IP Library Granted Patent US 11,320,908
Granted Patent B2
US 11,320,908 · App. 16/966,556 · Granted May 3, 2022

Operating unit for a vehicle

Inventors: Pasi Kemppinen (Tampere, FI); Vesa Teikari (Tampere, FI)
Assignee: BEHR-HELLA THERMOCONTROL GMBH
G06F3/016B60K35/00B60K37/06B60K2370/1438B60K2370/158
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,320,908
App. No.
16/966,556
Granted
May 3, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

The invention relates to an operating unit for a vehicle, comprising a touchscreen, an actuator for mechanically exciting the touchscreen upon detection of a valid manual actuation of the touchscreen when an operating command is input, and a counterweight. The actuator is designed as a drive unit with a stator and a translator which move in opposite directions either away from each other or towards each other, namely into an end position, starting from a rest position when the drive unit is actuated and which move back into the rest position from the end position after the actuation has ended, in particular in an automatic manner. The stator is coupled to the touchscreen, and the translator is coupled to the counterweight or vice versa.

Claims (26)

1. An operating unit for a vehicle, comprising

a touchscreen,

an actuator for mechanically exciting the touchscreen upon detection of a valid manual actuation of the touchscreen when an operating command is input, and

a counterweight,

wherein the actuator as a drive unit is configured with a stator and a translator which, upon actuation of the drive unit, move in opposite directions either away from each other or towards each other starting from a rest position, namely into an end position, and which in particular automatically move back from the end position into the rest position when the actuation has been ended,

wherein the stator is coupled to the touchscreen and the translator is coupled to the counterweight, or vice versa,

wherein the translator and the stator are connected to a first coupling element assembly and a second coupling element assembly, respectively, wherein the first coupling element assembly is coupled to the touchscreen and the second coupling element assembly is coupled to the counterweight, and

wherein the counterweight is arranged behind the touchscreen, the actuator is arranged behind the counterweight and thus the counterweight is arranged between the touchscreen and the actuator, and the counterweight has a through-going opening through which the first coupling element assembly connected to the touchscreen extends.

2. An operating unit for a vehicle, comprising

a touchscreen,

an actuator for mechanically exciting the touchscreen upon detection of a valid manual actuation of the touchscreen when an operating command is input,

a counterweight, and

a supporting element on which the touchscreen and/or the counterweight is/are supported,

wherein either the touchscreen or the counterweight or both is/are spring-elastically supported on the supporting element,

wherein the actuator as a drive unit is configured with a stator and a translator which, upon actuation of the drive unit, move in opposite directions either away from each other or towards each other starting from a rest position, namely into an end position, and which in particular automatically move back from the end position into the rest position when the actuation has been ended,

wherein the stator is coupled to the touchscreen and the translator is coupled to the counterweight, or vice versa,

wherein the touchscreen and the counterweight are coupled to a first coupling element assembly and a second coupling element assembly, respectively, and

wherein the first and second coupling element assemblies rest upon the supporting element and are in particular movably connected thereto, and the first and second coupling element assemblies each comprise at least one connecting element which is deformed when a stroke force is applied to the touchscreen for absorbing kinetic energy.

3. The operating unit according to claim 1 , wherein the drive unit is configured as an electromagnet, in particular an armature-type electromagnet, wherein either the stator or the translator comprises an excitation coil, and a portion of the electromagnet which is provided with the excitation coil is coupled to the counterweight.

4. The operating unit according to claim 1 , wherein the drive unit is configured as a plunger-coil-type drive having an excitation coil, and a portion of the plunger-coil-type drive which comprises the excitation coil is coupled to the counterweight.

5. The operating unit according to claim 1 , wherein the translator and the stator are connected to a first coupling element assembly and a second coupling element assembly, respectively, wherein the first coupling element assembly is coupled to the touchscreen and the second coupling element assembly is coupled to the counterweight.

6. The operating unit according to claim 1 , comprising a supporting element on which the touchscreen and/or the counterweight is/are supported, wherein either the touchscreen or the counterweight or both is/are spring-elastically supported on the supporting element.

7. The operating unit according to claim 2 , wherein the drive unit is configured as an electromagnet, in particular an armature-type electromagnet, wherein either the stator or the translator comprises an excitation coil, and a portion of the electromagnet which is provided with the excitation coil is coupled to the counterweight.

8. The operating unit according to claim 2 , wherein the drive unit is configured as a plunger-coil-type drive having an excitation coil, and a portion of the plunger-coil-type drive which comprises the excitation coil is coupled to the counterweight.

9. The operating unit according to claim 2 , wherein the translator and the stator are connected to a first coupling element assembly and a second coupling element assembly, respectively, wherein the first coupling element assembly is coupled to the touchscreen and the second coupling element assembly is coupled to the counterweight.

10. The operating unit according to claim 2 , comprising a supporting element on which the touchscreen and/or the counterweight is/are supported, wherein either the touchscreen or the counterweight or both is/are spring-elastically supported on the supporting element.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF ASSIGNEE ADDRESS Recorded Nov 22, 2021
From: BEHR-HELLA THERMOCONTROL GMBH
To: BEHR-HELLA THERMOCONTROL GMBH
Reel/Frame 058753/0299 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 11, 2020
From: KEMPPINEN, PASI; TEIKARI, VESA
To: BEHR-HELLA THERMOCONTROL GMBH
Reel/Frame 053455/0752 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2018 102 401.0 · Feb 2, 2018 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20200363873A1 · Nov 19, 2020