Operating Device Having Active and Passive Haptics and Steering Device Having Such an Operating Device

Abstract

An operating device includes a touchpad having an operating surface for detecting touch inputs, which operating surface has multiple regions which are delimited from each other at least in part by one or more structural elements, each structural element being designed to have a first haptic effect on a finger when the finger swipes over the structural element; and a haptic actuator which is designed to have a second haptic effect which enhances the first haptic effect on the finger when the finger touches or swipes over a structural element. The operating device has a first operating mode in which the actuator is activated to produce the second haptic effect on the finger when the finger touches or swipes over a structural element, and a second operating mode in which the actuator is deactivated when the finger touches or swipes over a structural element.

Claims

1.-15. (canceled)

16. An operating device comprising: a touchpad having an operating surface for detecting touch inputs made by a user using at least one finger, wherein the operating surface comprises a plurality of regions which are each delimited from one another at least piecewise by one or more structural elements, and each structural element of the one or more structural elements is configured to have a first haptic effect on a finger of the at least one finger when the finger passes over the structural element; and a haptic actuator configured to have a second haptic effect on the finger, the second haptic effect intensifying the first haptic effect when the finger touches or passes over the structural element, wherein the operating device has a first operating mode in which the haptic actuator is activated to produce the second haptic effect on the finger when the finger touches or swipes over the structural element, and wherein the operating device has a second operating mode in which the haptic actuator is deactivated when the finger touches or passes over the structural element.

17. The operating device according to claim 16, wherein the haptic actuator is configured to achieve the second haptic effect based on at least one of: changing an electrostatic adhesion between the operating surface and the finger, or changing an amplitude of ultrasound waves generated in the operating surface.

18. The operating device according to claim 16, wherein the structural element is configured as one of an elevation, a ridge, a groove, or a flank.

19. The operating device according to claim 16, wherein: the operating surface comprises a first operating surface section and a second operating surface section, the first operating surface section contains one region or a subset of regions of the plurality of regions which are arranged successively along an edge section of the operating surface, and the second operating surface section contains one region of the plurality of regions which is delimited from the one region or the subset of regions of the first operating surface section by one continuous structural element or by a plurality of individual structural elements.

20. The operating device according to claim 16, wherein the haptic actuator is configured, in the first operating mode, to have the second haptic effect on the finger which, in combination with the first haptic effect, produces a resulting haptic effect in the finger which unambiguously allows a fact of the finger touching or passing over the structural element to be deduced.

21. The operating device according to claim 16, wherein each structural element of the one or more structural elements is configured not to obstruct a touch input by touching or passing over the plurality of regions.

22. The operating device according to claim 16, wherein each region of the plurality of regions is individually illuminable.

23. A steering device for a vehicle, the steering device comprising: a first steering unit having a first handle for at least one-handed actuation of the steering device by a user steering the vehicle; and the operating device according to claim 16, wherein the first handle and the operating surface are arranged relative to one another such that their relative position with respect to one another does not change when the steering device is actuated.

24. The steering device according to claim 23, further comprising: a transverse element which is mountable in the vehicle rotatably about a steering axis of the vehicle; and a second steering unit having a second handle for at least one-handed actuation of the steering device by the user steering the vehicle; wherein: the first steering unit is arranged at a first end of the transverse element and the second steering unit is arranged at a second end of the transverse element; the first steering unit and the second steering unit are arranged mirror-symmetrically in relation to a plane of symmetry of the steering device, the plane of symmetry containing the steering axis; each of the first steering unit and the second steering unit is arranged in a manner mounted on the transverse element rotatably about a respective rotation axis.

25. A vehicle comprising: the steering device according to claim 23, wherein the steering device is connected to a steering column of the vehicle or to a corresponding element of a steer-by-wire steering system; and a multifunction unit for performing one or more functions, wherein the multifunction unit is communicatively coupled to the operating device; wherein one function of the one or more functions is operable by the operating device, by way of a touch input made using the at least one finger; and the operating device is able to be put either into the first operating mode or into the second operating mode depending on the one function to be operated.

