Operator Control And/Or Display Device

Abstract

A touch screen operator control and/or display device (1), for a motor vehicle has a display element (2). At least one graphics element (3) can be represented on the display element (2) by visible light radiation. A sensor (4) detects the representation of the graphics element (3). The sensor (4) detects in particular, changes in brightness on the display element (2).

Claims

1-7. (canceled)

8. A touchscreen operator control and/or display device, for a motor vehicle, comprising: a display element; at least one graphics element represented on the display element by visible light radiation; and a sensor for detecting the representation of the graphics element, the sensor detecting changes in brightness on the display element.

9. The operator control and/or display device according to claim 8, wherein the graphics element is the representation of an operating element, wherein the operating element can be acted upon by an object, in particular by a human finger so that a signal, corresponding to the action, in particular of the switching signal type for operating/or triggering a function, can be generated, and that the display element is preferably designed as a capacitive touch surface.

10. The operator control and/or display device according to claim 8, wherein the sensor detects changes in brightness by a change in the electrical resistance on the display element.

11. The operator control and/or display device according to claim 8, wherein the sensor comprises a coating of the display element, the resistance of the coating changes via the brightness.

12. The operator control and/or display device according to claim 8, wherein the sensor detects changes in brightness by a photo effect.

13. The operator control and/or display device according to claim 8, wherein the sensor comprises a coating of the display element, the coating material releases electrical charges by light.

14. The operator control and/or display device according to claim 11, wherein the coating is applied by printing on the display element.

15. The operator control and/or display device according to claim 13, wherein the coating is applied by printing on the display element.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] FIG. 1 shows a touchscreen operator control and/or display device 1 used, in particular, in a motor vehicle. The operator control and/or display device 1 has a display element 2 designed as a capacitive touch surface. At least one graphics element 3 is represented on display element 2 by light radiation visible to the user. To check the functionality of display element 2, a sensor 4 is downloaded to detect the representation of the graphics element 3. The sensor 4 detects changes in brightness on the display element 2.

[0026] The graphics element 3 is the representation of an operating element for operating functions by the user. For example, these functions can be the operation of the air conditioning system, the navigation device, the radio or the like in the motor vehicle. For operation, it can be acted upon operating element element 3 by an object 5, that can be, for example, the finger 5 of a human hand 6. To this end, a signal 7 corresponding to the action can be generated by the operator control and/or display device 1. Signal 7 of the switching signal type, in turn, is used to operate and/or trigger the respective function symbolized by graphics element 3.

[0027] For a more detailed structure of the capacitive touch surface on display element 2, turn to FIG. 2. The display element 2 includes, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD) for displaying graphics element 3. The touch surface on display element 2 includes dot-shaped surfaces 8, arranged in the form of a matrix, made of conductive material transparent to light. For example, the surfaces 8 include printed electrically conductive dots (PDOT) of indium tin oxide (ITO), silver nanowires or the like. The surfaces can be connected to one another in rows and columns in order to provide the capacitive operation for the user. Here, the position of finger 5 is determined via the capacitive ratio of the various surfaces 8 acted upon by finger 5, forming a sensor capacitor. An ohmic connection between the rows and columns of surfaces 8 is normally not desired in this case. As can also be seen from FIGS. 3 and 4, when the display element 2 is implemented by rows and columns with a one-sided structure, insulator layers 9 are arranged between row electrodes 10 and column electrodes 11. The insulator layers 9 electrically connect respective surfaces 8, in order to electrically insulate them.

[0028] In a first embodiment, sensor 4 detects changes in brightness caused by the display of graphics element 3 by a change in the electrical resistance on display element 2. Sensor 4 includes a coating of display element 2. The coating resistance of which changes as a result of the brightness. As shown in FIG. 5, for this purpose insulator layer 9 is replaced by a material 9′ that changes its electrical conductivity as a function of the brightness. This results in a light-dependent parallel resistance to the sensor capacitor for capacitive operation. This parallel resistance is able to be determined, for example, via the discharge curve.

[0029] This layer 9′ can be applied to the capacitive touch sensor of display element 2 by a further printing process. The choice of materials and thickness of the coating 9′ should expediently be made so that the resistance is large enough in order not to impact the normal measurement of the capacity for the operation by finger 5 as little as possible and/or to provide a good transmission for the light. In a second embodiment, which is shown in more detail in FIG. 6, a material 9″ is provided on display element 2 as sensor 4. Upon exposure, the material 9″ releases electrical charges in the manner of the external photoelectric effect. Consequently, this generates an electrical voltage that changes the charge of the touch sensor capacitor. Thus, sensor 4, including a corresponding coating 9″ of display element 2, detects changes in brightness of display element 2 by the photoelectric effect through the release of electrons upon incidence of light. This light-sensitive layer 9″ can be applied between individual surfaces 8 and/or on these surfaces 8 in order to cover a larger area or, in the case of the first embodiment, to use a lower-resistance material 9′. This additional layer 9′, 9″ is designed as a transparent photo resistor or photo semiconductor and can be applied as a coating on display element 2 by printing.

[0030] The disclosure is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described and illustrated. Rather, it also includes all technical further developments within the scope of the disclosure defined by the claims. Thus, the disclosure can be used not only for operator control and/or display devices in motor vehicles but for other uses. The operator control and/or display device according to the disclosure can also be used on other devices, for example for household appliances, machine tools, computer controls or the like.

[0031] The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described. The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.