COMBINED INPUT AND OUTPUT DEVICE AND METHOD FOR OPERATING AN INPUT AND OUTPUT DEVICE

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a combined input and output device including a screen for displaying at least one operating element, a touchscreen arranged above screen, for detecting a position of a contact with the operating surface of the touchscreen, and a frame. The screen is arranged under the touchscreen in frame, and, on the frame, a plurality of mini switches are arranged, on which the touchscreen rests.

Claims

1. A combined input and output device comprising a screen for displaying at least one operating element, a touchscreen arranged over the screen, for detecting a position of contact with an operating surface of the touchscreen, and a frame to support the touchscreen, a plurality of mini switches arranged on the frame, wherein screen is arranged under the touchscreen in the frame, and, on frame, a plurality of mini switches are arranged so that the touchscreen is in contact with the plurality of mini switches.

2. The input and output device according to claim 1, wherein a haptic signal can be output by actuation of mini switches.

3. The input and output device according to claim 1, wherein the touchscreen comprises a touch surface and a touch sensor.

4. The input and output device according to claim 3, wherein touch surface of the touchscreen rests on mini switches.

5. The input and output device according to claim 3, wherein a touch sensor of the touchscreen rests on mini switches.

6. The input and output device according to claim 3, wherein an insulation is arranged between touch surface or touch sensor and frame.

7. The input and output device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of mini switches are arranged on one side of frame and on the opposing side of the frame one or more connecting elements are arranged.

8. A method for operating an input and output device, comprising: providing a touchscreen arranged in a frame; detecting a contact of the touchscreen, and in response to the detecting of the contact, generating a first signal including the position of the contact; detecting pressure on the touchscreen of input and output device, and in response to the detecting of pressure, generating a second signal, wherein the touchscreen is supported by mini switches to detect at least the pressure and the position.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the first and the second signals are processed by a processor.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein a haptic feedback is generated upon generating pressure on the touchscreen.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0025] Further details, features and advantages of implementations of the invention result from the following description of exemplary embodiments by reference to the associated figures.

[0026] FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of a first embodiment of an input and output device according to the disclosure,

[0027] FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of a second embodiment of an input and output device according to the disclosure,

[0028] FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of a third embodiment of an input and output device according to the disclosure,

[0029] FIGS. 4(a)-(c) show a cross section through the embodiments of the input and output devices shown in FIGS. 1 to 3,

[0030] FIG. 5 shows a partial cross-sectional view of an input and output device,

[0031] FIG. 6 shows an exploded view of a fourth embodiment of an input and output device according to the disclosure, and

[0032] FIG. 7 shows a schematic representation of a method for actuating an input and output device according to the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] In FIGS. 1 to 3, different embodiments of an input and output device 1 are illustrated.

[0034] FIG. 1 shows an input and output device 1 which comprises a screen 2 for displaying operating elements or information such as, for example, parameters of devices connected to the input and output device. Moreover, via a touchscreen, for example, a capacitive touchscreen, applications or operating elements displayed on screen 2 can be selected. This occurs by contact with a (glass/transparent) touch plate 3.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 1, screen 2 is arranged in a fixed frame 4, which at the same time can also be a housing or a portion of a dashboard of a vehicle. With respect to screen 2 frame 4 forms a level area on which a plurality of mini switches 5 are arranged, wherein, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the mini switches 5 are distributed on frame 4.

[0036] In FIG. 1, eleven mini switches are displayed; it is understood that the input and output device 1 according to the invention can also have more or fewer mini switches 5.

[0037] Mini switches 5 are arranged on frame 4 so that the edges of touch plate 3 rest on mini switches 5, so that, when pressure is exerted on touch plate 3, mini switches 5 are pressed/actuated. Which mini switches 5 are actuated depends on where the touch plate 3 is pressed, so that, by means of the mini switches 5 actuated in this manner, the position of the pressure point on touch plate 3 can also be determined. This occurs by means of a processor (not shown in the figures) connected to the input and output device 1.

