Operating Element for a Motor Vehicle

Abstract

An operating element to be installed in a center console of a motor vehicle includes at least two planar elements which are at least partially touch-sensitive such that an operator can trigger a function via a touch with a hand of the operator or at least one finger of the operator and a rotary element disposed between the at least two planar elements where a cylindrical surface of the rotary element is touch-sensitive.

Claims

1.-9. (canceled)

10. An operating element to be installed in a center console of a motor vehicle, comprising: at least two planar elements which are at least partially touch-sensitive such that an operator can trigger a function via a touch with a hand of the operator or at least one finger of the operator; and a rotary element disposed between the at least two planar elements, wherein a cylindrical surface of the rotary element is touch-sensitive.

11. The operating element according to claim 10, wherein the rotary element is formed by a recess in the operating element.

12. The operating element according to claim 11, wherein the recess includes a circumferential edge.

13. The operating element according to claim 10, wherein the rotary element merges into a palm rest.

14. The operating element according to claim 13, wherein an upper surface of the rotary element and a surface of the palm rest have less than 15 mm height difference.

15. The operating element according to claim 11, wherein the recess has a depth between 5 mm and 25 mm.

16. The operating element according to claim 14, wherein the upper surface of the rotary element is touch-sensitive.

17. The operating element according to claim 13, wherein the rotary element is cylindrical between 180 and 300 at a transition to the palm rest.

18. The operating element according to claim 10, wherein an optic or an acoustic or a haptic feedback is generable by the operating element after the touch.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] FIG. 1 shows a top view of a three-dimensionally illustrated operating element;

[0020] FIG. 2 shows a top view of the operating element according to the invention;

[0021] FIG. 3 shows a side view of a second exemplary embodiment; and

[0022] FIG. 4 shows a side view of a third exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] The same reference signs apply in FIGS. 1 to 4 hereinafter for the same components.

[0024] FIG. 1 shows a top view of a three-dimensionally illustrated first exemplary embodiment according to the invention of an operating element 1. The operating element 1 is provided to be installed in a center console (not shown) of a motor vehicle (also not shown).

[0025] The operating element 1 consists of at least two planar elements 2, which are made at least partially touch-sensitive by electric sensors. In the present exemplary embodiment, five planar elements 2 are provided, of which only two are numbered. Each of the five planar elements 2 includes a central, unnumbered touch point, represented by a circle. The planar elements 2 are used so that an operator can trigger a provided function via a touch with the hand or at least one finger. Examples of a function are, for example, operating a navigation device, a telephone, or an entertainment system.

[0026] According to the invention, a planar element designed as a cylindrical, fixed rotary element 3 is arranged between the five planar elements 2, wherein a cylindrical surface 4 of the rotary element 3 is made touch-sensitive, for example by a capacitive sensor or an optical sensor or a force-sensitive sensor, analogously to the planar elements 2. With the aid of these sensors, a rotation of the rotary element 3 can be sensed, without rotating the rotary element 3 itself. The rotary element 3 is represented by a recess 5 in the operating element 1.

[0027] Furthermore, the present exemplary embodiment includes a circumferential edge 6, which encloses the recess 5. The operating field of the operating element 1 can thus be haptically recognized without having to look at the operating element 1.

[0028] For particularly good ergonomics, the rotary element 3 merges in this exemplary embodiment counter to a direction of travel of the motor vehicle into a palm rest 7. An upper surface of the rotary element 8 and a surface of the palm rest 7 preferably have between 5 mm and 15 mm height difference for simple and ergonomic operation of the operating element 1.

[0029] Furthermore, the recess 5 preferably has a depth between 5 mm and 25 mm. This is a depth range which implements pleasantly haptic operation of the rotary element 3.

[0030] In one preferred embodiment, the upper surface of the rotary element 8 is also made touch-sensitive, so that a touch function can be represented, which can be input via single-finger and/or multi-finger gestures.

[0031] In relation to the known prior art, the rotary element 3 has a cylindrical surface 4 at a transition to the palm rest 7 between 180 and 300, which is completely sufficient for normal operation in place of the typical 360 formation, i.e., for a fully cylindrical rotary element.

[0032] In a further particularly preferred embodiment, the operating element 1 generates optic or acoustic or haptic feedback or a combination thereof after successful operation.

[0033] For example, glass, wood, or plastics, as well as finely processed metal surfaces, such as, e.g., brushed aluminum or brass or stainless steel, are suitable as surface materials for the operating element 1 according to the invention.

[0034] FIG. 2 shows a top view of the operating element 1 according to the invention for the installation in the center console (not shown) of the motor vehicle. All of the statements on FIG. 1 apply.

[0035] FIG. 3 shows a side view of a second exemplary embodiment according to the invention without palm rest 7. The operating element 1 is again apparent, having two touch-sensitive planar elements 2, as well as the touch-sensitive rotary element 3 and its touch-sensitive, cylindrical surface 4. It is clearly recognizable how the rotary element 3 is formed by the recess 5 in the operating element 1. As already mentioned, the operating element 1 can trigger a provided function via a touch with a hand 9 or at least one finger. In this first exemplary embodiment, the operating element 1 does not have a circumferential edge 6, but precisely like the second exemplary embodiment can be installed depressed and horizontally in parallel by the integration in the enclosing center console. In the depressed installation method, a further possibility of the integration in a center console is provided of integrating a seamless surface by closing a cover and thus represents an additional exemplary embodiment.

[0036] FIG. 4 shows a third exemplary embodiment of the operating element 1 according to the invention, also without the palm rest 7. In contrast to FIG. 3, the operating element 1 in FIG. 4 has a circumferential edge 6. This circumferential edge 6 can also be made only partially circumferential. Due to this circumferential edge 6, the planar elements 2 can be arranged in the front area so that they can be reached better ergonomically and it is thus less necessary to look away from the road during the operation. A further exemplary embodiment of the planar elements 2 in the front area is represented by the differing elevation of the individual planar elements 2 in the front and rear areas, as shown in FIG. 1. By elevating only one, the middle planar element 2, all three planar elements 2 can be haptically distinguished with almost uniform homogeneity of the surface.

LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS

[0037] 1 operating element [0038] 2 planar element [0039] 3 rotary element [0040] 4 cylindrical surface [0041] 5 recess [0042] 6 circumferential edge [0043] 7 palm rest [0044] 8 upper surface [0045] 9 hand