OPERATING DEVICE, SUCH AS A HUMAN-MACHINE INTERFACE, IN PARTICULAR FOR A VEHICLE COMPONENT

• US 20140347301A1
• Filed: 09/18/2012
• Published: 11/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BHTC GmbH
• Original Assignee: Behr-Hella Thermocontrol GmbH (MAHLE-STIFTUNG GmbH)
• Inventors: Kleine-Hollenhorst, Holger, Stich, Bernd, Siebert, Rainer
• Granted Patent: US 9,614,522 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0443 using a single layer of sensing electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/9622 using a plurality of detectors, e.g. keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2017/9602 characterised by the type or shape of the sensing electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/96076 with spring electrode
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/96079 using a single or more light guides

Abstract

The operating device, such as a human-machine interface, in particular for a vehicle component, is provided with a front wall having a front side that has several fixed symbol fields and having a rear side, a capacitive sensor system that has individual electrodes associated with the symbol fields, which electrodes are arranged on the rear side of the front wall, and a carrier plate that faces the rear side of the front wall and is arranged at a distance from the front wall.

Claims

1. An operating device, such as a human-machine interface, in particular for a vehicle component, comprising

a front wall with a front side including a plurality of fixed symbol fields and with a rear side,

a capacitive proximity sensor system including individual electrodes associated with the symbol fields, which electrodes are arranged at the side rear side of the front wall, and

a carrier plate facing the rear side of the front wall, which carrier plate is arranged in spaced relationship to the front wall,

wherein the capacitive proximity sensor system comprises an evaluating unit connected with the electrodes for identifying that symbol field which is approached by an object, in particular a hand or a finger of a hand, wherein

between the front wall and the carrier plate electrode carrier elements associated with the individual symbol fields are arranged,

each electrode carrier element includes an electrode end facing the rear side of the front wall, which electrode end is provided with an electrode, and an opposite contact end electrically contacting a contact field of the carrier plate electrically connected with the evaluating unit, and the electrode end of each electrode carrier element includes a protruding contact edge extending at least partially around the symbol field associated with the electrode carrier element and abutting on the rear side of the front wall,

wherein the electrode is formed along the contact edge of the electrode carrier element without being electrically connected to the front wall, and

wherein each electrode carrier element includes an electrically conducting area for electrical connection of its electrode with its contact end and thus with the contact field of the carrier plate.

2. The operating device according to claim 1, wherein each electrode carrier element comprises an electrically insulating carrier material, and wherein an electrically conducting material for the electrode and for both the electrically conducting area and the contact end of the electrode carrier element is embedded in its carrier material and/or is applied to its carrier material.

3. The operating device according to claim 1, wherein at the contact end of each electrode carrier element at least one spring arm integrally formed with the electrode carrier element is arranged in a manner elastically abutting on the carrier plate.

4. The operating device according to claim 3, wherein the spring arm or at least one of the spring arms is electrically conducting and abuts on a contact field of the carrier plate.

5. The operating device according to claim 1, wherein at least one or a plurality of electrode carrier elements is/are traversed by a respective hollow space extending up to the electrode and contact ends of the respective electrode carrier element, and wherein the contact ends of each electrode carrier element abut on the rear side of the front wall and/or the carrier plate via a circumferential contact edge, and wherein a backlighting light source for backlighting the symbol field associated with the electrode carrier element is arranged at the carrier plate in the area enclosed by the contact edge of the electrode carrier element.

6. The operating device according to claim 1, wherein at least two electrode carrier elements associated with adjacent symbol fields are integrally formed, wherein their electrodes with the electrically conducting areas and contact ends associated therewith are respectively electrically insulated from each other.

7. The operating device according to claim 1, herein each electrode carrier element is configured as a two-component part, in particular an injection molded part, wherein the one component is an electrically insulating plastic material and the other component is an electrically conductive plastic material of which the areas of the electrode carrier element forming the electrode and its electrical connection and contacting to the carrier plate are made.

8. The operating device according to claim 6, wherein the connecting area between two respective electrode carrier elements are made of the electrically insulating plastic material.