has an actuation travel in the plane of the surface surrounding it of 0.4 millimeters or less.

[0009] A control sculpture should be understood as a control element with which various vehicle functions can be operated or influenced. Which function is influenced can be directly and permanently assigned to the control sculpture, as is the case with a control sculpture for controlling audio functions, or it can depend on a menu structure and the selection made therein and therefore vary, thus creating a generic control sculpture. A generic control sculpture can also provide for context-dependent influencing of vehicle functions. Depending on the selected or activated vehicle function to be influenced, the possible operating actions on or with the control sculpture have different effects, as will become clear from the following examples.

[0010] Influencing a vehicle function means the selection of function parameters, a choice between different options, a confirmation in a selection or input process or the like.

[0011] The vehicle functions to be influenced may include, among others, the control of audio or media applications, the influencing of the interior climate (temperature, ventilation intensity), the influencing of the interior lighting of the vehicle (color, intensity, lighting scenarios), the accepting, making and / or rejecting of calls, the starting and ending of a voice input, the influencing of driver assistance systems and / or the influencing of available views on display devices in the vehicle, without this list being exhaustive.

[0012] The control sculpture is arranged or designed as a raised area or depression relative to a surrounding surface in a vehicle, i.e. it protrudes positively above the surface or is designed as a depression in the surface. A surrounding surface is the surface of the area in the vehicle on or in which the control sculpture is arranged. This can be the surface of a dashboard, for example, if the control sculpture is arranged there. If it is arranged on a steering wheel of the vehicle, the surrounding surface is the area of ​​the steering wheel around the control sculpture. Put simply, a surrounding surface is the area surrounding the steering wheel and laterally adjacent to the control sculpture. The shape of the control sculpture is freely selectable and can also follow design specifications. Its base can be square, rectangular, round, oval or any other shape.

[0013] The control sculpture is to be operated in the plane of the surrounding surface and perpendicular to it. In relation to an arrangement on a horizontally oriented surface, this would correspond to operation forwards, backwards, right and left as well as in any direction in between in the horizontal plane, as well as vertically, i.e. perpendicular to it. Combinations of these directions of movement, i.e. movement in the plane of the surface and perpendicular to it, are also expressly within the meaning of the invention. For a user, this operation in the plane can be perceived as pushing in the aforementioned directions or pressing the control sculpture downwards. In this way, the following purely exemplary influences on vehicle functions can be exerted: when controlling audio functions, pressing to the right or left can skip music tracks or change a radio station, pressing can start or pause playback.When influencing the interior climate, pressing the control to the right and left can adjust the ventilation intensity, while pressing the control forward and backward can adjust the temperature. When navigating through an operating or menu structure, pressing the control in the plane of the surrounding surface can correspond to cursor navigation, while pressing perpendicular to this plane can correspond to a selection or confirmation. The examples clearly show that the control sculpture provides various actuation directions, but not all actuation directions are always used with implementation in the function currently being controlled.

[0014] According to the invention, the possible actuation travel of the control sculpture in the plane of the surrounding surface should be limited to a maximum of 0.4 millimeters, i.e. 0.4 millimeters or less. The actuation travel is the distance by which the control sculpture can be moved in one direction. Due to this limitation, the control sculpture appears almost stationary. Only very little installation space needs to be provided to implement the actuation travel, and yet an actuation travel can be perceived by a user, indicating to the user that they have successfully actuated the control sculpture. The limitation can preferably also be set to 0.2 millimeters and even more preferably 0.1 millimeters in order to further reduce the actuation travel that must be provided.

[0015] The control sculpture designed according to the invention allows for flexible control of vehicle functions with just one control or input element. It is intuitive to operate and therefore also very easy to operate without sight. Due to its almost fixed design, the installation space and material requirements are very low, enabling a compact and cost-effective implementation.

[0016] It goes without saying that the control sculpture must be integrated into the vehicle's operating structures in the usual way. This means that the actuation of the control sculpture must be detected by suitable devices and transmitted to a control device, which converts the actuation into control signals in order to influence the respective vehicle function to be influenced in accordance with the actuation. Suitable devices for detecting the actuation can be known sensors, such as optical sensors or Hall sensors, which are provided in or on the control sculpture and assigned to it.

[0017] In a first preferred embodiment, the control sculpture is seamlessly integrated into the surrounding surface. This means that there is no joint between the control sculpture and the surrounding surface, but rather a closed surface is formed from which the control sculpture protrudes or into which it is recessed. This ensures that no dirt or moisture can penetrate the control sculpture through the joints, which could otherwise potentially lead to malfunctions or defects.

[0018] The seamless integration can preferably be achieved with an elastic material in the joint area and / or by a material-to-material connection between a surface of the control sculpture and the surrounding surface. Such an elastic material can be, for example, silicone, which can be used to seal any joint, thus creating a seamless surface. The elasticity of the material to be used allows the control sculpture to move within the maximum operating travel to be achieved.

