Operating knob extending from the surface of a pixel-based screen

Abstract

An operating knob for an operating apparatus extends away from a reference plane that delimits the operating knob on a rear side. The operating knob is in the form of a three-dimensionally protruding body in relation to the reference plane up to a knob height. The operating knob has at least one side wall extending between the reference plane and the knob height at an angle greater than 20 with respect to the reference plane as a placement surface for at least one finger operating the operating knob. Luminous outputs of at least one luminous segment or a pixel matrix are provided on the side wall.

Claims

1. An operating apparatus, comprising: a pixel-based screen having an outer surface including a glass panel; and an operating knob which extends away from a reference plane that corresponds to the outer surface of the pixel-based screen which surrounds the operating knob and which delimits a rear side of the operating knob, the operating knob including: a three-dimensional body which protrudes in relation to the reference plane, the body including the glass panel and protruding from the reference plane up to a knob height, at least one side wall which includes the glass panel and extends between the reference plane and the knob height at an angle greater than 20 with respect to the reference plane as a placement surface for at least one finger to operate the operating knob, the knob height being greater than 0.5 cm, and luminous outputs including at least one luminous segment curved into the body and provided on the at least one side wall, or a pixel matrix curved into the body and provided on the at least one side wall.

2. The operating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pixel matrix is configured to present pixel patterns specifiable by way of pixel data on the at least one side wall.

3. The operating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operating knob includes a frontal display surface which is provided on a front side of the operating knob and offset with respect to the reference plane by the knob height, and the frontal display surface includes further luminous outputs of at least one further luminous segment or the frontal display surface includes the pixel matrix which is provided parallel to the reference plane.

4. The operating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one side wall includes at least one of a touch-sensitive or proximity sensitive surface to capture an input of the at least one finger, and the input includes at least one of a rotary movement, sliding movement, or push movement of the at least one finger, and the operating apparatus further comprises a controller configured to: capture on the at least one side wall the input of the at least one finger, determine, when the input includes the sliding movement, a distance value of the sliding movement of the at least one finger with respect to the at least one side wall, and determine, when the input includes the rotary movement, a distance value of the rotary movement of the at least one finger with respect to the at least one side wall.

5. The operating apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the operating knob is in a form of a key bar and at least one of the touch-sensitive or proximity-sensitive surface is divided into a plurality of keys.

6. The operating apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the operating knob is in a form of a ring and the at least one side wall has an externally located portion on an outer ring wall of the operating knob and an internally located portion on an inner ring wall of the operating knob.

7. The operating apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the controller is configured to capture the sliding movement in a setting region of the at least one side wall and to capture a further sliding movement in a selection region of the at least one side wall, which differs from the setting region, and to activate, based on the further sliding movement in the selection region, an operating function among a plurality of operating functions and to set, based on a distance value of the sliding movement in the setting region, a setting value for the activated operating function.

8. The operating apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the externally located portion on the outer ring wall of the operating knob is configured to receive an input which selects an operating function among a plurality of operating functions, and the internally located portion on the inner ring wall of the operating knob is configured to receive an input which selects a setting value of the operating function selected based on the input received by the externally located portion on the outer ring wall of the operating knob.

9. The operating apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the plurality of operating functions include at least one of an air conditioning operating function, a ventilation operating function, a motorized seat system operating function, or an entertainment system operating function.

10. The operating apparatus according to claim 8, wherein when the externally located portion on the outer ring wall of the operating knob receives the input which selects the operating function, the controller is configured to control the pixel-based screen and the pixel matrix to display a pixel pattern contiguously from the operating knob to the outer surface of the pixel-based screen which surrounds the operating knob so as to represent the operating function selected based on the input received by the externally located portion on the outer ring wall of the operating knob.

11. The operating apparatus according to claim 8, wherein when the internally located portion on the inner ring wall of the operating knob receives the input which selects the setting value of the operating function, the controller is configured to control the pixel-based screen and the pixel matrix to display pixel graphics contiguously from the operating knob to the outer surface of the pixel-based screen which surrounds the operating knob so as to represent the setting value selected based on the input received by the internally located portion on the inner ring wall of the operating knob.

