IP Library › Granted Patent US 12687878
Granted Patent B2
US 12687878 · App. 17/785,111 · Granted Jul 21, 2026

Haptic control device in a motor vehicle

Inventors: Uwe Gutermuth (Darmstadt, DE); Peter Lotz (Bischofsheim, DE); Marc Matysek (Hofheim, DE)
Assignee: Continental Automotive Technologies GmbH
G05G1/02B60K35/10G05G1/025G05G5/03G05G25/02G06F3/016B60K35/22B60K35/25B60K2360/128B60K2360/1438G05G2505/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12687878
App. No.
17/785,111
Granted
Jul 21, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A haptic operator control device in a motor vehicle, comprises an input unit, wherein the input unit can be moved by an actuator unit coupled to the input unit, wherein the input unit has a surface, wherein the surface can be touched by an input member of an operator, wherein the input unit and the actuator unit are movably mounted in relation to the motor vehicle.

Claims (12)

1 . A haptic operator control device in a motor vehicle, comprising:

an input unit;

a coupling part fixedly connected to the input unit;

an actuator unit having a single actuator, which is movably coupled to the coupling part connected to the input unit; and

a housing for installation in a body of the motor vehicle, wherein the input unit is connected to the housing by way of two first spring elements, each of the two first spring elements having a first end directly connected to the input unit and a second end opposite the first end and directly connected to housing, wherein the actuator unit is connected to the housing by way of a second spring element separate from the first spring elements, wherein the actuator unit is configured to move the input unit by attracting the input unit and by repelling the input unit, wherein the input unit has a surface, wherein the surface can be touched by an input member of an operator, and wherein the input unit and the actuator unit are movably mounted in relation to the motor vehicle to eliminate a rolling motion when the input unit is moved.

2 . The haptic operator control device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the actuator unit and the input unit have the same resonant frequency.

3 . The haptic operator control device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a stiffness of the first spring device with respect to a mass of the input unit is equal to a stiffness of the second spring device with respect to a mass of the actuator unit.

4 . The haptic operator control device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the input unit can be moved parallel to its surface.

5 . The haptic operator control device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the input unit can be moved perpendicular to its surface.

6 . The haptic operator control device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first spring elements are directly connected to a surface of the housing opposite to and facing a rear surface of the input unit.

7 . The haptic operator control device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the second spring element is directly connected to a surface of the housing opposite to and facing a rear surface of the input unit.

8 . The haptic operator control device as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a sensor system configured to sense the touching of the surface of the input unit, wherein the actuator unit is controlled based on the sensed touching to cancel out movement of the input unit.