DE102009042244B4 - Control device for a vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

Control device for a vehicle, comprising:
- A sensor carrier plate (3) on which several sensor surfaces (4) are arranged for the capacitive detection of an actuation of the operating device (8) by a user,
- A lighting carrier plate (6) on which several light elements (7) are arranged and which is arranged essentially parallel to and spaced apart from the sensor carrier plate (3), at least one of the several sensor surfaces (4) comprising at least one recess (5) which is arranged in the sensor surface (4) in such a way that light rays (9) from one of the plurality of lighting elements (7) run through the recess (5),
wherein the at least one recess (5) is arranged in the sensor surface (4) in such a way that the at least one recess (5) divides the sensor surface (4) into two separate sensor sub-surfaces (11), the operating device (8) for each such divided sensor surface (4) comprises an electrical connection means (12) which produces an electrical connection between the two sensor sub-surfaces (11),
- A design surface (1) which is arranged parallel to the sensor carrier plate (3) on the side of the sensor carrier plate (3) opposite the lighting carrier plate (6), the design surface (1) having optically transparent areas (2) in the areas which the recesses (5) of the sensor surfaces (4) on the sensor carrier plate (3) are opposite, the design surface (1) having at least one depression in an area which is opposite the sensor surfaces (4), and
- At least one partition (10) which is arranged between the sensor carrier plate (3) and the lighting carrier plate (6) perpendicular to the lighting carrier plate (6) in such a way that it prevents light rays (9) from one of the plurality of lighting elements (7) from passing through a recess (5) of the sensor surface (4) not assigned to this light-emitting element (7) run.

Description

The present invention relates to an operating device for a vehicle, in particular an operating device with a capacitive sensor and a display for displaying a setting value set via the operating device.

Mechanically implemented sliding or rotary actuators are usually provided for entering setting information for, for example, heating control in a vehicle. The size or the value of the setting information can be changed quickly with the mechanical slide or rotary adjuster and the value can be recorded simply by looking at the slide or rotary adjuster. However, due to frequent use and increased contamination, mechanical slide and rotary actuators are prone to failure. A robust alternative is provided by capacitive operating devices, which are designed, for example, as so-called capacitive touch sliders and thus provide operation comparable to a slide actuator. Such capacitive touch sliders enable the detection and evaluation of touches through non-conductive materials, e.g. also through plastic surfaces of the vehicle. It is thus possible to attach sensors of a capacitive touch slider, for example, directly behind a surface of the vehicle of almost any configuration and thus to hide them from the user, and to detect keystrokes or finger movements through this surface. Since the sensors of such a capacitive touch slider are usually metal surfaces on a corresponding circuit board, in the case of touch sliders the sensor surface and an associated display which shows the set value are usually placed separately from one another. In order to show a user where the sensor surface is located, for example an imprint or a recess for finger guidance, in particular for semi-blind actuation by a driver of the vehicle while driving, can be provided.

Operating devices with capacitive touch sliders are also known in other technical fields. The U.S. 4,631,525 A discloses, for example, a digital fader with a slide control, such as a touch-sensitive strip, which can be manually adjusted to different setting values. Display elements next to the touch-sensitive strip are optionally supplied with energy in order to display the relative setting of the adjustable setting means.

The DE 101 33 135 A1 relates to an actuator for cooking appliances. The actuating unit has a touch-sensitive actuating strip, which can work capacitively, for example, the actuating sections of which are assigned or can be assigned set values or setting ranges to a predetermined setting curve. The display strip preferably comprises sixteen light emitting diodes which form a light bar running parallel to the sensor strip, each sensor area being assigned exactly one control value and exactly one light emitting diode.

However, a separate arrangement of the sensor surfaces of, for example, a capacitive touch slider and the associated display is often viewed as uncomfortable, not very intuitive and not ergonomic. Therefore, the DE 20 2006 006 869 U1 an operating unit for inputting and displaying setting information, which provides a touch element which at least partially transmits optical signals for detecting touches on its contact side and a display element for displaying setting information in optical signals. The display element is arranged on the side of the touch element opposite the touch side in such a way that the optical signals are visible on the touch side of the touch element. The contact element is realized by glass or plastic layers which at least partially transmit optical signals. Furthermore, the touch element is designed as a capacitive touch-sensitive touch element, the glass or plastic layers being coated accordingly and elements for generating electrical fields being attached to the layers.

