Sliding Control Panel With Capacitive Sensing and Piezoelectric Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sliding contact control panels for motor vehicles are bulky and complex due to their mechanical components, which make them difficult to manufacture and do not effectively provide a haptic feedback experience for operators.
Innovation Solution
A control assembly with a printed circuit board and a control element that includes capacitive position detectors and piezoelectric sensing elements, which detect finger position, pressure, and sliding direction, providing haptic feedback through vibrations, and are integrated with a support structure to reduce bulkiness and complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional mechanical switches and spring-loaded pushbuttons are used to create sliding contact control keys with haptic feedback, then haptic feedback effect is achieved, but the control panel becomes bulky and complex to manufacture
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional mechanical switches and spring-loaded pushbuttons with a capacitive sensing system. The control element includes a control area with capacitive sensors that detect finger position and sliding motion without requiring mechanical moving parts. This substitution eliminates the bulky mechanical components while maintaining the haptic feedback function through electronic detection and actuation.
Solution Approach 2:
The control element integrates multiple functions into a single component: it serves as both the interface for user interaction and the sensing element for detecting finger position, pressure, and sliding direction. The control element itself becomes the sensor, eliminating the need for separate mechanical switches and reducing overall device complexity.
2Ease of operation
If conventional mechanical switches are used for sliding contact control keys, then haptic feedback is provided, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical switching components with capacitive sensing technology integrated into the control element. This allows the control panel to be manufactured using standard PCB and capacitive sensor fabrication processes rather than requiring assembly of precision mechanical parts, significantly simplifying manufacturing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the control element structure with the sensing function by integrating capacitive sensors directly into the control panel substrate. This consolidation reduces the number of separate components that need to be manufactured and assembled, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity.
3Measurement precision
If capacitive sensing sensors are used to detect finger position, then detection precision is improved, but the system requires additional sensing elements
Solution Approach 1:
The control element is designed to perform multiple sensing functions simultaneously using the same capacitive sensing mechanism. By detecting changes in capacitance at different locations and patterns, the system can determine finger position, sliding direction, and applied pressure without requiring separate sensing elements for each function, thus maintaining precision while limiting complexity growth.
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 compact, user-friendly control panel that accurately detects finger position and pressure, providing effective haptic feedback, thus enhancing the operational experience while simplifying manufacturing.
Implementation Method 1
The printed circuit board comprises at least one first sensing element which is both a pressure force sensor and a haptic actuator
Implementation Method 2
The first series of position detectors may include capacitive sensing sensors
Data Source
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AI summary
A sliding contact control assembly (16) for a motor vehicle includes a support (22), a printed circuit board (20) arranged on the support (22), a control element (18) covering the printed circuit board (20) and including a control area (55) for sliding an operator's finger; the printed circuit board (20) including a first series of position detectors configured to determine the position and direction of sliding an operator's finger, the first series of position detectors (25) being mounted against the control element (18) opposite the sliding control area (55);the printed circuit board (20) also comprising at least one first sensing element (34) being both a support force sensor and a haptic actuator, the first sensing element (34) being interposed in support between the printed circuit board (20) and a connecting member (61), the connecting member (61) being in direct contact with the control element (18).