Operating element for a motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to an operating element for a motor vehicle, having an operating-element wall (1) which faces the vehicle interior and on which a projection (4) is located, which projection has at least two portions which are perpendicular with respect to the wall plane, and has a horizontal portion, wherein touch-sensitive and / or force-sensitive sensors (3) are located in the surfaces of the perpendicular and horizontal portions and are assigned functions for actuating a vehicle element, and at least one of the perpendicular portions has an undercut in which the sensor (3b) is located. When a specified combination of sensor data is present, the function is carried out.

Description

[0001] Description

[0002] Control element for a motor vehicle

[0003] Due to the increasingly limited installation space and the required standard (FMVSS571.118) in the roof area of ​​a vehicle, conventional mechanical sunroof and roller blind switches are finding it increasingly difficult to fit. Touch- or gesture-sensitive sensors are therefore being proposed as alternatives.

[0004] US Patent 11,416,081 B1 describes an integrated functional multilayer structure in which a raised or recessed area is provided on a surface of a film not facing an operator. Touch- or gesture-sensitive sensors are arranged at the edges of this raised or recessed area and are then encapsulated, for example, with resin. This encapsulation can be achieved through an injection molding process or another type of coating for electronic components. On the other side of the resin, there can be another film, which may also have electronic components mounted on it. The films may have already been placed in the mold for the structure before the resin is poured.

[0005] DE 10 2020 200 954 A1 describes a control element for operating at least two actuators. It consists of a cover layer with a front and back. The front layer has at least two contact surfaces, each used to select a specific actuator. Behind the cover layer is a capacitive layer that detects when one of the contact surfaces is touched. The device also includes a switch for operating the actuators and a control unit that manages them. Additionally, at least one pressure sensor is present on the back of the cover layer to detect when pressure is applied.

[0006] US Patent 2013 / 0187889A1 describes a capacitive switch unit for controlling power windows in a vehicle. This switch unit includes several capacitive sensors, each of which can be used to select a specific window to be opened or closed. Additionally, the switch unit includes a capacitive control element with sensors that respond to gestures. These gesture sensors detect an opening or closing movement made by the user with their finger on a special control panel. The arrangement of the sensors on the panel is designed so that the gestures resemble the movement of a conventional mechanical switch for opening or closing a window.

[0007] The recess, and especially the protrusion, creates a risk of unintentional contact with the sensors, for example, if light switches are also located nearby and an operator in a motor vehicle, particularly the driver, cannot see which button or switch they are operating because they must focus their attention on the road. This would then not comply with the requirements of the standard FMVSS571.118.

[0008] The object of the invention is therefore to provide a space-saving control element for a motor vehicle in which at least unintentional activation of a closing movement of a vehicle sunroof is virtually excluded.

[0009] The problem is solved by a control element according to claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are specified in the dependent claims.

[0010] Accordingly, a control element for a motor vehicle has a control element wall facing the vehicle interior, on which a projection is arranged. This projection has at least two sections perpendicular to the plane of the control element wall and one horizontal section. Touch- and / or force-sensitive sensors are arranged in the surfaces of the vertical and horizontal sections, and these sensors are assigned functions for actuating a vehicle element. At least one of the vertical sections has an undercut in which a sensor is arranged. The function is executed when a predefined combination of sensor data is present. The undercut makes accidental contact with the critical sensors virtually impossible. When vertical and horizontal sections are mentioned here, it is meant that these extend away from the control element wall or run approximately parallel to it.The control panel can be located anywhere in the vehicle. The sections do not have to be flat, but can also have curved areas.

[0011] Despite the undercut provided in a vertical section, unintentional contact with the sensors located therein can occur in certain situations. Nevertheless, the vehicle component will not be activated, or its function will not be executed, unless a predefined combination of sensor data is present. In other words, several sensors must be activated simultaneously or in a predetermined sequence for the vehicle component to be actuated. For example, a touch sensor must detect a touch on the vertical section, and a force-sensitive sensor on the horizontal section must detect a predefined threshold value. Only then will the vehicle component, such as opening or closing a sunroof, be actuated. This, in addition to the geometric measure provided by the undercut, further reduces the risk of unintentional actuation of the vehicle component.For example, blind operation is made possible by finger recognition through capacitive touch surfaces and triggering by applying force.

[0012] In one possible configuration of the control element, the sensor in the horizontal section operates a roller blind, and the sensors in the vertical sections operate a sunroof. The control element can therefore be designed as a roof console. However, it is also possible for it to serve as a control element for other vehicle features, such as movable side windows.

[0013] In a further development of the control element, the sensors in the vertical sections for operating a vehicle element are arranged in such a way that a touching or pushing movement by an operator must be in the desired direction of movement of the vehicle element, for example a sunroof.