26. The vehicle according to claim 25, wherein: when the operating device is in the first operating mode, exactly one region of the plurality of regions is assigned to a first function, and the first function is operable only by touching or passing over the exactly one region; and when the operating device is in the second operating mode, a subset of the plurality of regions are assigned to a second function, and the second function is operable by touching or passing over at least one of the subset of the plurality of regions.

27. The vehicle according to claim 26, wherein at least two of the subset of the plurality of regions assigned to the second function are adjacent.

28. The vehicle according to claim 26, wherein a region of a second operating surface section and at least one region of a first operating surface section are assigned to the second function; and the multifunction unit is configured to put the operating device into the second operating mode before performing the second function.

29. The vehicle according to claim 28, wherein the first function comprises one of the following: inputting of characters, a scroll gesture using the at least one finger, a swipe gesture using the at least one finger, or a zoom gesture using two fingers.

30. The vehicle according to claim 26, wherein individual or all regions of the multiplicity of regions are individually illuminable, and an illumination of each illuminable region depends on an function assigned to the illuminable region.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0078] FIG. 1a schematically shows an operating device in accordance with a first embodiment.

[0079] FIG. 1b schematically shows a sectional view at the location A-A of FIG. 1a.

[0080] FIG. 2a schematically shows an operating device in accordance with a second embodiment.

[0081] FIG. 2b schematically shows a sectional view at the location B-B of FIG. 2a.

[0082] FIG. 3a schematically shows an operating device in accordance with a third embodiment.

[0083] FIG. 3b schematically shows a sectional view at the location C-C of FIG. 3a.

[0084] FIG. 4 schematically shows a steering device according to embodiments of the invention.

[0085] FIG. 5a schematically shows a steering device according to embodiments of the invention mounted in a vehicle according to embodiments of the invention, and a multifunction unit of the vehicle, the multifunction unit being communicatively connected to the operating device.

[0086] FIG. 5b schematically shows the inputting of characters into the multifunction unit via an operating device according to embodiments of the invention, in the second operating mode.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0087] The same reference signs are used throughout the figures for the same or mutually corresponding elements of the invention.

[0088] FIG. 1a schematically shows a plan view of an operating device in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention and FIG. 1b schematically shows an excerpt from the sectional view at the location A-A in FIG. 1a. The operating device in accordance with the first embodiment 100 comprises: a touchpad 101 and a haptic actuator, which is not illustrated in the figures. The touchpad 101 has an operating surface, on which a user can make touch inputs using at least one finger, and is configured to detect the touch inputs made using the finger. An operating surface comprises a plurality of disjoint regions, 102, 103.sub.1 . . . 103.sub.3, which are each delimited from one another at least piecewise by one or more structural elements, 104.sub.1 . . . 104.sub.3. Each structural element is configured to have a first haptic effect on a finger when the finger passes over the structural element. The haptic effect that a structural element has on the finger may be so weak that, solely on the basis of this haptic effect, the user is not certain whether his/her finger is touching or passing over a structural element, and the user thus cannot infer the presence of a structural element either.

[0089] Advantageously, the structural elements 104.sub.1, 104.sub.2 and 104.sub.3 are embodied as ridges and configured in such a way that they do not (significantly) obstruct a touch input using the finger, by way of touching or passing over a plurality of regions. The height of the ridges can be in a range of 0.2 mm to 0.3 mm, and their width can be in a range of 0.2 mm to 0.5 mm. The height and width may depend on the edge radii of the edges being touched by the finger. The ridges 104.sub.1 to 104.sub.3 are fixedly impressed into the operating surface or are printed onto the latter.

