Servosystem

• US 20060132469A1
• Filed: 12/16/2005
• Published: 06/22/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Original Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Inventors: Finn, Brian, Alessandrini, Philippe, Lai, Jackie
• Granted Patent: US 7,643,017 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 2360/126 Rotatable input devices for instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/11 Graphical user interfaces or menu aspects
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/126 Rotatable input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/158 Haptic output
• 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 35/25 using haptic output
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 37/06 of controls, e.g. controls knobs
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3664 Details of the user input interface, e.g. buttons, knobs or sliders, including those provided on a touch screen; remote controllers; input using gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/105 comprising arrangements for illumination
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 5/03 Means for enhancing the operator's awareness of arrival of the controlling member at a command or datum position; Providing feel, e.g. means for creating a counterforce arrangements for indicating the position of the controlling member G05G1/015
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0362 with detection of 1D translations or rotations of an operating part of the device, e.g. scroll wheels, sliders, knobs, rollers or belts
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0383 Signal control means within the pointing device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2003/008 with a haptic or a tactile feedback controlled by electrical means, e.g. a motor or magnetofriction
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 25/06 Operating part movable both angularly and rectilinearly, the rectilinear movement being along the axis of angular movement
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/50 with indexing or locating means, e.g. indexing by ball and spring

Abstract

A servosystem, in particular a servosystem for a motor vehicle, includes a display showing a list of clickable menu items, a rotary knob with a rotary element to operate the rotary knob, with a number of mechanical detents to alternately increase the rotary momentum necessary for rotating the rotary element, with a brake to brake the rotary element and with a rotation sensor to measure the rotation of the rotary element with a resolution that is the least four times, in particular at least six times, and with particular preference at least eight times the number of mechanical detents per rotation of the rotary element, and a control for converting the rotation of the rotary element into a scrolling motion through a list and for activating the brake when the last clickable menu item of the list is reached or the first clickable menu items of the list is reached.

Claims

1. A servosystem for a vehicle comprising:

a display showing a list of clickable menu items;

a rotary knob with a rotary element for operating the rotary knob with a list of clickable menu items, with a number of mechanical detents to alternatively increase the rotary momentum necessary for rotating the rotary element, with a brake to brake the rotary element and with a rotation sensor to measure the rotation of the rotary element with a resolution that is at least four times the number of mechanical detents per rotation of the rotary element, and

a control for converting the rotation of the rotary element into a scrolling motion through a list and for activating the brake when the last clickable menu item of the list is reached or the first clickable menu items of the list is reached.

2. A servosystem according to claim 1, wherein the rotation of the rotary element can be measured with a resolution of at least 100 per rotation by using a rotary sensor.

3. A servosystem according to claim 1, wherein the rotation of the rotary element can be measured with a resolution of at least 450°

/α

per rotation of the rotary element using the rotary sensor, with α

being the smallest angle by which the rotary sensor can be rotated with a momentum exerted on the rotary element of at least 0.15 Nm when the brake is activated.

4. A servosystem according to claim 1, wherein a brake momentum of at least 0.15 Nm can be generated with the brake.

5. A servosystem according to claim 4, wherein a brake momentum of at least 1 Nm can be generated with the brake.

6. A servosystem according to claim 4, wherein a brake momentum of at most 2 Nm can be generated with the brake.

7. A servosystem according to claim 6, wherein a brake momentum of at most 1.5 Nm can be generated with the brake.

8. A servosystem according to claim 1, wherein at least eight, in particular at least fifteen, mechanical detents are provided per rotation of the rotary element.

9. A servosystem according to claim 8, wherein at most thirty mechanical detents are provided per rotation of the rotary element.

10. A servosystem according to claim 1, wherein the brake can be activated via a control for a brake interval when at least one menu item of the list lying between the first clickable menu item on the list and the last clickable menu item on the list is reached.

