IP Library Granted Patent US 11,604,532
Granted Patent B2
US 11,604,532 · App. 17/053,252 · Granted Mar 14, 2023

Operating device for a vehicle

Inventors: Ralph Trapp (Paderborn, DE); Michael Steinkamp (Lippstadt, DE)
Assignee: BEHR-HELLA THERMOCONTROL GMBH
G06F3/04146B60K35/00G06F3/016G06F3/0412B60K2370/1434B60K2370/158B60K2370/1533B60K2370/691B60K2370/692G06F2203/04105
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,604,532
App. No.
17/053,252
Granted
Mar 14, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

The invention relates to an operating device for a vehicle, comprising a display with a touch-sensor system for inputting a command and additionally a retaining device which retains the display. The retaining device has a base face and a free area which is defined by support elements protruding from the base face. The operating device is additionally provided with at least one actuation sensor for detecting a bend of the display upon being manually actuated and an analysis unit which is connected to the touch sensor system and the at least one actuation sensor for analyzing the signals of the touch sensor system and the at least one actuation sensor.

Claims (13)

1. An operating device for a vehicle, comprising

a display with a touch sensor system for a manual actuation of the display with a predeterminable minimum pressing force, for inputting a command,

a retaining device which retains the display,

the retaining device comprising a bottom side with at least opposite edge portions and support elements protruding from the at least opposite edge portions of the bottom side and defining a free space therebetween, and

the display is retained only by the support elements of the retaining device and bridges the free space while maintaining a distance from the bottom side of the retaining device,

at least one actuation sensor for sensing a bending of the display upon a manual actuation thereof,

the at least one actuation sensor sensing a change in distance of the display from a reference plane, the change in distance being due to the bending of the display upon a manual actuation thereof with the predeterminable minimum pressing force, and

a backlight unit, comprising a light emitting side, arranged in the retaining device and facing a rear side of the display by the light emitting side,

wherein the backlight unit is arranged on the bottom side of the retaining device, and the at least one actuation sensor senses a change in distance between the rear side of the display and the light emitting side of the backlight unit, and

wherein the at least one actuation sensor is integrated into the sealing strip, and senses the change in distance between the rear side of the display and the light emitting side of the backlight unit, based on a compression of the sealing strip upon a manual actuation of the display.

2. The operating device according to claim 1 , wherein the display comprises a display unit and a cover plate with which the display unit is fixedly connected and which protrudes laterally beyond the display unit at least in regions of the support elements, and wherein the cover plate rests on the support elements in these protrusion regions.

3. The operating device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one actuation sensor is a path or force sensor and/or operates optically, capacitively, inductively and/or resistively and/or is configured as a micro-electromechanical or micro-optoelectromechanical element.

4. The operating device according to claim 1 , characterized by an electric or electromechanics or electromagnetic feedback unit for a tactile feedback of a valid manual actuation of the display.

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 Dec 23, 2020
From: TRAPP, RALPH; STEINKAMP, MICHAEL
To: BEHR-HELLA THERMOCONTROL GMBH
Reel/Frame 054735/0502 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2018 110 871.0 · May 7, 2018 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20210237571A1 · Aug 5, 2021