STEERING DEVICE SENSOR, MEASUREMENT SYSTEM, OPERATOR CONTROL SYSTEM, AND STEERING DEVICE

Abstract

The invention relates to a steering device sensor comprising an electrically insulating support, which can be integrated in a steering device for a vehicle, and an electric conductor, which is connected to the support, characterised in that the conductor forms multiple measurement zones of different measuring sensitivity on the support. The invention also relates to a measurement system comprising two steering device sensors. The invention also relates to an operator control system using a measurement system comprising two steering device sensors. The measurement system and the operator control system can be used in a steering device such as a steering wheel.

Claims

1. A steering device sensor (1, 3) comprising an electrically insulating support (5) which can be integrated into a steering device for a vehicle and an electrical conductor (2, 2′) connected to the support (5), characterized in that the conductor on the support (5) forms multiple measuring zones (10, 12, 14, 16, 18; 30, 32, 34, 36, 38) of different measuring sensitivity.

2. The steering device sensor (1, 3) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the measuring sensitivities of the multiple measuring zones (10, 12, 14, 16, 18; 30, 32, 34, 36, 38) increase strictly monotonically in a main direction of the extent of the steering device sensor (1, 3).

3. The steering device sensor (1, 3) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the measuring sensitivities of the multiple measuring zones (10, 12, 14, 16, 18; 30, 32, 34, 36, 38) increase linearly in a main direction of the extent of the steering device sensor (1, 3), or that the measuring sensitivities of the multiple measuring zones (10, 12, 14, 16, 18; 30, 32, 34, 36, 38) increase exponentially in a main direction of the extent of the steering device sensor (1, 3).

4. The steering device sensor (1, 3) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the conductor comprises a base extending along a main direction of the extent of the steering device sensor (1, 3), wherein the multiple measuring zones (10, 12, 14, 16, 1; 30, 32, 34, 36, 38) extend from the base transversely to the main direction.

5. The steering device sensor (1, 3) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrical conductor forms a base which connects the multiple measuring zones (10, 12, 14, 16, 18; 30, 32, 34, 36, 38) electrically conductively to each other, wherein the base has a lower measuring sensitivity than a measuring zone of lowest measuring sensitivity of the multiple measuring zones (10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38).

6. The steering device sensor (1, 3) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a distance is formed between each two of the multiple measuring zones (10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38), wherein the distances between the multiple measuring zones (10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38) decrease strictly monotonically in a main direction of the extent of the steering device sensor (1, 3).

7. The steering device sensor (1, 3) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support (5) comprises a film and the electrical conductor comprises an electrically conductive material printed on the film, or that the support (5) comprises woven goods, knitted fabric and/or knitted goods and the electrical conductor comprises an electrically conductive thread.

8. The steering device sensor (1, 3) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support (5) comprises a thermoplastically deformable plastic, wherein the electrical conductor is at least partially enclosed by the plastic in the circumferential direction of the conductor.

9. The steering device sensor (1, 3) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the measuring zones (10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38) are each formed by a surface electrode covered by one of the electrical conductors (2, 2′), or that the steering device sensor (1, 3) comprises measuring zones (10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38), each traversed by the electrical conductor (2, 2′).

10. The steering device sensor (1, 3) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the steering device sensor (1, 3) comprises an electrical auxiliary function conductor, which is arranged below the electrical conductor (2, 2′) with respect to an upward-pointing direction from the support (5) to the electrical conductor (2, 2′) .

11. A measurement system for a steering device comprising two steering device sensors (1, 3) designed in particular as claimed in claim 1, each with multiple measuring zones (10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38) of different sensitivity, wherein the measuring zones (10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38) of the steering device sensor (1, 3) are arranged in such a way that, in pairs, a measuring zone of one steering device sensor (1, 3) with a respective neighboring measuring zone of the other steering device sensor (1, 3) have a distinct combination of measuring sensitivities.

12. The measurement system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the steering device sensors (1, 3) are each of a comb-like design and interlocked with each other, and/or that the measurement system is set up and intended to determine a difference signal of the steering device sensors (1, 3).