11. A servosystem according to claim 10, wherein the brake interval lasts between 50 ms and 500 ms.

12. A servosystem for a motor vehicle comprising:

a display showing a list of clickable menu items;

a rotary knob with a rotary element for operating the rotary knob with a list of clickable menu items, with a brake to brake the rotary element and with a rotation sensor to measure the rotation of the rotary element with a resolution of at least 100 per rotation of the rotary element; and

a control for converting the rotation of the rotary element into a scrolling motion through a list and for activating the brake when the last clickable menu item of the list is reached or the first clickable menu items of the list is reached.

13. A servosystem according to claim 12, wherein the rotation of the rotary element can be measured with a resolution of at least 450°

/α

per rotation of the rotary element using the rotary sensor, with α

being the smallest angle by which the rotary sensor can be rotated with a momentum exerted on the rotary element of at least 0.15 Nm when the brake is activated.

14. A servosystem according to claim 12, wherein a brake momentum of at least 0.15 Nm can be generated with the brake.

15. A servosystem according to claim 14, wherein a brake momentum of at least 1 Nm can be generated with the brake.

16. A servosystem according to claim 14, wherein a brake momentum of at most 2 Nm can be generated with the brake.

17. A servosystem according to claim 16, wherein a brake momentum of at most 1.5 Nm can be generated with the brake.

18. A servosystem according to claim 12, wherein the brake can be activated via a control for a brake interval when at least one menu item of the list lying between the first clickable menu item on the list and the last clickable menu item on the list is reached.

19. A servosystem according to claim 18, wherein the brake interval lasts between 50 ms and 500 ms.

20. A servosystem for a motor vehicle comprising:

a display showing a list of clickable menu items;

a rotary knob with a rotary element for operating the rotary knob, with a brake to brake the rotary element and with rotation sensor to measure the rotation of the rotary element with a resolution of at least 450°

/α

per rotation of the rotary element using the rotary sensor, with α

being the smallest angle by which the rotary sensor can be rotated with a momentum exerted on the rotary element of at least 0.15 Nm when the brake is activated; and

a control for converting the rotation of the rotary element into a scrolling motion through the list and for activating the brake when the last clickable menu item of the list is reached or the first clickable menu items of the list is reached.

21. A servosystem according to claim 20, wherein a brake momentum of at least 0.15 Nm can be generated with the brake.

22. A servosystem according to claim 21, wherein a brake momentum of at least 1 Nm can be generated with the brake.

23. A servosystem according to claim 21, wherein a brake momentum of at most 2 Nm can be generated with the brake.

24. A servosystem according to claim 23, wherein a brake momentum of at most 1.5 Nm can be generated with the brake.

25. A servosystem according to claim 20, wherein the brake can be activated via a control for a brake interval when at least one menu item of the list lying between the first clickable menu item on the list and the last clickable menu item on the list is reached.

26. A servosystem according to claim 25, wherein the brake interval lasts between 50 ms and 500 ms.

27. A servosystem for a motor vehicle comprising:

a display showing a list of clickable menu items;

a rotary knob with a rotary element for operating the rotary knob, with a brake to brake the rotary element with a brake momentum of at least 0.15 Nm; and

a control for converting the rotation of the rotary element into a scrolling movement through the list and for activating the brake when the last clickable menu item of the list is reached or the first clickable menu items of the list is reached.

28. A servosystem according to claim 27, wherein a brake momentum of at least 1 Nm can be generated with the brake.

29. A servosystem according to claim 27, wherein a brake momentum of at most 2 Nm can be generated with the brake.

30. A servosystem according to claim 29, wherein a brake momentum of at most 1.5 Nm can be generated with the brake.

31. A servosystem according to claim 27, wherein the brake can be activated via a control for a brake interval when at least one menu item of the list lying between the first clickable menu item on the list and the last clickable menu item on the list is reached.

32. A servosystem according to claim 31, wherein the brake interval lasts between 50 ms and 500 ms.