Optically transparent layers coated in this way, however, are complex and expensive to produce and process.

Furthermore, from the DE 10 2006 039 133 A1 an operating device for a household appliance with at least one capacitive sensor key is known. The sensor key has an electrically conductive sensor element with a sensor surface with which this sensor element rests on a rear side of an electrically insulated cover plate of the operating device. A printed circuit board is arranged at a distance from the cover plate. The sensor element extends from the cover plate to the circuit board. A light box is arranged between the cover plate and the printed circuit board, by means of which the sensor element is fixed in a predetermined position on the rear side of the cover plate parallel and perpendicular to the cover plate.

The DE 10 2006 045 712 A1 concerns a sensor key. To detect when the sensor button based on the capacitive principle is actuated, a conductive rubber is provided between the sensor button and a sensor circuit board, via which a field is transmitted from the sensor button to the sensor circuit board. The conductive rubber has a light channel for a light guide from the sensor circuit board to the sensor key. A switched light element is assigned to this light channel on the sensor circuit board, which is switched accordingly by electronics on the sensor circuit board.

The DE 22 22 704 A relates to a proximity switch with an insulated electrode serving as a control element, the capacitance of which can be changed by bringing a finger closer to actuate the switch with respect to a reference potential. The electrode is connected to a self-delayed balancing bridge circuit.

The DE 7908734 U1 relates to an electrical touch switch with a handle which has a split sensor surface and which forms the outer switch cover. The parting line located between the sensor surface parts is designed as a transilluminable gap for a light source on the inside of the housing.

The DE 10 2004 053 769 A1 relates to a switch arrangement for a motor vehicle, which comprises a motor vehicle interior equipment component, at least one switch and at least one sensory feedback component. The switch assembly further includes a light source behind the interior trim component of the vehicle. The interior trim component of the vehicle is at least partially translucent. The light source can be turned on to provide backlighting through the translucent portion of the interior trim component of the motor vehicle when the motor vehicle is powered or turned on.

The DE 10 2005 042 117 A1 relates to a vehicle touch switch with customizable tactile and acoustic feedback. A control panel includes a variety of input elements, such as touch or field disturbance sensors, to control certain functions such as the positioning of air conditioning flaps to direct the air flow in a vehicle. Status lights are provided in association with the touch input elements to output the currently selected function.

The DE 10 2010 045 194 A1 relates to a capacitive touch pad input device. The touch panel input device includes a detection substrate having a drive electrode and a detection electrode. One side of the detection substrate forms a detection area. The touch panel input device furthermore comprises a circuit substrate with a lighting device which emits light in the direction of the detection substrate.

The US 2003/0122 794 A1 relates to a touch sensor with an integrated ornament. A decoration layer may have an opening in a viewing area which allows light from a light emitting diode to pass through at least a portion of the decoration layer in order to reach the outside of the decoration layer and furthermore to reach a user.

The DE 10 2004 044 355 A1 relates to an elongated touch switch with several partial contact surfaces. The touch switch has associated lighting means in order to indicate the actuation state and the actuation point to an operator.

The object of the present invention is therefore to provide an improved operating device for a vehicle which is inexpensive, intuitive to use and robust.

According to the present invention, this object is achieved by an operating device for a vehicle according to claim 1 and a vehicle according to claim 5. The dependent claims define preferred and advantageous embodiments of the invention.

According to the present invention, an operating device for a vehicle is provided which comprises a sensor mounting plate and a lighting mounting plate. Several sensor surfaces for capacitive detection of an actuation of the operating device by a user are arranged on the sensor carrier plate. The lighting support plate is arranged essentially parallel to and at a distance from the sensor support plate. Several lighting elements are arranged on the lighting support plate. At least one of the plurality of sensor surfaces comprises at least one recess which is arranged in the sensor surface in such a way that light rays from one of the plurality of light-emitting elements can pass through the recess when the light-emitting element is lit.