13. Measurement system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the steering device sensors (1, 3) each comprise an electrical conductor (2, 2′) connected to a common support (5).

14. An operator control system for a steering device comprising in particular a measurement system designed in particular according to claim 11 for detecting a contact with the steering device, wherein the measurement system has multiple pairs of measuring zones (10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38) with a distinct combination of measuring sensitivities, and an evaluation device, wherein the evaluation device is set up and determined to receive a difference signal concerning the multiple pairs of measuring zones (10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38) of different measuring sensitivity and to determine the pair of measuring zones (10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38) which was touched from the difference signal profile.

15. A steering device for a motor vehicle comprising at least one steering device sensor (1, 3), in particular as claimed in claim 1, for detecting a contact with the steering device, wherein the steering device sensor (1, 3) has multiple measuring zones (10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38) of different measuring sensitivity.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] Further features, advantages and properties of the invention are explained by the description of preferred embodiments of the invention with reference to the FIG. s. In the FIG. s:

[0029] FIG. 1: shows a schematic representation of a steering device sensor according to the invention in a first embodiment;

[0030] FIG. 2: shows a schematic representation of a measurement system according to the invention with two steering device sensors according to the invention in a first embodiment;

[0031] FIG. 3: shows a schematic representation of a measurement system according to the invention with two steering device sensors according to the invention in a further embodiment;

[0032] FIG. 4: shows a schematic representation of a measurement system according to the invention with two steering device sensors according to the invention in a further embodiment;

[0033] FIG. 5: shows a diagram showing qualitatively the output signals of three steering device sensors;

[0034] FIG. 6: shows a schematic representation of a steering device according to the invention in a first embodiment;

[0035] FIG. 7: shows a schematic representation of a steering device according to the invention with two steering device sensors according to the invention in a further embodiment.

DESCRIPTION

[0036] FIG. 1 shows a steering device sensor 1 according to the invention according to a first exemplary embodiment. The steering device sensor 1 is formed on a support 5. The support 5 in this example is a flexible film, made of an electrically insulating material. The steering device sensor 1 also includes an electrical conductor 2, which is formed as a surface structure on the support 5. The electrical conductor 2 can be printed on the flexible film or vapor deposited with a deposition method. The surface structure of the electrical conductor 2 forms multiple measuring zones 10, 12, 14, 16, 18. The measuring zones are electrically connected via a common base 20 of the electrical conductor 2 extending along the measuring zones. The base itself is desirably dimensioned with regard to the design of the electrical conductor 2 in such a way that it has a measuring sensitivity that is negligible compared to the measuring sensitivity of the measuring zones. The measuring zones 10, 12, 14, 16, 18 have a different width and consequently a different area. The width of the measuring zone 10 is a unit of length L, that of the measuring zone 12 two units of length L and so on up to the measuring zone 18, the width of which is five lengths L. The width and area of the measuring zones increase linearly with the width.

[0037] The steering device sensor 1 is designed as a capacitive proximity sensor, which works according to the principle of capacitive coupling, wherein connections and evaluation electronics are not shown in more detail. For example, a capacitance is measured by connecting a charging voltage and measuring the charging time at the steering device sensor 1. This is essentially determined by the capacitance of the respective measuring zone 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, the electric field of which is capacitively coupled to a ground potential by a finger placed on the measuring zone, for example. The different surface contents of the measuring zones result in different starting signals, depending on which measuring zone is influenced. If a hand or finger touches measuring zone 10, this results in a capacitive coupling with a smaller capacitance than with measuring zone 12, whose area and capacitance are larger. Different measuring sensitivities of the measuring zones 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, will be mentioned here, because with the same causative input, here the touch by a finger, a different capacitance can be measured, depending on which measuring zone is touched. In this example, the measuring sensitivities of the measuring zones increase linearly from measuring zone 10 to measuring zone 18, corresponding to the linear increase in the area of the measuring zones. In another, unspecified embodiment, the measuring sensitivities of the measuring zones increase exponentially, for example by squares or cubes. For this purpose, the length measure L of measuring zones shown in the example of FIG. 1 can increase exponentially from measuring zone to measuring zone, such as by cubes or squares.