12. The operating apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising: a haptics actuator, wherein the controller is configured to control, based on at least one captured sliding movement, the haptics actuator to agitate the operating knob.

13. The operating apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a controller to control the pixel-based screen and the pixel matrix of the operating knob to contiguously display a pixel graphic or pixel pattern from the operating knob to the outer surface of the pixel-based screen which surrounds the operating knob, based on an operation of the operating knob.

14. The operating apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the pixel graphic or the pixel pattern is displayed on at least one of the body, the at least one side wall, or a front side of the operating knob.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) These and other aspects and advantages will become more apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the exemplary embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of an embodiment of the motor vehicle according to the disclosure;

(3) FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a perspective view of an operating knob of an operating apparatus of the motor vehicle of FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of a sectional view of the operating knob of FIG. 2;

(5) FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of a sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the operating knob;

(6) FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of a sectional view of a further alternative embodiment of the operating knob;

(7) FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration of a perspective view of an embodiment of the operating knob as a key bar;

(8) FIG. 7 is a schematic illustration of a perspective view of the key bar of FIG. 6 as it is being operated;

(9) FIG. 8 is a schematic illustration of a sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the key bar;

(10) FIG. 9 is a schematic illustration of a perspective view of an embodiment of the operating knob as a ring;

(11) FIG. 10 is a schematic illustration of a perspective view of the ring of FIG. 9 as it is being operated;

(12) FIG. 11 is a schematic illustration of a perspective view of an operating knob that is embodied in the form of a ring;

(13) FIG. 12 is a schematic illustration of a sectional view of the ring of FIG. 11;

(14) FIG. 13 is a schematic illustration of a perspective view of an operating knob with luminous segments; and

(15) FIG. 14 is a schematic illustration of a perspective view of an operating knob that has luminous segments and is embodied in the form of a key bar.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(16) Reference will now be made to examples which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

(17) The exemplary embodiments discussed below are example embodiments. In the exemplary embodiments, the described components of the embodiments each constitute individual features that are to be considered independently of one another, and which each also mutually independently refine the disclosure and are thus also to be regarded as constituent parts individually or in any combination other than that presented. Furthermore, the described embodiments may also be supplemented by further features that have already been described.

(18) In the drawings, elements of identical function are denoted in each case with the same reference signs.

(19) FIG. 1 shows a motor vehicle 10, which may be a motorized vehicle, for example a passenger car or truck. The motor vehicle 10 can have one or more vehicle components 11, 12 that a user of the motor vehicle 10 can operate from a vehicle interior 13 by using an operating apparatus 14. One vehicle component 11 can be, for example, an air conditioning system for the interior 13. A further vehicle component 12 can be, for example, a ventilation and/or a motorized seat system. Using the operating apparatus 14, the user can produce control signals 15 for controlling the vehicle components 11. To this end, the operating apparatus 14 can have a touchscreen 16 on which the user can effect an operating input. The operating input can be captured by a control apparatus 17 of the operating apparatus 14 by way of the touchscreen 16. In dependence on the captured operating input, the control apparatus 17 can produce the control signals 15.

(20) However, in the case of the operating apparatus 14, the user does not simply have to perform the operation on a flat touchscreen 16. Rather, an operating knob 18 is made available to the user in the region of the touchscreen 16, and the user can grasp the operating knob 18 with his or her fingers, such that a three-dimensional integrated operating element, for example a rotary regulator or rocker arm, is provided on the touchscreen 16.

(21) FIG. 2 illustrates one possible embodiment of such an operating knob 18. Starting from a reference plane 19, formed by a transparent panel 20 of the touchscreen 16, a body 21 of the operating knob 18 rises up above the reference plane 19 into the vehicle interior 13 up to a knob height 22. The body 21 therefore has a side wall 23 and a front side 24 at the distance of the knob height 22, parallel to the reference plane 19. An inclination of the side wall 23 relative to a surface normal N of the panel 16 has an angle W, which for example ranges from 0 to 70, or for example ranges from 0 to 45.

