Input device for detecting a manual actuation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10019098-B2
Application number	US-201515517632-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 27, 2015
Priority date	Dec 19, 2014
Publication date	Jul 10, 2018
Grant date	Jul 10, 2018

Abstract

A touch-sensitive sensor element is mounted movably such that it is movable in a direction of operation of a manual operation. The touch-sensitive sensor element is mechanically coupled to a force sensor element.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An input device for ascertaining a manual operation, comprising:
a touch-sensitive sensor element mounted movably in a direction of operation of the manual operation; and
a force sensor element, mechanically coupled to the touch-sensitive sensor element, having
a capacitive measuring unit measuring a variable capacitance varying with force applied to the force sensor element, and
a reference capacitive measuring unit measuring a reference capacitance substantially unaffected by the force applied to the force sensor element, the force sensor element producing a force signal by taking into consideration the variable capacitance and the reference capacitance provided by the reference capacitive measuring unit.

2. The input device according to claim 1 , wherein the force sensor element produces an electrical force signal, corresponding to a force acting on the touch-sensitive sensor element, by assigning a value from a prescribed plurality of at least three values based on an explicit assignment instruction.

3. The input device according to claim 1 , further comprising a prestress force element prestressing the touch-sensitive sensor element with a prescribed force in the direction of operation.

4. The input device according to claim 3 , wherein the prestress force element includes at least one spring exerting the prescribed force on the touch-sensitive sensor element towards the force sensor element.

5. The input device according to claim 4 , wherein the touch-sensitive sensor element includes a contact-connection projection in the direction of operation, providing mechanical coupling of the force sensor element to the touch-sensitive sensor element.

6. The input device according to claim 5 ,
wherein the touch-sensitive sensor element outputs a touch signal, and
wherein the input device further comprises a hardware processor, receiving the touch signal from the touch-sensitive sensor element and the force signal from the force sensor element, programmed to output an operating signal based on the touch signal and the force signal.

7. The input device according to claim 6 , wherein the hardware processor outputs the operating signal indicating a touch on the touch-sensitive sensor element when a difference between the capacitance and the reference signal is greater than a first predetermined value when the touch signal indicates that the touch-sensitive sensor element is being touched.

8. The input device according to claim 1 , wherein the touch-sensitive sensor element includes a contact-connection projection in the direction of operation, providing mechanical coupling of the force sensor element to the touch-sensitive sensor element.

9. The input device according to claim 1 , further comprising an actuator mechanically coupled to the touch-sensitive sensor element.

10. The input device according to claim 1 , wherein the touch-sensitive sensor element is formed integrally with the force sensor element.

11. The input device according to claim 1 , wherein at least the force sensor element is arranged in moisture-proof fashion.

12. The input device according to claim 1 , further comprising an evaluation unit ascertaining the manual operation by receiving, and evaluating in combination, a touch signal delivered by the touch-sensitive sensor element and the force signal delivered by the force sensor element, the evaluation unit performing a combined evaluation of the touch signal and the force signal as a basis for outputting an operating signal.

13. The input device according to claim 1 , wherein the reference capacitive measuring unit is configured substantially identical to the capacitive measuring unit.

14. A motor vehicle, comprising:
a chassis; and
an input device producing an operating signal in response to a manual operation, including
a touch-sensitive sensor element mounted movably in a direction of operation of the manual operation; and
a force sensor element, mechanically coupled to the touch-sensitive sensor element, having
a capacitive measuring unit measuring a variable capacitance varying with force applied to the force sensor element, and
a reference capacitive measuring unit measuring a reference capacitance substantially unaffected by the force applied to the force sensor element, the force sensor element producing a force signal by taking into consideration the variable capacitance and the reference capacitance provided by the reference capacitive measuring unit.

15. The motor vehicle according to claim 14 , wherein the input device further comprises a prestress force element prestressing the touch-sensitive sensor element with a prescribed force in the direction of operation.

16. The motor vehicle according to claim 15 , wherein the prestress force element includes at least one spring exerting the prescribed force on the touch-sensitive sensor element towards the force sensor element.

17. The motor vehicle according to claim 16 , wherein the touch-sensitive sensor element includes a contact-connection projection in the direction of operation, mechanically coupling the force sensor element and the touch-sensitive sensor element.

18. The motor vehicle according to claim 17 ,
wherein the touch-sensitive sensor element outputs a touch signal, and
wherein the input device further comprises a hardware processor, receiving the touch signal from the touch-sensitive sensor element and the force signal from the force sensor element, programmed to output an operating signal based on the touch signal and the force signal.

19. The motor vehicle according to claim 14 , wherein the touch-sensitive sensor element includes a contact-connection projection in the direction of operation, mechanically coupling the force sensor element and the touch-sensitive sensor element.

20. The motor vehicle according to claim 14 ,
wherein the touch-sensitive sensor element outputs a touch signal, and
wherein the input device further comprises a hardware processor, receiving the touch signal from the touch-sensitive sensor element and the force signal from the force sensor element, programmed to output an operating signal based on the touch signal and the force signal.

21. The motor vehicle according to claim 20 , wherein the hardware processor outputs the operating signal indicating a touch on the touch-sensitive sensor element when a difference between the capacitance and the reference signal is greater than a first predetermined value when the touch signal indicates that the touch-sensitive sensor element is being touched.

22. The motor vehicle according to claim 14 , wherein the reference capacitive measuring unit is configured substantially identical to the capacitive measuring unit.

Assignees

• Audi Ag

Inventors

• Kühner Manuel
• Wachinger Michael
• Müller Ulrich

Classifications

• H03K2217/96054

  Double function: touch detection combined with detection of a movable element · CPC title

• H03K17/975

  using a capacitive movable element · CPC title

• H01H2239/006

  Containing a capacitive switch or usable as such · CPC title

• H01H3/0213

  Combined operation of electric switch and variable impedance, e.g. resistor, capacitor (H01H9/061 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H03K17/962

  Capacitive touch switches · CPC title