Input device

• US 7,920,126 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2005
• Issued: 04/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Original Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Inventors: Bloehs, Wolfgang, Alessandrini, Philippe, Prados, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Mengistu; Amare
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, PREMAL R
• Application Number:
  US11/322,056
• Publication Number:
  US 20060146037A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,923 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345173-176, 345/771, 345/701, 178 1801- 1806, 701/1, 701/48, 701/71
• 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 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface

Abstract

An input device, especially for a vehicle, comprises a touchscreen to enter commands by touching an operating surface of the touchscreen or by pressing on the operating surface, an actuator to move the touchscreen in at least one direction, and a control module to control the actuator as a function of the speed of a touching movement over the operating surface.

Claims

1. An input device comprising:

a touchscreen for entry of commands by touching an operating surface of the touchscreen or by pressing on the operating surface;

at least one essentially U-shaped spring mechanical connecting the touchscreen to a reference structure;

wherein the operating surface of the touchscreen and at least one essentially U-shaped spring extend generally in the same plane;

an actuator actuated by a control signal to cause physical movement of the touchscreen in at least one direction, wherein a frequency of the physical movement of the touchscreen is at least partially defined by the U-shaped springs; and

a control module to generate the control signal to control the actuator to cause physical movement of the touchscreen as a function of a speed of a touching movement over the operating surface or a quantity derived from this speed.

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

a speed calculator to determine the speed of the touching movement over the operating surface or a quantity derived from this speed.

3. An input device according to claim 2, wherein the speed of the touching movement over the operating surface or a quantity derived from this speed can be determined as a function of a position of touching of the operating surface.

4. An input device according to claim 2, wherein the speed calculator includes a Kalman filter.

5. An input device according to claim 1, wherein the actuator can be driven by the control module as a function of the position of touching of the operating surface or the position of pressing on the operating surface.

6. An input device according to claim 1, wherein the touchscreen can be moved by the actuator periodically with a frequency or amplitude adjustable by means of the control module.

7. An input device according to claim 6, wherein the frequency or amplitude can be adjusted as a function of the speed of the touching movement over the operating surface or a quantity derived from this speed.

8. An input device according to claim 1, wherein the touchscreen can be moved by the actuator essentially parallel to the operating surface.

9. An input device according to claim 1, wherein a rotational movement can be generated by the actuator.

10. An input device according to claim 9, wherein the axis of the rotation of movement is essentially perpendicular to the operating surface.

11. An input device according to claim 1, wherein the essentially U-shaped spring has a spring constant adjusted to a weight of the touchscreen, no that the touchscreen, in conjunction with the essentially U-shaped spring, has a mechanical natural frequency from 5 Hz to 150 Hz.

12. An input device according to claim 11, wherein the actuator is driven,

so that during touching of the operating surface on a first position, a supposedly surface condition of the operating surface can be felt, which can be distinguished from the actual surface condition of the operating surface, or

that during touching of the operating surface on a first position, a supposedly surface condition of the operating surface can be felt that can be distinguished from a supposedly surface condition of the operating surface at least one second position.

13. An input device according to claim 1, wherein each essentially U-shaped spring is generally aligned in the same plane as the touchscreen.

14. An input device according to claim 1, wherein:

the touchscreen lies in a plane;

the at least one essentially U-shaped spring allows for physical movement of the touchscreen in (a) a first direction generally within the plane of the touchscreen and (b) a second direction generally within the plane of the touchscreen and perpendicular to the first direction.

15. An input device according to claim 1, wherein:

the touchscreen lies in a plane;

each essentially U-shaped spring has (a) a first spring constant in a first direction generally within the plane of the touchscreen and (b) a second spring constant in a second direction generally within the plane of the touchscreen and perpendicular to the first direction, the second spring constant being different from the first spring constant.

16. An input device comprising:

a touchscreen for input of commands by touching an operating surface of the touchscreen or by pressing on the operating surface;

at least one essentially U-shaped spring mechanical connecting the touchscreen to a reference structure;

wherein the operating surface of the touchscreen and at least one essentially U-shaped spring extend generally in the same plane;

an actuator actuated by a control signal to cause physical movement of the touchscreen in at least one direction, wherein a frequency of the physical movement of the touchscreen is at least partially defined by the U-shaped springs; and

a control module to generate the control signal to control the actuator to cause physical movement of the touchscreen such that;

a first supposed surface condition of the operating surface can be felt by one touching the operating surface on a first position; and

a second supposed surface condition of the operating surface different than the first supposed surface condition can be felt by one touching the operating surface on a second position distinct from the first position;

wherein the first and second supposed surface conditions differ from an actual surface condition of the operating surface.

17. An input device comprising:

a touchscreen for entry of a command by touching an operating surface of the touchscreen or by pressing on the operating surface;

at least one essentially U-shaped spring mechanical connecting the touchscreen to a reference structure;

wherein the operating surface of the touchscreen and at least one essentially U-shaped spring extend generally in the same plane;

an actuator actuated by a control signal to cause physical movement of the touchscreen in at least one direction, wherein a frequency of the physical movement of the touchscreen is at least partially defined by the U-shaped springs; and

an observer to determine a speed of a touching movement over the operating surface or a quantity derived from the speed, wherein the control signal causes physical movement of the touchscreen as a function of the speed or the quantity derived from the speed.

18. An input device according to claim 17, wherein the observer is configured as a Kalman filter.