Active Haptic Feedback for Function-Assigned Vehicle Controls

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing operating elements in motor vehicles provide mechanical haptic feedback regardless of the functionality assigned to them, leading to potential confusion and reduced safety due to 'dead' or non-functional buttons, and lack of context-dependent feedback.

Innovation Solution

Implement an active haptic feedback system using actuators like piezoelectric or solenoids to provide haptic feedback only when a function is assigned to the operating element, enhancing user interaction and safety by ensuring feedback is context-dependent.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If passive mechanical elements (springs, silicone domes) are used to provide haptic feedback for all operating elements, then haptic feedback is always provided, but this leads to user confusion when functions are not available and reduces safety

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefeedback reliabilityVSAvoiduser confusion

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from static passive mechanical haptic elements to dynamic active haptic elements that can be controlled based on system state. The active haptic feedback is selectively activated only when a function is available, making the feedback system adaptive to operational context and eliminating misleading feedback for unavailable functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a feedback control system where the availability of functions is detected and used to control the activation of haptic feedback. The system continuously monitors whether a function is available and adjusts the haptic feedback accordingly, providing reliable feedback only when it corresponds to an executable function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If active haptic actuators are added to operating elements to enable context-dependent feedback, then feedback reliability improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefeedback reliabilityVSAvoidactuator integration

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a universal active haptic actuator design that can be integrated into multiple operating elements throughout the system. This multi-functional approach allows the same actuator technology to serve various buttons and controls, standardizing the implementation and managing complexity through reuse rather than custom solutions for each element.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a control unit as an intermediary between the function availability detection and the haptic actuators. This mediator manages the complexity by centralizing the logic for determining when haptic feedback should be activated, simplifying the control architecture and making the system more manageable despite the added complexity of active actuators.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If haptic feedback is provided for all operating elements regardless of function availability, then ease of operation is maintained, but safety is reduced due to incorrect user assumptions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational simplicityVSAvoidsafety

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameter of haptic feedback activation from a constant state (always on) to a conditional state (on only when function is available). This parameter change ensures that the feedback system maintains ease of operation for available functions while simultaneously improving safety by eliminating misleading feedback that could cause incorrect user assumptions about system state.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enhances user interaction by providing reliable haptic feedback only when a function is available, reducing distractions and improving safety by ensuring the user knows if an input command is accepted or not, thus preventing incorrect operations.

Implementation Method 1

the actuator may comprise a piezoelectric actuator or be designed as such

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPiezoelectric effect: Piezoelectric Effect

Implementation Method 2

the actuator may have other common actuator types, such as solenoids and/or voice coils

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSolenoid effect: Solenoid

Data Source

PatentUS12487678B2Method for providing an active haptic feedback signal for an operating element

Publication Date: 2025.12.02 BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE AG

AI summary

Methods, systems, and apparatuses are provided for providing an active haptic feedback signal for an operating element upon actuation of the operating element. Whether the operating element is actuated is determined. Whether a function is assigned to the operating element, if actuation of the operating element has been determined, is determined. The active haptic feedback signal is output to the operating element only in those cases in which actuation of the operating element has been determined and that a function is assigned to the operating element has been determined.