(22) In the case of the operating apparatus 14, it is then possible for example by way of the control apparatus 17 to likewise display in each case a pixel graphic not only on the touchscreen 16 itself, but also on the side wall 23 and optionally on the front side 24. The pixel graphic can be configured contiguously or consistently with that in the display content on the touchscreen 16 itself. FIG. 2 shows by way of example how a pixel pattern 26 in the form of orientation marks or symbols or stripes on the side wall 23 can visualize a current virtual rotary position of the operating knob 18. A currently set setting value 27, for example, can be displayed on the front side 24.

(23) FIG. 3 illustrates how the knob 18 can be provided in the panel 20 of the touchscreen 16. The panel 20 can have the shape of the operating knob 18 for example by way of deep drawing. It is also possible for example for a sensor matrix 28 and for example a pixel matrix 29 with individually actuable luminous pixels 29 to be shaped or have a protrusion 30 together with the panel 20. For the sake of clarity, only some luminous pixels 29 have been denoted with a reference sign. The individual pixel outputs 32 of the luminous pixels 29 can be optically differentiable through the panel 20.

(24) FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment in which the operating knob 18 can be integrated as a separate component in the touchscreen 16. Here, a mechanically movable mount 31, for example by way of a rod or an axle, makes possible a relative movement of the operating knob 18 in relation to the touchscreen 16. A pixel matrix 29 can be provided in the operating knob 18. The touch sensor system 28 can be dispensed with for example in this embodiment.

(25) FIG. 5 illustrates how only the panel 20 needs to be bent or curved to provide the operating knob 18. The pixel matrix 29 can be flat, parallel to the reference plane 19. So as to be able to guide the light from individual luminous pixels between individual luminous pixels of the pixel matrix 29 and pixel outputs 32 of the operating knob 18, light-guiding elements 33, for example optical fibers, are arranged in a cavity 44 between the panel 20 and the pixel matrix 29 inside the knob 18, with the alignment of the light-guiding elements guiding the light of individual luminous pixels of the pixel matrix 29 to the pixel outputs 32.

(26) The touchscreen 16 can likewise have a curved surface outside the region of the operating knob 18. The reference plane 19 in that case represents an imaginary tangential plane of the panel in the region of the operating knob 18.

(27) FIG. 6 illustrates how, as an alternative to a rotary knob, a key bar 34 can be provided as the operating knob 18. The key bar 34 can simulate rocker arms with individual, independent keys 35. Due to the fact that the pixel matrix 29 also extends over the side wall 23, it is possible to display changing or interchangeable symbols as individual pixel patterns 26 on the side wall.

(28) FIG. 7 illustrates how it can additionally be ensured that, upon touching a key 35 (in FIG. 7, this is the left key as an example), an animation 36 is provided through which the selected function can be activated. It is also possible to provide more operating functions than keys 35 between which the user can select using a swiping movement or sliding movement 37 (also known as a carousel). In this way it is possible, in the case of two keys 35, as illustrated in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, to select more than two operating functions.

(29) FIG. 8 illustrates how the key bar 34 can also be embodied such that it is movable by virtue of (similar as in the case of the operating knob of FIG. 4) the key bar 34 also being mounted so as to be mechanically movable on an axle or rod as a mount 31. A tilting movement or lever movement is then provided for the key bar 34.

(30) FIG. 9 illustrates how the operating knob 18 can be embodied in the form of a ring 38. This results in a side wall 23 with an outer ring wall 39 and an inner ring wall 40.

(31) FIG. 10 illustrates how the user can hereby use a finger 41 on the outer ring wall 39 to perform a sliding movement 42, hereby selecting the function to be set, and then uses the finger 41 on the inner ring wall 40 to change or set a setting value 27 of the selected function. The outer ring wall 39 here represents a selection region, and the inner ring wall 40 represents a setting region.

