Vehicle Touchscreen Haptic Actuator with Phase Opposition Counterweight
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Solution Overview
Problem
Haptic feedback in vehicle operating units with large displays or touchscreens is affected by the vehicle environment, requiring a mechanical solution to isolate the touchscreen's movement effectively.
Innovation Solution
A control unit with a drive unit comprising a stator and translator that moves in phase opposition to compensate for forces between the touchscreen and counterweight, using an actuator with a coupling element arrangement and a counterweight positioned behind the touchscreen, with optional electromagnet or plunger coil design and resilient mounting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a counterweight is moved in phase opposition to the touchscreen to compensate for mechanical excitation, then haptic feedback quality is improved, but the device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the counterweight function with the actuator housing or housing components, merging two previously separate elements (counterweight and actuator structure) into a single integrated component. This reduces the number of separate parts while maintaining the haptic feedback compensation function, thereby reducing device complexity and space requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing or housing components serve multiple functions: they provide structural support, contain the actuator, and simultaneously function as the counterweight for haptic feedback compensation. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for a dedicated separate counterweight component, simplifying the overall mechanical structure.
2Reliability
If a separate counterweight is positioned behind the touchscreen, then haptic feedback is improved, but the overall device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The counterweight function is merged with the actuator housing or existing housing components, eliminating the need for an additional separate counterweight component. This integration maintains the haptic feedback compensation capability while avoiding the space consumption of a dedicated counterweight element.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing structure serves dual purposes: providing mechanical support and containment while simultaneously acting as the counterweight. This multi-functional design achieves haptic feedback compensation without increasing the overall device volume.
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 design provides a simple, space-saving mechanism to isolate the touchscreen's movement from the vehicle environment, ensuring effective haptic feedback while minimizing environmental influence.
Implementation Method 1
The actuator is controlled by energizing an exciter coil 22
Implementation Method 2
either the touchscreen or the counterweight or both being resiliently mounted on the holding element
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to an operating unit for a vehicle, comprising a touchscreen (12), an actuator (14) for mechanically exciting the touchscreen (12) upon detection of a valid manual actuation of the touchscreen (12) when an operating command is input, and a counterweight (16). The actuator (14) is designed as a drive unit with a stator (18) and a translator (20) which move in opposite directions either away from each other or towards each other, namely into an end position, starting from a rest position when the drive unit is actuated and which move back into the rest position from the end position after the actuation has ended, in particular in an automatic manner. The stator (18) is coupled to the touchscreen (12), and the translator (20) is coupled to the counterweight (16) or vice versa.