[0019] A material connection can be achieved, for example, by welding a surface of the control sculpture to the surrounding surface. It is advantageous if the materials used to form the surface(s) of the control sculpture and / or the surrounding surface are flexible, at least in some areas, to provide the necessary actuation paths.

[0020] A multi-component injection molding process or a multi-raw material injection molding process also enables seamless integration of the control sculpture into its surrounding surface. In these processes, identical or different raw materials are processed into a component or assembly in multiple passes, allowing the creation of hard-soft joints or sealing areas. This also allows for a seamless connection between the control sculpture and its surrounding surface. However, the raw materials used should be selected so that they adhere to one another to ensure a permanent seal.

[0021] Another embodiment of the operating sculpture according to the invention provides that the operating sculpture is designed with a lever element which is moved when the operating sculpture is actuated in accordance with the actuating movement carried out and a device for detecting the movement of the lever element, wherein the movement of the lever element is detected with regard to the actuating direction, actuating angle and / or actuating intensity.

[0022] The control sculpture should therefore have a lever element. This should be understood as an element with a longitudinal extension that can be moved around a rotation point in the directions of the plane of the surface surrounding the control sculpture. This rotation point should be at the end that is furthest from the actuation area of ​​the control sculpture. The free end of the lever element faces this actuation area. For this purpose, the lever element is aligned essentially perpendicular to the plane of the surface surrounding the control sculpture. Accordingly, actuation of the control sculpture in the plane of the surface surrounding it leads to a deflection of the lever element around the aforementioned rotation point. One or more return elements ensure that the lever element returns to its original position after actuation of the control sculpture.

[0023] In order to detect this deflection or rotation and, derived from this, the actuation direction, the actuation angle and / or the actuation intensity, the operating sculpture also has a device for detecting the movement of the lever element. This can include Hall sensors, optical sensors and the like, but particularly preferred is detection by means of resistive strain gauges, which are designed and arranged such that when the operating sculpture and thus the lever element are actuated, the resistance in the resistive strain gauges changes as a result of tension or pressure on these areas and allows a conclusion to be drawn about the direction, the angle and / or the intensity of the actuation. For example, two strain gauges can interact in pairs on an axis that describes a movement forwards and backwards as well as to the right and left.Accordingly, in this example, four strain gauges would be provided in the device for detecting the movement of the lever element. This arrangement, combined with the small size, also allows for any orientation in between to be detected.

[0024] The actuation perpendicular to the plane surrounding the operating sculpture is also detected by suitable sensors provided in the device for detecting the movement of the lever element.

[0025] An example of this design is a joystick, whose functionality it is based on. This design of the control sculpture allows for precise handling and operation, requiring little to no space due to the limited actuation travel. Repositioning the user's hand is also unnecessary, as the lever element can be moved in all directions while remaining virtually stationary and thus immobile.

[0026] Preferably, actuation triggers visual and / or acoustic feedback. It may happen that a user does not feel the actuation path when activating the control sculpture and is therefore unsure whether the actuation has been successful. This can happen, for example, in poor road conditions. Therefore, actuation of the control sculpture is intended to trigger visual and / or acoustic feedback.

[0027] Visual feedback can, for example, be the adjustment of a display on a display device on which the vehicle function to be influenced and possible operating actions and their effect are shown. Such a display can be the central display in the dashboard area or the center console, but also a head-up display. Visual feedback also includes the display and adjustment of symbols in the vicinity of the control sculpture or another suitable location, whereby these symbols show the vehicle function to be influenced and the possible operating actions. These symbols can, for example, be designed as backlit symbols that become visible when a light source behind or below the symbol is switched on, but also in the form of tiny display devices that allow the display of different symbols depending on the vehicle function to be influenced.

[0028] Alternatively or additionally, acoustic feedback can be triggered. Tones or tone sequences can be used to indicate to the user of the control sculpture whether an operation was successful or not. The type of influence can also be indicated using tones and tone sequences, for example, an increase in the interior temperature with a rising tone sequence.

[0029] It is clear to the person skilled in the art that the implementation of the acoustic and / or visual feedback can be achieved through the interaction of the operating sculpture with the control device mentioned above and its influence on the corresponding devices for implementing the feedback.

[0030] The operating sculpture may comprise a device for providing haptic feedback, and this device should be arranged and mounted in such a way that the haptic feedback is provided only in the area of ​​the operating sculpture.

