Abstract
The present invention relates to a reset unit for resetting rotational and/or translational deflection movements of a setting element, which has an ordered mesostructure of elementary cells consisting of an ordered arrangement of at least one elementary cell, wherein the at least one elementary cell can be reversibly compressed and expanded through exposure to force, wherein the reset unit further has at least one signal generator and/or at least one reaction unit, wherein the reset unit further has at least one evaluation unit, which evaluates a signal emitted by the signal generator and/or electrically and/or magnetically actuates the reaction unit, wherein the signal generator and/or reaction unit are embedded in the at least one mesostructure, wherein a reset force of the reset unit can be at least partially generated by deforming the mesostructure.
Claims
1. A reset unit for resetting rotational and/or translational deflection movements of a setting element, which has an ordered mesostructure of elementary cells consisting of an ordered arrangement of at least one elementary cell, wherein the at least one elementary cell can be reversibly compressed and expanded through exposure to force, wherein the reset unit further has at least one signal generator and/or at least one reaction unit, wherein the reset unit further has at least one evaluation unit, which evaluates a signal emitted by the signal generator and/or electrically and/or magnetically actuates the reaction unit, wherein the signal generator and/or reaction unit are embedded in the at least one mesostructure, wherein a reset force of the reset unit can be at least partially generated by deforming the mesostructure.
2. The reset unit according to claim 1, wherein an elastic element, in particular a spring or an elastomer, or an adaptive element, in particular an actuator or an MRF element, is placed upstream and/or downstream from at least one elementary cellin terms of force application.
3. The reset unit according to claim 1, wherein the evaluation unitis connected with the mesostructurenot mechanically, but effectively.
4. The reset unit according to claim 1, wherein the shape and/or elasticity of the reaction unitcan be influenced by a current applied thereto or a magnetic field.
5. The reset unit according to claim 1, wherein the reset unit has latching elements, which latch in the at least one signal generatorand/or the at least one reaction unitat a prescribed position.
6. The reset unit according to claim 1, wherein the at least one signal generatorand/or the at least one reaction unit are selected from the following group: Metal wire, metal particles, coil, electromagnet, carbon fiber, CFK fiber, conductive plastic, and magnet.
7. The reset unit according to claim 1, wherein the at least one evaluation unit is selected from the following group: Coil, electromagnet, Hall sensor, printed circuit board, and strain gauge.
8. An operating device having a reset unit according to claim 1.
9. The operating device according to claim 8, wherein the operating device has a control lever, wherein the reset unit is mounted in the control lever, in particular in a handle or in a part of the control lever that scans a cam.
10. The operating device according to claim 1, wherein the operating device has a cam into which a control leveris guided, wherein the reset unit resets the cam.
11. The operating device according to claim 1, wherein the operating device has a contact surface contacted by a user, which is reset by the reset unit.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0026] In a preferred embodiment, the invention will be exemplarily described with reference to a drawing, wherein several advantageous details may be gleaned from the figures of the drawing.
[0027] Functionally identical parts are here provided with the same reference numbers.
[0028] Specifically shown on the figures of the drawing are:
[0029] FIG. 1: an exemplary mesostructure in the sense of the invention,
[0030] FIG. 2: a first alternative of a reset unit according to the invention,
[0031] FIG. 3: a first alternative of a reset unit according to the invention during application with an operating device in an idle state,
[0032] FIG. 4a: a second alternative of a reset unit according to the invention during application with an operating device in an idle state,
[0033] FIG. 4b: a third alternative of a reset unit according to the invention during application with an operating device in an idle state,
[0034] FIG. 5: a reset unit according to the invention with latching elements,
[0035] FIG. 6a: a first alternative of a reset unit according to the invention during application with a flexible cam,
[0036] FIG. 6b: a second alternative of a reset unit according to the invention during application with a flexible cam,
[0037] FIG. 6c: a third alternative of a reset unit according to the invention during application with a flexible cam,
[0038] FIG. 7: a reset unit according to the invention during application in the handle of a control lever,
[0039] FIG. 8a: the effect of a reset unit according to the invention during application in the handle of a control lever with the control lever moving in a negative x-direction,
[0040] FIG. 8b: the effect of a reset unit according to the invention during application in the handle of a control lever with the control lever moving in a positive x-direction.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS
[0041] FIG. 1 shows an exemplary mesostructure 2 in the sense of the invention. The mesostructure 2 here has a plurality of elementary cells 3 connected with each other, which here are depicted only schematically as rhombic cells, but alternatively can assume the previously mentioned different designs, as needed. Just as the mesostructure 2 as a whole, the elementary cells 3 are here flexible in design, so that the mesostructure 2 as a whole is deformed depending on the application of force. The application of force in the middle of the mesostructure 2 depicted here correspondingly presses the latter downward at this location, so that the mesostructure 2 is expanded toward this location. In addition, signal generators 4 and/or reaction units 5 are arranged in the mesostructure 2 between the elementary cells 3, and fixedly connected with the mesostructure 2, so that a deformation of the mesostructure 2 leads to a change in position of the signal generators 4 and reaction units 5 in space. If the case here involves signal generators 4, the change in position of the signal generators 4 makes it possible to determine the extent to which the mesostructure 2 was deformed. For this purpose, the signal of the signal generators 4 that was altered by the change in position is read out and correspondingly interpreted by an external unit not shown here. Alternatively thereto, during the use of reaction units 5, the stiffness of the mesostructure 2 or its preload can be influenced by the targeted actuation of the reaction units 5 due to the fixed connection between the latter and the mesostructure 2. In this case as well, actuation takes place via an external unit not depicted here, in particular via the generation of a magnetic field. An application of signal generators 4 and reaction units 5 within a shared mesostructure 2 is also provided here. This makes it possible to realize the advantages of both the signal generators 4 and the reaction units 5 in the mesostructure 2.
