Rotary Haptic Control with Magnetorheological Low-Torque Latching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Haptic operating devices with magnetorheological transmission apparatuses face challenges in achieving low base torque, high flexibility, and sensitivity, particularly in applications like automotive infotainment systems, where a base torque below 0.1 Nm is required to accommodate finger operation, while existing solutions often result in high base torque and limited variability.
Innovation Solution
A haptic operating device with a magnetorheological transmission apparatus featuring a rotating unit and a magnetic field concentrator, such as a ball or roller, that concentrates the magnetic field onto a smaller area, allowing for adjustable coupling intensity between components, thereby reducing base torque and enhancing operational flexibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If the adjusting wheel is made part of the magnetic circuit to improve torque transmission, then coupling efficiency increases, but manufacturing flexibility is lost as the wheel must be made from specific magnetic materials
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces rotating bodies (rollers or balls) as intermediary elements between the magnetic field generation device and the torque transmission path. These rotating bodies are not part of the magnetic circuit itself but interact with the magnetorheological fluid that is influenced by the magnetic field, allowing the adjusting wheel to be made from any desired material while still achieving effective torque transmission through the fluid-mediated magnetic coupling.
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 enables a base torque as low as 0.05 Nm, allowing for convenient finger operation and flexible use, while maintaining a simple structure with low fluid friction, thus addressing the limitations of existing devices in terms of sensitivity and variability.
Implementation Method 1
the transmission between a first component and at least one second component which is stationary or moves relative to the first component being able to be changed by the magnetorheological properties of a fluid between the components
Implementation Method 2
The magnetic field from the magnetic field generation device can be applied to the channel or at least one part of the latter in order to selectively concatenate the particles and to wedge them with the rotating body or release them
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus and method for operating vehicles by way of a haptic operating device having a rotating unit. Selectable menu items are displayed on a display unit, and a menu item being selected by rotating the rotating unit. The rotating unit latches at a number of haptically perceptible latching points during rotation. The number and rotational position of the haptically perceptible latching points is dynamically changed.