Operating device for attachment to transport equipment

Abstract

An operating device (10, 10') for attachment to a transportation device comprises a housing (12) and an operating element (14, 14') movably mounted in and / or on the housing (12) and manually transferable from a stationary state to a functionally activated state. The operating device (10, 10') further comprises a switch (22) operable by the operating element (14, 14') when the operating element (14, 14') is manually transferred to the functionally activated state, a holding force generating unit (26, 26') for generating a holding force that holds the operating element (14, 14') stationary, and a control unit (32) for electrically controlling the holding force generating unit to set the holding force.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This application claims priority from German Patent Application No. 10 2020 111 839.2, filed April 30, 2020, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The present invention relates to a handling device for attachment to a transport device. [Background technology]

[0003] Operating devices for attachment to transport equipment are known in various configurations. Such operating devices include, for example, individually depressible keys, slide switches, toggle switches or rocker switches, and / or press / rotary actuators. What all these operating elements have in common is that a predetermined, structurally specific, actuation force threshold must be manually exceeded in order to activate the operating function or, in the case of a rotary actuator, to manually rotate it further.

[0004] However, it may be desirable to be able to change the actuation force threshold and therefore the switching moment in order to set different functions or to so-called "personalize" the operating element. This makes it possible, for example, to adapt the operating element structure of an operating device to the transport equipment of various transport equipment manufacturers. Each transport equipment manufacturer can define different actuation force thresholds and therefore different switching moments according to its "operating philosophy."

[0005] It is known that in latching, position-adjustable operating elements, such as rotary actuators, the force that slides a latch protrusion on a latch gate from one latch position to another is set and changed magnetically. Such operating elements, with their tactile sensitivity adjustable, are known from German Patent Application Publication No. 10 2008 060 256. Such purely mechanical latching devices do not allow the latch position to be changed. For this reason, it is known, for example from International Application No. 2007 / 135169, to configure the latch position to be electromagnetically adjustable. This is achieved by coupling a rotary actuator to the rotor shaft of an electric motor. A current is applied to the electric motor at selectable rotational positions, allowing the location of the stop position and the force that holds the rotor in this stop position to be selectively set.

[0006] German Patent Application Publication No. 10 2018 217 865 discloses an operating installation with a balance mass that helps return a depressed operating element to its initial position after activation.

[0007] From German Patent Application Publication No. 10 2011 089 400 and German Patent No. 10 2019 201 901 other operating elements with different kinematic elements for motor vehicles are known.

[0008] Furthermore, an earlier filed patent application, later published as WO 2020 / 234025, discloses an operating unit for a transport device, in which an apparatus for maintaining an operating element in its rest position is equipped with an electromagnetic clamp. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0009] The object of the present invention is to realize a simple principle for an operating device to be attached to a transport device, in which one or more operating elements can be easily changed in terms of one or more force thresholds to be manually exceeded. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] In order to solve this problem, the present invention proposes an operating device for attachment to a transport device, the operating device comprising: Housing and an operating element movably mounted in and / or on the housing and manually transferable from a rest state to a functional operating state; a switch operable by the operating element when the operating element is manually switched to a functionally activated state; a holding force generating unit for generating a holding force that holds the operating element stationary; and a control unit for electrically controlling the holding force generating unit to set a maximum holding force, the maximum holding force being able to be reduced when the operating element is touched in order to produce a tactile sensation typical for actuation of the operating element. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] The operating device according to the present invention has at least one operating element movably mounted in and / or on a housing and manually transferable from a rest state to a functionally activated state. The operating element is assigned a switch that can be activated by the operating element when the operating element is manually transferred to the functionally activated state. The switch can be operated purely mechanically, but can also be embodied as an optically, capacitively, or inductively activated switch. Each operating element is assigned a holding-force generating unit that can set a holding force that holds the operating element in a rest state. The holding-force generating unit determines a force threshold that must be manually exceeded to effectively activate the operating element. Since the holding-force generating unit is not primarily intended to block the operating element, the operating element can be further pressed, for example, if the force threshold is exceeded by manual activation. However, the holding-force generating unit is not primarily intended to operate the operating element. One or more holding-force generating units are assigned a control unit. The control unit generates an electrical control signal for each holding-force generating unit, which determines the set holding force.

[0012] According to the principles of the present invention, a different force threshold is defined for each of a plurality of operating elements. The force threshold is a value that must be manually exceeded in order for the corresponding operating element to be effectively activated. This allows for so-called personalization of the operating device for attachment to a transport device. In particular, the force thresholds of the operating elements are defined differently depending on the menu. Ultimately, however, the force with which the operating element can be activated can also be set by the control unit and the holding force generating unit. In other words, the force-deflection curve of the operating element can be changed not only statistically but also dynamically.

