Vehicle Operator Control Unit Vibration Suppression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Operating units with haptic feedback in vehicles tend to produce annoying noises due to unwanted vibrations caused by external excitations, such as those from vehicle movements, as the elastically suspended oscillating systems are not effectively suppressed.
Innovation Solution
An operating unit with a housing, a touch-sensitive operating element, an actuator for mechanical stimulation, and sensors for detecting movements, accelerations, and forces, which control the actuator to maintain or return the operating element to its rest position, thereby damping external excitations and preventing unwanted vibrations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the operating element is elastically mounted to enable automatic return and haptic feedback, then the ease of operation and tactile feedback are improved, but the system becomes susceptible to external vibrations and unwanted noises
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where sensors detect the position and movement of the operating element, and the control unit processes this information to activate the actuator. The actuator then applies counteracting forces to suppress unwanted vibrations while maintaining the elastic mounting for tactile feedback. This closed-loop feedback system resolves the contradiction by actively compensating for external vibrations without compromising the haptic feedback functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The actuator serves as an intermediary component between the external vibrations and the operating element. It mediates the interaction by detecting vibrations through sensors and applying counteracting forces to suppress unwanted movements, while allowing the elastic mounting to remain intact for providing tactile feedback. This intermediary mechanism resolves the contradiction by isolating the operating element from harmful vibrations while preserving the desired tactile properties.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If sensors and actuators are added to suppress vibrations, then the suppression of external excitations is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit serves multiple functions: it processes touch sensor signals for normal operation, evaluates sensor data for vibration detection, and controls the actuator for vibration suppression. By making the control unit multi-functional, the patent reduces the need for separate dedicated vibration control systems, thereby managing device complexity while achieving effective vibration suppression.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the vibration sensing and touch interaction processing functions into a unified control system. The sensors used for touch detection also contribute to vibration detection, and the same control unit manages both touch operations and vibration suppression. This merging of functions reduces the overall system complexity compared to having separate independent systems for each function.
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 suppresses vibrations and prevents noise development by maintaining or returning the operating element to its rest position, even with minimal deflections, ensuring a quiet operation.
Implementation Method 1
an actuator for mechanically exciting the operating element from the latter rest position for the purpose of tactile feedback
Implementation Method 2
a sensor for detecting a movement of the operating element and/or an acceleration and/or force acting on the operating element
Implementation Method 3
controls the actuator to maintain the rest position of the control element and/or to move the control element back into its rest position and/or to stabilize the control element
Implementation Method 4
an operating element that has a touch-sensitive operating surface and a touch sensor system, with the operating element being elastically mounted in and/or on the housing for automatic return after it has been deflected from its rest position
Data Source
AI summary
The operator control unit (10) for a device is provided with an operator control element (14) which has a touch-sensitive operator control surface (16). The operator control element (14) is, for the purpose of being automatically returned to its inoperative position after being deflected out of said inoperative position, elastically mounted in said inoperative position. The mechanical excitation of the operator control element (14) out of its inoperative position for the purpose of tactile feedback in response to operation of the operator control element (14) is performed by means of an actuator (24). A sensor (26) identifies the movement of the operator control element (14) and/or an acceleration and/or force acting on the operator control element (14). When a movement of the operator control element (14) and/or an acceleration and/or force acting on the operator control element (14) are/is identified without sensing contact with the operator control surface (16), the evaluation and actuation unit (22) actuates the actuator (24) to maintain the inoperative position of the operator control element (14) and/or to move the operator control element (14) back to its inoperative position and/or to stabilize the operator control element (14).