Capacitive input device with haptic feedback

• US 9,250,705 B2
• Filed: 05/02/2007
• Issued: 02/02/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microchip Technology Germany GmbH (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Microchip Technology Germany GmbH (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Inventors: Richter, Wolfgang
• Primary Examiner(s): Ghebretinsae, Temesgh
• Assistant Examiner(s): CRAWLEY, KEITH L
• Application Number:
  US12/299,327
• Publication Number:
  US 20100044120A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,198 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345173-184, 700/83, 340/461, 701/36, 463 36- 39, 715701-702
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/962 Capacitive touch switches

Abstract

The invention relates to an input device for a user to perform switching, control and other input and selection operations. Input devices of this type are known in particular in the form of switches, sliders and touch screens on electrical equipment and other controls, e.g. in the vehicle field. The object of the invention is to create solutions that make it possible to create with a large degree of freedom of design an input interface that is advantageous for a user, particularly one that is easy to operate intuitively. This object is attained according to the invention with an input device for providing an input surface for generating switching, control and other input and selection operations, according to an input operation performed by a user, with at least one input organ for forming an input point provided for the generation of that signal, and an evaluation circuit for detecting the input operation performed by the user near the input point, wherein the input organ is embodied such that it supplies a haptic feedback, and the evaluation circuit defines a detection zone in which the input organ is located.

Claims

1. An input arrangement for providing an input surface for generating at least one of a switching, a control and other input and selection signal, according to an input operation performed by a user hand, comprising:

a control panel;

at least one input device arranged within a detection zone and attached to the control panel thereby forming an operating element of the control panel and configured to receive the input operation wherein the at least one input device can be mechanically operated by the user hand thereby providing a haptic feedback when said input operation is performed,

a field generator comprising a plurality of electrodes arranged at a distance from the at least one input device and each configured to generate an alternating electric field in the detection zone, wherein an electrical value from each electrode depends on a distance of an electrode to the input device;

an evaluation circuit configured to detect the input operation by the user by analyzing changes in the alternating electric field caused by the user hand,

wherein the evaluation circuit is configured to analyze the field electric changes at each electrode and to determine the location of the input device from the electrical values received from each electrode and to determine input commands corresponding to said input operation for generating said at least one of switching, control and other input and selection signal.

2. The input arrangement according to claim 1 wherein four electrodes are arranged in corners of the control panel.

3. The input arrangement according to claim 1 wherein a movement sequence of the user hand is analyzed and input commands are derived from the movement sequence.

4. The input arrangement according to claim 1 wherein each electrode receives an alternating signal from an oscillator with a different frequency or phase.

5. The input arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the evaluation circuit comprises a capacitive measurement system for determining a signal level influenced by penetration by the user hand into the detection zone, and wherein level changes are detected and evaluated by generating a pulse width modulated signal.

6. The input arrangement according to claim 1 wherein in interaction with the evaluation circuit there are contactless control elements arranged in the input device.

7. The input arrangement according to claim 1 wherein an identification specific to the input device or several input devices and established by the mounting position of the input device is detected via the evaluation circuit.

8. The input arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the touching of the input device by the user is detected by the evaluation circuit and taken into account in the generation of the switching signal.

9. The input arrangement according to claim 1 wherein depending on actuation, in particular switch position, the input device transmits a function value.

10. The input arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the input device is supplied with power in a contactless manner.

11. The input arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the input device can take over force or temperature measurement.

12. The input arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the input device have haptic properties selected from the group consisting of snapping, mechanical resistances, and sounds.

13. The input arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the input device obtains via electric fields power for illumination.

14. The input arrangement according to claim 1 wherein, when approached or touched, the input device can initiate optical trigger effects.

15. The input arrangement according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of input devices arranged on said panel, wherein the evaluation circuit determines an input device by its location.

16. The input arrangement according to claim 15 wherein the input arrangement is part of a household device.

17. A vehicle cockpit with an input arrangement according to claim 1.

18. The vehicle cockpit according to claim 17 wherein a seat adjustment, a mirror adjustment, a ventilation nozzle adjustment, an audio/video adjustment and/or a navigation system adjustment can be performed via input devices.

19. The vehicle cockpit according to claim 18 wherein it comprises a display device, and wherein the switching operation or a switch option that can be triggered by the input device is visualized via the display device.

20. The vehicle cockpit according to claim 19 wherein a distinction among the occupants is carried out and the switching command assignment is carried out for the respective occupant.

21. The vehicle cockpit according to claim 20 wherein the distinction of occupants is carried out when a hand of the respective occupant approaches based on the detected path.

22. An input arrangement for providing an input surface for generating at least one of a switching, a control and other input and selection signal, according to an input operation performed by a user hand, comprising:

a control panel;

at least one input device arranged and attached to the control panel to form an operating element of the control panel and configured to receive the input operation, wherein the input device has no wired connection for providing any signal based on the input operation, wherein the at least one input device can be mechanically operated by the user hand thereby providing a haptic feedback when said input operation is performed,

a field generator comprising a plurality of electrodes arranged at a distance from the at least one input device and each electrode being configured to generate an alternating electric field in a detection zone around said input device;

an evaluation circuit detects the location of the input device and an input operation by the user by analyzing changes in the alternating electric field caused by the user hand,

wherein field electric changes caused by a movement of the user hand within the detection zone are detected by the evaluation circuit, and wherein the evaluation circuit is configured to analyze the field electric changes and to determine input commands corresponding to said input operation for generating said at least one of switching, control and other input and selection signal.