Vehicle Haptic Control Element With Counter-Oscillating Noise Compensation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing operating devices with haptic feedback mechanisms, such as those used in vehicles, often generate structure-borne and airborne noise, reducing user comfort due to the directional movement and vibrations of large haptic surfaces.

Innovation Solution

A compensation element is movably arranged on a carrier element, connected to the operating element via an actuator, allowing the actuator to interact with both, enabling movement transfer from the operating element to the compensation element. This setup allows the compensation element to oscillate in the inverse direction, canceling out noise through matched dynamic forces, and is supported by a second spring device, creating an oscillatable system that minimizes noise generation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If an actuator is used to provide haptic feedback by moving the operating element, then haptic feedback is achieved, but structure-borne noise and airborne noise are generated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehaptic feedbackVSAvoidstructure-borne noise and airborne noise
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a compensation element with a mass that counterbalances the operating element. The actuator moves both elements in opposite directions, creating counteracting forces that cancel out the noise-generating vibrations. The compensation element acts as a counterweight that generates equal and opposite dynamic forces to the operating element, thereby eliminating structure-borne noise and airborne noise while preserving haptic feedback functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

2Area of moving object

If the operating element is made large to provide sufficient haptic surface area, then haptic feedback coverage is improved, but noise generation increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehaptic surface areaVSAvoidnoise generation
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of moving objectVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The compensation element is designed with a mass corresponding to the operating element's area and characteristics. By making the compensation element large enough to match the operating element's haptic surface area, the system can counterbalance the entire haptic surface, preventing noise generation across the full area while maintaining adequate haptic feedback coverage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the potentially harmful vibrations and noise generated by large haptic surfaces into a beneficial effect. By using the actuator to deliberately induce controlled vibrations in the compensation element that mirror and oppose the operating element's movements, the harmful noise is transformed into a useful counteracting force that eliminates noise while preserving the haptic feedback function across the entire large surface area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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 solution effectively reduces structure-borne and airborne noise, providing secure guidance to the operating element while offering haptic feedback, enhancing user experience by minimizing vibrations and noise, and allowing the system to operate at a resonant frequency easily perceivable to the user.

Implementation Method 1

a spring device (4) which is arranged between the operating element (2) and the carrier element (3) and movably supports the operating element (2) on the carrier element (3)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpring: Spring

Implementation Method 2

An electromagnetic actuator is arranged between the carrier element and the operating element in order to move the operating element relative to the carrier element

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic actuation: Electromagnetic Propulsion

Implementation Method 3

the compensation element can oscillate in the transverse, inverse direction of movement to the operating element, as a result of which structure-borne noise and/or airborne noise can be compensated for

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVibration: Vibration

Implementation Method 4

The transmission behavior between the oscillating mass of the control element and that of the compensation element is preferably matched to one another so that the dynamic forces cancel each other out

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectResonance: Resonance

Implementation Method 5

a second spring device is arranged between the compensation element and the carrier element, which supports the compensation element on the carrier element

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpring: Spring

Data Source

PatentEP3608747B1Operating device for a vehicle, vehicle
Publication Date: 2022.09.14 ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
  • EP3608747B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3608747B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3608747B1 patent drawing

AI summary

The invention relates to an operating device (1) for a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, comprising a user-operated control element (2) which is movably mounted on a support element (3), at least one controllable actuator (12) configured to move the control element (2) relative to the support element (3), and a first spring device (4) arranged between the control element (2) and the support element (3) which movably mounts the control element (2) on the support element (3). It is provided that a compensation element (8) is movably mounted on the support element (3), and that the actuator (12) is connected to the control element (2) and to the compensation element (8).