Method, computer program, control and or regulating device, device for detecting contact with an operating element, and corresponding operating element

• US 20030144801A1
• Filed: 12/04/2002
• Published: 07/31/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Heinebrodt, Martin, Braeuchle, Goetz, Boecker, Juergen
• Granted Patent: US 6,859,143 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/56
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0076 Switches therefor B60Q1/1446, B60Q1/343, B60Q1/40 take precedence

Abstract

A method serves for detecting the touch contact of an operator-controlled element of a machine by a user. In order to be able to continuously and with great safety and meaning carry out the detection, it is suggested that an actual vibration characteristic (FR) of the operator-controlled element is detected during operation, which changes in dependence upon a touch contact of the operator-controlled element by a user, and is compared to at least one desired vibration characteristic (FR0), which is present in a defined state of the operator-controlled element (34, 42), and an announcement (48, 52) takes place in dependence upon the result of the comparison.

Claims

1. Method for detecting the touch contact of an operator-controlled element (10) of a machine by a user, characterized in that an actual vibration characteristic (FR;

PIN;

SIN) of the operator-controlled element (10), which is changed in dependence upon a touch contact of the operator-controlled element (10) by a user, is detected during operation and is compared to at least one desired vibration characteristic (FR0;

PIN0;

SIN0), which is present in a defined state of the operator-controlled element (10); and

, an announcement takes place in dependence upon the result of the comparison.

2. Method of claim 1, characterized in that the vibration characteristic is the propagation characteristic (SIN) of excited vibrations along at least one region (18) of the operator-controlled element (10).

3. Method of claim 2, characterized in that the operator-controlled element is excited by a vibration pulse (SOUT) and the time-dependent intensity profile (SIN) of the response vibrations is detected.

4. Method of claim 1, characterized in that the vibration characteristic is a resonance frequency (FR) of the operator-controlled element.

5. Method of claim 4, characterized in that at least one region (18) of the operator-controlled element (10) is excited in resonance and the actual resonance frequency (FR) of the operator-controlled element is detected in that the excitation frequency is varied and the maximum of the power output and/or the minimum of the power input is detected.

6. Method of claim 4, characterized in that at least one region (18) of the operator-controlled element is excited at a constant frequency and a change of the needed power input (PIN) or the obtained power output and/or a shift of the phase position between excitation and response is detected.

7. Method of one of the above claims, characterized in that a conclusion is drawn as to the intensity and/or the nature of the touch contact (36, 46) from the extent and/or of the nature of the deviation of the actual vibration characteristic (FR;

PIN;

SIN) from the desired vibration characteristic (FR0;

PIN0;

SIN0).

8. Method of one of the above claims, characterized in that the desired vibration characteristic (FR0;

PIN0;

SIN0) is detected and stored (30, 32;

54, 56) in a state of the ensured non-contact of the operator-controlled element by the user.

9. Method of one of the above claims, characterized in that the announcement includes the setting of a bit and/or a flag.

10. Method of one of the above claims, characterized in that the announcement effects an intervention via an autopilot and/or the output of a warning 48 and/or of an alarm 52.

11. Method of claim 10, characterized in that the warning and/or the alarm includes the output of an acoustic signal, the output of an optical signal and/or the generation of sensoric stimuli on the operator-controlled element, especially vibrations.

12. Method of one of the above claims, characterized in that the vibration characteristics (FR;

PIN;

SIN) in the ultrasonic range or in the infrasonic range are detected or corresponding vibrations (FR0;

SIN0) are generated.

13. Method of one of the claims 2 to 12, characterized in that the excitation of the vibrations of the operator-controlled element and the detection of the vibration characteristics take place with the same device, especially a piezo transducer.

14. Computer program characterized in that the computer program is suitable for carrying out the method in accordance with one of the above claims, when it is executed on a computer.

15. Computer program of claim 14, characterized in that it is stored on a memory, especially on a flash memory.

16. Control apparatus (open-loop and/or closed loop) (20) for detecting the touch contact of an operator-controlled element (10) of a machine by a user, characterized in that the apparatus is suitable for carrying out the method of one of the above claims 1 to 13.

17. Control apparatus (open loop and/or closed loop) (20) of claim 16, characterized in that the control apparatus is provided with a computer program according to one of the claims 14 or 15.

26. Arrangement (12) of one of the claims 19 to 25, characterized in that the arrangement includes a control apparatus (open loop and/or closed loop) (20) according to one of the claims 17 or 18.

18. Arrangement (12) for detecting the touch contact of an operator-controlled element (10) of a machine by a user, the arrangement having a detection device (16), which is connected to the operator-controlled element (10) and responds to a touch contact of the operator-controlled element (10) by the user, characterized in that the detection device (16) is so configured that the detection device determines an actual vibration characteristic (FR;

PIN;

SIN) of the operator-controlled element (10), which changes in dependence upon a touch contact of the operator-controlled element (10) by a user during operation and a data processing unit (20) is provided, which compares the signal of the detecting device (16) to a desired vibration characteristic (FR0;

PIN0;

SIN0), which is present in a defined state of the operator-controlled element (10) and outputs an announcement in dependence upon the result of the comparison (48, 52).

19. Arrangement (12) of claim 18, characterized in that the arrangement includes a unit (14), which is connected to the operator-controlled element (10) and can excite the operator-controlled element at a defined vibration (FR, SOUT).

20. Arrangement (12) of claim 19, characterized in that the excitation unit (14) can output a defined vibration pulse (SOUT) to the operator-controlled element (10) and a device (16) is provided, with which the time-dependent intensity profile (SIN) of the response vibrations can be detected.

21. Arrangement (12) of one of the claims 19 to 20, characterized in that the excitation unit (14) can excite at least one region (18) of the operator-controlled element to a resonance vibration (FR).

22. Arrangement (12) of claim 21, characterized in that a unit is provided which detects the power input (PIN) to the excitation unit (14).

23. Arrangement (12) of one of the claims 18 to 22, characterized in that the arrangement includes a device for outputting a warning (48) and/or an alarm (52).

24. Arrangement (12) of one of the claims 19 to 23, characterized in that the excitation unit (14) generates vibrations (FR, SOUT) in the ultrasonic range and/or in the infrasonic range and the detection unit (16) can detect corresponding vibrations (FR, SIN).

25. Arrangement (12) of claim 19, characterized in that the excitation unit and the detection unit are identical, especially are configured as a piezo element.

27. Operator-controlled element (10) of a machine, especially a steering wheel (10) of a motor vehicle, characterized in that the operator-controlled element is connected to an arrangement (12) according to one of the claims 18 to 26.

28. Operator-controlled element of claim (27), characterized in that the total device is integrated into the operator-controlled element.