[0013] In one advantageous embodiment of the invention, the holding force generating unit can comprise an electromagnet with a stator and an armature having an electric coil, and the control unit can be connected to the electric coil for controlling the electric coil of the electromagnet. The force threshold can be particularly advantageously and easily determined by the electromagnet, for example, by the magnitude of the coil current and / or the air gap between the stator and the armature and / or the overlapping area of ​​the magnetic force acting surfaces of the stator and the armature. The magnitude and settability of the force threshold can also depend on the direction in which the stator and the armature move relative to each other once the set force threshold is exceeded. Thus, the stator and the armature can move further away from each other at this moment, the air gap can change, or the air gap can remain the same but the stator and the armature can move transversely relative to their separation distance.

[0014] In the above-mentioned example of an electromagnet, a coil current, i.e., the application of electrical energy, is required to define the holding force when the operating element is in a stationary state. However, by making the holding force adjustable, it is advantageous that no electrical energy is required to apply the holding force. In one development of the invention, it is proposed to use a permanent electromagnetic clamp as the holding force generating unit. In such an electromagnetic clamp, the magnetic holding force is provided by an electromagnetic current generated by a permanent magnet. Here, too, this holding force can be set, for example, by the size of the air gap in the magnetic circuit. It is also possible to set the holding force by selecting the permanent magnet. By applying a current to the electric coil of the permanent magnet, the electromagnetic current generated by the permanent electromagnetic clamp is canceled, thereby setting the holding force. Finally, it is also possible to use a (pure) permanent magnet as the holding force generating unit. In this case, the holding force can be set by the structure or by the selection of the permanent magnet.

[0015] In a further embodiment of the present invention, the operating device may include a contact sensor for detecting contact with the operating element. When the contact sensor detects contact with the operating element, it sends a detection signal to the control unit, and the control unit controls the holding force generating unit accordingly to set a desired holding force that acts on the contacted operating element in its resting state. In this way, the holding force of the operating element in its resting position can be determined. The holding force is only reduced by a desired amount (typically) the moment contact with the operating element is detected. This prevents the operating element from making "clacking" noises, so that excessively large forces do not need to be exceeded when manually operating the operating element.

[0016] In a further advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the operating element has an operating surface with a plurality of operating fields, and the contact sensor provides a different detection signal to the control unit depending on the operating field in which contact is detected, and the control unit is configured to control the holding force generating unit with a different control signal in response to the different detection signals to generate different holding forces. Depending on which operating field is touched, the force threshold that the operating element needs to be pressed down to activate a function operable by the corresponding operating field can be different. Depending on which operating menu is displayed on the operating surface of the operating element, this holding force can be the same for each operating field and different for each operating menu, or the same for each operating menu. That is, the (typical) decrease in holding force when the operating element is touched can be different for different operating fields of the same operating menu, or the same for all operating fields of the operating menu and different for each operating menu, or a combination of these. Typically, the holding force of the operating element when not touched is sufficient so that the operating element does not make a rattling noise or an unintentional, strong contact with the operating element does not immediately activate an operating function.

[0017] In addition to using a magnetically acting retention-force generating unit, the retention-force generating unit may also comprise a magnetorheological or electropolymer retention element (see, for example, DE 10 2018 212 618). This type of retention element can also be controlled by an electrical control signal, which can be generated by the control unit of the operating unit according to the invention. Such a retention element may, for example, be configured as a mechanical blocking element, which, in its "fixed" state, can prevent the movement of the operating element or of elements kinematically coupled thereto, but which is susceptible to yielding above a force threshold. This is because magnetorheological polymers or fluids can change their stiffness or mobility under the influence of an externally applied magnetic field, which, in the case of electroactive polymers, is also provided by applying a voltage. Alternatively or additionally, such a blocking element may be operated pneumatically or hydraulically. In this case, for example, the mobility of particles or shape-binding elements can be influenced by a negative pressure generated by air or hydraulic pressure in a cover or similar container.

[0018] As mentioned above, within the scope of the operating device according to the invention, at least one operating element, the force threshold of which can be electrically set, can also be embodied linearly and thus be movable in a translatory manner from a rest state to a functionally activated state. Such an operating element can, for example, be configured as a key, i.e., vertically slidable, or as a slide switch, which can be slid laterally.

[0019] Alternatively to the principle of the at least one operating element described above, the operating element can be tiltable or pivotable and can be moved from a rest state to a functional operating state by tilting or pivoting. In such a configuration, the holding force can additionally also be influenced by the selected leverage.