[0038] A (laminated) touch sensor 6 is arranged between screen 2 and touch plate 3, under touch plate 3. The touch sensor 6 is dimensioned smaller than the touch plate 3, so that mini switches 5 are arranged laterally around touch sensor 6.

[0039] The second embodiment of the input and output device 1 shown in FIG. 2 differs from the one shown in FIG. 1 in that touch plate 3 has the same dimensioning of the area as touch sensor 6, so that touch sensor 6 of the touchscreen, and not the touch plate 3, rests on the mini switches 5.

[0040] The third embodiment of input and output device 1 shown in FIG. 3 corresponds to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, except for the arrangement of touch sensor 6 and of screen 2, which, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, is arranged immediately under touch plate 3, wherein touch sensor 6 and screen 2 are dimensioned smaller than touch plate 3, so that mini switches 5 extend laterally past the outer edges of touch sensor 6 and of screen 2, so that touch plate 3 rests on mini switches 5 which are arranged on the frame 4.

[0041] In FIGS. 4(a)-(c), cross sections of the three embodiments of input and output device 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 are illustrated.

[0042] FIG. 4a shows the first embodiment of input and output device 1 shown in FIG. 1, in which screen 2 is arranged in frame 4 and mini switches 5 are arranged about screen 2. Frame 4 has a first edge 7 which is in one plane with the surface of the screen. Insulation 8 is arranged on this first edge 7, which protects the device from being soiled, in that it seals the area between first edge 7 of frame 4 and touch plate 3. Insulation 8 is designed to be flexible, so that it does not influence the movement of touch plate 3, when pressure is applied to touch plate 3. In addition, there is a gap 9 between touch sensor 6 arranged under the touch plate 3, and the surface of screen 2, which enables the touchscreen to be moved in the direction of screen 2 when pressure is applied to touch plate 3.

[0043] Moreover, frame 4 or the housing has a second edge 10 which lies in the same plane as touch plate 3.

[0044] In the second embodiment of input and output device 1, which is illustrated in FIG. 4b, insulation 8 is dimensioned smaller, since touch sensor 6 rests on mini switches 5, and thus the distance between first edge 7 of frame 4 and the bottom side of touch sensor 6 is also smaller.

[0045] In the third embodiment of input and output device 1, which is illustrated in FIG. 4c, screen 2 is arranged under touch sensor 6, so that gap 9 is formed under screen 2.

[0046] In FIG. 5, a portion of a cross section of an embodiment of input and output device 1 is illustrated, in which screen 2 is arranged immediately under touch plate 3 (of a glass lens) and joined with adhesive 11 (LOCA: liquid optical clear adhesive). Mini switches 5 are arranged on frame 4, wherein a printed wire board (PWB) 12 with mini switches 5 on it is positioned between mini switch 5 and frame 4.

[0047] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, frame 4 has a composite frame 13 (or a guide for screen 2), which is movably connected to the rest of frame 4 (in the direction of the arrow), so that composite frame 13, which is connected to screen 2, for example, with adhesive 14, is movably arranged in frame 4.

[0048] By pressure on the touchscreen, screen 2 is lowered with composite frame 13, so that mini switches 5, which are connected via printed wire board 12 to the processor, are actuated.

[0049] An insulation 8 or a spacer, for example, an acrylic adhesive (PSA) is arranged between composite frame 13 and touch plate 3.

[0050] In FIG. 6, another embodiment of input and output device 1 is illustrated, in which mini switches 5 are arranged on only one side of frame 4, and wherein a connecting element 15 is arranged on the opposing side so that the touchscreen or, as in the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the touch plate 3, is held firmly on one side by connecting element 15, while, on the other side, it can be tilted by pressure on the touchscreen and thus on mini switches 5.

[0051] In FIG. 7, the operation of input and output device 1 is illustrated schematically.

[0052] By contacting 16 the touchscreen, the position of the fingers on surface 17 and thus the selection of a software icon 18 (or of an application or a control panel) is determined. By a physical click 19 (by clicking on the icon), the software is executed 20 (the application is executed or the operating element is activated, respectively).