OPERATOR CONTROL DEVICE AND METHOD FOR ACTUATING FUNCTIONAL UNITS OF A MOTOR VEHICLE

Abstract

At least one operator control element which can be moved by an operator is included in an operator control device. Furthermore, the operator control device includes an actuator with which activation of the operator control element can be communicated to the operator. The actuator includes a coil element and an armature which can move relative to the coil element. The armature is secured to the operator control element. The operator control device also includes an evaluation device with which a position of the armature relative to the coil element can be detected.

Claims

1.-10. (canceled)

11. An operator control device for actuating functional units of a motor vehicle, the operator control device comprising: at least one operator control element moveable by an operator; an actuator configured to communicate an operation of the at least one operator control element to the operator, the actuator including: a coil element, and an armature secured to the at least one operator control element and moveable relative to the coil element; and an evaluation device configured to determine a position of the armature relative to the coil element.

12. The operator control device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the armature is formed, at least in regions thereof, from at least one of a magnetic and a magnetizable material, and the evaluation device is configured to detect a current flow through the coil element.

13. The operator control device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the evaluation device is configured to set a current flow through the coil element and to detect a magnetic flux density present in a region of the coil element, and the current flow set by the evaluation device is lower than a current flow necessary to move the armature.

14. The operator control device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the current flow set by the evaluation device is pulsed.

15. The operator control device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the evaluation device is configured to determine an operating force the operator applies to move the operator control element.

16. The operator control device as claimed in claim 11, further comprising a control device configured to actuate the actuator based on a signal from the evaluation device.

17. The operator control device as claimed in claim 16, wherein the evaluation device is configured to determine an operating force the operator applies to move the operator control element, and the control device is configured to actuate the actuator when the operating force determined by the evaluation device is greater than a predetermined threshold value.

18. The operator control device as claimed in claim 11, further comprising a printed circuit board having a first side facing a second side of the operator control element to which the armature is secured, the coil element being disposed on the first side of the printed circuit board.

19. The operator control device as claimed in claim 18, wherein the coil element is formed by conductor tracks integrated into the printed circuit board.

20. The operator control device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the operator control device comprises a plurality of operator control elements with which a respective actuator is associated, and the plurality of operator control elements are disposed in at least one row.

21. The operator control device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the evaluation device is configured to determine a magnetic flux density present in a region of the coil element, and to determine a penetration depth of the armature into the coil element based on the magnetic flux density and correlation parameters stored in the evaluation device.

22. The operator control device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the evaluation device is configured to determine a current flow through the coil element, and to determine a penetration depth of the armature into the coil element based on the current flow and correlation parameters stored in the evaluation device.

23. A method for actuating functional units of a motor vehicle, the method comprising: moving, by an operator, at least one operator control element of an operator control device; moving an armature of an actuator of the operator control device secured to the at least one operator control element, by the moving of the at least one operator control element; determining, by an evaluation device of the operator control device, a position of the armature relative to a coil element of the actuator; and communicating, by movement of the armature relative to the coil element, operation of the at least one operator control element to the operator.

24. The method as claimed in claim 23, further comprising outputting a signal, from the evaluation device to a control device of the operator control device, representing the position of the armature relative to the coil element, and the communicating comprises the control device applying a current to the coil element to cause the movement of the armature relative to the coil element.

25. The method as claimed in claim 23, further comprising: providing a first current flow through the coil element that does not affect movement of the armature; in response to the moving of the at least one operator control element by the operator, detecting a change in a magnetic field generated by the coil element through which the current flows, the change in the magnetic field being used by the evaluation device to determine the position of the armature relative to the coil element; and determining whether an operating force applied by the operator to the at least one operator control element exceeds a predetermined threshold value based on the change in the magnetic field.

26. The method as claimed in claim 25, further comprising: applying a second current flow to the coil element to cause the movement of the armature relative to the coil element if the operating force exceeds the predetermined threshold value; and maintaining the first current flow through the coil element if the operating force does not exceed the predetermined threshold value.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] 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 drawing of which:

[0024] An exemplary embodiment in the single drawing is a schematic view of an operator control device for actuating functional units of a motor vehicle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0025] Reference will now be made in detail to example embodiments which are illustrated in the accompanying drawing. Within the single drawing, elements that are the same or similar are provided with the same reference numeral.

[0026] Further advantages, features and details of the operator control device can be gathered from the claims, the description of example embodiments which follows and on the basis of the single drawing.

[0027] The drawing schematically shows an operator control device for actuating functional units of a motor vehicle, in which operator control device an armature which is coupled to an operator control element is moved relative to a coil, wherein an actuator which includes the armature and the coil is used as a sensor for detecting this movement.

