Swipe gesture detection device and method for determining a swipe gesture performed on a moving surface element of a vehicle component

1. A swipe gesture detection device for determining a swipe gesture performed on a moving surface element of a vehicle component, the swipe gesture detection device comprising:

a spring, wherein the spring applies a pre-tension between the moving surface element and a housing element of the vehicle component;

a distance sensor configured for measuring in a contactless manner, the distance sensor having at least three sensor elements arranged at different positions for registering a distance (d) between the surface element and the housing element at the positions of each of the sensor elements; and

an evaluation unit configured to determine the swipe gesture performed on the surface element based on a parameter of the spring and the distances (d) registered by the sensor elements between the surface element and the housing element.

2. The swipe gesture detection device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the evaluation unit is configured to detect a path of a finger over the surface element as a swipe gesture, wherein the evaluation unit uses the distances (d) registered by the sensor elements, which are recorded at different points in time, to determine a movement trajectory of a pressure of the finger on the surface element and/or wherein the swipe gesture is recognized as such if the path and/or the movement trajectory is longer than a predefined minimum path and/or to detect the swipe gesture if the finger was pressed with a force on the surface element which is greater than a minimum force, in particular wherein this minimum force is 3 to 10 N or wherein this minimum force is formed in such a way that, under an action of the spring at the affected sensor element, the distance (d) between the surface element and the housing element is reduced by 0.1 to 0.3 mm.

3. The swipe gesture detection device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the spring is formed as a leaf spring and/or at least has multiple spring wings on different sides of the spring, and wherein the spring is connected to the housing element and/or the surface element of the vehicle component.

4. The swipe gesture detection device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the distance sensor includes a capacitively and/or inductively measuring sensor wherein such that the sensor elements are configured to measure the distance (d) between the surface element and the housing element capacitively and/or inductively at the positions of the sensor elements.

5. The swipe gesture detection device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the spring is at least partially formed and/or fastened on the housing element in such a way that it has a differing spring stiffness, in opposite movement directions, and/or wherein the spring is at least partially formed as a measurement encoder of the distance sensor.

6. The swipe gesture detection device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the spring at least partially includes a metallic material, in particular includes copper, aluminum, and/or steel.

7. The swipe gesture detection device as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising an actuator that is mechanically coupled to the surface element and is designed to configured to actively move the surface element when the swipe gesture has been detected.

8. The swipe gesture detection device as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the actuator is configured to move the surface element at a frequency of 50 to 30 Hz and/or an amplitude or deflection of at most 0.15 mm and/or a damping of a vibration of 5% of a maximum amplitude after 3 cycles and/or an acceleration to the first vibration maximum of 6G.

9. The swipe gesture detection device as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the actuator has at least one coil, which is in particular arranged centrally in relation between the surface element and the housing element.

10. The swipe gesture detection device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the surface element at least partially has a relief-shaped contour.

11. A method ( 1100 ) for determining a swipe gesture performed on a moving surface element of a vehicle component using a swipe gesture detection device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the method ( 1100 ) has the following steps:

reading ( 1010 ) one distance (d) per sensor element between the surface element and the housing element; and

determining ( 1020 ) the swipe gesture performed on the surface element using a parameter of the spring and the distances registered by the sensor elements between the surface element and the housing element.

12. An evaluation unit, which is configured to execute and/or activate the steps of the method as claimed in claim 11 .