[0031] Haptic feedback is tangible feedback to the user following the operation of the control sculpture. Haptic feedback can be generated in various ways, for example actively using a vibration motor, an unbalance motor, a linear motor, a piezo motor, or by means of pulse application. Using one of these motors, masses are moved inside the control sculpture, causing vibration on its surface, or passively, with the haptic feedback resulting directly from the interaction between the operation of the control sculpture and a resulting primarily mechanical reaction, such as a cracking disc (also called a cracking frog). In addition to providing confirmation or feedback regarding the operation of the control sculpture, such haptic feedback can give the user the impression of a longer actuation path, which increases operating comfort.

[0032] However, the haptic feedback should remain limited to the area of ​​the control sculpture, and stimulation of the surface surrounding the control sculpture should be avoided as far as possible. To this end, the device for providing the haptic feedback must be arranged and mounted in such a way that the vibrations, impulses, and the like it generates are transmitted to the control sculpture and not to the surrounding surface. This can be achieved, for example, by decoupling the control sculpture or its surface from the surrounding surface, at least in part. This results in locally limited haptic feedback that can be clearly assigned to the control sculpture, improving ease of use and reducing the possibility of accidental misoperation.

[0033] It can be provided that the operating sculpture has a device for sensing an approach and / or a device for position-resolved sensing of an actuation.

[0034] On the one hand, the approach of a user or their hand is to be detected. If this is detected, the menu navigation, which can be operated using the control sculpture, or the vehicle function to be influenced can be shown on an associated display device. Another application example would be lighting on or around the control sculpture that is switched on when a user approaches. Sensing an approach can be advantageously used to prevent incorrect operation caused by bags or objects being passed past the control sculpture or by clothed body parts being passed over it when getting in, loading, or moving around. In the simplest case, the device for sensing an approach can be a known proximity sensor.

[0035] Alternatively or additionally, the actuation of the control sculpture should be sensed or detected with position resolution. Such position-resolved sensing is made possible by highly precise touch sensors that can detect movements as small as tenths of a millimeter. This ensures that the position of the finger during actuation is precisely recorded, allowing, for example, the movement of the finger along the surface of the control sculpture in the sense of a so-called "south" movement to be detected. Furthermore, actuation movements such as pushing and pressing can be more easily differentiated from one another. This also helps prevent incorrect operation.

[0036] To make it easier to operate the control sculpture, particularly when it is very small and / or has a low overall height, the control sculpture can have a tactile aid on its surface. Tactile aids are formations or profiles on the surface of the control sculpture that a user can perceive with their finger(s) and that allow them to see where and how large the actuation surface of the control sculpture is and, depending on the specific design, in which direction it can be moved. The tactile aid can comprise one or more surface elevations or depressions with which the control sculpture is formed and / or which have been subsequently applied or removed. It can also simply comprise a depression or curvature of the surface of the control sculpture.The presence of the tactile aid allows a haptic demarcation of the operating sculpture, especially if it is made of the same material as the surrounding surface, and thus significantly improves blind operation.

[0037] With regard to the manageability and ease of use of the control sculpture, the height of the control sculpture should be between 1.8 millimeters and 2.5 millimeters, preferably between 2.0 millimeters and 2.2 millimeters. Such a height allows for ergonomically comfortable operation of the control sculpture, since an operating sculpture height in this range provides a sufficiently large contact surface and, depending on the specific design, a sufficiently large leverage effect when operating the control sculpture so that it can be operated with little force, which can be around 5 Newtons, without damaging the control sculpture or causing the user an unpleasant feeling of pressure or pain when they overcome the force threshold of the control sculpture, i.e. the force necessary to move the control sculpture in the desired direction.A greater height is also advantageous because it allows for more precise operation due to the longer leverage.

[0038] The invention also claims a vehicle with at least one control sculpture according to the invention, in particular on a steering wheel of the vehicle. Accordingly, at least one control sculpture of the type described above is provided in a vehicle, for example, to select and play media, control the interior climate, select and control audio functions, telephone functions, and / or driver assistance systems. The control sculpture can be arranged on a steering wheel of the vehicle, but also at any other position that is appropriate or spatially assigned for influencing a vehicle function.

[0039] The control sculpture according to the invention proposes an intuitive and flexibly adaptable control option for a variety of vehicle functions, which requires minimal installation space and is also easy to operate without touch. Optional configurations further improve operating comfort.

[0040] The various embodiments of the invention mentioned in this application can be advantageously combined with one another, unless otherwise stated in the individual case.

[0041] The invention is explained below in exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. They show:

[0042] Figures 1a, 1b show a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of an operating sculpture according to the invention, and

[0043] Figure 2 shows a schematic diagram of a further design of the operating sculpture

[0044] Figures 1a and 1b show a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the control sculpture 10 according to the invention. It is designed, for example, as a generic control sculpture and can therefore be intended to select and adjust vehicle functions such as audio playback, interior climate control, interior lighting, and driver assistance systems. It can, for example, be provided as a steering wheel control and arranged on or at a steering wheel of a vehicle.

