Vehicle Input Surface Haptics With Integrated Damping Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing operating input devices for vehicles lack precise haptic feedback generation and efficient damping mechanisms, leading to potential noise and damage risks during relative movement, and require complex assembly processes.
Innovation Solution
An operating input device with a damping element axially fixed in a non-damping direction, allowing easy assembly and adjustment of damping properties, and incorporating a feedback actuation mechanism for pleasant haptic feedback without additional components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a damping element is used to damp relative movement between upper part and lower part, then noise and damage risks are reduced, but device complexity increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The damping element is integrated into the existing structure by being axially fixed between the upper part and lower part, merging the damping function with the structural components rather than adding it as a separate assembly. This reduces assembly complexity while maintaining noise and damage protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The damping element is designed to be axially immovably fixed in a non-damping direction, allowing it to automatically perform both damping in the operating input direction and structural support in the non-damping direction without requiring additional fastening components or assembly steps.
2Ease of manufacture
If the damping element is axially fixed in a non-damping direction, then ease of manufacture and assembly is improved, but damping effectiveness in multiple directions may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The damping element is designed with direction-specific properties: it provides damping in the operating input direction while being axially fixed in the non-damping direction. This local differentiation of damping characteristics allows easy assembly without compromising reliability in the directions that require damping.
3Reliability
If additional components are used to fix the damping element, then reliability of damping is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The damping element is integrated into the existing structure by being axially fixed between the upper part and lower part, merging the damping function with the structural components rather than adding it as a separate assembly. This reduces assembly complexity while maintaining noise and damage protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The damping element is designed to be axially immovably fixed in a non-damping direction, allowing it to automatically perform both damping in the operating input direction and structural support in the non-damping direction without requiring additional fastening components or assembly steps.
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 provides a cost-effective, easy-to-assemble device with controlled damping and reduced noise, enabling precise haptic feedback and improved user experience.
Implementation Method 1
at least one damping element arranged and configured to damp a relative movement between the upper part and the lower part in said operating input direction and/or in said first haptic feedback generating direction
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to an operating input device (10) for a vehicle and to a steering input device (100), wherein the operating input device (10) comprises an upper part (12) comprising an operating input surface (11) with at least one input area (11A, 11B) associated or associable to at least one operating function, and a lower part (13) serving as a support structure for the upper part, wherein the upper part (12) is relatively movable to the lower part (13) by an operating input force (F) applied on the operating input surface (11) in an operating input direction (R) extending at least substantially perpendicular to the operating input surface (11), wherein for generating a haptic feedback the upper part (12) and the lower part (13) are coupled movably relative to each other such that by a feedback actuation mechanism (15), which is couplable to the operating input device (10), the upper part (12) is movable relatively to the lower part (13) at least in a first haptic feedback generating direction (H) extending at least substantially parallel to the operating input surface (11), wherein the operating input device (10) further comprises at least one damping element (16) arranged and configured to damp a relative movement between the upper part (12) and the lower part (13) in said operating input direction (R) and/or in said first haptic feedback generating direction (H), and wherein the at least one damping element (16) is axially immovably arranged in the operating input device (10) in a non-damping direction (L) different from the operating input direction (R) and the first haptic feedback generating direction (H).