[0090] The haptic actuator, not shown in the figures, is configured to have a second haptic effect on the finger, the second haptic effect intensifying the first haptic effect, when the finger touches or passes over one of the structural elements, 104.sub.1 . . . 104.sub.3. The second haptic effect can be achieved on the basis of at least one of the following methods: i) changing the electrostatic adhesion between operating surface and finger; ii) changing the amplitude of ultrasound waves generated on the surface of the operating surface.

[0091] In accordance with method i), an electrostatic field is generated between the finger and the operating surface, and is increased in the course of touching or passing over predefined locations of the operating surface, and the friction (electrostatic adhesion) between finger and operating surface is thus increased at these locations. The increased friction between finger and operating surface is perceived haptically by the user when passing over the operating surface using the finger. A haptic actuator that works according to method i) accordingly intensifies the haptic effect that a ridge has on the finger by virtue of the haptic actuator increasing the electrostatic adhesion between finger and operating surface when the finger passes over the ridge.

[0092] In accordance with method ii), ultrasound waves are generated on the surface of the operating surface, and the amplitude of the waves is altered in the course of touching or passing over predefined locations of the operating surface, which influences the friction between finger and operating surface. By way of example, an increase in the amplitude may decrease the friction between finger and operating surface. The implementing or integrating of a haptic actuator into a touchpad is known to the person skilled in the art, and so will not be discussed any further.

[0093] The operating device 100 has a first operating mode and a second operating mode. In the first operating mode, the haptic actuator is activated and produces the second haptic effect when the finger touches and/or passes over a structural element. The user perceives a resulting haptic effect that is a combination of the first haptic effect and the second haptic effect. The resulting haptic effect allows the user to unambiguously deduce the fact of the finger touching or passing over a structural element. In the second operating mode, the haptic actuator is deactivated, and the user can only perceive the first haptic effect caused by the ridge.

[0094] The regions present on the operating surface are each assigned to a function in the first operating mode, and the function assigned to a region can only be operated by touching and/or passing over the respective region. The functions to be operated via the operating device 100 may be functions of a multifunction unit incorporated in a vehicle. Examples of functions are: reducing volume, station search, increasing volume, and detecting characters. In FIG. 1a, the first three functions were assigned to the regions 103.sub.1, 103.sub.2, 103.sub.3 and detecting characters was assigned to the region 102. Regions whose assigned functions are operable by simple touching (tapping), such as the regions 103.sub.1, 103.sub.2 and 103.sub.3, for example, can be combined to form a first operating surface section. Regions whose assigned functions are substantially operable by passing over the region, such as the region 102, for example, can be combined to form a second operating surface section. The second operating surface section of the operating device 100 contains only one region, the region 102.

[0095] Advantageously, the regions of the first operating surface section are arranged successively in a predefined order along the edge section 106 of the operating surface, and the region 102 (of the second operating surface section) is arranged above the regions, 103.sub.1 . . . 103.sub.3, in a manner separated from the latter by the ridge 104.sub.3. Moreover, the surface of the edge section 106 bounding the regions of the first operating surface section can be configured such that it has a different haptic effect on a finger than the surface of the remaining edge of the operating surface. This arrangement of the regions affords a user of the operating device 100 the possibility of finding a specific region (key) of the operating surface haptically. By way of example, the user can feel the region 103.sub.2 by proceeding from the edge section 106 and passing over the region 103.sub.1 and the ridge 104.sub.1.

[0096] The present invention is not restricted solely to the arrangement of the regions as shown in FIG. 1, but rather also encompasses arrangements in which: i) the regions of the first operating surface section are arranged above the region of the second operating surface section; ii) the region of the second operating surface section is surrounded by the regions of the first operating surface section; iii) the regions of the first operating surface section surround the region of the second operating surface section in a U- or L-shaped manner.

