CONTROL INTERFACE WITH HAPTIC FEEDBACK

• US 20160216762A1
• Filed: 09/08/2014
• Published: 07/28/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DAV Société par actions simplifiée
• Original Assignee: DAV Société par actions simplifiée
• Inventors: Vanhelle, Stphane, Tissot, Jean-Marc
• Granted Patent: US 10,528,137 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/126 Rotatable input devices for instruments
• 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 35/25 using haptic output
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/08 Controlling members for hand actuation by rotary movement, e.g. hand wheels
• 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 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• 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 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/045 using resistive elements, e.g. a single continuous surface or two parallel surfaces put in contact
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 19/54 the operating part having at least five or an unspecified number of operative positions

Abstract

The invention relates to a control interface with haptic feedback (1), especially for a motor vehicle, designed to take into account an action of a user by providing the user with a haptic feedback, comprising a magnetorheological fluid module (5), said module comprising: an element (7) which rotates about an axis (Z) of the module (5), said rotary element being in contact with the magnetorheological fluid and designed to be coupled to a grip element (3); and a unit (9) for applying a magnetic field to the magnetorheological fluid, designed to modify the strength of the magnetic field, wherein said interface (1) comprises a control unit (31) comprising a fixed tactile surface (33) arranged at the centre of the grip element (3).

Claims

1. A control interface with haptic feedback for a motor vehicle, designed to take into account an action of a user by providing the user with haptic feedback, comprising a magnetorheological fluid module, said module comprising:

an element which rotates about an axis of the module, said rotary element being in contact with the magnetorheological fluid and designed to be coupled to a grip element; and

a unit for applying a magnetic field to the magnetorheological fluid, designed to modify the strength of the magnetic field,

wherein said interface comprises a control unit featuring a fixed touch-sensitive surface arranged at the center of the grip element.

2. The control interface according to claim 1, wherein the interface is configured to prevent the rotary element from rotating via the application unit when the touch-sensitive surface is used.

3. The control interface according to claim 1, wherein the application unit is configured to modify the strength of the magnetic field applied to according to the rotation of the rotary element about the axis of the module.

4. The control interface according to claim 1, wherein the control unit further comprises the display means coupled to the touch-sensitive interface.

5. The control interface according to claim 1, wherein the touch-sensitive surface is a capacitive surface.

6. The control interface according to claim 1, wherein the touch-sensitive surface is a resistive surface.

7. The control interface according to claim 1, wherein the touch-sensitive surface is a gesture detection device.

8. The control interface according to claim 3, wherein the magnetorheological fluid module has a generally cylindrical structure, one of the ends of which is closed and which comprises a fixed central axis on which the touch-sensitive surface is mounted, the rotary element being pivotally mounted around a central axis and which is inserted into a cavity of the module comprising the magnetorheological and in which the application unit comprises a coil which surrounds said cavity of the module containing the magnetorheological fluid.

9. The control interface according to claim 8, wherein the rotary element is guided in rotation by means of bearings or ball bearings.

10. The control interface according to claim 8, wherein the grip element forms a rotary ring around the touch-sensitive surface.

11. The control interface according to claim 8, wherein the control unit further comprises an electronic board configured to power and control the touch-sensitive surface, said electronic board being powered via an electrical connection that passes through the central axis.

12. The control interface according to claim 1, wherein the rotary element is coupled to a position encoder configured to supply a signal representative of the angular position of the rotary element.