Since the sensor surface comprises at least one recess through which light beams from the lighting element can pass, a display of a position, a current setting and / or an actuation of the operating device within a range of the sensor surfaces is possible, whereby the user receives direct feedback with regard to his Receives actuation of the sensor surface. In addition, it is intuitively clear to the user where the sensor surface is located, as he can, for example, influence the illuminated area through direct contact. The multiple sensor surfaces can be arranged in a row, for example, so that the user can move an illuminated point or an illuminated surface in a region of the sensor surface by touching it. Thus, the user becomes intuitive a connection is created between its operation and the display.

According to one embodiment, the at least one recess in the sensor surface has an elongated shape, the longitudinal direction of which extends perpendicular to the row of sensor surfaces. For the user, there is thus a luminous line in each sensor field, which he can move directly with his finger. The elongated shape that forms the line can be selected to be so long that the glowing line can still be recognized when a user's fingertip is on the sensor. Instead of a single luminous line, which represents the last setting of the row of sensor surfaces, a bar can also be displayed, for example, which is composed of several luminous lines lying next to one another. The bar begins at a specified end of the row of sensor surfaces and ends at the setting last selected by the user. The length of the bar can thus be changed by touching the row of sensor surfaces. Switching between the operating mode with individual lines or the bar operating mode can be effected, for example, by quickly touching the sensor surfaces twice.

Each of the multiple light elements is assigned to one of the multiple sensor areas. Each of the plurality of sensor areas each comprises at least one cutout which is arranged in the respective sensor area in such a way that light beams from each of the lighting elements assigned to the sensor area run through the at least one cutout. The control of the light elements can be controlled, for example, with the aid of a control device as a function of the signals from the sensor surfaces. A partition wall can be arranged between the sensor carrier plate and the lighting carrier plate perpendicular to the lighting carrier plate, so that it is prevented that light rays from one of the plurality of lighting elements pass through a recess in the sensor surfaces not assigned to these lighting elements. These light boxes formed in this way, which ensure that the light from a lighting element only exits through the cutout assigned to it, prevents adjacent cutouts from being also illuminated.

If the sensor surface is designed, for example, as a metal or copper foil on a circuit board, the recess can comprise a recess in both the copper foil and the circuit board material, which enables the light of the luminous elements to escape unhindered through the sensor carrier plate. Alternatively, the cutout can also comprise only one cutout in the copper foil, in which case the sensor carrier plate is then to be manufactured from a light-permeable material in order to enable transillumination.

The at least one recess is arranged in the sensor surface in such a way that the recess divides the sensor surface into two separate sensor sub-surfaces. For each sensor surface divided in this way, the operating device comprises an electrical connection means which establishes an electrical connection between the two partial sensor surfaces. The electrical connection means can, for example, comprise a wire which electrically connects the two partial sensor surfaces across the cutout. The wire can be very thin and, for example, have a diameter of 40 μm. The recess, which divides the sensor surface into two separate sensor sub-surfaces, enables the sensor carrier plate to be illuminated with the light rays from the lighting elements. Since the two sensor sub-areas are electrically coupled to the electrical connection means, simple control of the sensor sub-areas is possible as with a continuous sensor area, whereby a cost-effective standard control can be used. Nevertheless, the divided sensor surface can also be operated by the user in the area of the recess. By using the thin wire as a connecting means, the illumination of the recess is almost not impaired, so that the thin wire can practically not be visually recognized by a user.

The operating device also comprises a design surface which is arranged parallel to the sensor carrier plate on the side of the sensor carrier plate opposite the lighting carrier plate. The design surface has optically transparent areas in the areas which are opposite the cutouts in the sensor surface on the sensor carrier plate. The design surface can include, for example, a surface in a center console of the vehicle, so that the operator of the vehicle can set the operating device in a simple and convenient manner. Since the design surface is formed separately from the sensor carrier plate, the design surface can be optically adapted to the surfaces surrounding the design surface of, for example, the center console, whereby an optical integration of the operating device is achieved. The design surface has a recess, such as a trough, in an area which is opposite the sensor surfaces. With the help of the recess, the driver of the vehicle is enabled to feel the control device and to operate it without taking his eyes off the road.