[0028] An operator control device 10, which is schematically shown in the drawing, serves to actuate functional units of a motor vehicle. By way of example, a hazard warning system or a windscreen heater can be switched on or switched off by using the operator control device 10. The operator control device 10 can also be used for setting a driving mode, such as a sport driving mode, a defensive driving mode or a fuel-saving driving mode for example, and to activate or to deactivate a driver assistance system and also further convenience functions and/or safety functions, such as an electronic stability program for the example.

[0029] To this end, the operator control device 10 can have a plurality of operator control parts or operator control elements 12, one of which is schematically shown in the drawing. Operator control elements 12 of this kind can be arranged, in particular, in a row in a switch panel. The at least one switch panel can be arranged in an instrument panel, in a center console, in the region of a door panel or on another interior fitting part of the motor vehicle.

[0030] According to an example embodiment, the operator control element 12 can be operated by an operator, for example using a finger 14, exerting a force onto a surface 16 of the operator control element 12 and deforming the operator control element 12 in the process. An armature 20 of an actuator 22 is connected to the operator control element 12 by using a shaft 18. Here, the shaft 18 is secured to a bottom side 24 of the operator control element 12. Therefore, if the force which is illustrated by an arrow 26 in the drawing is exerted onto the surface 16 of the operator control element 12, the armature 20 of the actuator 22, which armature is arranged on the bottom side 24 of the operator control element 12, likewise moves.

[0031] In the case of the operator control device 10 schematically shown in the drawing, the armature 20 can move linearly within the windings of a coil 28 of the actuator 22, which coil is wound around a stator 30 in an embodiment. In alternative embodiments, other refinements of a coil element, which is designed as the coil 28 in the example embodiment, can also be provided.

[0032] In the example embodiment, an evaluation device or evaluation electronics system 36 is arranged on a printed circuit board 32 which has a top side 34 which faces the operator control element 12. This evaluation electronics system 36 makes it possible to determine the position of the armature 20 relative to the coil 28. To this end, the armature 20 can be magnetic in regions, or at least one part of the armature 20 can be formed from a magnetizable material. If the magnetic or magnetized armature 20 is then moved relative to the coil 28, this can be detected by the evaluation electronics system 36 on the basis of a current flow through the coil 28.

[0033] Therefore, inductive evaluation of the movement of the operator control element 12 is made possible by using the electromagnetic actuator 22, wherein the movement is effected by the operating force which is applied by the finger 14.

[0034] In addition or as an alternative, the evaluation electronics system 36 can ensure that a very low current flows through the coil 28. This very low current does not effect movement of the armature 20. However, the low current allows a movement of the armature 20 relative to the coil 28 through which current flows to be detected, this movement originating from the operating force which is applied by the finger 14. The magnetic field which is generated by the coil 28 through which current flows changes when the armature 20 is moved relative to the coil 28 through which current flows. This can be detected by the evaluation electronics system 36.

[0035] Parameters, for example in the form of a characteristic curve, can be stored in the evaluation electronics system 36, the parameters correlating with the respective penetration depth of the armature 20 into the coil 28. To this end, the current flow through the coil 28, which current flow is present at the respective penetration depth, can be established. In addition or as an alternative, the evaluation electronics system 36 can detect the magnetic flux density which is present in the region of the coil 28 at the respective penetration depth.

[0036] Therefore, conclusions can be drawn about the operating force which is applied by the finger 14 on the basis of the parameters which are stored, for example, in the form of the characteristic curve. If the operating force exceeds a predetermined threshold value, a switching pulse is triggered. Accordingly, an item of switching information is output to a control device 38. The control device actuates the actuator 22 by applying an electric current to the coil 28. This leads to the armature 20 being moved relative to the coil 28. In this way, the operator receives feedback that the operating force was sufficient in order to operate the operator control element 12. By way of example, the actuator 22 can ensure that the operator control element 12 vibrates. Therefore, haptic feedback that the operator control element 12 has been operated is communicated to the operator.

[0037] The evaluation electronics system 36 and the control device 38 can also be integrated into an electronic component which then serves both to detect the position of the armature 20 relative to the coil 28 and also to supply current to the coil 28 in order to output the, for example haptic, feedback to the operator in respect of operation of the operator control element 12 having been executed.

[0038] In an embodiment (not shown), the coil 28 of the actuator can also be designed directly on the printed circuit board 32 or printed circuit, wherein, in particular, the stator 30 can be dispensed with. Conductor tracks which form the coil 28 can also be integrated directly into the printed circuit board 32 as turns. This results in a particularly compact design of the operator control device 10.

[0039] A description has been provided with particular reference to preferred embodiments thereof and 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).