Operation Unit

Abstract

To provide a vehicular operation unit like a Central Input Device (CID) which facilitates attachment of a movable operation bar, and which is for, in particular, operating one or multiple components of a vehicle.SOLUTION: A vehicular operation unit includes a housing 12 having an operation bar 18 on a front side 14. The operation bar 18 is supported in the housing by a support member 24, and the support member 24 is elastically attached, at a rear end thereof and in the front area, to the housing 12. A rear attachment member 30 having an elastically twistable strut 38 is thus provided at the rear end of the support member 24. The strut 38 is substantially in parallel with an imaginary connecting line 44 between side ends 22 of the operation bar 18.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates in particular to a vehicle operation unit such as a central input device (CID) for operating one or more parts of a vehicle. The operation unit may or may not be configured with a display device.

Background Art

[0002] In the prior art, vehicle central input devices with or without a display unit are known. The type of operation unit to which the present invention pertains includes an operation bar protruding from the front or upper surface of the housing. Examples of such operation units include those described in International Publication No. WO 2016 / 012241 and International Publication No. WO 2016 / 012243.

[0003] In order to be able to execute as many operation functions as possible with a manually operable operation bar, this operation bar is required to be relatively long. The disadvantage of a relatively long operation bar is that, regardless of at which position it is actuated (by pushing or pulling), it requires mechanical and structural effort to make the kinematic behavior of the operation bar as constant as possible. This is because it is required that the fact that the operation bar has been effectively pushed, that is, pushed so that the intended operation function is activated, can be reliably detected by the sensor system regardless of the actuation location of the operation bar.

[0004] When the operation bar is long, there is a tendency for it to deform before it is itself actuated, to the extent that the sensor system senses the effective actuation of the operation bar. By adding electronic hardware and software and providing a plurality of force sensors or position sensors distributed along the length of the operation bar, it is possible to compensate for the fact that the operation bar exhibits different behaviors depending on the actuation location until the effective actuation of the operation bar is detected. However, this is quite laborious in terms of structure and installation.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005] Patent Document 1 International Publication No. 2016 / 012241 Patent Document 2 International Publication No. 2016 / 012243 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle operation unit such as a central input device (CID) for operating one or more parts of a vehicle, which is easy to attach a movable operation bar. MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEMS

[0007] To solve the above problems, according to the present invention, there is proposed a vehicle operation unit such as a central input device (CID) for operating one or more parts of a vehicle, the operation unit including: a housing having a front surface; an operation bar protruding from the front surface and movable between a stationary position and an operating position, the operation bar having an operation surface including a plurality of operation panels that can be actuated by a manual or actuating body arranged in the longitudinal direction of the operation bar and between two side ends of the operation bar to activate an operation function; a sensor system for detecting effective actuation of the operation bar; a support member connected to the operation bar and extending further into the housing from the operation bar, the support member having a rear end not facing the operation bar and two side ends adjacent to the side ends of the operation bar; a mounting device arranged in the housing, the mounting device being for movably mounting the support member when the operation bar moves from the stationary position to the operating position and back; the support member being movably and resiliently mounted to the mounting device, The attachment device has at least one rear attachment member for the rear end of the support member and at least one front attachment member, and this front attachment member faces the end of the support member opposite to the operation bar and / or cooperates with the operation bar and is formed elastically. Each of the at least one or each rear attachment member has an elastically twistable support column having a major axis, and between the fixed end of the rear attachment member where this support column is firmly fixed within the housing and the connection end of the rear attachment member where the support column is firmly connected to the rear end of the support member, the support column extends substantially parallel to the virtual connection line connecting the two side ends of the operation bar.