[0014] Therefore, intuitive operation is advantageously possible.

[0015] Advantageously, the projection can be formed in one piece with the console wall, thus enabling simple manufacturing.

[0016] The control element may include at least one actuator in the projection, which enables haptic feedback upon detection of touch or force being applied to the sensor(s).

[0017] The invention is described in more detail below using an exemplary embodiment and a figure.

[0018] Figure 1 shows a cross-section through the wall 1 of a control element, for example a roof console, facing the interior of a vehicle. The wall 1 may be made of a solid, rigid material. The wall 1 has a trough-shaped recess 2 in which a projection 4 is arranged. This projection 4 may be a separate component, but is preferably formed integrally with the wall 1, i.e., molded onto it. The projection 2 need not be arranged in a recess 2; it may also be formed on the surface of the control element.

[0019] The projection 4 can be button-shaped, but it can also form a bridge.

[0020] Touch- or force-sensitive sensors 3 are arranged on the surface of the projection 4, by means of which functions in the vehicle can be initiated. Preferably, these functions are the operation, e.g., opening and closing, of a vehicle element, for example, a sunroof or the operation of a roller blind, possibly also on the rear window of the vehicle. Vehicle elements can, however, be any elements that can be actuated by controls, including, for example, windows or seats. A function is only actually executed when a predefined combination of sensor data from the sensors 3 is present. This prevents a function from being unintentionally executed by unintentional activation of a sensor 3, despite the recessed area 2. The sensors 3 are thus logically interconnected to distinguish between unintentional and intentional activation.

[0021] Advantageously, a first sensor 3a is arranged on the front of the projection 4 and must be activated by a finger movement directed backwards (relative to the vehicle's longitudinal axis). This sensor is used, for example, to open a sunroof. A second sensor 3b is arranged on the rear of the projection 4 and must be activated by a finger movement directed forwards (relative to the vehicle's longitudinal axis). This sensor is used to close the sunroof. The function assigned to the respective first sensor 3a and second sensor 3b, i.e., opening or closing the sunroof, is only activated if a third sensor 3c also generates predefined sensor data. This data can, for example, be indicative of a touch; that is, the third sensor 3c could be designed as a capacitive touch sensor. Its sensor data exceeds a threshold value that is indicative of a touch.It is advantageous if the direction of finger movement corresponds to the desired direction of sunroof movement, so that the finger movement can be performed intuitively. This also applies to all other vehicle elements to be moved that are to be operated by such a control element.

[0022] As shown in Fig. 1, the vertical side of the projection 4, on which the second sensor 3b is located, has an undercut, so that the actuating finger (indicated by a hand) must reach into the resulting recess. This virtually eliminates accidental actuation, thus ensuring compliance with standards.

[0023] In the example of Figure 1, at least the third sensor 3c is arranged on the horizontal section of the projection 4, by means of which non-critical functions can be controlled, such as the movement of a roller blind on the sunroof or on the rear window.

[0024] In the projection, in addition to the sensors 3, or integrated into them, at least one actuator can be provided, by means of which haptic feedback is given that the actuation command has been recognized.

[0025] The design of the roof console with integrated touch functions and optional integrated haptic actuators, as well as the special geometric design to meet the standard (FMVSS571.118), allows for overall flatter designs for sunroof and roller blind switches.

Claims

Patent claims 1. Control element for a motor vehicle with a control element wall (1) facing the vehicle interior, on which a projection (4) is arranged, which has at least two sections perpendicular to the plane of the control element wall and one horizontal section, wherein touch and / or force-sensitive sensors (3) are arranged on the surfaces of the perpendicular and horizontal sections, which generate sensor data when actuated and to which functions for actuating a vehicle element are assigned, wherein at least one of the perpendicular sections has an undercut in which at least one sensor (3b) is arranged, characterized in that the function is executed when a predetermined combination of sensor data is present.

2. Control element according to claim 1, wherein the sensor (3b) in the undercut serves to actuate a safety-critical vehicle element.

3. Control element according to claim 2, wherein the sensors (3a, 3b) are arranged in the vertical sections for operating a vehicle element such that a touching or pressing movement of an operator must be made in the desired direction of movement of the vehicle element.

4. Control element according to one of the previous claims, wherein the projection (4) is arranged in a trough-shaped recess (2) of the control element wall.

5. Control element according to one of the previous claims, wherein the projection (4) is formed integrally with the console wall (1).

6. Control element according to one of the previous claims, wherein at least one actuator is provided in the projection (4) which provides haptic feedback upon a detected touch or force applied to or on the sensor(s) (3) enables.

7. Control element according to any of the previous claims, wherein the vehicle element is a sunroof, vehicle window or window blind.

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