[0020] As mentioned above, the switch may be a mechanical switch or a switch that operates without contact, for example an optically, capacitively or inductively operated switch. When a mechanical switch is used, its tactile sensation is used together with the tactile sensation generated by the holding force set according to the present invention. In the case of a non-mechanical switch, this tactile sensation can be realized solely by the holding force generating unit provided according to the present invention.

[0021] Returning an actuated operating element to its rest state can be achieved by spring assistance, by balancing mass assistance, or by the resettability of a switch that is actuated when the operating element is, for example, pressed or similarly actuated. There are various approaches here, i.e., various principles can be envisaged in the embodiments described here. Finally, it is also possible to "move" the operating element back to its original rest position again using a holding force generator and the magnetic force that is typically introduced by this. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0022] The invention will now be explained in more detail based on two embodiments and with reference to the drawings. [Figure 1] 1 shows a schematic view of a first embodiment of an operating device with an operating element formed as a depressible touchscreen; [Figure 2] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating a second embodiment of an operating device including a toggle switch. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a permanent electromagnetic clamp. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view and a perspective view of an operating device 10 for mounting on a transport device. The operating device 10 comprises a housing 12 containing an operating element 14. In this embodiment, the operating element 14 is embodied as a touchscreen forming an operating surface 16 on which a number of operating fields 18 are displayed. A mechanical switch 22 is arranged, for example, on a floor 20 of the housing 12. The mechanical switch 22 is activated by a tappet 24 spaced away from the operating element 14 toward the floor 20. In the rest position shown in FIG. 1, the operating element 14 is held by a holding force generating unit 26. In this embodiment, the holding force generating unit 26 comprises two permanent electromagnetic clamps 28. However, only one such permanent electromagnetic clamp 28 is sufficient. Such permanent electromagnetic clamp 28 (see, for example, FIG. 3) comprises an electric coil in addition to a permanent magnet. The electric coil is controlled by an electric control signal 30 generated by a control unit 32. In this embodiment, the control unit 32 receives a detection signal 34 from a contact sensor 36 of the touchscreen.

[0024] 1, the structure of the operating device 10 is shown purely diagrammatically: for the sake of clarity, for example, linear guides of the operating element 14 for pressing the operating element 14 are not shown.

[0025] The holding force of the operating element 14 in its rest position shown in FIG. 1 is generated by two permanent electromagnets 28 of the holding force generating unit 26. The dimensions of the air gap and the selection of the permanent magnets play a role here. When the operating surface 16 is touched in one area of ​​the operating field 18, a control signal 30 is sent by a control unit 32 to the electric coil of the permanent electromagnetic clamp 28, which sets its force threshold to the desired value. This value must be manually exceeded in order to press down the operating element 14. When the operating element 14 is pressed down, the switch 22 is then activated.

[0026] 2 shows the principle of an operating device 10' with a modified, alternatively implemented operating element 14'. The operating element 14' is implemented as a toggle switch and has a toggle or pivot bearing 37. Insofar as the elements essential to the invention of the operating device 10' of FIG. 2 are structurally or functionally comparable to the same elements of the operating device 10 of FIG. 1, these elements are designated in FIG. 2 by the same reference numerals but simply with a prime "'".

[0027] The holding force generating unit 26' of the operating device 10' of Fig. 2 again comprises a permanent electromagnetic clamp 28'. Here, with a correspondingly selected leverage, the static holding force of the operating element 14' shown in Fig. 2 can be influenced by the toggle or pivot structure of the operating element 14'. This provides an additional degree of freedom.

[0028] The use of a permanent electromagnetic clamp 28, as shown schematically in FIG. 3, as the holding force generating unit 26 is advantageous in that, in the holding position, the movable armature 38 and stationary stator 40 of the electromagnetic clamp do not come into contact with each other but are maintained separated from each other, e.g., by a minimal air gap 42. The air gap 42 may be filled with a mechanically damping, e.g., compressible, material. This means that the armature 38 and the stator 40 do not come into contact, and therefore no mechanical force reaction occurs on the operating surface 16, which would be inconvenient. Either the stationary stator 40 or the movable armature 38 includes a permanent magnet 44. The stator 40 further includes a current-carrying coil 46 to offset, change, redirect, etc., the magnetic field emanating from the permanent magnet 44 and acting to maintain the position of the armature 38. That is, when a finger is detected by contact sensor 36, a conventional touch sensor, a current flows through coil 46 of permanent electromagnetic clamp 28, which changes or completely cancels the holding force, within a matter of milliseconds, meaning there is no perceptible latency.

