Operating device for a motor vehicle

• US 9,644,984 B2
• Filed: 08/06/2005
• Issued: 05/09/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Original Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Inventors: Fliegner, Jens, Ebert, Andreas
• Primary Examiner(s): FARAGALLA, MICHAEL A
• Application Number:
  US11/661,588
• Publication Number:
  US 20080024457A1
• Time in Patent Office: 4,294 Days
• Field of Search: 345173
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3652 Guidance using non-audiovisual output, e.g. tactile, haptic or electric stimuli

Abstract

An operating device is for operating a computing device, e.g., an operating device is for operating a computing device for controlling functions in a motor vehicle, the operating device including a display for optically displaying information, a touch screen situated above the display, for the input of commands by touching the touch screen and/or by pressing on the touch screen, and an actuator for setting the touch screen in motion, and the operating device having an internal control system for controlling the actuator for setting in motion the touch screen in response to a touching of the touch screen and/or in response to a pressing on the touch screen, in an area of the touch screen that is provided for haptic feedback.

Claims

1. An operating device for operating a computing device in a motor vehicle, comprising:

a display configured to optically display information;

a touch screen arranged above the display configured to input commands based on a pressure exerted on the touch screen, as ascertained by a force sensor, and based on a location on the touch screen where the pressure is exerted;

an actuator configured to set the touch screen in motion;

at least one spring element operatively arranged between the actuator and an outer periphery of the touch screen to transfer motion from the actuator to the touch screen; and

an internal control system configured to control the actuator to set in motion the touch screen in response to a pressure exerted on the touch screen in an area of the touch screen provided for haptic feedback; and

an interface configured to read in at least one of;

(a) geographical details to specify at least one of (a) a point and (b) an area on the touch screen; and

(b) an output instruction assigned to the geographical details to state whether, in response to a pressure exerted on the touch screen at a location on the touch screen that corresponds to the geographical details, a message is to be output by the operating device relating to the pressure exerted on the touch screen;

wherein the interface is configured to transmit, to the operating device, a haptic indication, assigned to the geographical details, to indicate a type of the haptic reaction in response to the pressure exerted on the touch screen.

2. The operating device according to claim 1, wherein the operating device is adapted to operate a computing device to control functions in the motor vehicle.

3. The operating device according to claim 1, wherein the internal control system is configured to control the actuator in different manners for generating different haptic feedbacks.

4. The operating device according to claim 1, wherein the interface is configured to output a message, assigned to the geographical details, relating to the pressure exerted on the touch screen.

10. The operating device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one spring element includes at least one U-shaped spring element arranged around the outer periphery of the touch screen.

11. The operating device according to claim 10, wherein the at least one U-shaped spring element includes two spring arms configured to define a main spring constant in a plane of the touch screen and a secondary spring constant orthogonal to the main spring constant in the plane of the touch screen.

12. The operating device according to claim 11, wherein the secondary spring constant is at least four times the main spring constant.

13. The operating device according to claim 1, wherein the touch screen and the at least one spring element are configured to define a mechanical natural frequency of between 5 Hz and 150 Hz.

5. A motor vehicle, comprising:

an operating device configured to operate a computation device, the operating device including;

a display configured to optically display information;

a touch screen arranged above the display configured to input commands based on a pressure exerted on the touch screen, as ascertained by a force sensor, and based on a location on the touch screen where the pressure is exerted;

an actuator configured to set the touch screen in motion;

at least one spring element operatively arranged between the actuator and an outer periphery of the touch screen to transfer motion from the actuator to the touch screen; and

an internal control system configured to control the actuator to set in motion the touch screen in response to a pressure exerted on the touch screen in an area of the touch screen provided for haptic feedback; and

an interface configured to read in at least one of;

(a) geographical details to specify at least one of (a) a point and (b) an area on the touch screen; and

(b) an output instruction assigned to the geographical details to state whether, in response to a pressure exerted on the touch screen at a location on the touch screen that corresponds to the geographical details, a message is to be output by the operating device relating to the pressure exerted on the touch screen;

wherein the interface is configured to transmit, to the operating device, a haptic indication, assigned to the geographical details, to indicate a type of the haptic reaction in response to the pressure exerted on the touch screen.

6. The motor vehicle according to claim 5, wherein the computation device includes at least one of (a) a control system configured to control an air conditioning system of the motor vehicle, (b) a control system configured to control a navigation system of the motor vehicle, (c) a control system configured to control an infotainment system of the motor vehicle, (d) a control system configured to control a telephone in the motor vehicle and (e) a control system configured to control another component.

7. The motor vehicle according to claim 5, wherein the operating device is configured to operate at least one of (a) an air conditioning system of the motor vehicle, (b) a navigation system of the motor vehicle, (c) an infotainment system of the motor vehicle and (d) a telephone in the motor vehicle.

8. An operating device for a motor vehicle, comprising:

a display configured to optically display information;

a touch screen arranged above the display configured to input commands based on a pressure exerted on the touch screen, as ascertained by a force sensor, and based on a location on the touch screen where the pressure is exerted;

an actuator configured to set the touch screen in motion;

at least one spring element operatively arranged between the actuator and an outer periphery of the touch screen to transfer motion from the actuator to the touch screen; and

an interface configured to read in at least one of;

(a) geographical details configured to specify at least one of (a) a point and (b) an area on the touch screen; and

(b) an output instruction assigned to the geographical details to state whether, in response to a pressure exerted on the touch screen at a location on the touch screen that corresponds to the geographical details, a message is to be output by the operating device relating to the pressure exerted on the touch screen;

wherein the interface is configured to transmit, to the operating device, a haptic indication, assigned to the geographical details, to indicate a type of the haptic reaction in response to the pressure exerted on the touch screen.

9. The operating device according to claim 8, wherein the interface is configured to output a message, assigned to the geographical details, relating to the pressure exerted on the touch screen.