[0097] The region 102 may be too small for inputting Chinese characters or gestures. This may be the case in particular if the operating surface overall has a size of less than 15 cm.sup.2 and comprises a plurality of regions of the first operating surface section. In order to facilitate or actually enable the input of these characters or gestures, the operating device 100 can be put into the second operating mode, and a character or a gesture can be input over the entire operating surface (or only selected regions thereof). By way of example, the user can begin with the touch input in the region 102 and, proceeding from the latter, pass over a plurality of regions and ridges. Since, in the second operating mode, the haptic actuator is deactivated and the haptic effect of the ridges on the finger is only weak, such inputs can take place in an unobstructed manner.

[0098] Each region of the plurality of regions, 102, 103.sub.1, . . . 103.sub.3, can be individually illuminable.

[0099] FIG. 2a schematically shows a plan view of an operating device in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention and FIG. 2b schematically shows an excerpt from the sectional view at the location B-B in FIG. 2a. The operating device in accordance with the second embodiment, 200, differs from the operating device 100 in that the regions of the plurality of regions, 102, 103.sub.1 . . . 103.sub.3, are each delimited from one another at least piecewise by one or more grooves, 205.sub.1 . . . 205.sub.5. Each of these grooves is configured to have a first haptic effect on a finger when the finger passes over it, which first haptic effect may be so weak, however, that, solely on the basis of this haptic effect, the user is not certain whether his/her finger is passing over a groove. Advantageously, the grooves 205.sub.1 . . . 205.sub.5 are configured in such a way that they do not (significantly) obstruct a touch input using the finger, by touching or passing over a plurality of regions. The depth of the groove can be in a range of 0.2 mm to 0.3 mm, and its width can be in a range of 0.2 mm to 0.5 mm. The grooves are fixedly impressed into the operating surface.

[0100] In the first operating mode, the first haptic effect that a groove has on the finger is intensified by the second haptic effect produced by the haptic actuator. The user perceives a resulting haptic effect that unambiguously allows the fact of touching or passing over a groove to be deduced. The actuator can intensify the haptic effect that a groove has on the finger by generating ultrasound waves on the surface of the operating surface and, when the finger touches or passes over the groove, increasing the amplitude of the wave and thus decreasing the friction between finger and operating surface.

[0101] FIG. 3a schematically shows a plan view of an operating device in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention and FIG. 3b schematically shows an excerpt from the sectional view at the location C-C in FIG. 3a. The operating device in accordance with the third embodiment, 300, differs from the operating device 100 in that it only comprises two regions of the first operating surface section, and these regions are each delimited from the region 302 by two flanks. The region 303.sub.1 is delimited from the region 302 by the flanks 307.sub.1 and 307.sub.3, and the region 303.sub.2 is delimited by the flanks 307.sub.2 and 3074. The surfaces of the regions 303.sub.1 and 302 delimited by the flank 307.sub.1 are (at least in very close proximity to the flank) at different heights. This unevenness causes the flank 307.sub.1 to have a first haptic effect on a finger when the finger passes over it. A similar situation applies to the flank 307.sub.2 and the surfaces of the regions 303.sub.2 and 302.

[0102] Advantageously, the flanks 307.sub.1 and 307.sub.2 are configured such that they do not obstruct a touch input using the finger, by touching or passing over a plurality of regions. The height of the flank can be in a range of 0.2 mm to 0.3 mm, and its gradient can be in a range of 0.2 mm to 0.5 mm. The flanks are fixedly impressed into the operating surface.

[0103] FIG. 4 schematically shows a steering device 400 according to embodiments of the invention. The steering device 400 can be provided for a vehicle having a multifunction unit (MFU), and comprises: a steering transverse body 401, a first steering unit 404.sub.1 and a second steering unit 404.sub.2. The steering transverse body 401, referred to hereinafter as transverse element 401, is configured for mounting on the steering column of a vehicle. By way of the transverse element 401 mounted on the steering column, the steering column can be rotated and steering of the vehicle can thus be performed.

