Touch Surface Sensor Switching Device for Motor Vehicles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current switching devices for motor vehicle windows and sliding roofs face issues with unintentional actuation due to accidental contact, particularly in modern designs where control elements are not always visible and must comply with safety standards like FMVSS Standard 118, which prohibits accidental window or roof closure.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of touch surface sensors without switching contacts for both first and second switching elements, requiring simultaneous actuation of both to activate a drive element, with the first elements actuable by fingers and the second by palm, palm heel, or thumb, to prevent unintended activation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If touch surface sensors without switching contacts are used for switching elements, then the closed gap-free surface and modern design requirements are met, but unintentional actuation due to accidental contact becomes a critical problem
Solution Approach 1:
The control surface is segmented into multiple independent sensor areas, each with its own switching elements. This allows the system to maintain a closed gap-free surface while creating distinct actuation zones that can be independently controlled and monitored to prevent unintentional activation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system requires preliminary intentional actuation of a specific switching element before the drive element can be activated. This preliminary action serves as a deliberate command that distinguishes intentional user input from accidental contact, thereby preventing unintentional actuation while maintaining the modern closed surface design.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple first switching elements are provided on the housing surface for selecting drive elements, then drive element selection capability is improved, but the number of switching elements and surface complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor areas and switching elements are designed to serve multiple functions. The same sensor areas used for drive element selection can also detect the type of contact (finger vs. palm heel), and the system can interpret different actuation patterns on the same surface to achieve various control functions, reducing the need for separate dedicated controls.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a dimensional aspect to the control surface by incorporating sensor areas that detect not only the presence of contact but also the type of contact (finger tip vs. palm heel). This additional dimension of information allows the system to differentiate between selection actions and activation actions without requiring separate physical controls for each function.
Data Source
AI summary
A switching device for actuating drive elements includes first switching elements situated on a housing surface to be actuatable by fingers of a person and a second switching element situated on a housing surface to be actuatable by a palm, a palm heel, or a thumb of the person. The first and second switching elements are formed by touch surface sensors without switching contacts. In one variation, actuation of one of the first switching elements causes actuation of a corresponding one of the drive elements only when the second switching element is actuated during the actuation of the one of the first switching elements. In another variation, simultaneous actuation of one of the first switching elements and the second switching element causes a drive element corresponding to the one of the first switching elements to be actuated according to a function corresponding to the second switching element.