WO2006082020A1

WO2006082020A1 - Haptic operating device

Info

Publication number: WO2006082020A1
Application number: PCT/EP2006/000819
Authority: WO
Inventors: Frank Bartels; Jürgen Rawert
Original assignee: Bartels Mikrotechnik Gmbh
Priority date: 2005-01-31
Filing date: 2006-01-31
Publication date: 2006-08-10
Also published as: DE102005004480A1

Abstract

The invention relates to an operating device especially comprising an operating region which is divided into a plurality of operating fields, and means for modifying the haptic properties of the operating fields. Said operating device especially also comprises an optical display panel and means for the haptic modification of the optical display panel. The operating region of an inventive operating device can be switched such that the haptic properties of the operating fields are modified according to an operating state controlled by a user input and/or a signal of an appliance communicating with the operating device. The means for modifying the haptic properties are embodied in such a way that a level modification of the surface of the operating fields of the operating device and/or a ductility modification of the operating fields of the operating device is carried out.

Description

Haptic operating device

The present invention relates to a haptic operating device and more particularly to a haptic operating device with variable haptic properties.

From the prior art, a variety of operating devices are known, such as keyboards for computers, household appliances, mobile phones, etc. The known from the prior art keyboards may comprise electromechanical keys, wherein by pressing a button a corresponding

Input signal and / or control signal for input to and / or control of a device that can also communicate with the operating device. In this case, each device usually has its own designed on it keyboard, but this has the disadvantage of a variety of different keyboards with it, and what can lead to confusion especially in wireless control devices.

In order to overcome this disadvantage, multifunctional operating elements are known from this state of the art, which can communicate with and control a large number of different types of devices. The well-known from the prior art multifunctional operating devices, such as multifunctional remote controls for example, household appliances and

Entertainment devices have a variety of differently designed controls and are therefore confusing and difficult to use.

Fig. 1 a shows a schematic representation of a multifunctional

Control element 10 with a control panel 101 and a plurality of controls 102nd Optical display panels are also known from the prior art, which also serve as operating devices, for example touch-sensitive screens of, for example, a PDA.

To meet the need for a handy size and also to facilitate transport of, for example, a PDA, the display panels are accordingly small and, due to their multi-functionality, divided into very small, high resolution, miniaturized areas that are operable only with the aid of a touch pen, and are no longer reasonably operable with a human finger. But the operation of a touch-sensitive display panel by means of a touch / stylus pen is complicated and requires a high level of skill and / or a long training of a user. In addition, the touch-sensitive display panel can often only be operated with the touch / stylus pen, so the user must take care to have the stylus in combination with the display panel.

1 b shows a schematic representation of a touch-sensitive display panel 21 with operating area 22, 23 and a control pin 24.

In summary, it is found that the operating devices known in the prior art are complicated and difficult to operate, and are limited to various devices can be used.

The object of the present invention is therefore to provide an operating device which can be operated in a simple manner, and in particular in a simple manner for communication with and / or control of various types

Equipment is suitable.

The object is achieved with the features of the independent claims. Advantageous claims are mentioned in the subclaims and / or the following description

An operating device according to the invention according to a first basic idea of the present invention comprises in particular an operating area, which in a Variety of panels is divided and also means for changing the haptic properties of the panels.

An operating device according to a second basic concept of the present invention comprises in particular an optical display panel and

Means for haptic change of the optical display panel.

In this case, in particular, the operating area of the first basic concept of the present invention can advantageously comprise an optical display panel according to the second basic idea of the present invention.

It will be clear when the following is spoken of operating area, that is meant by the operating area according to the first basic idea of the present invention and / or a corresponding operating area of an optical display panel according to the second basic idea of the present invention.

According to the invention, the operating area of an operating device according to the invention is designed so switchable that the haptic properties of the control panels are changed depending on an operating state, which is controlled by a user input and / or a signal of a device communicating with the operating device.

Here, according to the invention, the means for changing the haptic properties are designed such that a level change of the surface of the control panels of the operating device and / or a ductility change of

Control panels of the operating device is done.

It will be appreciated that the panels may include the complete operating area and at least a portion of the operating area, and also that the display panel may include the complete operating area and at least a portion of the operating area

Operating area may include.

An operating device according to the invention advantageously comprises a cavity with an upper first layer and a lower second layer, wherein in the Cavity is a working medium, which may be in particular a liquid and / or a powder and / or a gel with suitable physical properties, and wherein the operating device also means for changing the mechanical and / or elastic and / or rheological properties of the liquid and / or means for displacing the liquid within the cavity and / or for removing the liquid from the cavity and / or for supplying the liquid into the cavity.