(32) As an alternative, it is also possible in the case of the ring to set two different operating functions simultaneously, for example the temperature on the inner ring wall 40 and a ventilation strength on the outer ring wall 39.

(33) In the case of the operating apparatus 14, a touchscreen 16 having a three-dimensional shape or a three-dimensional body 21 is thus provided as an operating knob 18 whose shape can correspond to a known mechanical operating element, such as a rotary regulator, a rocker arm or a bezel. The user of this operating element in the shape of the operating knob 18 can hereby also find and operate by touch in the motor vehicle 10 without looking.

(34) The operating knob 18 can also be coupled to a haptics actuator A (see FIG. 1), such that haptic feedback can be provided to the user by way of shaking once operating handling has been identified. The operating knob 18 with the pixel matrix 29 can also be produced from a classical operating element by virtue of it being able to be covered with a 3D display and then being placed onto the touchscreen 16, as is illustrated in FIG. 4 and FIG. 8.

(35) Due to the ability to feel and operate without looking, the driver will be less distracted. By producing it in one piece with the deep-drawn panel 20, short dimensional chains are also obtained, with the result that tolerances can be observed with less technical outlay. By arranging the operating knob 18 in the touchscreen 16, the operating apparatus 14 also has a space-saving design.

(36) Pixel graphics can additionally be presented contiguously and seamlessly from the 3D operating element of the operating knob 18 to the flatter touchscreen 16. In addition, realization by way of the touchscreen 16 is possible in which 3D shapes in the touchscreen 16 can be animated, the operating knob 18 can change color or generally the pixel pattern thereof and the associated function can also be swapped. Fluting that moves in accordance with the sliding movement of the finger on the surface can be presented as the pixel pattern, for example. Due to the adaptability of the pixel pattern on the side wall, the operating knob 18 can also be optically adapted to the active operating function. An air-conditioning rotary regulator can be given a different appearance than a radio rotary regulator.

(37) If the pixel matrix 29 and the touch matrix 28 are arranged directly on the panel 20 of the touchscreen 16, the operating knob 18 can be embodied directly as a one-piece protrusion 30 on the panel 20, as is illustrated in FIG. 3. This produces a 3D touch display. As an alternative, it is possible, as illustrated in FIG. 4, for a flat or curved main display 16 or a main screen to be provided with a separate operating knob 18 as an operating element, wherein this operating knob 18 is then covered or embodied with a dedicated pixel matrix 29. If only a shapeable panel 20 is available, as shown in FIG. 5, a flat or curved main display 16 provided with a 3D glass and touch sheet can be provided. The intermediate space (cavity) 44 up to the pixel matrix 29 can be filled with optical fibers 33 to optically couple the luminous pixels 29 from the flat pixel matrix 29 to the surface of the operating knob so as to form the luminous outputs 32.

(38) FIG. 11 shows an operating knob 18, which can be embodied as a flat ring 38 for example on a touchscreen. FIG. 12 in this respect shows that the knob height 22, in relation to the ring width, can be such that the angle W can lie in the range from 0 to 70 and the knob height 22 in the range from 2 mm to 5 mm.

(39) FIG. 13 illustrates how, instead of a pixel matrix, luminous segments S can be provided on the side wall 23. FIG. 14 in this respect illustrates how the luminous segments S can be provided on keys 35 of a key bar 34. By switching individual luminous segments S on and off, it is possible for example to illustrate a switch state of the device, as is illustrated in one of the keys 35 of FIG. 14 by way of two switched-on luminous segments S and one switched-off luminous segment S.

(40) Overall, the examples show how a touch display with integrated 3D operating shapes can be provided.

(41) A description has been provided with reference to various examples, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the claims which may include the phrase at least one of A, B and C as an alternative expression that means one or more of A, B and C may be used, contrary to the holding in Superguide v. DIRECTV, 358 F3d 870, 69 USPQ2d 1865 (Fed. Cir. 2004).