[0104] The first steering unit 404.sub.1 is arranged in a manner mounted at one end of the transverse element 401 rotatably about a first rotation axis 407.sub.1 and comprises: a first handle 405.sub.1 for the actuation of the steering device 400 by a driver steering the vehicle, and a first operating device 411.sub.1 according to embodiments of the invention. The first handle 405.sub.1 and the first operating device 411.sub.1 are arranged relative to one another such that their relative position with respect to one another does not change upon actuation of the steering device. A first gripping position 406.sub.1 for the left hand of the driver is also provided on the first handle 405.sub.1. The first gripping position 406.sub.1 and the first operating device 411.sub.1 are arranged relative to one another such that the first operating device is operable by the hand gripping the first gripping position, in particular using a finger of this hand, without the hand having to leave the first gripping position for this purpose. Advantageously, as a result, the user (driver) of a vehicle provided with the steering device 400, during the steering of the vehicle, can haptically find the regions provided on the operating surface using a finger, and make operating inputs, without being significantly distracted from steering.

[0105] The second steering unit 404.sub.2 is arranged in a manner mounted at the other end of the transverse element 401 rotatably about a second rotation axis 407.sub.2 and comprises: a second handle 405.sub.2 for the actuation of the steering device 400 by the driver steering the vehicle, and a second operating device 411.sub.2 according to embodiments of the invention. The second handle 405.sub.2 and the second operating device 411.sub.2 are arranged relative to one another such that their relative position with respect to one another does not change during actuation of the steering device. A second gripping position 406.sub.2 for the right hand of the driver is also provided on the second handle 405.sub.2. The second gripping position 406.sub.2 and the second operating device 411.sub.2 are arranged relative to one another such that the second operating device is operable by the hand gripping the second gripping position, and particularly using a finger of this hand, without the hand having to leave the second gripping position for this purpose. Advantageously, as a result, a driver of a vehicle provided with the steering device 400 can use both hands for steering, and make operating inputs during the steering of the vehicle using both hands, without being significantly distracted from steering.

[0106] The steering device 400 is illustrated schematically in its zero position in FIG. 4. In the zero position of a steering device mounted on a steering column, the vehicle wheels to be steered are directed straight ahead, the first steering unit 404.sub.1 and the second steering unit 404.sub.2 are arranged mirror-symmetrically in relation to a plane of symmetry 402 containing the steering axis 303, and the first rotation axis 407.sub.1 and the second rotation axis 407.sub.2 are parallel to one another. A steering device 400 mounted on a steering column results in steering toward the left if the first handle 405.sub.1 and/or the second handle 405.sub.2 are/is actuated/moved in the direction of the arrow 408, and in steering toward the right if the first handle 405.sub.1 and/or the second handle 405.sub.2 are/is actuated/moved counter to the direction of the arrow 408. The actuation of one of the two handles 405.sub.1 and 405.sub.2 causes not only the rotation of the transverse element 401 and of the steering column connected thereto, but also a realignment of the handles 405.sub.1 and 405.sub.2, relative to the transverse element 401. This realignment of the handles and also the mechanical coupling between the handles which enables the realignment of the handles are not illustrated in the figures.

[0107] The first operating device 411.sub.2 and/or the second operating device 411.sub.2 are preferably arranged on a surface of the respective steering unit that faces the driver. As a result, each of the operating devices can be detected by the driver not only haptically but also visually.

[0108] A further steering device according to embodiments of the invention which is not illustrated in the figures, differs from the steering device 400 in that it comprises an operating device according to embodiments of the invention only on one of the two steering units.

[0109] A vehicle according to embodiments of the invention comprises a steering device according to the invention and a multifunction unit (MFU). FIG. 5a schematically shows a steering device 400 according to embodiments of the invention mounted in the vehicle 500, and a multifunction unit 501 of the vehicle, which multifunction unit is communicatively connected 506 to the operating device 411.sub.1 (of the steering device). In this case, FIG. 5a only illustrates that part of the steering device 400 which lies within the dashed line.

