Multifunction operating device

• US 20040046751A1
• Filed: 10/10/2003
• Published: 03/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Original Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Inventors: Heimermann, Matthias, Wengelnik, Heino, Schnier, Carsten
• Granted Patent: US 7,595,722 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/184
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/11 Instrument graphical user interfaces or menu aspects
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/113 Scrolling through menu items
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/117 Cursors
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/782 on the steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/60 Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10

Abstract

The invention relates to a multifunction operating device, especially for a vehicle, for selecting function groups (22) and functions (25) in a menu structure which can be represented on a display device (14), said operating device comprising at least one two-directional rotating element (11). According to the invention, the two-directional rotating element (11) is embodied in such a way that it can select function groups (22) and/or functions (25) in a menu plane (21, 24, 26, 30-32). Furthermore, a second operating device (12, 13) is provided for selecting the menu planes.

Claims

1. A multifunctional operating device, in particular for a vehicle, for preselecting and/or selecting function groups (22) and functions (25) within a menu structure representable on a display device, the multifunctional operating device having at least one bidirectional rotary element (11), wherein the bidirectional rotary element (11) is designed for preselecting and/or selecting function groups (22) and/or functions (25) within a menu level (21, 24, 26, 30-32), and at least one second operating device (12, 13) is provided for preselecting and/or selecting the menu levels (21, 24, 26, 30-32).

2. The multifunctional operating device as recited in claim 1, wherein the second operating device (12, 13) is realized by moving at least a part of the bidirectional rotary element in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the bidirectional rotary element.

3. The multifunctional operating device as recited in claim 1, wherein, in order to form the second operating device (12, 13), the bidirectional rotary element (11) takes the form of a rocker in the direction of the axis of rotation.

4. The multifunctional operating device as recited in claim 1, wherein the second operating device (12, 13) is made up of one or two operating elements, the second operating device being situated on or at least partially in the bidirectional rotary element (11).

5. The multifunctional operating device as recited in one of claims 1 through 4,

wherein the bidirectional rotary element (11) is provided for preselection and/or selection in two directions (A, B), and the second operating device is provided for selection in two additional directions (C, D) preferably perpendicular to the selection directions of the bidirectional rotary element (11).

6. The multifunctional operating device as recited in claim 5, wherein the second operating device is made up of one operating element (12, 13) for each preselection and/or selection direction.

7. The multifunctional operating device as recited in one of claims 1 through 6,

wherein the bidirectional rotary element (11) is positioned in the vehicle in such a manner,

that a selection of function groups (22) and functions (25) on the display device (14) may be made in the sense of the rotational directions (A, B) of the bidirectional rotary element (11).

8. The multifunctional operating device as recited in one of claims 1 through 7,

wherein, after at least one function (25) is preselected and/or selected by rotatably manipulating the bidirectional rotary element (11), the function (25) may be activated by manipulating the second operating device (12, 13).

9. The multifunctional operating device as recited in one of claims 1 through 8,

wherein the bidirectional rotary element (11) takes the form of a large-sized set wheel.

10. The multifunctional operating device as recited in one of claims 1 through 9,

wherein, in the case of at least one of the function groups (22) and/or functions (25) preselected by the bidirectional rotary element (11), the preselected function group (22) and/or function (25) is automatically selected and/or activated.

11. The multifunctional operating device as recited in claim 10,

wherein, after the preselection of a function group (22) and/or function (25) and the expiration of a predefined period of time, the preselected function group (22) and/or function (25) is automatically selected and/or activated.

12. The multifunctional operating device as recited in one of claims 1 through 11,

wherein further operating elements (36) are situated in haptic proximity, next to the bidirectional rotary element (11).

13. The multifunctional operating device as recited in claim 12,

wherein the operating elements (36) are provided as softkeys for selecting and/or activating predefined, preselected functions (25).

14. The multifunctional operating device as recited in one of claims 1 through 13,

wherein control elements (37) individually assigned to the primary function groups (22) are provided for the selection of primary function groups (22), in particular for the selection of attached devices and/or groups of devices.

15. The multifunctional operating device as recited in one of claims 1 through 14,

wherein the bidirectional rotary element (11) is sunk into a vehicle-part surface (20) to such an extent, that the rotary element (11) is easily manipulable and the axis of rotation is already below the vehicle-part surface (20).

16. The multifunctional operating device as recited in one of claims 1 through 15,

wherein the bidirectional rotary element (11), together with at least the second operating device (12, 13), is spatially and structurally separated from the display device.