[0008] The operation unit according to the present invention includes a housing having a front surface or an upper surface (hereinafter always referred to as the front surface), and an operation bar protrudes from this front surface. The operation bar has an operation surface including a plurality of operation panels that can be actuated by a manual or actuating body arranged in the longitudinal direction of the operation bar and between the two side ends of the operation bar in order to activate the operation function. The operation bar is movable about a rotation axis (which can also be virtual) between a stationary position and an actuated position. The operation bar is connected to a support member or is part of a support member that extends into or within the housing from the operation bar, and it is desirable that the rear end of the support member is as far away from the operation bar as possible. An attachment device is provided within the housing, and by this attachment device, the support member is movably attached between its stationary position and its actuated position, and since this attachment is recoverable, after the operation bar is actuated, the operation bar automatically returns from its actuated position to its stationary position. The attachment device has at least one rear attachment member for the rear end of the support member and at least one front attachment member, and this front attachment member faces the (front) end of the support member opposite to the operation bar and / or cooperates with the operation bar itself and is formed elastically in the same manner as the rear attachment member. The attachment member may be an integral part of the support member and / or the operation bar.

[0009] The rear attachment member has at least one elastically twistable strut having a major axis and thus a longitudinal direction. The major axis of the at least one elastically twistable strut is parallel to the virtual connection line between the two side ends of the operating bar. Between these two side ends, the operating bar may be curved or straight, for example for design reasons. Inside the housing, the strut is firmly connected and fixed to the housing at one of its ends, namely the fixed end, while the other end, namely the connection end, is firmly connected to the rear end of the support member.

[0010] To move it from its rest position to the operating position, at least one strut of the rear attachment member is twisted when the operating bar is pushed, pulled or pushed in. The movement of the operating bar back to its rest position can likewise be supported by at least one front attachment member which is elastically formed. The twistable strut enables the operating bar to be pivoted or rotated uniformly regardless of the operating point on the operating bar. At this time, the axis of rotation extends within the strut or at least in the vicinity of the strut (in the latter case as a virtual axis of rotation).

[0011] To improve the stability of the rotational or pivoting movement of the operating bar, it is beneficial for the operating bar or the support member to have two front attachment members arranged in the region of the side ends of the support member and / or the side ends of the operating bar.

[0012] To make the kinematic characteristics of the support member, the operating bar and the attachment device as stable and as constant as possible regardless of the operating point, it is beneficial for at least two rear attachment members each having one elastically twistable strut to be provided at the rear end of the support member.

[0013] The elastically twistable struts of each rear attachment member are preferably formed as rods having a circular or polygonal cross-section. The entire rear end of the support member, and advantageously the support member itself, may be composed of an elastically deformable plastic, and this plastic structure is sufficiently reinforced to achieve the desired effect, namely movement about the axis of rotation. Instead of forming the rear end of each rear attachment member or support member from plastic, each rear attachment member may have a leaf spring made of metal, preferably spring steel. Preferably, this leaf spring stands substantially vertically, and one of its two main sides (corresponding to the main side facing the support member) faces the operating bar, while the other does not face the operating bar. In the present invention, with respect to the "vertical" arrangement of the strut formed as a flat material piece (made of spring steel or plastic), even if it is inclined at less than 45° with respect to the vertical line, it is considered "vertical".

[0014] Therefore, in this regard, the "vertical" arrangement of a flat material piece made of metal, especially spring steel or plastic, is distorted between its two ends, that is, between the fixed end on the housing side and the connection end on the support member side. This distortion or twisting movement is distinguished from the elastic deformation of the flat material piece when the flat material piece is horizontally arranged.

[0015] When the strut is configured as a flat material piece in a vertical plane, during twisting, there is substantially one axis within the flat material piece, and with respect to this axis, a part of one surface of the flat material piece is deformed in a direction opposite to the deformation direction of the part on the opposite side of the flat material piece.

[0016] Therefore, as described above, it is beneficial that the strut of at least one or each rear attachment member is formed as a flat material piece having two main sides, and the main sides of this flat material piece are vertical or inclined at less than 45° with respect to the vertical line.

[0017] As already described above, it may be beneficial for the mounting device to have two rear mounting members, with the two struts extending from a common fixed end in opposite directions to their respective connection ends, and at these connection ends, the struts being firmly connected to the rear end of the support member. In this case, the two struts extend from a common fixed end disposed substantially at the center of the two struts in opposite directions to their respective connection ends. Here, since the two struts are integrally connected to each other at their fixed ends to form a common strut, defining a central fixing portion of the common strut, and it is also beneficial for the common strut to extend from this central fixing portion in opposite directions to the connection ends connected to the support member. The struts, so to speak, have two arms in exactly opposite directions to each other.