According to a further embodiment, the sensor surfaces of the operating device are made of one made of optically non-transparent material. This enables the operating device to be manufactured inexpensively, since the sensor surfaces can be designed, for example, as simple metal or copper surfaces of a circuit board which forms the sensor carrier plate. Complex sensor carrier plates, such as glass or plastic plates, which are vapor-coated with transparent sensor surfaces, are therefore not required.

The present invention further provides a vehicle with an operating device as described above which is attached to a surface of the vehicle.

• 1a bis 1c zeigen schematisch eine Designoberfläche, eine Sensorträgerplatte und eine Beleuchtungsträgerplatte gemäß einer Ausführungsform der vorliegenden Erfindung.
• 2 zeigt eine Schnittansicht einer Bedienvorrichtung gemäß einer Ausführungsform der vorliegenden Erfindung mit der in 1 gezeigten Designoberfläche, Sensorträgerplatte und Beleuchtungsträgerplatte.
• 3 zeigt die Ausführungsform der 2 mit Lichtkästen.
• 4a bis 4c zeigt schematisch eine Designoberfläche, eine Sensorträgerplatte und eine Beleuchtungsträgerplatte gemäß einer weiteren Ausführungsform der vorliegenden Erfindung.
• 5 zeigt eine Schnittansicht einer Bedienvorrichtung gemäß einer weiteren Ausführungsform der vorliegenden Erfindung mit der Designoberfläche, der Sensorträgerplatte und der Beleuchtungsträgerplatte der 4.

The present invention is explained below with reference to the drawings using preferred embodiments.

• 1a to 1c show schematically a design surface, a sensor support plate and a lighting support plate according to an embodiment of the present invention.
• 2 FIG. 13 shows a sectional view of an operating device according to an embodiment of the present invention with the one in FIG 1 shown design surface, sensor carrier plate and lighting carrier plate.
• 3 shows the embodiment of 2 with light boxes.
• 4a to 4c shows schematically a design surface, a sensor carrier plate and a lighting carrier plate according to a further embodiment of the present invention.
• 5 FIG. 13 shows a sectional view of an operating device according to a further embodiment of the present invention with the design surface, the sensor carrier plate and the lighting carrier plate of FIG 4th .

1a shows a design surface 1 an operating device for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. The design surface 1 can for example be designed as part of a dashboard or a center console of the vehicle. The design surface 1 comprises twelve translucent rectangular strip-shaped areas 2 which can be made, for example, of a translucent plastic.

1b shows a sensor carrier plate 3 , on which twelve sensor surfaces 4th are arranged. The sensor carrier plate 3 can for example be a circuit board on which the sensor surfaces 4th are designed as copper foil surfaces. Every sensor area 4th has a recess 5 on, which has a rectangular strip-like shape comparable to the translucent areas 2 the design surface. The recesses 5 can, for example, as openings in the sensor carrier plate 3 and the sensor surfaces 4th be trained.

1c shows a lighting support plate 6th on which twenty-four light emitting diodes 7th are arranged. The twenty-four light-emitting diodes 7th are each arranged in pairs in areas that form the recesses 5 opposite when the sensor support plate 3 above the lighting support plate 6th is arranged. The light emitting diodes 7th are just like the sensor surfaces 4th electrically coupled to a controller, but this is not shown for reasons of clarity.