[0110] In the vehicle 500, the steering device 400 is connected to the steering column 509 of the vehicle or to a corresponding element of a steer-by-wire steering system. The MFU 501 can be integrated in the center console of the vehicle and have a display device 505. Touch inputs made by a user can be displayed on the display device. The MFU 501 has a plurality of functions, 502 . . . 504, which upon corresponding operation are activated by the MFU and performed by the latter. By way of example, the function 502 increases the volume of an audio signal, the function 503 detects a telephone number input by the user and displays it via the display device 505, and the function 503 detects a Chinese character and displays it.

[0111] Via the communicative coupling 506, which can be embodied as wired or wireless, the operating device 411.sub.1 and the MFU 501 can exchange operating and control signals with one another. The operating device 411.sub.1 and/or the MFU 501 are/is configured, on the basis of the exchanged operating and control signals: i) to operate functions of the MFU by way of touch inputs made on the operating device; and ii) to put the operating device into the first operating mode or into the second operating mode depending on a function to be operated.

[0112] Advantageously, the MFU 501 and/or the operating device 411.sub.1 are configured: in the first operating mode, to assign exactly one region to a function and to operate the latter only by touching or passing over this region; and in the second operating mode, to assign a plurality of regions to a function and to operate this function by touching or passing over at least one of these regions. By way of example, the region 103.sub.1 could be assigned to the function 502 and the region 102 could be assigned to the function 503, and these functions could be operated in the first operating mode. All regions of the operating surface could be assigned to the function 504 and the operation thereof could take place in the second operating mode. The inputting of the digit of a telephone number (function 503) would accordingly take place in the second operating mode, by passing over the region 102. FIG. 5a indicates the input of the digit ‘4’. By contrast, the input of Chinese characters or gestures (function 504) would take place in the first operating mode, by touching or passing over one or more regions of the operating surface. FIG. 5B indicates the input of a Chinese character.

[0113] While at least one exemplary embodiment has been described above, it should be noted that a large number of variations thereon exist. It should also be noted that the exemplary embodiments described constitute merely non-limiting examples, and there is no intention thus to restrict the scope, the applicability or the configuration of the devices and methods described here. Rather, the above description gives the person skilled in the art instructions for implementing at least one exemplary embodiment, it being apparent that various modifications in the functioning and the arrangement of the elements described in an exemplary embodiment can be undertaken, without in so doing departing from the subject matter defined in each case in the appended claims and the legal equivalents thereof.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0114] 100 Operating device [0115] 101 Touchpad having operating surface [0116] 102 Region of the second operating surface section [0117] 103.sub.1 . . . 103.sub.3 Regions of the first operating surface section [0118] 104.sub.1 . . . 104.sub.3 Structural elements/ridges [0119] 106 Edge section of the operating surface [0120] 200 Operating device [0121] 201 Touchpad having operating surface [0122] 205.sub.1 . . . 205s Structural elements/grooves [0123] 300 Operating device [0124] 301 Touchpad having operating surface [0125] 302 Region of the second operating surface section [0126] 303.sub.1, 303.sub.2 Regions of the first operating surface section [0127] 307.sub.1 . . . 3074 Structural elements/flanks [0128] 400 Steering device [0129] 401 Transverse element or steering transverse body [0130] 402 Plane of symmetry containing the steering axis [0131] 403 Steering axis [0132] 404.sub.1, 404.sub.2 Steering units [0133] 405.sub.1, 405.sub.2 Left and right handle, respectively [0134] 406.sub.1, 406.sub.2 Gripping position for left and right hand, respectively [0135] 407.sub.1, 407.sub.2 Rotation axes [0136] 411.sub.1, 411.sub.2 Operating devices [0137] 500 Operating and steering device in a vehicle [0138] 501 Multifunction unit [0139] 502 . . . 504 Functions of the multifunction unit [0140] 505 Display device [0141] 506 Communicative coupling [0142] 509 Steering column of a vehicle