[0018] This structure can also be reversed without changing the kinematic and mechanical properties by combining the two struts of the two rear mounting members into one at the connection ends connected to the support member and extending from these connection ends in opposite directions to their respective fixed ends. Also in this regard, since the two struts form a common strut at their connection ends, they are integrally connected to each other, defining a central connection portion of the common strut, and at this central connection portion, the common strut is connected to the support member, and it is preferable for the common strut to extend from this central connection portion in opposite directions to the fixed ends firmly fixed directly or indirectly within the housing.

[0019] In another useful aspect of the present invention, the support member may be formed as a flat plate disposed at its center in the longitudinal direction of the operating bar.

[0020] Instead of the above-described aspect of the present invention, the support member may have two support arms connected to the operating bar, the support arms being symmetrically arranged with respect to a virtual symmetry line that intersects the extending direction of the operating bar and passes through its center, and in each support arm, a rear mounting member may be disposed at the rear end that does not face the operating bar.

[0021] As already described above, it may be preferable that the attachment device has two front attachment members, and these front attachment members are arranged to face each other at the two side ends of the support member or at the two side end portions of the operation bar.

[0022] Further, it may be beneficial if at least one or each rear attachment member is an integral part of the rear end of the support member, or if the support member has a support arm, it is an integral part of the rear end of the support arm of the support member.

[0023] Also, as already explained, it is suitable and beneficial that the strut of at least one or each rear attachment member is formed as a leaf spring made of plastic, spring steel, or other elastic material.

[0024] In another useful aspect of the present invention, the spring of at least one or each front attachment member may be formed as a leaf spring made of plastic or spring steel, or as a coil spring made of plastic or spring steel.

[0025] As already explained above, in order to detect the effective operation of the operation bar, the sensor system needs to detect a predetermined minimum movement amount of the operation bar from the rest position to the operation position thus defined. For this purpose, the sensor system has at least two force sensors and / or position sensors for detecting the force applied during the operation of the operation bar and / or the distance by which the operation bar moves during operation, and an evaluation unit. This evaluation unit receives a measurement signal from the sensor and uses this measurement signal to generate a signal representing the operation position on the operation bar and a signal representing the effective operation of the operation bar, which is also beneficial. Since the measured values supplied from at least two, preferably up to five sensors are characteristic for each operation position on the operation bar, it is possible to read from the "measured value image" of the force sensor or position sensor at which position the operation bar was operated.

[0026] Alternatively, the operation bar may be a touch film disposed within or on the operation bar as a position detection sensor system, the touch film outputting a signal representing the operating position when the operation bar is touched and / or activated, at least one force sensor and / or position sensor for detecting the force applied when the operation bar is activated and / or the distance the operation bar moves when activated, and an evaluation unit, the evaluation unit receiving signals from the at least one sensor and the touch film and using these signals to generate a signal representing the operating position on the operation bar and a signal representing the effective operation of the operation bar.

[0027] The operation unit according to the present invention has a display unit with a display surface disposed above and / or below the operation bar for displaying character information and / or graphic information regarding the operation functions assigned to the respective operation panels, has a display unit with a display surface integrated into the operation bar for displaying character information and / or graphic information regarding the operation functions assigned to the respective operation panels, or it is also beneficial to have invariant character information and / or graphic information such as symbols and icons on the operation bar.

[0028] Finally, for comfortable operation of the operation bar, it is beneficial for the operation unit to include a passive or active tactile feedback unit for generating audio and / or tactile feedback during effective operation of the operation bar. The passive tactile feedback unit can be realized, for example, by a mechanical switch that can also be used to convey the effective operation of the operation bar in addition to the tactile function during operation. In the active tactile feedback unit, the support member or the operation bar is mechanically and pulsatingly excited, which can be realized, for example, by an actuator such as a piezoelectric actuator or an electromagnetic actuator.

