Rotary Control Haptics Tuned to Visual Display Latency

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing operating devices suffer from desynchronization between visual and haptic feedback due to latency in data communication and processing, leading to incorrect operator adjustments, particularly in devices with electromechanical inputs like rotary actuators.

Innovation Solution

The operating device compensates for latency by delaying the control signal output to the actuator, ensuring that visual and haptic reactions coincide in time, using a data bus connection between the control unit and the electronic pixel matrix display, and an actuator generating counter torque as haptic feedback.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If data communication via data bus and pixel response time are used for visual feedback, then visual display content can be updated, but latency causes delay in visual feedback compared to haptic feedback

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefeedback accuracyVSAvoidlatency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit delays the control signal to the actuator by a predetermined time period that corresponds to the latency of the visual feedback system. This preliminary timing adjustment ensures that the haptic feedback and visual feedback arrive simultaneously at the operator, eliminating the perceptible delay and improving feedback accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Speed

If haptic feedback is provided immediately upon control signal output, then haptic response time is reduced, but visual feedback lags behind causing operator distraction

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehaptic response speedVSAvoidoperational accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses a synchronized feedback mechanism where the control unit coordinates both visual and haptic feedback timing. By introducing a delay to the haptic control signal that matches the visual feedback latency, both feedback types arrive simultaneously at the operator, maintaining fast haptic response while ensuring operational accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Device complexity

If visual and haptic feedback are desynchronized, then system complexity is reduced, but operator errors increase due to temporal misalignment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol system complexityVSAvoidoperational reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit modifies the timing parameter of the haptic control signal by introducing a predetermined delay that corresponds to the visual feedback latency. This simple parameter adjustment synchronizes the arrival time of visual and haptic feedback without requiring complex control system architecture, thereby maintaining operational reliability while avoiding increased system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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

This synchronization reduces operator errors and increases operating reliability by minimizing the time discrepancy between visual and haptic feedback, thereby reducing the likelihood of over-adjustment.

Implementation Method 1

an actuator acting on the electromechanical input part, which is connected to the control unit in order to generate haptic feedback that the operator can perceive during the adjustment using a control signal output by the control unit

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic actuation: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP4471550A1Operating device with improved temporal tuning of optical and haptic output, corresponding use and corresponding method
Publication Date: 2024.12.04 PREH GMBH
  • EP4471550A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4471550A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4471550A1 patent drawing

AI summary

The invention relates to an operating device (1) comprising: an electronic pixel matrix display (10) to visualize an optical display content on a display surface (11) for the operator; an electromechanical input part (2) for manual adjustment as an operating input by the operator; a control unit (3) which is connected to the electromechanical input part (2) for transmitting position information and is connected to the electronic pixel matrix display (10) to trigger a change in the optical display content based on a change in the position of the electromechanical input part (2) by means of the control unit (3);wherein the control unit (3) is connected via a data bus (4a) to the electronic pixel matrix display (10) and/or via the data bus (4c) to the electromechanical input part (2), so that a change in the optical display content is effected with a predetermined latency in relation to the change in position; an actuator (15) acting on the electromechanical input part (2), which is connected to the control unit (3) in order to generate haptically perceptible feedback for the operator by means of a control signal output by the control unit (3) after the change in position caused by the adjustment; wherein the output of the control signal to the actuator (15) is delayed by the control unit (3) in order to at least partially compensate for the latency;and the actuator (15) is designed to generate a counter-torque opposing the adjustment of a control knob (5) of the electromechanical input part (2) as haptic feedback when the control knob (5) is adjusted; as well as related use and methods.;