In order to form an operating device according to an embodiment of the present invention, the sensor support plate 3 under the design surface 1 arranged and the lighting support plate 6th under the sensor support plate 3 . For the sake of clarity, in 2 a reduced number of translucent areas 2 , Recesses 5 and light emitting diodes 7th shown. 2 shows an operating device formed in this way 8th in a cross-sectional view. The operating device 8th includes the design surface 1 with the sensor carrier plate below 3 . The sensor carrier plate 3 is such to the design surface 1 aligned that the cutouts 5 the sensor carrier plate 3 to the translucent areas 2 are aligned. At a distance from the sensor carrier plate 3 is under the sensor support plate 3 the lighting support plate 6th arranged. The lighting support plate 6th is essentially parallel to the sensor carrier plate 3 arranged. The lighting support plate 6th is such to the sensor support plate 3 arranged that the light emitting diodes 7th the lighting support plate 6th to the recesses 5 and thus to the translucent areas 2 are aligned. Rays of light 9 from one of the light emitting diodes 7th can thus through the recesses 5 and the translucent areas 2 emerge at the top of the design surface. If one of the light emitting diodes 7th lights up, the light intensity is in the translucent area 2 , which is directly, ie vertically above the light emitting diode 7th is arranged, highest. Only some scattered light from the light-emitting diode occurs in the neighboring transparent areas 7th out. To reduce this stray light, as in 3 shown partitions 10 such between the lighting support plate 6th and the sensor support plate 3 be arranged so that light emits from one of the light emitting diodes 7th only by this light emitting diode 7th assigned recess 5 and the corresponding translucent area 2 exit.

With the help of a suitable control, which the sensor surfaces 4th monitored and the light emitting diodes 7th controls, a glowing line can be provided that can be moved over the line by touching the surface directly. This creates a haptic connection between operation and display. A separate sensor area adjacent to a corresponding display area is therefore not necessary and finger guidance is not absolutely necessary. The user touches the glowing line and can move it directly with his finger. The lines, ie the translucent areas 2 and the recesses 5 , are of such a length that each individual glowing line can still be recognized when the fingertip is on it. Instead of a single line that goes through the translucent area 2 is formed, to move, a bar formed from several such lines, which is for example in 1a extends from left to right or right to left, can be changed in length by touching. In addition, you can switch between the two display types “line” and “bar” with a quick double touch.

Instead of the lines, any other cutouts can be used, such as several holes lying next to one another. In addition, the lines do not have to be parallel to each other, but can also be formed by curved lines. Although there is a recessed grip in the design surface 1 to identify the sensor surfaces 4th is not necessary, such a recessed grip can be in the area of the sensor surfaces 4th in the design surface 1 be trained to blindly operate the operating device 8th to facilitate while driving by a driver of the vehicle.

In connection with 4a to 4c and 5 Another embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

4a shows a design surface 1 showing a translucent area 2 in the form of a solid bar. In this embodiment of the operating device, a point of light is intended to be touched in the translucent area 2 or the length of an illuminated bar in the translucent area 2 can be moved.

4b shows a sensor carrier plate designed for this operating device 3 . On the sensor carrier plate 3 there are twelve sensor surfaces, each of which consists of two sensor surfaces 11 and a connecting means 12 are formed. The two sensor surfaces 11 of a sensor surface, as in 4b shown, spaced apart and by the connecting means 12 , for example with a thin wire of 40 microns in diameter, for example. The sensor support plate also includes 3 a recess 5 which has a bar-like shape comparable to the translucent area 2 the design surface 1 having. The sensor surfaces are next to each other along the recess 5 arranged, each having a sensor surface 11 on one side of the recess 5 and the other sensor surface 11 on the other side of the recess 5 are arranged and the connecting means 12 over the recess 5 away connects the two sensor surfaces. Through the lanyard 12 behave pairs of partial sensor surfaces 11 each like a single sensor surface.

4c shows a lighting support plate 6th on which twelve light emitting diodes 7th are arranged in a row. The twelve light-emitting diodes are arranged in such a way that they when the sensor support plate 3 above the lighting support plate 6th is arranged, light through the recess 5 the sensor carrier plate 3 can send out. In addition, the light emitting diodes 7th arranged such that each of the light emitting diodes 7th exactly one pair of sensor surfaces 11 assigned.