[0029] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings using a plurality of embodiments.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0030]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figures 5 - 11

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0031] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an operation unit 10 including a housing 12 having a front surface 14. An operation bar 18 protrudes from an opening 16 in the front surface 14 of the housing 12, and by pushing this, the operation bar 18 can be moved from the stationary position shown in FIG. 1 to the operating position. Similarly, by lifting, the operation bar 18 can also be moved from the illustrated stationary position to the operating position. Also, by both pushing and lifting, the operation bar 18 can be moved from the central or stationary position to two different operating positions. The amount of movement of the operation bar between the stationary position and the (each) operating position is usually very small.

[0032] The operation bar 18 has a plurality of operation panels 20 (five operation panels in this embodiment) arranged between two side end portions 22 of the operation bar 18.

[0033] In FIGS. 2 and 3, the operation bar 18 is held by the support member 24, and the support member 24 extends further into the housing 20 from the operation bar 18. Therefore, it can be seen that the housing 20 has an opening 26 at its front surface 14. Inside the housing 12, the support member 24 is attached to its rear end 28. For this reason, in the present embodiment, a rear attachment member 30 described later is used. The rear attachment member 30 constitutes a part of the attachment device 34 together with at least one (two in the present embodiment) front attachment members 32. The front attachment member 32 is provided on the side edge 36 of the support member 24 in the region of the operation bar 18, specifically in the region of the side end 22 of the operation bar 18. In FIG. 2, the position of another front attachment member 32 is shown by a dashed line. However, in the embodiment of FIG. 2, the attachment member (shown by a dashed line) arranged at the central height of the operation bar 18 may be a single front attachment member or an additional front attachment member.

[0034] In the present embodiment, the rear attachment members 30 are each formed as a twistable support column 38 in the shape of a flat material piece 40 made of spring steel, that is, as a leaf spring 42. The flat material pieces 40 of each leaf spring 42 are formed vertically and extend parallel to the virtual connection line 44 between the two side ends 22 of the operation bar 18. At the center of each leaf spring 42, on one of its main side surfaces 46, 48, the leaf spring 42 is firmly fixed to a fixing member 50 such as a fixed block inside the housing 12. The leaf spring 42 extends on both sides of this fixing member 50 and constitutes two elastically twistable support columns 38. Therefore, the two support columns 38 are integrally formed, and the leaf spring 42 constitutes the fixed ends of the two support columns 38 at its central part, while the parts extending in the opposite direction of the leaf spring constitute the connection ends 54 of each support column with the rear end 28 of the support member 24 at both of its ends. At the connection end 54, the support column 38 is firmly connected to the support member 24. The ease of twisting and the degree of elasticity of the support column 38 are determined by the selection of the material of the support column 38, its geometric shape, and / or the length of the "exposed" area of the leaf spring 42, that is, the twistable area 43.

[0035] The front attachment member 32 extends between the operating bar 28 or the support member 24 and the housing. As will be described later, in addition to the (respective) rear attachment members 30, the elastic front attachment member 32 formed in the shape of a spring tongue as the leaf spring 55 supports the return movement of the actuated operating bar 18.

[0036] As can be seen from FIG. 2, since the leaf spring 42 is exposed in the region 43 between the connection end 54 and the fixed end 52 of the support column 38, when the operating bar 18 is actuated by being pushed or pulled (or lifted), the leaf spring 42 is twisted in this exposed region. During this operation, the leaf spring 55 of the front attachment member 32 also deforms. Then, when the actuating force is released, the operating bar 18 automatically returns to the stationary position by the leaf spring 42 of the rear attachment member 30 and the leaf spring 55 of the front attachment member 32.

[0037] FIG. 3 also shows a perspective view of the support member 24 having the operating bar 18 and the arrangement of the various leaf springs 42, 55 at the rear end and the side edge of the support member 24 (without the fixed member 50 of the housing).