[0038] For the detection of a contact and the exact determination of the capacitive coupling, i.e. the size of the coupled capacitance, a known measuring method can be used, such as the capacitive voltage divider method. The different measuring sensitivities make it possible to determine the position at which the steering device sensor 1 was touched. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the effect on the steering device sensor, i.e. the input signal, essentially corresponds to a standardized quantity, which applies to an approach or a touch by human fingers, taking into account a tolerance range.

[0039] FIG. 2 shows a measurement system 100 according to the invention according to a first embodiment comprising a first steering device sensor 1 and a second steering device sensor 3. Not shown in detail in the FIG. are the electrical connections and evaluation electronics by means of which the measurement system 100 generates, detects and processes the signals of the steering device sensors 1, 3. The measurement system 100 is designed as a capacitive measurement system which works according to the principle of capacitive coupling. Such a device of the steering device sensors 1, 3 as a capacitive measurement system for detecting a touch is known, which is why it is not discussed further.

[0040] The steering device sensors 1, 3 are each designed like the steering device sensor according to FIG. 1, wherein the electrical conductors 2, 2′ of the steering device sensors 1, 3 are applied to a common support 5. The measuring zones 10, 12, 14, 16, 18 of the steering device sensor 3 are arranged on the support 5 in such a way that a distance is formed between two measuring zones within which a measuring zone 30, 32, 34, 36 of the steering device sensor 1 is arranged. Conversely, the measuring zones 30, 32, 34, 36, 38 of the steering device sensor 1 are arranged on the support 105 in such a way that a distance is formed between two measuring zones within which a measuring zone 10, 12, 14, 16, 18 of the steering device sensor 3 is arranged. The distances between the measuring zones thus become smaller in accordance with the aforementioned increase in the area of the measuring zones of the other steering device sensor.

[0041] The comb-like structure of the two steering device sensors allows the nesting of the measuring zones. The dimensioning of the measuring zones is designed in such a way that, starting from the touching object to be detected, for example a finger or a palm of the hand, it is ensured that a touch always touches two, i.e. one of the measuring zones of each the two steering device sensors 1.3. A respective measuring zone of one steering device sensor forms a pair of measuring zones with a respective measuring zone of the other adjacent steering device sensor on the support 5. A respective combination of measuring sensitivities of a pair of measuring zones, for example the measuring zones 10, 38 or the measuring zones 12, 36 or the measuring zones 38,12, is unique along the main extent of the measurement system 100, i.e. along the sequence of measuring zones. Thus, if the measurement system 100 is touched in the area of the pair of measuring zones 10, 38, a low capacitance can be measured on the steering device sensor 3 and at the same time a high capacitance on sensor 1. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the measuring zone 10 would have the lowest capacitance and the measuring zone 38 the highest capacity compared to the other measuring zones of a respective steering device sensor. With the help of the distinct combinations of measuring sensitivities of respective two adjacent measuring zones and always contact of two measuring zones, it is possible to determine the position of the measurement system 100 along the main direction of the extent of the support 5 which was touched.

[0042] FIG. 3 shows a further exemplary embodiment of a measurement system according to the invention which is essentially identical to the measurement system 100 of FIG. 2. Identical components are provided with the same reference numbers. The measurement system 100 according to FIG. 3 differs from the measurement system 100 according to FIG. 2 only in that the steering device sensors 3, 5 are designed differently. While according to FIG. 2 the measuring zones 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38 are designed as continuous surfaces of conductor material, the measuring zones in the example of FIG. 3 are realized by multiple conducting material tracks spaced apart from each other. It is decisive for the invention here that the measuring sensitivities of the measuring zones differ from each other due to the different surfaces covered by conductor material or the amount of interconnected conductor material present in the measuring zone.

