Capacitive Touch Interface With Vibratory Actuator for Haptic Feedback

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing motor vehicle control interfaces, such as those using capacitive touch screens with rotary knobs, lack haptic feedback, limiting user interaction and feedback experience.

Innovation Solution

The interface incorporates a capacitive touch screen with pressure sensors and damping elements, allowing for haptic feedback by vibrating the control member and transmitting forces through a mechanical bearing, enabling tactile feedback to the user.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a capacitive touch screen with rotary knob is used for controlling vehicle functions, then the interface allows tactile entry and angular position detection, but it does not provide haptic feedback to the user when touching the wheel

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetactile entry capabilityVSAvoidhaptic feedback
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies mechanical vibration by equipping the control interface with a vibration motor that generates haptic feedback when the user touches or rotates the control wheel. This vibration mechanism provides tactile information about system state, selection confirmation, and operational feedback, directly addressing the lack of haptic response in conventional capacitive touch interfaces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #18Mechanical vibration

2Ease of operation

If a vibration motor is added to provide haptic feedback, then user interaction is enhanced, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehaptic feedback capabilityVSAvoidinterface structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the vibration motor integration with the existing control wheel assembly, positioning the motor within the same structural housing that contains the capacitive touch screen and rotary mechanism. This consolidation approach adds haptic functionality while minimizing the increase in overall device complexity by sharing structural components and mounting arrangements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 haptic feedback, improving the control experience through tactile and visual cues, allowing for more intuitive control of vehicle functions.

Implementation Method 1

a capacitive touch screen detects the angular position of a metal index carried by the wheel

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCapacitive sensing: Capacitance

Implementation Method 2

at least one pressure sensor configured to measure a parameter representative of a pressure force exerted on the capacitive touch screen

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure sensing: Pressure Increase

Implementation Method 3

at least one damping element arranged between the fixed part and a mobile part of the interface

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDamping: Damping

Implementation Method 4

at least one vibratory actuator configured to vibrate at least the capacitive touch screen in response to a contact, a displacement or a pressing of the mobile gripping element

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical vibration: Vibration

Data Source

PatentEP3519234B1Interface for motor vehicle and method for generating haptic feedback
Publication Date: 2023.08.16 DAV
  • EP3519234B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3519234B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP3519234B1 patent drawingFigure 6~9

AI summary

The invention relates to an interface (1) for controlling at least one function of a motor vehicle body, comprising at least one control body (2) which comprises a movable grip element (4), at least one metal index (6a, 6b) carried by the movable grip element (4) and movable therewith, a guide (5) used to support and guide the movement of the mobile grip element (4), and a capacitive tactile tile (3) designed to detect the position of the metal index (6a, 6b), the guide (5) being fixed to the capacitive tactile tile (3), and the metal index (6a, 6b) being arranged facing the capacitive tactile tile (3), characterised in that it comprises at least one vibrating actuator (13) designed to vibrate at least the capacitive tactile tile (3) at least in response to contact or movement of the movable grip element (4) or to contact or pressure on the capacitive tactile tile (3). The invention also relates to a method for generating haptic feedback for such an interface.