Input device

• US 20060146037A1
• Filed: 12/29/2005
• Published: 07/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Original Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Inventors: Bloehs, Wolfgang, Alessandrini, Philippe, Prados, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 7,920,126 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface

Abstract

An input device, especially for a vehicle, comprises a touchscreen to enter commands by touching an operating surface of the touchscreen or by pressing on the operating surface, an actuator to move the touchscreen in at least one direction, and a control module to control the actuator as a function of the speed of a touching movement over the operating surface.

Claims

1. An input device comprising:

a touchscreen for entry of commands by touching an operating surface of the touchscreen or by pressing on the operating surface;

an actuator for movement of the touchscreen in at least one direction; and

a control module to control the actuator as a function of a speed of a touching movement over the operating surface or a quantity derived from this speed.

2. An input device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a speed calculator to determine the speed of the touching movement over the operating surface or a quantity derived from this speed.

3. An input device according to claim 2, wherein the speed of the touching movement over the operating surface or a quantity derived from this speed can be determined as a function of a position of touching of the operating surface.

4. An input device according to claim 2, wherein the speed calculator includes a Kalman filter.

5. An input device according to claim 1, wherein the actuator can be driven by the control module as a function of the position of touching of the operating surface or the position of pressing on the operating surface.

6. An input device according to claim 1, wherein the touchscreen can be moved by the actuator periodically with a frequency or amplitude adjustable by means of the control module.

7. An input device according to claim 6, wherein the frequency or amplitude can be adjusted as a function of the speed of the touching movement over the operating surface or a quantity derived from this speed.

8. An input device according to claim 1, wherein the touchscreen can be moved by the actuator essentially parallel to the operating surface.

9. An input device according to claim 1, wherein a rotational movement can be generated by the actuator.

10. An input device according to claim 9, wherein the axis of the rotation of movement is essentially perpendicular to the operating surface.

11. An input device according to claim 1, further comprising at least one essentially U-shaped spring for mechanical connection of the touchscreen to a reference element.

12. An input device according to claim 11, wherein the essentially U-shaped spring has a spring constant adjusted to a weight of the touchscreen, so that the touchscreen, in conjunction with the essentially U-shaped spring, has a mechanical natural frequency from 5 Hz to 150 Hz.

13. An input device according to claim 12, wherein the actuator is driven,

so that during touching of the operating surface on a first position, a supposedly surface condition of the operating surface can be felt, which can be distinguished from the actual surface condition of the operating surface, or

that during touching of the operating surface on a first position, a supposedly surface condition of the operating surface can be felt that can be distinguished from a supposedly surface condition of the operating surface at at least one second position.

14. An input device comprising:

a touchscreen for input of commands by touching an operating surface of the touchscreen or by pressing on the operating surface;

an actuator to move the touchscreen in at least one direction; and

a control module for such control of the actuator,

that during touching of the operating surface on a first position, a supposedly surface condition of the operating can be felt, which can be distinguished from the actual surface conditions of the operating surface, or

that during touching of the operating surface on a first position, a supposedly surface condition of the operating surface can be felt that can be distinguished from the supposedly surface condition of the operating surface at at least one second position.

15. An input device comprising:

a touchscreen for entry of command by touching an operating surface of the touchscreen or by pressing on the operating surface;

an actuator to move the touchscreen in at least one direction; and

an observer to determine the speed of a touching movement over the operating surface or a quantity derived from this speed.

16. An input device according to claim 15, wherein the observer is configured as a Kalman filter.