Vehicle Switch Panel With Focused Optical Finger Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing switching control panels in motor vehicles equipped with optical sensors often experience inaccuracies in recognizing user inputs, leading to incorrect or unrecognizable operating requests.
Innovation Solution
The integration of a capacitive sensor with an electrically conductive film and an optical sensor that interacts with a lens to focus optical radiation on the actuation surface, enhancing precision and accuracy of user inputs, along with a housing design that protects the components and provides a conventional switching feel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If an optical sensor is used to detect user input on the actuating surface, then the sensor can generate signals when the element approaches or touches the surface, but inaccuracies occur during operation causing incorrect or unrecognizable operating requests
Solution Approach 1:
A lens is introduced as an intermediary component between the optical sensor and the actuating surface. The lens focuses optical radiation onto the actuating surface, creating a defined detection zone that improves the precision and reliability of user input recognition by ensuring that only inputs within the focused area are detected.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical radiation is focused locally onto the actuating surface through the lens, creating a concentrated detection zone rather than a diffuse detection area. This local concentration of optical energy improves measurement precision by ensuring that the sensor responds only to inputs at the intended location.
2Measurement precision
If a lens is added to focus optical radiation on the actuating surface, then finger recognition and movement resolution are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A single lens is added as a simple intermediary optical element to focus radiation onto the actuating surface. This minimal addition achieves improved finger recognition and movement resolution without significantly complicating the device structure.
3Manufacturing precision
If the optical radiation is focused on the actuating surface, then precise operability is ensured, but the installation space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The lens is positioned in the optical path between the optical sensor and the actuating surface, utilizing the existing three-dimensional space within the control panel housing. This arrangement achieves precise operability through focused radiation while maintaining a compact overall footprint by efficiently using available spatial dimensions.
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 configuration improves finger recognition and movement resolution, allows for a compact design, reduces installation space, and ensures precise operability even under harsh conditions, making it suitable for vehicle control panels like the steering wheel.
Implementation Method 1
The sensor is an optical electromagnetic sensor... the radiation emitted by the sensor and/or the radiation received by the sensor is directed toward and/or away from the element
Implementation Method 2
the optical sensor interacts with a lens such that the radiation emitted by the sensor and/or the radiation received by the sensor is directed toward and/or away from the element. The optical radiation can therefore advantageously be adapted to the specific design of the switch and control panel. In particular, the optical radiation can be focused on the element used for operation
Implementation Method 3
The first sensor is a capacitive sensor... The change in the electric field caused by the action of the element on the actuating surface, particularly its capacitive change, can be easily evaluated to generate the signal
Implementation Method 4
The electrically conductive film is arranged in and/or on the actuating surface such that an electric field can be generated in the area of the actuating surface by applying an electrical voltage
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a switch control panel, particularly for a motor vehicle, comprising an actuating surface (2) for manual operation by means of an element (3), the element (3) in particular being the finger of a human hand. The switch control panel comprises a sensor (4) that interacts with the actuating surface (2) such that the sensor (4) generates a signal when the element (3) approaches the actuating surface (2), and/or when the element (3) touches the actuating surface (2), and/or when the element (3) exerts pressure onto the actuating surface (2), said signal being used to switch and/or trigger a function in the manner of a switching signal. The sensor (4) is a sensor that operates with optical electromagnetic radiation (5). The optical sensor (4) interacts with a lens (6) such that the radiation (5') emitted by the sensor (6) and/or the radiation (5") received by the sensor (6) is aligned, particularly focussed, onto and/or by the element (3).