[0038] FIG. 4 shows a modification of the attachment device 34 of the embodiment according to FIGS. 2 and 3. In this embodiment, when the components of the operating unit are structurally or functionally the same as those of the operating unit according to FIGS. 2 and 3, the same reference numerals as in FIGS. 2 and 3 are given in FIG. 4.

[0039] The leaf spring 55 of the front attachment member 32 is rotated by 90° with respect to the orientation in the embodiment according to FIGS. 2 and 3. Two pairs of attachment members 30 each configured in the same manner as in FIGS. 2 and 3 are provided at the rear end 28 of the support member 24.

[0040] Figures 2 to 4 further show a sensor system and an electronic device used to detect contact with the operation bar 18 and effective operation of the operation bar 18, respectively. According to FIGS. 2 and 4, the operation bar 18 has a plurality of force sensors or position sensors 56 (four sensors in this embodiment) distributed and arranged over the length or width of the operation bar 18. These sensors detect the effective operation of the operation bar 18 by detecting the amount of deformation or movement of the area of the operation bar 18 during operation. On the other hand, using the measured value images of these sensors 56, it is also possible to detect at which position the operation bar 18 was operated. Instead of position detection via a plurality of sensors 56, the operation bar 18 may have a touch film 58 shown by a dashed line in FIGS. 2 and 4. In any such position selection, in any case, at least one force sensor or position sensor is required to detect the effective operation of the operation bar 18, that is, the minimum movement amount of the operation bar 18 required to activate the operation function.

[0041] In either case, the signal of the sensor system is supplied to an evaluation control unit 60 including, for example, a microcontroller having corresponding peripheral devices and components (such as an I / O interface, a CPU, and a memory). When the effective operation of the operation bar 18 is detected, the evaluation control unit 60 outputs, for example, a control signal to the actuator 64 to pulse and mechanically excite the operation bar 18 or the support member 24, and thus can output a tactile feedback for confirming the effective operation of the operation bar 18. Such a tactile feedback system is basically known in the prior art. In this embodiment, this feedback system is an active type. However, for example, it may be a passive feedback system having a mechanical switch such as a button and using its position-force characteristics for generating tactile feedback.

[0042] Figures 5 to 11 schematically show other embodiments of the rear attachment member 30. This rear attachment member 30 is usually integrally formed with the support member 24 including plastic. In Figures 5 to 11, when the components of the support member 24 and the rear attachment member 30 are structurally or functionally the same as those in Figures 2 to 4, the same reference numerals as in Figures 2 to 4 are used in Figures 5 to 11.

[0043] Figure 5 shows a state in which two columns 38 of the rear attachment member 30 (for example, having a rectangular cross section and made of plastic, for example) extend from the central fixing member 66 in opposite directions to the inner connection ends 54 of the two support arms 68. The central fixing member 66 is firmly fixed within a housing (not shown). Here, when a force is applied to the operation bar 18, the column 38 elastically twists between its fixed end 52 and the connection end 54, and further returns to its original state by the front attachment member 32, that is, its leaf spring-like leaf spring 55.

[0044] Figure 6 shows an embodiment in which two columns 38 of the rear attachment member 30 (for example, also made of plastic and having a rectangular cross section) project laterally in opposite directions from the central rear extension 69 of the support member 24. At the outer fixed end 52, the two columns 38 are connected to a fixed block 70 fixed within the housing. When the operation bar 18 is displaced, the column 38 twists and returns to its original state when the application of force to the operation bar 18 ends.

[0045] Figure 7 shows a modified example of the configuration of the rear attachment member 30 similar to that in Figure 5. The central fixing member 66 is rotated 90° with respect to the embodiment according to Figure 5 and is fixed to, for example, a rear housing wall (not shown).

[0046] FIG. 8 shows the configuration of the rear end of the support member 24. The support member 24 is provided with an opening 72 configured as a recess with a part of it open on one side. As a result, a twistable support column 38 that constitutes the rear attachment member 30 is formed. In the housing, this structure is fixed to the central fixing block 74. When a force is applied to the operation bar 18, the rear region of the support member 24 elastically deforms.