In particular, in the advantageous combination of an operating device according to the invention with a suitable display panel, an operating device according to the invention comprises a third layer, which is arranged on the upper first layer and / or the lower second layer, wherein the third layer comprises the optical display panel.

The first and / or second and / or third layer are suitably elastically formed, wherein in the cavity an electrorheological and / or magnetorheological fluid is arranged, and wherein the first and / or second layer comprise means for changing the rheological properties of the liquid.

An operating device according to the invention can also be advantageously at least partially coupled to a device and / or integrated into the device, which is controllable by means of the operating device and / or which communicates with the operating device.

A control device according to the invention can in particular advantageously be a universal remote control, wherein an operating device according to the invention can in particular comprise at least one wireless interface for communication with and / or control of a multiplicity of devices.

The present invention will be described below, without any limitation, by means of embodiments accompanied by schematic drawings, in which: Fig. 1a is a schematic representation of a conventional multifunctional remote control;

Fig. 1b is a schematic representation of the plan view of a conventional PDA;

2 is a schematic representation of a partial section through the basic structure of an operating device according to the invention;

3a shows a plan view of an operating device according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3b shows a section through the operating device of FIG. 3a along the line B-B; FIG.

FIG. 3bc shows a section through the operating device of FIG. 3a along the line C-C of FIG. 3a; FIG.

FIG. 3d shows a section through the operating device of FIG. 3a along the line D-D of FIG. 3a; FIG.

4a is a schematic plan view of an operating device according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4b shows a section through the operating device of FIG. 4a along the line B-B of FIG. 4a; FIG.

FIG. 4c shows a section through the operating device of FIG. 4a along the line C-C of FIG. 4a; FIG.

FIG. 4d shows a section through the operating device of FIG. 4a along the line DD of FIG. 4a; FIG. Fig. 5a is a schematic plan view of an operating device according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5b shows a section through the operating device of FIG. 5a along the line B-B of FIG. 5a; FIG.

FIG. 5c shows a section through the operating device of FIG. 5a along the line C-C of FIG. 5a; FIG.

FIG. 5d shows a section through the operating device of FIG. 5a along the line D-D of FIG. 5a; FIG.

6a is an enlarged detailed section through an operating device according to the invention according to the first and / or second and / or third embodiment of the present invention; and

Fig. 6b is a modification of the embodiment of Fig. 6a.

2 shows a schematic representation of the basic structure of an operating device 30 according to the invention in section. A first upper layer 301 and a second lower layer 302 include a cavity 303 in which a liquid F is contained. At or within the upper layer 301 and / or lower layer 302 are arranged means for varying the mechanical and / or rheological property of the liquid F and / or means for transporting the liquid F and / or for removal and / or supply of the liquid

F is arranged from the cavity 303.

It is clear that according to the invention in the cavity 303 a working medium is arranged, in particular a liquid F and / or a powder and / or a gel and for example a polymer gel with suitable physical

Properties can be. If this is referred to below as liquid F, then it is meant a liquid-like behaving working medium F. Suitably and advantageously, the fluid F is an electrorheological fluid (ERF) or (ERF powder), the fluid F / of the powder being arranged in the cavity 303. The layers 301 and 302 each include a first and second electron array, wherein upon application of a voltage, the areas of the liquid F / of the powder P in the respective areas of the activated areas of the electron arrays harden. As a result, these areas become palpable, since the first and / or second layer 301, 302 are designed according to the invention such that the momentary finger can displace the uncured liquid.

Instead of an electrorheological fluid (ERF), a magnetorheological fluid (MRF) can also be used according to the invention.

Instead of the electrode array in the layers 301 and 302 above and below the cavity 303 with the liquid F here coils are arranged which generate magnetic fields and are arranged as perpendicular to the surface. The coils may be individual coils, which also act in the outer space, but also adjacent coil pairs, between which form field lines. Larger complexes of coil arrays can also be used to activate larger areas. Along the exiting from the coils

Field lines harden corresponding MRF fluids depending on the field strength. The coils can be arranged as linear coils below a lower separating layer 302 or they can be applied or arranged as spiral-shaped coils directly on or under the separating layer 302. Suitably, the MRF fluid is sandwiched between two

Coil pairs in the layer 301 and 302 are each activated simultaneously. But even a single coil, which is superimposed on the MRF liquid can show a desired if less pronounced hardening effect.

