Operating unit for vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10503260-B2
Application number	US-201615759910-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 12, 2016
Priority date	Sep 15, 2015
Publication date	Dec 10, 2019
Grant date	Dec 10, 2019

Abstract

The operating unit for a vehicle is provided with a housing with a front face and an operating element which is arranged on the front face of the housing and has an operating surface. The operating element is mounted in a spring-elastic manner. Furthermore, at least one sensor is provided for detecting an actuation movement of the operating element. The operating unit additionally has at least one actuator for the feedback movement of the operating element in the case of an actuation movement of the operating element detected by the sensor as well as an analysis and control unit which is connected to the at least one sensor and to the actuator. The actuator is designed as an armature-type electromagnet with a first stator which has a first excitation coil, and an armature as a drive element. Furthermore, the armature is provided with a measuring coil to which a measuring voltage is applied when the magnetic flux generated by the first excitation coil flows through the armature. The first excitation coil and the measuring coil are connected to the analysis and control unit, and with the analysis and control unit it is possible to apply open-loop and/or closed-loop control to the force with which the armature of the actuator can move towards the first stator and/or the displacement movement of the armature out of its rest position and the return movement of the armature back into its rest position are adapted to be controlled and/or regulated.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An operating unit for a vehicle component, in particular an infotainment system for operating various vehicle components, having
a housing having a front face,
an operating element arranged on said front face of said housing, which comprises an operating surface, wherein said operating element is spring-elastically mounted,
at least one sensor for detecting an actuation movement of said operating element, at least one actuator for a feedback movement of said operating element in the case of an actuation movement of said operating element detected by said sensor, and
an analysis and control unit which is connected to said at least one sensor and said actuator, wherein
said actuator is configured as an armature-type electromagnet having a first stator comprising a first excitation coil, and an armature as a drive element,
said armature is provided with a measuring coil Which surrounds a middle portion of said armature and to which a measuring voltage is applied when a magnetic flux generated by said first excitation coil flows through said armature,
said first excitation coil and said measuring coil are connected to said analysis and control unit, wherein by means of said analysis and control unit a force is adapted to be controlled or regulated with the aid of which said armature of said actuator is adapted to be moved into a direction towards or away from said first stator, where movement into the direction includes displacement movement of said armature out of its rest position as well as return movement of said armature into its rest position, and
said actuator is arranged such that the first direction into which said actuator is adapted to be moved is tilted with respect to the operating surface of said operating element.

2. The operating unit according to claim 1 , wherein the armature-type electromagnet further comprises a second stator having a second excitation coil, wherein the first and second stators are arranged on both sides of the armature, and wherein said second excitation coil is also connected to the analysis and control unit, wherein by means of said analysis and control unit a respective force is adapted to be controlled or regulated with the aid of which said armature is adapted to be moved into a respective direction towards or away from the first stator and away from or towards the second stator, where movement into the respective direction includes the displacement movement of said armature out of its rest position as well as the return movement of said armature into its rest position.

3. An operating unit for a vehicle component, in particular an infotainment system for operating various vehicle components, having
a housing having a front face,
an operating element arranged on said front face of said housing, which comprises an operating surface, wherein said operating element is spring-elastically mounted,
at least one sensor for detecting an actuation movement of said operating element, at least one actuator for a feedback movement of said operating element in the case of an actuation movement of said operating element detected by said sensor, and
an analysis and control unit which is connected to said at least one sensor and said actuator, wherein
said actuator is configured as an armature-type electromagnet having a first stator comprising a first excitation coil, and an armature as a drive element,
said armature is provided with a measuring coil to which a measuring voltage is applied when a magnetic flux generated by said first excitation coil flows through said armature,
said first excitation coil and said measuring coil are connected to said analysis and control unit, wherein by means of said analysis and control unit a force is adapted to be controlled or regulated with the aid of which said armature of said actuator is adapted to be moved into a first direction towards or away from said first stator, where movement into the first direction includes displacement movement of said armature out of its rest position as well as return movement of said armature into its rest position, and
said actuator is arranged such that the first direction into which said actuator is adapted to be moved is tilted with respect to the operating surface of said operating element.

Assignees

• Behr Hella Thermocontrol Gmbh

Inventors

• Pankratz Harri
• Bandlow Bastian
• Stallein Matthias
• Heeper Lars

Classifications

• H01F7/1638

  Armatures not entering the winding · CPC title

• G05G1/02 Primary

  Controlling members for hand actuation by linear movement, e.g. push buttons · CPC title

• G05G5/03

  Means for enhancing the operator's awareness of arrival of the controlling member at a command or datum position; Providing feel, e.g. means for creating a counterforce (arrangements for indicating the position of the controlling member G05G1/015) · CPC title

• G06F3/016 Primary

  Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user · CPC title

• H01F2007/1684

  Armature position measurement using coils · CPC title