EP1999533B1 - Operational control comprising tilting haptics for a motor vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

The unit has a tiltably supported lever (2) with ends (3, 4), where the end (3) extends from a housing (5). A lever arm (6) has a receiving unit (7). A power transmission unit (8) e.g. ball, provided at the end (4) extends into the receiving unit and transforms a tilting movement of the lever into a rotational movement of the arm. A magnet (10) is attached at the arm and a magnet (11) is fixed at the operating unit such that unlike poles of the magnets face each other at a distance in a central position of the lever. A push haptic is adjusted independent of a tip haptic by a spring. An independent claim is also included for a tilting direction-evaluating device for an operating unit with tiltable handles.

Description

The present invention relates to an operating element, in particular a joystick, according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

Such an operating element is from the WO 98/26341 A2 known. Show similar controls WO 93/07633 A1 . DE 43 31 655 A1 and EP 374 611 A2 ,

In motor vehicles control elements are often used, which are operated by tilting. Examples include toggle switches for power windows or electrically adjustable exterior mirrors and joysticks for controlling an on-board computer. For a more pleasant operation and the haptic feedback of the operation, a force variable over the deflection is necessary for the operation of the operating element. A typical force curve is in Fig. 22 specified. With currently available controls, this force is typically generated by one or more springs, which optionally additionally return the control to a center position when the user releases. The disadvantage of using springs, however, is that the spring force decreases over the lifetime of the control element and an optimal force curve can not be reached beyond the deflection of the control element. Also, the achievable by springs forces are limited. In addition, the quality of the generated feel is often unsatisfactory.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to further develop the control element of the type mentioned and provide a control with a tilt feel, which is simple and inexpensive, requires only a small space, allows easy adaptation of the feel to the desired force curve and his Life has a consistent feel.

This object is achieved by an operating element according to claim 1. Further advantageous embodiments can be found in the dependent claims.

An inventive control element has a tiltably mounted lever with a first and a second end of the lever, wherein the first end of the lever extends out of a housing of the operating element. Upon actuation of the control element, the user moves the protruding from the housing first lever end and thus generates a tilting movement of the lever about its bearing point. Furthermore, the operating element has a pivotally mounted lever arm with a receiving element and a force transmission element at the second end of the tiltably mounted lever, wherein the force transmission element extends into the receiving element of the lever arm and transforms a tilting movement of the lever into a pivoting movement of the lever arm. Furthermore, a permanent magnet pair is arranged in the control element, wherein a magnet of the permanent magnet pair on the lever arm and a magnet is fixedly arranged in the operating element such that in the center position of the lever each unequal poles of the magnets are spaced.

The attraction between the two magnets of the permanent magnet pair generates a force on the lever arm, which forces it into a zero position, which simultaneously causes a middle position of the lever. The deflection of the lever arm from this zero position takes place in that the user tilts the lever, whereby the arranged at the second end of the lever power transmission element moves in the receiving element of the lever arm. The force transmission element presses against an edge of the receiving element, whereby a force is exerted on the lever arm, which swings it out of the neutral position. Opposite this pivotal movement is the attraction of the permanent magnets, which transmits to the lever via the force transmission element and is perceived by the user as a haptic impression.

Regardless of the tilt direction of the lever, the lever arm is always swung out in the same direction from its zero position. This also applies if the lever is moved translationally along its longitudinal axis to produce a so-called push functionality.

The force exerted by the permanent magnet pair on the lever arm is dependent on the relative position of the two permanent magnets to one another and thus of the deflection of the lever arm. The deflection of the lever arm is dependent inter alia on the deflection of the lever and the shape of the receiving element on the lever arm and the power transmission element. If the flanks of the receiving element on the lever arm are flat, a deflection of the lever leads to a smaller deflection of the lever arm than with a steep flank of the receiving element. In principle, the shape of the receiving element in the lever arm can be freely designed, so that an individual feel with the desired force curve can be realized for each tilting direction of the lever.

The receiving element is preferably formed by a recess in the lever arm. Such a recess can be produced precisely and inexpensively in the production of the lever arm. Alternatively, the receiving element of any other, suitable Formed the lever arm. In a further alternative, the receiving element is an independent component which can be fastened on the lever arm, for example latched. By such a modular design, the feel of the control element can be adapted in a simple manner with otherwise the same structure.

The force transmission element is preferably a ball. Upon actuation of the control element, the ball rolls in the receiving element on the lever arm, resulting in low friction and low wear. Alternatively, the force transmission element is a shaping of the second lever end. The end of the lever slides directly over the flanks of the receiving element.