[0047] FIG. 9 shows a mode similar to that of FIG. 6, so the same reference numerals are given to the structurally or functionally same parts. Also in this embodiment, two support arms 68 reinforced by ribs 76 extend from the rear end of the support member. The twistable support column 38 extends from the end of the support arm 68 to the fixing block 70 and behaves in the same manner as described for FIG. 6, for example.

[0048] FIGS. 10 and 11 show the mode of the rear end of the support member 24 provided with a plurality of openings 72. As a result, a twistable support column 38 that elastically deforms when the operation bar 18 is pushed or lifted is formed. 78 indicates a fixing point or a fixing position in the housing where the rear structure of the support member 24 is fixed in FIGS. 10 and 11. For example, in the embodiment of FIG. 11, in addition to being elastically formed by the opening 72, elastic attachment is supported by relatively narrowing the support member 24 itself.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0049] 10 Operation unit 12 Housing 14 Front surface 16 Opening 18 Operation bar 20 Operation panel 22 Side end of the operation bar 24 Support member for the operation bar 26 Opening of the housing 28 Rear end of the support member 30 Rear attachment member 32 Front attachment member 34 Attachment device Side edge of the support member 36 Strut of the rear attachment member 38 Flat material piece 40 Leaf spring of the rear attachment member 42 Torsion - possible region of the leaf spring 43 Virtual connection line 44 Main side surface of the leaf spring of the rear attachment member 46 Main side surface of the leaf spring of the rear attachment member 48 Fixing member for the leaf spring of the rear attachment member 50 Fixed end of the strut 52 Connection end of the strut 54 Leaf spring (spring tongue piece) of the front attachment member 55 Position sensor or force sensor 56 Touch - type film 58 Evaluation control unit 60 Actuator 64 Central fixing member 66 Support arm of the support member 68 Central rear extension of the support member 69 Fixing block 70 Opening 72 Fixing block 74[[ID=4३]] Reinforcing rib 76 Fixing point of the support member in the housing 78

Claims

1. A vehicle operation unit, such as a central input device (CID), for operating one or more parts of a vehicle, comprising: a housing (12) having a front face (14); an operating bar (18) protruding from the front face (14) and movable between a rest position and an operating position, the operating bar (18) having an operating surface including a plurality of operating panels (20) that can be actuated by a manual or actuating body arranged in the longitudinal direction of the operating bar (18) and between two side ends (22) of the operating bar (18) for activating an operating function; a sensor system (56, 58) for detecting the operating position on the operating surface of the operating bar (18) and for detecting effective actuation of the operating bar (18); a support member (24) connected to the operating bar (18) and extending further into the housing (12) from the operating bar (18), the support member (24) having a rear end (28) not facing the operating bar (18) and two side ends (36) adjacent to the side ends (22) of the operating bar (18); a mounting device (34) arranged in the housing (12), the mounting device (34) being for movably mounting the support member (24) when the operating bar (18) moves from the rest position to the operating position and back; the support member (24) being movably and resiliently mounted to the mounting device (34); the mounting device (34) having at least one rear mounting member (30) for the rear end (28) of the support member (24) and at least one front mounting member (32), the front mounting member (32) being formed elastically and cooperating with the end of the support member (24) facing the operating bar (18) and / or the operating bar (18); the at least one or each rear mounting member (30) having an elastically twistable strut (38) with a major axis, the strut (38) extending substantially parallel to a virtual connection line (44) connecting the two side ends (22) of the operating bar (18) between a fixed end (52) of the rear mounting member (30) firmly fixed in the housing (12) and a connection end (54) of the rear mounting member (30) where the strut (38) is firmly connected to the rear end (28) of the support member (24).

2. The operation unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the column (38) of at least one or each of the rear attachment members (30) is formed as a rod having a circular or polygonal cross-section.

3. The operation unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the column (38) of at least one or each of the rear attachment members (30) is formed as a flat material piece (40) having two main side surfaces (46, 48), and the main side surfaces (46, 48) of this flat material piece (40) are perpendicular or inclined at less than 45° with respect to the vertical line.