5 shows how from the design surface 1 , the sensor carrier plate 3 and the lighting support plate 6th of the 4a to 4c an operating device 8th is formed. For the sake of clarity, in 5 a reduced number of light emitting diodes 7th shown. To do this shows 5 Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of an arrangement of the design surface 1 , the sensor carrier plate 3 and the lighting support plate 6th , the design surface 1 , the sensor mounting plate 3 or the lighting support plate 6th each in a sectional plane perpendicular to the plane of the drawing 4a to 4c are cut in a horizontal manner. How out 5 can be seen, the sensor carrier plate 3 below the design surface 1 arranged such that the recess 5 the sensor carrier plate 3 with the translucent area 2 the design surface 1 is brought to cover. The lighting support plate 6th is spaced from the sensor mounting plate 3 arranged such that the light emitting diodes 7th below the recess 5 are arranged. The lanyards 12 , which are the partial sensor surfaces 11 on the sensor carrier plate 3 connect in pairs are also in 5 shown. Due to the material thickness of the sensor carrier plate 3 for example 1 to 2 mm, are the connecting means 12 in this material thickness from the design surface 1 spaced apart. To a light scattering from a light emitting diode 7th to be avoided in an area of an adjacent sensor surface, as in connection with 3 already described, partitions 10 perpendicular to the lighting support plate 6th between the lighting support plate 6th and the sensor support plate 3 arranged. Rays of light 9 from a light emitting diode 7th consequently pass through the recess essentially in an area of an assigned sensor surface 5 and the translucent area 2 from the design surface 1 out. As the lanyard 12 spaced from the design surface 1 is arranged, scatters the light of the light emitting diode 7th also in an area between connecting means 12 and design surface 1 so that the lanyard 12 not or almost not impairing the lighting of the translucent area 2 works.

The light emitting diodes 7th can for example be so-called multicolor light-emitting diodes (RGB-LEDs), which enables the color of the in the translucent area 2 the displayed point or bar during operation. For example, in the case of a temperature control for the vehicle, an area to the left of the set position could be illuminated in red and to the right of it in blue. The touchable, ie the movable point could be white, for example.

List of reference symbols

1

Design surface

2

translucent area

3

Sensor support plate

4th

Sensor surfaces

5

Recess

6th

Lighting support plate

7th

light emitting diode

8th

Control device

9

Rays of light

10

partition wall

11

Partial sensor areas

12

Lanyard, wire

Claims (5)

Control device for a vehicle, comprising: - A sensor carrier plate (3) on which several sensor surfaces (4) are arranged for the capacitive detection of an actuation of the operating device (8) by a user, - A lighting carrier plate (6) on which several light elements (7) are arranged and which is arranged essentially parallel to and spaced apart from the sensor carrier plate (3), at least one of the several sensor surfaces (4) comprising at least one recess (5) which is arranged in the sensor surface (4) in such a way that light rays (9) from one of the plurality of lighting elements (7) run through the recess (5), wherein the at least one recess (5) is arranged in the sensor surface (4) in such a way that the at least one recess (5) divides the sensor surface (4) into two separate sensor surfaces (11), the operating device (8) for each such divided sensor surface (4) comprises an electrical connection means (12) which produces an electrical connection between the two sensor sub-surfaces (11), - A design surface (1) which is arranged parallel to the sensor carrier plate (3) on the side of the sensor carrier plate (3) opposite the lighting carrier plate (6), the design surface (1) having optically transparent areas (2) in the areas which the recesses (5) of the sensor surfaces (4) on the sensor carrier plate (3) are opposite, the design surface (1) having at least one depression in an area which is opposite the sensor surfaces (4), and - At least one partition (10) which is arranged between the sensor carrier plate (3) and the lighting carrier plate (6) perpendicular to the lighting carrier plate (6) in such a way that it prevents light rays (9) from one of the plurality of lighting elements (7) from passing through a recess (5) of the sensor surface (4) not assigned to this light-emitting element (7) run. Control device according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the electrical connection means (12) comprises a wire which electrically connects the two sensor sub-surfaces (11) across the recess (5). Control device according to Claim 2 , characterized in that the wire (12) has a diameter of approximately 40 µm. Control device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sensor surfaces (4) are made of an optically non-transparent material. Vehicle with an operating device attached to a surface of the vehicle, characterized in that the operating device (8) is designed according to one of the preceding claims.

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