In the layer 301 and / or 302 can also be arranged, for example, heat-generating elements that cause an intended hardening effect, in which either relatively large area heated, or a negative representation is selected, in which the controls are not by means of raised, but submerged structures are shown, which are generated by the heated areas. In this case, for example, waxy materials which are solid at room temperature but liquid at somewhat higher temperatures may be used as the liquid F.

Finally, the formation of protrusions may also be accomplished by means of an array of (electro) mechanical polimer, chemical, or other actuators disposed in or at the first and second layers 301 and 302, or a combination thereof.

In combination with the above-mentioned means for hardening selected areas of the liquid F in the cavity 303, there may also be provided a means for transporting and / or feeding and / or removing the liquid F from the cavity 303, with a corresponding hardening local area of the liquid F in the cavity 303, the liquid F is largely sucked from the remaining areas of the cavity 303, whereby the hardened portion 303 protrudes from the surface of the operating element 30.

It is clear that for this purpose the upper layer 301 is elastic. The means for transporting the liquid F and the discharge / supply of the liquid F in the

Cavity 303 in a reservoir not shown in the drawing may suitably be a pump and / or a pump array of miniaturized pumps.

It is clear that the selective hardening of selected areas of the operating area 30, which has been described above, corresponds to a corresponding activation of corresponding areas of the operating element 30 for activating the touch-sensitive control function of the surface of the operating element 30. The activation of predetermined areas of a touch-sensitive surface, for example, can act capacitively, and is known from the prior art.

3a shows a top view of an operating device 30 according to the invention according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3b shows a Section through the operating device of Figure 3a along the line BB. and FIG. 3c shows a section through the operating device of FIG. 3a along the line CC of FIG. 3a.

The operating device 30 according to the invention of FIG. 3a comprises a

Operating area 31, which is divided into a plurality of panels 32,33, wherein a touch of the panels 32, 33 and / or a corresponding pressure on the panels 32,33 each generates a signal for controlling a communicating with the operating device 30 device and also a change of the control panel 31 and corresponding panels 32,33 generated. For example, the operating device 30 may be configured such that upon activation of the operating device, the control panels Menul and Menu2 harden and / or are raised or lowered in their level with respect to the remaining areas of the control panel 31, and if touched, for example, the control panel menul a signal to the corresponding device is sent and / or additional control panels 33

SubMenu1, 2 and3 harden and / or increased and / or decreased.

4a, b, c and d show a corresponding representation of an exemplary increase described above with reference to FIG. 3 panels. The corresponding control panels 32, 33 in the operating area 31 can, as shown in FIG. 4, adjoin one another directly and / or be spaced apart as shown in FIG. 3.

5a shows a top view of an operating device 30 according to the invention of a third embodiment of the present invention with a schematic representation of an operating region 31, which is divided by way of example into a first (I) and (II) range, which is exemplary for operating various devices with different functions are provided.

In the first area (I), a menu structure for controlling a first device is provided by way of example, as described above by way of example with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. In the second area (II) of the first area example different control panels 34 for communication and / control of a be provided second device. According to the invention, an operating device 30 is suitably designed such that the first (I) area and / or second area (II) are activated, with the respective control panels 32 being activated. This can be provided as above by means of a technique described with reference to FIG. 2. It is clear that the first (I) and second (II) areas can also advantageously overlap in whole or in part.

It is clear that in the embodiment of Figure 5, of course, the area (I) can be activated, and here, as in the other drawings for the sake of simplicity, a representation of the means for hardening the liquid F has been omitted.

It should also be mentioned here that in the drawings Fig. 3, 4 and 5 in the Gege4nsatz to the drawings Fig.2 and 6 in the respective sectional views, only the cavity with the liquid F has been shown.

As is shown schematically and by way of example in the sectional views of FIGS. 5b, c and d, FIG. 5 shows an operating state of an operating device 30 according to the invention in which the control panels of the area (I) namely the menus Menul and Menu2, SubMenul and SubMenu2 32 and 33 are haptically unchanged with respect to the other areas 31 of the operating area 31.

This is shown schematically in Fig. 5a in dashed lines. In addition, the control panels 34 of the operating area (II) of the entire operating area 31 are activated and hardened and / or increased and / or decreased compared to the other areas 31, which is shown schematically in the drawing in the sectional views by means of gray-shaded areas 34.

6a and 6b show schematic sectional views through a partial section of an operating device 30 according to the invention with the layers 301 and 302 described with reference to FIG. 2 and the cavity 303 arranged between the layers 301 and 302, in which a suitable liquid F is arranged, in addition to FIG a display panel 304 arranged above and / or below, the display panel 304 being suitably designed in such a way and in synchronism with the activation / deactivation of selected panels 32, 33, 34 the operating device 30 corresponds and is switched, so that the activated, ie hardened and / or raised and / or lowered control panels 32, 33 and 34 are also visually different in a known manner from the other areas of the operating area 31.

