Dual-Field Command Input Sensing for Interference-Resistant Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing command input devices based on capacitive or inductive changes in electric fields or eddy currents are susceptible to interference, leading to unreliable operation, especially in environments with moisture, metal objects, or temperature fluctuations, posing safety risks in vehicles or machine tools.
Innovation Solution
A sensor arrangement with two independently generated electric and inductive eddy current fields, detected simultaneously by an evaluation unit, providing a redundant switching function to ensure reliable operation by requiring temporal coincidence of field changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single sensor (capacitive or inductive) is used for command input detection, then the device complexity is low, but the reliability deteriorates due to susceptibility to environmental interference
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor arrangement is divided into two independent sensors: a first sensor for detecting changes in the electric field and a second sensor for detecting changes in the inductively generated eddy current field. Each sensor operates independently and contributes to the switching signal generation, thereby improving reliability through redundancy while maintaining manageable device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical parameter basis from a single type of field detection to two different types: electric field changes (capacitive) and eddy current field changes (inductive). This parameter diversification allows the system to cross-validate signals and filter out environmental interference, enhancing reliability without significantly increasing complexity
2Adaptability or versatility
If environmental factors are present (moisture, metal objects, temperature fluctuations), then the device can operate in various conditions, but the reliability deteriorates due to false triggering
Solution Approach 1:
The evaluation unit receives signals from both sensors and processes them to determine whether to generate a switching signal. The system uses feedback from two independent detection channels to validate each other, ensuring that environmental factors like moisture, metal objects, or temperature fluctuations do not cause false triggering, thus maintaining reliability across diverse operating conditions
3Device complexity
If only a switching signal is generated from field changes, then the device complexity is low, but the reliability deteriorates due to susceptibility to interference
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the output signals from two independent sensors (electric field sensor and eddy current field sensor) into a unified switching signal generation process. The evaluation unit combines information from both sensors, requiring temporal coincidence of signals from both channels before generating a switching output. This merging approach increases reliability through redundancy while keeping the overall device complexity manageable
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
The redundant sensor design prevents unintentional triggering of control signals due to environmental factors, ensuring reliable and safe operation by detecting changes in both fields independently and only releasing a control signal when both fields coincide, enhancing safety in vehicles and machine tools.
Implementation Method 1
by which the electric field and the inductive eddy current field are generated independently of each other
Implementation Method 2
at least one second coil, inductively coupled to the first coil and connected to the power supply unit, is arranged in and/or on the control element unit. In this way, an inductively formed eddy current field is generated
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
In a manually operated command input device (1) by which at least one electrical switching signal for controlling a machine, a vehicle (2) or a device can be generated, consisting of: - a cover plate (3), - at least one sensor (11, 12) by which an electric field (13) or an inductive eddy current field (14) is emitted or radiated through the cover plate (3), - at least one manually operable command transmitter (8) which is arranged on the outside (3') of the cover plate (3), - and an evaluation device (9) electrically coupled to the respective sensor (11, 12), in addition to the evaluation device 9, a redundant switching signal should be measurable, evaluable and usable for monitoring in a switching signal for a vehicle or the like by means of changes in an electric field (13) and a change in inductively generated eddy current fields (14) independently of each other.This is achieved by providing two sensors (11 and 12) aligned with each command transmitter (8), through which the electric field (13) and the inductive eddy current field (14) are generated independently of each other and in parallel overlapping with each other, by which the movements of the command transmitter (8) simultaneously influence the electric field (13) and the eddy current field (14), and by which the respective changes in the electric field (13) and the eddy current field (14) can be detected independently of each other by the evaluation device (9) and converted into predetermined switching signals.