Input device

• US 7,607,087 B2
• Filed: 02/02/2005
• Issued: 10/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Original Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Inventors: Prados, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, MY CHAU T
• Application Number:
  US11/051,051
• Publication Number:
  US 20050225539A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,721 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/173, 345/157, 345/160, 345/161, 345/163, 345/164, 345/168, 340/425.5, 178/178, 178/18.01, 178/18.03, 178/18.04, 178/18.05, 178/18.06, 178/18.07, 178/18.09, 178/18.11, 715/700, 715/701, 715/702
• US Class Current: 715/701
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/143 Touch sensitive instrument input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1438 Touch screens
• 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 35/22 Display screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/53 Movable instruments, e.g. slidable
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2003/008 with a haptic or a tactile feedback controlled by electrical means, e.g. a motor or magnetofriction

Abstract

An input device, e.g., for a motor vehicle, includes: a touch screen for the input of commands by touching a control panel or by pressing on the control panel; an actuator for moving the touch screen in at least one direction with respect to a reference body; and an substantially unshaped spring for the mechanical connection of the touch screen to the reference body.

Claims

1. An input device, comprising:

a touch screen configured to input commands by one of (a) touch of a control panel and (b) press on the control panel;

an actuator configured to move the touch screen in at least one direction with respect to a reference body; and

at least one substantially u-shaped spring arranged substantially in parallel to the control panel and configured to mechanically connect the touch screen to the reference body.

2. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the reference body includes at least one of (a) a display configured to display information and (b) a component of a motor vehicle.

3. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one substantially u-shaped spring includes at least three substantially u-shaped springs configured to mechanically connect the touch screen to the reference body.

4. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one substantially u-shaped spring includes at least four substantially u-shaped springs configured to mechanically connect the touch screen to the reference body.

6. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the substantially u-shaped spring includes an opening and an apex arranged substantially opposite from the opening, the substantially u-shaped spring aligned such that an imaginary line extending through the apex and through the opening extends substantially in parallel to the control panel.

7. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the touch screen is moveable via the actuator substantially in parallel to the control panel.

10. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the substantially u-shaped spring is substantially made of plastic.

11. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the substantially u-shaped spring includes two spring arms, an opening arranged between the two spring arms and a connection point at which the two spring arms are joined, the substantially u-shaped spring having a main-spring constant in parallel to the opening and a secondary-spring constant in a direction extending through the connection point and through the opening, the secondary-spring constant at least two times the main-spring constant.

12. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the substantially u-shaped spring includes two spring arms, an opening arranged between the two spring arms and a connection point at which the two spring arms are joined, the substantially u-shaped spring having a main-spring constant in parallel to the opening, the substantially u-shaped spring having a secondary-spring constant perpendicular to the opening, the secondary-spring constant at least two times the main-spring constant.

13. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the substantially u-shaped spring includes two spring arms, an opening arranged between the two spring arms and a connection point at which the two spring arms are joined, the substantially u-shaped spring having a main-spring constant in parallel to the opening and the control panel, the substantially u-shaped spring having a secondary-spring constant perpendicular to the opening and in parallel to the control panel, the secondary-spring constant at least two times the main-spring constant.

14. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one substantially u-shaped spring includes at least two substantially u-shaped springs, the input device further comprising at least one mechanical connection element configured to connect the at least two substantially u-shaped springs, the mechanical connection element and the at least two substantially u-shaped springs molded jointly as one piece.

15. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one substantially u-shaped spring includes at least two substantially u-shaped springs, the input device further comprising at least one mechanical connection element configured to connect the at least two substantially u-shaped springs, the mechanical connection element and the at least two substantially u-shaped springs molded jointly as one piece.

16. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one substantially u-shaped spring includes at least three substantially u-shaped springs, the input device further comprising at least one frame configured to connect the at least three substantially u-shaped springs and to accommodate the touch screen, the frame and the at least three substantially u-shaped springs made jointly as one piece.

17. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one substantially u-shaped spring includes at least three substantially u-shaped springs, the input device including at least one frame configured to connect the at least three substantially u-shaped springs and to accommodate the touch screen, the frame and the at least three substantially u-shaped springs molded jointly as one piece.

18. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one substantially u-shaped spring includes at least four substantially u-shaped springs, the input device further comprising at least one frame configured to connect the at least four substantially un-shaped springs and to accommodate the touch screen, the frame and the at least four substantially u-shaped springs both forming one piece.

19. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one substantially u-shaped spring includes at least four substantially u-shaped springs, the input device further comprising at least one frame configured to connect the at least four substantially un-shaped springs and to accommodate the touch screen, the frame and the at least four substantially u-shaped springs molded jointly as one piece.

21. The input device according to claim 1, further comprising a control device configured to control the actuator to move the touch screen in a direction substantially in parallel to the control panel to confirm a command input via the touch screen.

22. The input device according to claim 21, wherein the touch screen is periodically moveable in the direction substantially in parallel to the control panel to confirm the command input via the touch screen.

23. The input device according to claim 22, wherein the touch screen is moveable in the direction substantially in parallel to the control panel for a period of between 50 ms and 800 ms to confirm the command input via the touch screen.

5. An input device, comprising:

a touch screen configured to input commands by one of (a) touch of a control panel and (b) press on the control panel;

an actuator configured to move the touch screen in at least one direction with respect to a reference body; and

at least one substantially u-shaped spring configured to mechanically connect the touch screen to the reference body, the substantially u-shaped spring includes an opening substantially directed toward the touch screen.

8. An input device comprising:

a touch screen configured to input commands by one of (a) touch of a control panel and (b) press on the control panel;

an actuator configured to move the touch screen in at least one direction with respect to a reference body, the actuator is configured to produce a rotary movement; and

at least one substantially u-shaped spring configured to mechanically connect the touch screen to the reference body.

9. The input device according to claim 8, wherein an axis of the rotary movement extending substantially perpendicular to the control panel.

20. An input device, comprising:

a touch screen configured to input commands by one of (a) touch of a control panel and (b) press on the control panel;

an actuator configured to move the touch screen in at least one direction with respect to a reference body; and

at least one substantially u-shaped spring configured to mechanically connect the touch screen to the reference body, the touch screen is held freely suspended with respect to the reference body by the substantially u-shaped spring.

24. An input device, comprising

a touch screen configured to input commands by one of (a) touch of a control panel and (b) press on the control panel;

an actuator configured to move the touch screen in at least one direction with respect to a reference body;

at least one substantially u-shaped spring configured to mechanically connect the touch screen to the reference body; and

a control device configured to control the actuator to move the touch screen in a direction substantially in parallel to the control panel to confirm a command input via the touch screen, the touch screen is moveable with a decaying oscillation in the direction substantially in parallel to the control panel to confirm the command input via the touch screen.

25. The input device according to claim 24, wherein the decaying oscillation has an envelope curve with an exponential component.