4. The operation unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the attachment device (34) has two rear attachment members (30), and the two columns (38) extend from a common fixed end (52) in opposite directions to respective connection ends (54), and at this connection end (54), the column (38) is firmly connected to the rear end (28) of the support member (24).

5. The operation unit according to claim 4, characterized in that the two columns (38) are integrally connected to each other at their fixed ends (52) to form a common column (38), defining a central fixing portion of the common column (38), and from this central fixing portion, the common column (38) extends in opposite directions to the connection ends (54) connected to the support member (24).

6. The operation unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the attachment device (34) has two rear attachment members (30), and the two columns (38) extend from a common connection end (54) connected to the support member (24) in opposite directions to respective fixed ends (52), and at this fixed end (52), the column (38) is firmly fixed directly or indirectly within the housing (12).

7. The operation unit according to claim 6, characterized in that the two columns (38) are integrally connected to each other at their connection ends (54) to form a common column (38), defining a central connection portion of the common column (38), and at this central connection portion, the common column (38) is connected to the support member (24), and from this central connection portion, the common column (38) extends in opposite directions to the fixed ends (52) firmly fixed directly or indirectly within the housing (12).

8. The operation unit according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the support member (24) is formed as a flat plate disposed at the center in the longitudinal direction of the operation bar (18).

9. The support member (24) has two support arms (68) connected to the operation bar (18), or two support arms (68) protrude from the rear end (28) of the support member (24), and the support arms (68) are symmetrically arranged with respect to a virtual symmetry line that intersects the extending direction of the operation bar (18) and passes through its center. In each support arm (68), a rear attachment member (30) is disposed at the rear end (28) that does not face the operation bar (18). The operation unit according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by the above.

10. The attachment device (34) has two front attachment members (32), and the front attachment members (32) are arranged opposite to each other at the two side ends (36) of the support member (24) or the two side end portions (22) of the operation bar (18). The operation unit according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by the above.

11. The at least one or each rear attachment member (30) is an integral part of the rear end (28) of the support member (24), or when the support member (24) has a support arm (68), it is an integral part of the rear end of the support arm (68) of the support member (24). The operation unit according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by the above.

12. The support column (38) of the at least one or each rear attachment member (30) is formed as a leaf spring (42) made of plastic or spring steel. The operation unit according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by the above.

13. The at least one or each front attachment member (32) is formed as a leaf spring (55) made of plastic or spring steel, or as a coil spring made of plastic or spring steel. The operation unit according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by the above.

14. The sensor system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, comprising at least two force sensors and / or position sensors (56) for detecting the force applied during the operation of the operation bar (18) and / or the distance by which the operation bar (18) moves during operation, and an evaluation unit (60), the evaluation unit (60) receiving a measurement signal from the sensor (56) and using the measurement signal to generate a signal representing the operating position of the operation bar (18) and a signal representing the effective operation of the operation bar (18).

15. The sensor system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, comprising a touch film (58) disposed within or on the operation bar (18), the touch film (58) outputting a signal representing the operating position upon contact and / or operation of the operation bar (18), at least one force sensor and / or position sensor (56) for detecting the force applied during the operation of the operation bar (18) and / or the distance by which the operation bar (18) moves during operation, and an evaluation unit (60), the evaluation unit (60) receiving signals from the at least one sensor (56) and the touch film (58) and using the signals to generate a signal representing the operating position of the operation bar (18) and a signal representing the effective operation of the operation bar (18).

16. A display unit having a display surface disposed above and / or below the operation bar (18) for displaying character information and / or graphic information regarding the operation functions assigned to the respective operation panels (20), A display unit having a display surface integrated with the operation bar (18) for displaying character information and / or graphic information regarding the operation functions assigned to the respective operation panels (20), or The operation unit according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the operation bar (18) is provided with fixed character information and / or graphic information such as symbols and icons.

17. The operation unit according to any one of claims 1 to 7, comprising a passive or active tactile feedback unit having an actuator (64) for generating audio and / or tactile feedback during effective operation of the operation bar (18).

Images