[0042] FIG. 2 shows a first alternative of a reset unit 1 according to the invention. The reset unit 1 depicted here is identical to the one shown on FIG. 1, wherein it is here shown only in a side or cross sectional view. Accordingly, the reset unit 1 has a mesostructure 2, which in turn has a plurality of elementary cells 3. Here as well, signal generators 4 and/or reaction units 5 are arranged between the elementary cells 3, and fixedly connected with the mesostructure 2, so that a deformation of the latter also leads to a change in position of the signal generators 4 and reaction units 5. The evaluation unit 6 is arranged outside of the mesostructure 2, but effectively connected with it, and in this case is a combined evaluation unit 6. Therefore, the latter on the one hand has a Hall sensor, which is used to determine a magnetic field generated by the signal generators 4. Accordingly, the Hall sensor can be used to determine a change in this magnetic field, in particular a type of change that stems from a change in position of the signal generators 4. This makes it possible to also determine the kind and extent of the deformation of the mesostructure 2, and thereby also the application of force on the latter. The evaluation unit 6 likewise has electromagnets, which are supplied with current via a simple current circuit, and generate a magnetic field that interacts with the magnetic fields of the reaction units 5. Depending on the polarity of the magnetic fields, the mesostructure 2 can in this way be preloaded by a deformation given the targeted actuation of the reaction units 5. However, if the reaction units 5 form structural elements of the mesostructure 2, and their elastic properties can be influenced by magnetic fields or electric fields, the stiffness of the mesostructure 2 as a whole can be adjusted by their targeted actuation.
[0043] FIG. 3 shows a first alternative of a reset unit 1 according to the invention during application with an operating device 10 in an idle state. The reset unit 1 is shown during application with an operating device 10, wherein the operating device 10 has an arm or a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the operating device 10, which when the operating device 10 is deflected comes into contact with the reset unit 1, and compresses it. The reset force generated in the reset unit 1 resets the operating device 10 into its idle position. The reset unit 1 has several mesostructures 2 connected in parallel to each other, which here are depicted as schematic squares. This schematic illustration comprises any forms of mesostructures 2 which according to the invention each have at least one elementary cell. The parallel connection of the mesostructures 2 is to be understood as an arrangement of the latter one next to the other, so that the arrangement of the mesostructures 2 is arranged perpendicular to the direction of force application. This redundancy of the parallel connected mesostructures 2 can compensate for the failure of individual mesostructures 2 by redistributing the forces to the remaining mesostructures 2. As a result, the function of the reset unit 1 remains completely intact even given the failure of individual mesostructures 2. By serially connecting mesostructures 2 at selected locations, i.e., by arranging the mesostructures 2 in a direction of force application relative to each other, force lines that differ from the remaining mesostructures 2 can be generated at these locations, for example so as to form overprint points. By suitably selecting serial and parallel connections for the mesostructures in specific positions, a specific, needs-based force line of the reset unit 1 can be achieved in this way.
[0044] FIG. 4a shows a second alternative of a reset unit 1 according to the invention during application with an operating device 10 in an idle state. In this embodiment, the operating device 10 transmits both swiveling movements as well as tensile and compressive movements to the reset unit 1, as a result of which the reset unit and the flexible elements contained therein are compressed and expanded accordingly. In this embodiment, the reset unit 1 has a plurality of mesostructures 2 connected in parallel to each other, which offer the advantages already mentioned. In the embodiment shown, the mesostructures 2 and elastic elements 7 are here connected to each other in series in the form of springs, i.e., arranged parallel to each other relative to the direction of force application. In the sense of the invention, the spring is a simple variant of an elastic element 7, which is a passive element that upon deformation generates a predefined reset force which overlays the reset force of the upstream or downstream mesostructure 2. By contrast, FIG. 4b shows a third alternative of a reset unit 1 according to the invention during application with an identical operating device 9 in an idle state, wherein the mesostructures 2 in this embodiment are connected in series with adaptive elements 8, here in the form of actuators. As opposed to the elastic elements on FIG. 4a, these are active elements that can be operated by a user. Therefore, by actuating the adaptive elements 8, a user can set the reset force thereby generated or the preload of the downstream mesostructure 2 as needed. Both the elastic and also the adaptive elements generate a preload on the downstream mesostructures 2. As a result, the reset unit 1, which is already variably configurable owing to the variability of the mesostructure 2, can once again be more flexibly used, and a force line can be determined in an especially precise manner.