[0043] FIG. 4 shows a further exemplary embodiment of a measurement system according to the invention, which is essentially identical to the measurement system of FIG. 2 or FIG. 3. Identical components are provided with the same reference numbers. The measurement system 100 according to FIG. 4 differs from the measurement systems according to FIGS. 2 and 3 only in that the steering device sensors 3, 1 are designed differently. The electrical conductors 2, 2′ of the steering device sensors 3, 1 are designed as electrically conductive wire or thread connected to the support 5. The electrical conductors 2, 2′ run in meandering loops through the measuring zones 10, 12, 14, 16, 18 or the measuring zones 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, wherein the length of the electrical conductor arranged within a respective measuring zone 2, 2′, i.e. the thread length or wire length, according to the basic principle of the invention increases from measuring zone to measuring zone of the respective steering device sensor 3, 1 in order to realize different measuring sensitivities.

[0044] FIG. 5 represents qualitatively in a diagram measuring sensitivity and signal level on the vertical axis and along the planar axis the measuring zones arranged consecutively in the main direction of the extent of a measurement system according to the invention 100. The profile M1 of the measuring sensitivities in a steering device sensor is shown with black full dots, the measuring sensitivities of which decrease linearly from a first measuring zone at one end of the steering device sensor to the last measuring zone at the other extent of the steering device sensor. Diamonds are used to show the profile M3 of the measuring sensitivities of the other steering device sensor of the measurement system 100, the measuring sensitivities of which increase from one measuring zone at one end of the measurement system 100 to the other end of the measurement system 100. S13 shows the profile of the level of a difference signal of the measurement signals of the steering device sensors of the measurement system 100. The level increases continuously with essentially the same effect on the measurement system 100 in the respective touched measuring zones along the extent of the measurement system. Using the rising level, it is thus possible to determine the location of the contact on the measurement system 100. Predetermined level ranges can be determined in a calibration process in order to assign certain levels to measuring zones which are touched.

[0045] In FIG. 6, an example of a steering device according to the invention in the form of a steering wheel 50 is shown, in the steering wheel rim of which a measurement system 100 is integrated. For the sake of a simplified representation, the measurement system 100 is only displayed along a part of the steering wheel ring. The measurement system 100 can extend around the entire steering wheel ring and also around the circumference in the gripping direction. The measurements in the representation are not true to scale. The measuring zones are dimensioned in such a way that a suitable spatial resolution is achieved for the desired contacts to be measured. The measurement system 100 is arranged underneath a top layer, such as a leather layer. The measurement system 100 in the example is according to the example of FIG. 4, with the difference that the support 5 is an unspecified foam that envelops a steering wheel skeleton, and the electrical conductors 2,2′ are designed as electrically conductive wires integrated into a steering wheel foam. In particular, the electrically conductive wires are heated and placed or cut into the foam or placed on a supporting structure and enveloped in foam to form the measurement system 100. The geometric design corresponds to the example of FIG. 4, in particular with regard to the meandering conductor 2, 2′ passing through the measuring zones.

[0046] Finally, FIG. 7 shows a steering device in the form of a joystick 60, in which a measurement system 100 according to the embodiment according to FIG. 2 is integrated into the control rod enclosing the joystick.

[0047] With the measurement systems 100 according to FIGS. 2, 3, 4, 6 and 7, an unspecified operating system for a steering device can be realized using the information obtained from the measurement about where a contact with the measurement system has taken place. For this purpose, the location of the contact over time is determined by evaluation electronics from the measured signals of the steering device sensor, in particular the difference signal of the steering device sensors 1, 3, and is evaluated with regard to predetermined, known contact location profiles. In the evaluation electronics of the operator control system, sensor signal profiles, preferably with tolerance ranges, for different control gestures which can also be combined, such as swiping in one or the other direction along the measurement system 100, tapping on a predetermined region or circular swiping, are stored and are compared with measured contact location profiles.

REFERENCE CHARACTERS

[0048] 1, 3 steering device sensor [0049] 2, 2′ electrical conductor [0050] 5 support [0051] 10, 12, 14, 16, 18 measuring zones [0052] 20 base [0053] 30, 32, 34, 36, 38 measuring zones [0054] 50 steering wheel [0055] 60 joystick