Control element or switching element for vehicles

• US 7,242,112 B2
• Filed: 09/17/2004
• Issued: 07/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Wolf, Juergen, Kraus, Ulrich
• Primary Examiner(s): Sircus; Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): AMAYA, CARLOS DAVID
• Application Number:
  US10/942,881
• Publication Number:
  US 20050030166A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,026 Days
• Field of Search: 307/112, 180/446, 318/628
• US Class Current: 307/112
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0232 for measuring vehicle parameters and indicating critical, abnormal or dangerous conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/046 Adaptations on rotatable parts of the steering wheel for accommodation of switches

Abstract

Disclosed is a control element or switching element that is provided with elements which electrically or chemically respond to the sense of touch, for example in a steering wheel. The elements are used for supplying the driver who touches the elements with warnings and/or information about the state of the vehicle or traffic. Interactive functions can be connected thereto, by means of which replies by the driver can be detected and processed. The driver can consequently cause the information system of the vehicle to also represent the warning information in an optical manner, e.g. in corresponding control lights on the dashboard, at a desired time.

Claims

1. A control element for vehicles, comprising:

an operator control element for controlling or for switching a vehicle or vehicle component,

means for transmitting information about a state of the vehicle or traffic to a driver, the means for transmitting being mounted on or in the operator control element so as to be at least temporarily contactable by the driver and comprising stimulating means for mechanically, chemically or electrically stimulating the driver'"'"'s sense of touch, and

an electronic circuit unit provided for determining an individual stimulation threshold of a driver and adapting thereto a level of effectiveness of the stimulating means.

2. The control element according to claim 1, further comprising means for transmitting stimulation signals, which stimulate a sense of touch, as warning signals or information signals with a variable strength when predefined conditions occur.

3. The control element according to claim 2, wherein the vehicle further comprises a steering wheel, the steering wheel comprising stimulating means arranged to stimulate a sense of touch to at least one hand in contact with the steering wheel.

4. The control element according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle further comprises a steering wheel, the steering wheel comprising the stimulating means arranged to stimulate a sense of touch to at least one hand in contact with the steering wheel.

5. The control element according to claim 4, wherein the stimulating means further comprise a sensor function arranged to convert a haptic effect or an exerted pressure into electronically processed signals.

6. The control element according to claim 1, wherein the stimulating means further comprise a sensor function arranged to convert a haptic effect or an exerted pressure into electronically processed signals.

7. The control element according to claim 6, wherein the stimulating means further comprises a matrix-like arrangement of moveable needles mounted in electronic coils, said moveable needles arranged so as to spring on an underside and actuated in rows and columns.

8. The control element according to claim 6, wherein the stimulating means further comprises a matrix-like arrangement of laterally tiltable needles which are actuated in rows and columns.

9. The control element according to claim 6, wherein the stimulating means further comprises a motor-operated, rotating eccentric arranged to generate a stimulation impression of a vibration.

10. The control element according to claim 6, wherein the stimulating means comprise a matrix-like arrangement of electrodes which actuated in rows and columns and to which different electrical potentials are applied.

11. The control element according to claim 1, wherein the stimulatinig means further comprises a matrix-like arrangement of moveable needles mounted in electronic coils, said moveable needles arranged so as to spring on an underside and actuated in rows and columns.

12. The control element according to claim 1, wherein the stimulating means further comprises a matrix-like arrangement of laterally tiltable needles which are actuated in rows and columns.

13. The control element according to claim 1, wherein the stimulating means further comprises a motor-operated, rotating eccentric arranged to generate a stimulation impression of a vibration.

14. The control element according to claim 1, wherein the stimulating means comprise a matrix-like arrangement of electrodes which are actuated in rows and columns and to which different electrical potentials are applied.

15. The control element according to claim 14, further comprising at least one actuation signal generating means coupled to the stimulating means so as to provide the actuation signal to the stimulating means, the generating means comprising a sensor comprising at least one of

distance radar for detecting distance from vehicles traveling ahead or behind,

distance radar for detecting distance from an edge of a roadway,

load change detector,

frost sensor, and

biometric sensor for monitoring a driver.

16. The control element according to claim 14, further comprising an electronic circuit unit provided for determining an individual stimulation threshold of a driver and adapting thereto a level of effectiveness of the stimulating means.

17. The control element according to claim 1, further comprising at least one actuation signal generating means coupled to the stimulating means so as to provide the actuation signal to the stimulating means, the generating means comprising a sensor comprising at least one of

distance radar for detecting distance from vehicles traveling ahead or behind,

distance radar far detecting distance from an edge of a roadway,

load change detector,

frost sensor, and

biometric sensor for monitoring a driver.