Input device

• US 20060146036A1
• Filed: 12/29/2005
• Published: 07/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Original Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Inventors: Bloehs, Wolfgang, Alessandrini, Philippe, Prados, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,599,142 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

An input device, especially for a vehicle, comprises a display to display an operating element, a touchscreen arranged above the display for recognition of the position of touching of an operating surface of the touchscreen, a force sensor connected to the touchscreen for measurement of the force exerted on the operating surface of the touchscreen, and a control to generate a warning during touching of the operating surface of the touchscreen in the region of display of the operating element or during pressing on the operating surface of the touchscreen in the region of display of the operating element, and to generate a control command assigned to the operating element, if, after generation of the warning, a force that exceeds a force limit value is exerted on the operating surface.

Claims

1. An input device comprising:

a display to display an operating element;

a touchscreen arranged above the display for recognition of a position of a position of touching of an operating surface of the touchscreen;

a force sensor connected to the touchscreen to measure a force exerted on the operating surface of the touchscreen; and

a control to generate a warning when the operating surface of the touchscreen is touched in the region of display of the operating element or during pressing on the operating surface of the touchscreen in the region of display of the operating element, and to generate a control command allocated to the operating element, if, after generation of the warning, a force that exceeds a force limit value is exerted on the operating surface.

2. An input device according to claim 1, wherein at least two different values of a force exerted on the operating surface can be distinguished by means of the force sensor.

3. An input device according to claim 1, wherein the force sensor is configured as a transparent force measurement layer, integrated in the touchscreen or connected to the touchscreen.

4. An input device according to claim 3, wherein the force measurement layer covers a significant part of the display.

5. An input device according to claim 1, wherein the force sensor is configured as a force-dependent resistance.

6. An input device according to claim 1, further comprising:

an actuator to move the touch screen in at least one direction.

7. An input device according to claim 6, further comprising:

an essentially U-shaped spring for mechanical connection of the touchscreen to the reference element.

8. An input device according to claim 6, wherein the touchscreen can be moved to confirm successful operation of the operating element, by means of the control, by operating the actuator.

9. An input device according to claim 8, wherein movement of the touchscreen is dependent on the force exerted on the touchscreen.

10. A method for operation of an input device with a display for displaying an operating element and with a touchscreen arranged above the display for recognition of the position of touching of an operating surface of the touchscreen;

the method comprising;

generation of a warning when the operation surface of the touchscreen is touched or during pressing of the operating surface of the touchscreen in the region of display of the operating element;

measuring a force exerted on the operating surface of the touchscreen; and

generating a control command assigned to the operating element, if a force that exceeds a force limit value is exerted on the operating surface after generation of the warning.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the touchscreen is moved to confirm successful operation of the operating element.

12. A method according to claim 10, wherein the touchscreen is moved to confirm successful operation of the operating element as a function of the force exerted on the touchscreen.

13. A method for operation of an input device with a display for displaying an operating element and with a touchscreen arranged above the display for recognition of the position of touching of an operating surface of the touchscreen;

the method comprising;

measuring a force exerted on the operating surface of the touchscreen;

generating a warning during pressing on the operating surface of a touchscreen in the region of the display of the operating element, if a force that exceeds a first force limit value is exerted on the operating surface;

renewed measuring a force exerted on the operating surface of a touchscreen; and

generating a control command assigned to the operating element, if, after generation of the warning, a force that exceeds a second force limit value is exerted on the operating surface.

14. An input device comprising:

a display for displaying an operating element and for displaying information;

a touchscreen arranged above the display for recognition of the position of touching of an operating surface of the touchscreen;

a force sensor connected to the touchscreen to measure a force exerted on the operating surface of the touchscreen; and

a control to generate a control command, dependent on the force exerted on the operating surface of the touchscreen and/or to generate a display control signal, dependent on the force exerted on the operating surface of the touchscreen, to display said information displayable on the display.

15. An input device according to claim 14, wherein at least two different values of a force exerted on the operating surface can be distinguished by means of the force sensor.

16. An input device according to claim 14, wherein the force sensor is configured as a transparent force measurement layer, integrated in the touchscreen or connected to the touchscreen.

17. An input device according to claim 16, wherein the force measurement layer covers a significant part of the display.

18. An input device according to claim 16, wherein the force sensor is configured as a force-dependent resistance.

19. A method for operation of an input device of a display for displaying an operating element and for displaying information and with a touchscreen arranged above the display for recognition of the position of touching of an operating surface of the touchscreen;

the method comprising;

measuring a force exerted on the operating surface of the touchscreen

and generating a control command, dependent on the force exerted on the operating surface of the touchscreen and/or generation of a display control signal, dependent on the force exerted on the operating surface of the touchscreen to display said information displayable on the display.

20. An input device comprising:

a touchscreen for recognition of the position of touching of an operating surface of the touchscreen;

a force sensor connected to the touchscreen to measure a force exerted on the operating surface of the touchscreen;

an actuator to move the touchscreen in at least one direction; and

a control to move the touchscreen by operating an actuator, in which the degree of movement of the touchscreen is dependent on the force exerted on the touchscreen.

21. An input device according to claim 20, further comprising:

a display arranged on a side of the touchscreen facing away from the operating surface of the touchscreen.

22. An input device according to claim 20, wherein at least two different values of a force exerted on the operating surface can be distinguished by means of the force sensor.

23. An input device according to claim 20, wherein the force sensor is configured as a transparent force measurement layer, integrated in the touchscreen or connected to the touchscreen.

24. An input device according to claim 20, wherein the force sensor is configured as a force-dependent resistance.

25. A method for operation of an input device with a touchscreen for recognition of the position of touching of an operating surface of a touchscreen;

the method comprising;

measuring a force exerted on the operating surface of the touchscreen;

moving the touchscreen, wherein a movement or degree of movement of the touchscreen is dependent on the force exerted on the touchscreen.

26. A method according to claim 25, further comprising:

queries, whether the force exerted on the operating surface of the touchscreen is greater than a first force limit value; and

movement of the touchscreen, if the force exerted on the operating surface of the touchscreen is greater than the force limit value.

27. A method according to claim 26, further comprising:

queries, whether the force exerted on the operating surface of the touchscreen is greater than a second force limit value, in which the second force limit value is greater than the first limit value; and

movement of the touchscreen, if the force exerted on the operating surface of the touchscreen is greater than the second force limit value.

28. An input device, the input device comprising:

a display for display for display of an operating element;

a touchscreen arranged above the display for recognition of the position of touching of an operating surface of the touchscreen;

a force sensor connected to the touchscreen to measure a force exerted on the operating surface of the touchscreen;

an actuator to move the touchscreen in at least one direction; and

a control for such operation of the actuator,

so that by movement of the touchscreen in the direction parallel to the operating surface, the surface structure of the operating surface can be felt, if the operating surface touches a position prescribed for a structure and the forces exerted on the operating structure are greater than a first force limit value, and that

the touchscreen is moved in the direction parallel to the operating surface, if the operating surface is touched in a position, at which an operating element is displayed by means of the display, and if the forces exerted on the operating surface are greater than a second force limit value.

29. An input device according to claim 28, wherein at least two different values of a force exerted on the operating surface can be distinguished by the force sensor.

30. An input device according to claim 28, wherein the force sensor is configured as a transparent force measurement layer, integrated in the touchscreen or connected to the touchscreen.

31. An input device according to claim 30, wherein the force measurement layer covers a significant part of the display.

32. An input device according to claim 28, wherein the force sensor is configured as a force-dependent resistance.