Active Lever Control With Variable Torque Feedback

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing machines, particularly mobile machines like agricultural or construction vehicles, face challenges in controlling multiple functionalities with a large number of operating elements, which leads to space inefficiencies and less precise control.

Innovation Solution

An operating element with a pivotable lever, a restoring device, and a braking device, where the braking and restoring torques are actively controllable, allowing for adaptation of the operating characteristic to suit different machine functions, thereby reducing the need for multiple operating elements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If multiple operating elements are provided to control different machine functions, then control precision and intuitiveness are improved, but space requirements and device complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol precisionVSAvoidspace requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

A single operating element is designed to control multiple machine functions by dynamically changing its operating characteristics. The operating element can be configured with different torque characteristics (including pressure points, latching points, and locking points) to suit different control functions, replacing the need for multiple separate operating elements and reducing space requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The operating element incorporates actively controllable braking and restoring devices that can dynamically change the torque characteristics during operation. This allows the same physical operating element to provide different haptic feedback patterns and resistance characteristics for different functions, maintaining control precision without requiring multiple static operating elements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If multiple operating elements are provided to control different machine functions, then control precision and intuitiveness are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol precisionVSAvoidnumber of operating elements

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A single operating element is designed to control multiple machine functions by dynamically changing its operating characteristics. The operating element can be configured with different torque characteristics (including pressure points, latching points, and locking points) to suit different control functions, replacing the need for multiple separate operating elements and reducing space requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The operating element uses actively controllable braking and restoring devices to change the torque parameters dynamically. By adjusting the braking torque and restoring torque, the system can create different operating characteristics (pressure points, latching points, locking points) for different functions, maintaining control precision while reducing the number of physical operating elements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Area of stationary object

If a single operating element is used to control multiple functions, then space requirements and device complexity are reduced, but control precision deteriorates due to compromise in haptic requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespace requirementsVSAvoidcontrol precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The operating element incorporates actively controllable braking and restoring devices that can dynamically change the torque characteristics during operation. This allows the same physical operating element to provide different haptic feedback patterns and resistance characteristics for different functions, maintaining control precision without requiring multiple static operating elements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The operating element uses actively controllable braking and restoring devices to change the torque parameters dynamically. By adjusting the braking torque and restoring torque, the system can create different operating characteristics (pressure points, latching points, locking points) for different functions, maintaining control precision while reducing the number of physical operating elements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4553608A1Operating element for a machine

Publication Date: 2025.05.14 ELOBAU GMBH & CO KG

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AI summary

An operating element for a machine is provided. The operating element comprises a lever (11) that is pivotable about a rotation axis (12). It further includes a restoring device (30) configured to apply a restoring torque to the lever (11) and a braking device (20) configured to apply a braking torque to the lever (11). The braking torque provides a resistance to a pivoting of the lever (11) about the rotation axis (12). The braking device (20) and/or the restoring device (30) is an active device that is configured to be controllable to actively change the applied braking torque and/or the applied restoring torque, respectively.