Vehicle Touch Control Panel Haptics With Rear-Mounted Actuators
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle operating units with active haptic feedback require significant installation space for actuators, which increases weight, power consumption, and costs, while also generating unwanted acoustics and requiring unnecessary stimulation of the entire control unit.
Innovation Solution
The operating unit features a front cover with actuators attached via an adhesive layer on its back, selectively exciting the front cover to provide haptic feedback, reducing the mass to be moved and allowing for smaller, less powerful actuators that save space and power, while maintaining high haptic feedback quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If actuators are mounted on the outside of the display or connected to it, then haptic feedback is achieved, but installation space and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The actuator is integrated into the front cover assembly rather than being mounted separately on the display housing. The actuator is attached to the rear side of the front cover, merging the haptic feedback mechanism with the existing front cover structure, thereby eliminating the need for separate actuator mounting space on the display housing.
Solution Approach 2:
The actuator is positioned on the rear side of the front cover, utilizing the z-dimension (depth) rather than requiring additional lateral or vertical space on the display surface. This dimensional relocation allows haptic feedback functionality without increasing the display's footprint or housing volume.
2Reliability
If actuators are mounted on the outside of the display, then haptic feedback is achieved, but weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The actuator is combined with the front cover structure, which is already part of the display assembly. By integrating the actuator into the existing front cover rather than adding it as a separate external component, the overall weight increase is minimized while still achieving the desired haptic feedback functionality.
3Reliability
If the entire control unit is stimulated, then haptic feedback is achieved, but power consumption and acoustics increase
Solution Approach 1:
The haptic feedback function is extracted from the entire control unit and localized to only the front cover. By stimulating only the front cover rather than the entire control unit assembly, power consumption is reduced while still providing effective haptic feedback to the user's finger.
Solution Approach 2:
The haptic stimulation is applied locally to the front cover where the user's finger is touching, rather than stimulating the entire control unit. This localized approach reduces the mass that needs to be accelerated, thereby reducing power consumption and minimizing unwanted acoustic emissions from other parts of the control unit.
4Reliability
If the entire control unit is stimulated, then haptic feedback is achieved, but unwanted acoustics are generated
Solution Approach 1:
The haptic feedback function is extracted from the entire control unit and localized to only the front cover. By stimulating only the front cover rather than the entire control unit assembly, unwanted acoustic emissions from other components are eliminated while maintaining effective haptic feedback.
Solution Approach 2:
The haptic stimulation is applied locally to the front cover where the user's finger is touching, rather than stimulating the entire control unit. This localized approach reduces the mass that needs to be accelerated, thereby reducing power consumption and minimizing unwanted acoustic emissions from other parts of the control unit.
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 achieves high haptic feedback with reduced acoustics and a smaller structure, using less power and force, and avoids unnecessary installation space and stimulation of the entire control unit, resulting in a more efficient and cost-effective solution.
Implementation Method 1
the at least one actuator is arranged on the back of the front cover for generating a haptic stimulation of the front cover and is elastically fastened by means of an adhesive layer
Implementation Method 2
the at least one actuator is arranged on the back of the front cover for generating a haptic stimulation of the front cover
Implementation Method 3
the front cover is elastically mounted in the housing
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4
AI summary
The invention relates to an operator control unit (2) for a vehicle (1), having: a housing (3) and an operator control element (7), the housing (3) being designed to accommodate the operator control element (7); and a front cover (6) which at least partially has a transparent, touch-sensitive operator control panel (8) for operating the operator control element (7), the front cover (6) having a rear side (4) facing the housing (3), and the front cover (6) being mounted elastically in the housing (3); and at least one actuator (16), the at least one actuator (16) being situated on the rear side (4) of the front cover (6) to generate haptic excitation of the front cover (6).