Operator device with haptic feedback

• US 7,605,802 B2
• Filed: 01/21/2004
• Issued: 10/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Original Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Inventors: Hartkopp, Oliver
• Primary Examiner(s): Shalwala; Bipin
• Assistant Examiner(s): KOVALICK, VINCENT E
• Application Number:
  US10/543,197
• Publication Number:
  US 20060262084A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,099 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-167
• US Class Current: 345/161
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• 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 2215/05 electromechanical
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2215/052 piezoelectric
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2217/032 Feedback about selected symbol, e.g. display
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/016 programmable
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/181 using a programmable display, e.g. LED or LCD

Abstract

The invention relates to a control device (10) with haptic feedback, with at least one actuating element (12), at least one switching apparatus (14), and at least one positioning device (16), and uses of the inventive control device. The at least one actuating element (12) of the control device (10) with haptic feedback can be displaced with at least one degree of freedom and includes at least one display device (18). A force can be applied to the at least one actuating element (12) by the at least one positioning device (16).

Claims

1. Control device with haptic feedback with at least one actuating element, at least one switching device and at least one positioning device, wherein

the at least one actuating element can be displaced in at least one degree of freedom and comprises at least one region, wherein the at least one actuating element is adapted to move inward with respect to the at least one switching device when the at least one actuating element is activated,

the at least one actuating element includes at least one display device comprising at least one display field corresponding to the at least one region of the at least one actuating element, wherein the at least one switching device is associated with the at least one display field of the at least one display device, wherein at least one function of the at least one actuating element can be visualized with the at least one display device, and

the at least one switching device is adapted to provide haptic feedback to the at least one actuating element when the at least one switching device is activated by movement of the at least one actuating element.

2. Control device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one display device can be freely programmed.

3. Control device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one display device is programmed so that the available display area of the at least one display device can be divided into at least one display field.

4. Control device according to claim 3, wherein the at least one switching device can be associated with the at least one display field and can be activated by a force applied to the at least one actuating element or the at least one switching device in the region of the at least one display field.

5. Control device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one switching device is selected from the group consisting of a pushbutton, a switch, and a touch-sensitive foil.

6. Control device according to claim 1, wherein at least one graphic object can be displayed by the at least one display device.

7. Control device according to claim 6, wherein the at least one graphic object represents an alphanumeric character, a graphic symbol or an image.

8. Control device according to claim 6, wherein the at least one display device includes at least one auxiliary touch sensor that supports selection of the at least one graphic object displayable by the at least one display device.

9. Control device according to claim 8, wherein the at least one auxiliary touch sensor is formed as an indentation and/or a raised portion of a display surface of the at least one display device.

10. Control device according to claim 8, wherein the at least one auxiliary touch sensor is formed as a point, a line, a rubber cross or a plastic cross.

11. Control device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one positioning device is selected from the group consisting of a resilient element, a rubber cross, an electromechanical actuator, a pneumatic actuator, and a piezoelectric actuator.

12. Control device according to claim 1, wherein the control device comprises a hollow body with at least one opening.

13. Control device according to claim 12, wherein the at least one actuating element is guided in the hollow body in at least one spatial direction.

14. Control device according to claim 13, wherein the movement of the at least one actuating element in the at least one spatial direction is limited by a limit stop element.

15. Control device according to claim 1, wherein the control device is integrated in an operator island.

16. Control device according to claim 15, wherein the operator island includes at least one operating element.

17. Control device according to claim 16, wherein the at least one operating element is selected from the group consisting of a pushbutton, a switch, and a knob.

18. Control device according to claim 16, wherein at least one function of the at least one actuating element can be visualized with the at least one display device.

19. Control device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one display device is circular or polygonal.

20. Control device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one display device is selected from the group consisting of a liquid crystal display, a light emitting diode, an organic light emitting diode, a light emitting diode array, and an array of organic light emitting diodes.

21. Control device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one positioning device is adapted to provide a haptic guiding function to the at least one actuating element by exerting an opposing force in the at least one region of the at least one actuating element when the at least one actuating element is activated.

22. Control device with haptic feedback with at least one actuating element, at least first and second switching devices and at least one positioning device, wherein

the at least one actuating element is displaceable in at least one degree of freedom and comprises at least first and second regions, wherein the first region is a different region than the second region, and

the at least one actuating element includes at least one display device comprising at least first and second display fields, wherein the first display field corresponds to the first region of the at least one actuating element and is associated with the first switching device, and further wherein the second display field corresponds to the second region of the at least one actuating element and is associated with the second switching device.