Input device for a motor vehicle

• US 8,026,902 B2
• Filed: 10/05/2006
• Issued: 09/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Original Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Inventors: Michaelis, Jan, Pollex, Alf, Han, Kyoung Sun, Medler, Andreas, Wehling, Ulrike, Dehmann, Rainer
• Primary Examiner(s): SHERMAN, STEPHEN G
• Application Number:
  US11/544,345
• Publication Number:
  US 20070146341A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,818 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/168, 345/169, 345173-178, 178/18.01, 178 1801- 1809, 178/18.11
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

An input device, e.g., for a motor vehicle, includes: a display for the visual representation of an operating element; a touch screen disposed above the display for detecting a touching contact of the touch screen in the region of the operating element; and a control system for displacing the operating element, represented with the aid of the display, according to a touching motion across the touch screen, and the input device including an actuator for deflecting the touch screen when the operating element attains a predefined position or is moved a predefined distance.

Claims

1. An input device, comprising:

a housing;

a display adapted to visually represent an operating element;

a touch screen disposed above the display and connected to the housing adapted to detect a touch contact of the touch screen in a region of the operating element;

a control system adapted to displace the operating element represented by the display in accordance with a touch motion across the touch screen; and

an actuator adapted to deflect the housing and the touch screen with respect to the display in a direction that is parallel to an operating surface of the touch screen when the operating element at least one of (a) attains a predefined position and (b) is moved a predefined distance.

2. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the input device is arranged as an input device for a motor vehicle.

3. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the touch screen is deflectable both when the operating element attains the predefined position and when the operating element is moved the predefined distance.

4. The input device according to claim 1, wherein an amplitude of deflection of the touch screen is adjustable as a function of at least one of (a) a position of the operating element and (b) a distance across which the operating element is moved.

5. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the touch screen is deflectable at a specific frequency that is adjustable as a function of at least one of (a) a position of the operating element and (b) a distance across which the operating element is moved.

6. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the predefined distance is between 1 mm and 5 mm.

7. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the actuator is adapted to deflect the touch screen in response to the operating element at least one of (a) attaining the predefined position and (b) moving the predefined distance.

8. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the housing is transparent at least in a region below the touch screen.

9. An input device, comprising:

a housing;

a display adapted to visually represent an operating element;

a touch screen arranged above the display and connected to the housing adapted to detect a touch contact of the touch screen in a region of the operating element;

a control system adapted to displace the operating element represented by the display in accordance with a touch motion across the touch screen; and

an actuator adapted to periodically deflect the housing and the touch screen with respect to the display in a direction that is parallel to an operating surface of the touch screen at a specific frequency adjustable as a function of at least one of (a) a position of the operating element and (b) a distance across which the operating element is moved.

10. The input device according to claim 9, wherein the input device is arranged as an input device for a motor vehicle.

11. The input device according to claim 9, wherein the frequency is between 1 Hz and 30 Hz.

12. The input device according to claim 9, wherein the operating element includes at least one of (a) a slider and (b) a key.

13. The input device according to claim 9, wherein the operating element includes a map.

14. A method for operating an input device, comprising:

visually representing an operating element on a display of the input device;

detecting a touch contact of a touch screen in a region of the operating element, the touch screen arranged above the display and connected to a housing;

moving the operating element represented by the display in accordance with a touch motion across the display; and

deflecting the housing and the touch screen with respect to the display in a direction that is parallel to an operating surface of the touch screen when the operating element at least one of (a) attains a predefined position and (b) is moved a predefined distance.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the deflecting step includes deflecting the touch screen both when the operating element attains the predefined position and when the operating element is moved the predefined distance.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein the deflecting step includes deflecting the touch screen by an oscillating motion.

17. The method according to claim 14, wherein the touch screen is deflected in response to the operating element at least one of (a) attaining the predefined position and (b) moving the predefined distance.

18. A method for operating an input device, comprising:

visually representing an operating element on a display of the input device;

detecting a touch contact on a touch screen in a region of the operating element, the touch screen arranged above the display and connected to a housing;

moving the operating element in accordance with a touch motion across the touch screen;

deflecting the housing and the touch screen with respect to the display in a direction that is parallel to an operating surface of the touch screen at a specific frequency when moving the operating element; and

adjusting the frequency in accordance with at least one of (a) a position of the operating element and (b) a distance across which the operating element is moved.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the frequency is between 1 Hz and 30 Hz.