It will be understood that a display panel 304 disposed above the top layer 301 may be suitably elastic, and a display panel 304 may be, for example, an LCD display panel.

An operating device 30 according to the invention can be designed, in particular, as, for example, a universal haptic remote control with at least one wireless communication interface, wherein the user selects a desired overfunction from a standard configuration when switching on (eg TV set), and in response to this user impulse, the haptic property of the Control panels 32,33 and 34 of the operating device 30 is formed accordingly.

For example, the user may now select a more specialized device function set (e.g., TV shot), whereupon the surface of the control device 30 according to the invention again assumes its shape and / or haptic nature of predetermined control panels 32, 33, 34 having predetermined functional characteristics.

An operating device 30 according to the invention can be used advantageously and in particular in the following areas:

Multimedia, telecommunications, personal computer control, presentation equipment, time display, weather station, control of household appliances

(Stove, hotplate, entertainment equipment), control of data from the building services

(e.g., status of the heating system, air conditioning, alarm system, shutter control,

Door opener, garage door opener, site supervision).

It is, however, clear that the above invention is not limited to the aforementioned advantageous fields of application.

In particular, a haptic operating device according to the invention takes account of the fact that conventional universal operating devices merely open optically provide different panels / control panel designs, but the haptic design ^' , ie the tactile distinctness of the individual panels from each other, as given on standard button controls, has not been realized.

In addition, it is clear that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and in particular is not limited to the advantageous embodiment of the combination of optically and haptically variable operating device, but may also comprise purely haptic changeable operating devices.

Claims

Claims:

An operating device (30), comprising: an operating area (31) which is divided into a plurality of control panels (32, 33) and with means for changing the haptic properties and / or the level and / or the pressure point of the control panels ( 32.33).

An operating device (30), comprising: an optical display panel (31), and means for

Changing the haptic properties and / or the level of at least selected portions of the optical display panel (31).

The operation device (30) according to claims 1 and 2, wherein: the operation area (31) comprises the optical display panel (31).

4. Operating device (30) according to claim 3, wherein: the operating region (31) is designed such switchable that the haptic properties and / or the level and / or the pressure point of the control panels are changed depending on an operating condition, by a user input and / or a signal of a device communicating with the operating device (30) is controlled.

5. Operating device (30) according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein: the means for changing the haptic properties and / or the level and / or the pressure point are formed such that a level change of the control panels (32,33) of the surface the operating device (30) and / or a ductility change of the control panels (32,33) of the operating device (30) takes place.

6. operating device (30), according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein: the control panels (32,33) comprise at least a portion of the

Operating area (31).

The operating device (30) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein: the display panel (31) comprises at least a portion of the operation area (31).

8. Operating device (30) according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein: the operating device (30) comprises a cavity (303) with an upper first layer (301); and in the cavity (303) is a working medium (F) and in particular a

Liquid (F) arranged; and the operating device (30) comprises means for changing the mechanical and / or elastic and / or theological properties of the working medium (F) and in particular the liquid (F) and / or means for shifting the working medium (F) and in particular the liquid (F ) within the cavity (303) and / or for removing the working medium (F) and in particular the liquid (F) from the cavity (303) and / or for supplying the working medium (F) and in particular the liquid (F) into the cavity ,

9. Operating device (30) according to at least one of claims 1 to 8, wherein: the operating device comprises a third layer (304) which is arranged on the upper first layer (301) and / or the lower second layer (302), wherein the further layer comprises the optical display panel (31).

10. Operating device (30) according to any one of claims 8 or 9, wherein: the first layer (301), and / or second layer (302) and / or third layer (304) are formed elastically.

11. An operating device (30) according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein: in the cavity (303) an electrorheological and / or magnetorheological fluid (F; ERF / MRF) is arranged; and the first layer (301) and / or second layer (302) comprise means for varying the rheological properties of the working medium (F) and in particular the liquid (F).

12. Operating device (30) according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 11, wherein: the operating device (30) is at least partially coupled to a device and / or integrated into the device, which is controllable by means of the operating device.

13. Operating device (30) according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 11, wherein: the operating device (30) is a universal remote control.

The operating device (30) according to any of the preceding claims 1 to 13, wherein: the operating device (30) comprises at least one wireless interface for communicating with and / or controlling a plurality of devices.