[0029] The configuration according to the present invention thus allows for the easy and convenient realization of a passive tactile principle. This principle is characterized in that a depressible operating element 14' acts on a mechanical switch 22, which has a tactile force reaction on the operating element 14'. The operating element 14' comprises a number of symbol fields. The entire operating surface 16 is not always covered by the symbol fields. For example, "separate key surfaces" may be displayed on the operating surface 16. No function exists between these separate surfaces. If not mechanically locked, the operating surface 16 can move when a force is applied by a finger, which may indicate the activation of a non-existent function. The controllable mechanical lock according to the present invention prevents this. The lock is released only when a finger is positioned on the displayed touch surface. Furthermore, the lock on the displayed touch surface can only be released temporarily. This prevents a situation in which a predefined operating state of, for example, a transport device, disables a fundamentally activated touch surface. Reference Numbers

[0030] 10 Operating device 10' operating device 12 Housing 12' Housing 14 Operating Elements 14' Operating elements 16 Operating surface 18 Operation Field 20 beds 20' floor 22 Switch 22' Switch 24 tappets 24' tappet 26 Holding force generation unit 26' Retention Force Generation Unit 28 Permanent Electromagnetic Clamp 28' Permanent Electromagnetic Clamp 30 Control Signals 30' Control signal 32 Control Unit 32' control unit 34 Detection signal 36 Contact Sensor 37 Toggle / Pivot Bearing 38 Armature 38' armature 40 Stator 40' stator 42 void 42' void 44 Permanent Magnets 46 Coil 46' Coil Reference List

[0031] German Patent Application Publication No. 10 2008 060 256 German Patent Application Publication No. 10 2011 089 400 German Patent No. 10 2018 212 618 German Patent Application Publication No. 10 2018 217 865 German Patent No. 10 2019 201 901 International Application Publication No. 2007 / 135169 International Application Publication No. 2020 / 234025

Claims

1. a housing (12); an operating element (14, 14') movably mounted in and / or on said housing (12) and manually transferable from a rest state to a functional operating state; a switch (22) operable by the operating element (14, 14') when the operating element (14, 14') is manually brought into the functional operating state; a holding force generating unit (26, 26') for generating a holding force that holds the operating element (14, 14') stationary; a control unit (32) for electrically controlling the holding force generating units (26, 26') to set the holding force; The operating element (14, 14') has an operating surface (16) with a plurality of operating fields (18), a contact sensor system (36) that detects contact with the operating element (14, 14') and outputs a detection signal to the control unit (32) when it detects contact with the operating field (18); The contact sensor system (36) provides the control unit (32) with a detection signal (34) for releasing the rest position holding force only when it detects contact with the operating field (18).

2. 2. The operating device according to claim 1, wherein the holding force generating unit (26, 26') comprises an electromagnet (28) having a stator (40) with an electric coil and an armature, and the control unit (32) is connected to the electric coil of the electromagnet (28) for controlling the electric coil.

3. 3. The operating device according to claim 2, characterized in that the electromagnet is configured as a permanent electromagnetic clamp (28), and the stator (40) of the electromagnet comprises a permanent magnet.

4. When the contact sensor system (36) detects contact of the operating element (14, 14'), it provides the detection signal (34) to the control unit (32), and the control unit (32) accordingly controls the holding force generation unit (26, 26') to set a desired holding force that acts on the operating element (14, 14') in its stationary state when contact is made, and the desired holding force is smaller than the holding force that holds the operating element (14, 14') when there is no contact. An operating device as described in any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. The operating device described in claim 4, characterized in that the contact sensor system (36) provides different detection signals (34) to the control unit (32) depending on the operating field (18) where contact is detected, and the control unit (32) controls the holding force generating units (26, 26') with different control signals to generate different holding forces depending on the different detection signals (34).

6. 6. The operating device according to claim 1 or claim 4 or 5 not dependent on claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the holding force generating unit (26, 26') comprises a magnetorheological or electropolymer holding force element, which is controllable by an electrical control signal of the control unit (32) to set the mechanical holding force acting in the rest state of the operating element (14, 14').

7. 7. An operating device according to claim 1, wherein the operating element (14, 14') is embodied linearly and is movable in a translatory manner from the rest state to the functional operating state.

8. The operating device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the operating element (14, 14') is tiltable or pivotable and can be moved from the rest state to the functional operating state by tilting or pivoting.

9. The operating device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the switch (22) is a mechanical switch (22) or a switch (22) that operates optically, capacitively, or inductively without contact.

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