[0045] As can be seen from Figures 1a and 1b, the control sculpture 10 is designed as an elevation relative to the surrounding surface 12. It protrudes approximately 2.0 millimeters above it and has a base area of ​​approximately 1.2 by 1.2 centimeters. The control sculpture 10 can be moved, as illustrated by arrows 14.1 to 14.4, in the plane of the surrounding surface 12, as well as perpendicular to it (arrow 14.5). Any directions between the arrows

[0046] REVISED SHEET (RULE 91) ISA / EP 14.1 to 14.4 can be selected to implement diagonal actuation directions, for example. For example, if an audio function is controlled with control sculpture 10, directions 14.1 and 14.3 can be used to switch between music tracks, and directions 14.2 and 14.4 can be used to increase and decrease the volume.

[0047] The actuation travel d when operating the control sculpture 10 is only 0.4 millimeters, as shown in Figure 1b. This makes the control sculpture appear almost stationary, but the user still feels the movement when actuated. Nevertheless, only minimal installation space is required.

[0048] As can also be seen in Figure 1a, the control sculpture 10 is seamlessly integrated into the surrounding surface 12, creating a uniform exterior with the surrounding surface 12 and preventing dirt from penetrating the control sculpture 10. To achieve this seamless surface, the control sculpture 10 was manufactured together with the surrounding surface 12 using a multi-component injection molding process, which promises a good bond between the surface 12 and the control sculpture 10.

[0049] To improve the usability of the control sculpture 10, it features a tactile aid 18 in the form of a recess. This allows a user to easily perceive and operate the control sculpture, even without visual contact, despite its inherently low height.

[0050] Improved usability is also achieved if the control sculpture 10 has a device for providing haptic feedback (not shown). This device is intended to apply a vibration to the control sculpture 10, giving the user the impression of a longer actuation path and also communicating the success of their control action. This haptic feedback is not intended to be transmitted to the surrounding surface 12. To achieve this, the control sculpture 10 is mechanically decoupled from the seamless surface 12 below the surface.

[0051] Figure 2 shows a simplified cross-sectional view of how an operating sculpture 10 from Figure 1 can be designed with a lever element 16 and detection devices 17 for movements of the lever element 16. When the operating sculpture 10 is actuated, the lever element 16 is moved, and this movement is detected by the detection devices 17, which can preferably be resistive strain gauges. These detection devices 17 can be used to detect the actuation direction, the actuation intensity, and the actuation angle when moving the operating sculpture 10. Return devices (not shown) return the lever element 16 to its starting position. This design results in simple and very precise operability, particularly when a cursor function in a selection menu is to be operated using the operating sculpture 10.

[0052] List of reference symbols

[0053] 10 Operating sculpture

[0054] 12 surrounding surface

[0055] 14 operating directions

[0056] 16 Lever element

[0057] 17 Detection device for movements of the lever element

[0058] 18 Sensor aid d Actuation travel

Claims

Patent claims Operating sculpture (10) for influencing vehicle functions, wherein the operating sculpture (10) is arranged or designed as an elevation or depression relative to a surface (12) surrounding it in a vehicle, is to be actuated in the plane of the surface (12) surrounding it and perpendicular to this plane, and has an actuation path (d) in the plane of the surface (12) surrounding it of 0.4 millimeters or less. Operating sculpture (10) according to claim 1, wherein the operating sculpture (10) is seamlessly integrated into the surface (12) surrounding it. Operating sculpture (10) according to claim 2, wherein the seamless integration is realized with an elastic material in the joint region and / or by a material-to-material connection of a surface of the operating sculpture (10) to the surface (12) surrounding it. Operating sculpture (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the operating sculpture (10) is designed with a lever element which, when the operating sculpture (10) is actuated, is moved in accordance with the actuating movement carried out, and with a device (17) for detecting the movement of the lever element, wherein the movement of the lever element is detected with regard to the actuating direction, actuating angle and / or actuating intensity.Control sculpture (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that actuation triggers visual and / or acoustic feedback. Control sculpture (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control sculpture has a device for providing haptic feedback, and this device is arranged and mounted in such a way. is that the haptic feedback is provided only in the area of ​​the operating sculpture (10). Operating sculpture (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the operating sculpture (10) has a device for sensing an approach and / or a device for position-resolved sensing of an actuation. Operating sculpture (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the operating sculpture (10) has a sensing aid (18) on its surface. Operating sculpture (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the height of the operating sculpture (10) is in the range between 1.8 millimeters and 2.5 millimeters, preferably in the range between 2.0 millimeters and 2.2 millimeters. Vehicle with at least one control sculpture (10) according to one of the preceding claims, in particular on a steering wheel of the vehicle.

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