[0045] FIG. 5 shows a reset unit 1 according to the invention with latching elements 9. Just as in the embodiments described above, the reset unit 1 here also has several mesostructures 2 connected in parallel, which are here only shown schematically. As depicted on FIGS. 1 and 2, the mesostructures 2 are here also provided with signal generators 4 and/or reaction units 5, which are only shown in the environment of the latching element 9 as elements arranged on the mesostructure 2. The signal generators 4 and/or reaction unit 5 are connected with the respective mesostructure 2 in such a way that a deformation of the mesostructure 2 leads to a change in position of the signal generator 4 and/or the reaction unit 5. By contrast, the latching elements 9 are immovable in design relative to a base, for example a housing of the reset unit 1. The latching elements 9 and signal generators 4 and/or reaction unit 5 are (electro)magnetic in design, so that a coupling arises between them based upon a magnetic pull. The coupling here arises only once a distance predefined by the corresponding magnetic field strengths has been reached between the latching elements 9 and signal generators 4 and/or reaction units 5. In addition, the latching elements 9 can be adaptively actuated by a simple current circuit. As a consequence, the latter can be switched on or off as needed. Likewise, the mentioned predefined distance can be adjusted as needed by selecting a corresponding current. Alternatively, the latter can also be adjusted by suitably actuating the reaction units 5.
[0046] FIG. 6a shows a first alternative of a reset unit 1 according to the invention during application with a flexible cam 12. In the application, an operating device that is movably, in particular swivelably, guided at one end in the cam 12, and the cam 12 are correspondingly deformed or displaced during a deflection of the operating device. Therefore, the depicted cam 12 can be variable in its basic shape, which amounts to a deformation, or be mounted so that it can only be moved in its entirety, so that the entire cam 12 is moved relative to a base during a displacement. The cam 12 is here reset into its idle position by the reset unit 1 effectively connected with it. Here as well, the reset unit 1 has several parallel connected mesostructures 2, which each reset individual areas of the cam 12 and the cam 12 in different directions of force based upon their orientation. By contrast, FIG. 6b shows a second alternative of a reset unit 1 according to the invention during application with a flexible cam 12, in which mesostructures 2 are connected in series to each other at selected locations. This yields other force lines, by means of which the reset force is varyingly adjusted depending on the position of the operating device in the cam 12 independently of the actual cam shape. As a result, for example, overprint points or other needs-based specific force lines or points can be generated. Contrary to the above, FIG. 6c shows a third alternative of a reset unit 1 according to the invention during application with a flexible cam 12, in which such an overprint point is generated by combining the springy mesostructures 2 and above all a volume body 15 on the cam 12, which can have a stiffness different than the cam 12. Here as well, the stiffness of the volume body 15 and the properties and arrangement of the mesostructures 2 make it possible to generate a needs-based force line in the area of the overprint point.
[0047] FIG. 7 shows a reset unit 1 according to the invention during application in the handle 13 of a control lever 11. The handle 13 of a control lever 11 is the end of the control lever 11 that is contacted by a user while in use. Accordingly, the surface of the handle 13 is a contact surface 14 for the user. The reset unit 1 is here arranged in the handle 13 in such a way that the user compresses the reset unit 1 while using the handle 13 due to the contact. Therefore, the user perceives the reset force depending on the intensity of the compression.
[0048] FIG. 8a shows the effect of a reset unit 1 according to the invention during application in the handle 13 of a control lever 11 with the control lever 11 moving in a negative x-direction. By contrast, FIG. 8b shows the effect of a reset unit according to the invention during application in the handle 13 of a control lever 11 with the control lever 11 moving in a positive x-direction. Using the reset unit 1 in the handle 13 of a control lever 11 as shown on FIG. 7 makes it possible to realize a presence detection by detecting pressure via deformation. This principle also enables the detection of the movement of the control lever 11 desired or initiated by the user. Therefore, the direction in which the control lever 11 is to be moved can be determined before the change in the angle of the latter caused by its movement arises. Given a fine segmentation of the reset unit 1 via its deformation, the exact position of the hand can likewise be identified. In the deflection in a positive x-direction shown on FIG. 8b, there is a pressure increase above on the rear side of the handle in the area of the thumb ball of the user, and a pressure reduction on the lower part of the front side of the handle in the area of the index finger to little finger of the user, or exclusively pressure on the rear side (b). By contrast, in the deflection in a negative x-direction shown on FIG. 8a, there is a pressure increase on the front side of the handle. During a deflection in a positive and negative y-direction, which is oriented perpendicular to the x- and z-direction, there is a pressure increase on the hand support surface and on its opposite side. During a combined movement, the mentioned directions of force become overlaid accordingly. The force vector determinable based thereupon serves as an additional channel for safety considerations or as a control parameter, which can be used to additionally control the device to be controlled via the control lever 11.