Furthermore alternatively, the force transmission element is designed as a pyramid. When tilting the lever arm tilts the pyramid over an edge of its base and thereby pushes the lever arm from its zero position. Advantageously, the base of the pyramid has as many edges as the lever possible tilting directions. The base of the pyramid, for example, in four tilt directions of the lever as a square and formed in eight tilt directions of the lever as an equilateral octagon. An embodiment of the power transmission element as a cone allows infinitely many tilting directions of the lever. In a further alternative, the power transmission element is designed as a pin whose first end is arranged on a plate and whose second end forms a tip. The shape of the plate is analogous to the base of the pyramid adapted to the possible tilting directions of the lever.

In a preferred embodiment, the operating element has a mechanical end stop for the lever and / or the lever arm. An end stop for the lever arm makes it possible to reach an end stop for all tilting directions of the lever with just one component. Through a mechanical end stop for the lever a depending on the tilting direction of the lever end stop can be realized.

Optionally, a shift gate for limiting the possible tilting directions of the lever is arranged in the operating element according to the invention. As a result, only desired tilting directions of the lever are permitted, for example four or eight. In addition, the maximum deflection of the lever can be individually limited by the shift gate for each tilt direction. In a further development of this embodiment, tilting directions permitted by the shifting gate are dynamically lockable. Thereby, the number of tilting directions depending on the state of the operated device during operation can be further limited.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the shape of the receiving element on the lever arm limits the possible tilting directions of the lever. For this purpose, the receiving element, for example, star-shaped grooves, in which the force transmission element moves when tilting the lever. A movement of the force transmission element outside of the grooves is not possible, thereby blocking corresponding tilting directions of the lever.

The operating element preferably has at least one reflection light barrier for detecting the tilting direction of the lever. Transmitter and receiver of the reflection light barrier are arranged, for example, stationary in the operating element, while the reflector, for example in the form of a reflective surface, is arranged directly or indirectly on the lever. Depending on the tilting direction of the lever, the distance of the reflecting surface to the transmitter and receiver changes, which leads to a change in the output signal of the reflection light barrier. The tilt direction of the lever is determined from the output signal of the reflection light barrier. Alternatively, the operating element has at least one forked light barrier for each possible tilting direction of the lever, each forked light barrier detecting a possible tilting direction of the lever.

Alternatively, the operating element has at least one sliding contact for detecting the tilting direction of the lever. Thus, for example, at least one contact surface stationary in the control element and a Schleiffeder arranged on the lever. Depending on the position of the lever, the sanding spring makes contact with another contact surface or another position within a contact surface. From this, the position of the lever can be determined.

In one embodiment, the operating element has a light barrier, in particular a fork light barrier, for detecting the pivoting movement of the lever arm. If the lever has been tilted or pushed over a switching threshold, then a predetermined deflection of the lever arm is reached or exceeded. This reaching or exceeding is detected by means of the forked light barrier. The switching threshold refers to the deflection of the lever, in which the operating element is considered to be actuated. she is in FIG. 22 entered as an example. The advantage of using a light barrier lies in the reliable detection of the switching threshold. If this switching threshold is reached, the tilting direction of the lever or a pushing of the lever is detected by means of the elements listed above. The use of this additional light barrier can be used to compensate, in particular, for tolerances and variations in the production and installation of the reflection light barriers. As an alternative to a light barrier, a zero force switch is used for detection used the pivoting movement of the lever arm. A zero force switch is a switch that opposes little or no force to its operation and thus does not appreciably affect the feel produced by the pair of permanent magnet magnets.

Preferably, a control knob is arranged at the first end of the lever. This control knob allows a safe and comfortable operation of the control element. Optionally, the control knob on more features, such as a turntable. In a special embodiment, the control knob is mounted elastically on the first end of the lever, for example by means of a spring. This allows a targeted adjustment of the push-feel.

An inventive control panel thus has the advantage of being able to produce for each tilting direction a precisely determinable 1 laptik, wherein the haptic can be the same in particular for each tilting direction. Also, the realization of a push haptic is possible. Due to the configuration of the receiving element on the lever arm, the tilting directions of the lever can be limited without further components. In addition, the lever is reliably centered by the interaction of the Kraftöbertragungselements with the receiving element on the lever arm in the center position.

Furthermore, the operating element with a tilt direction evaluation device as described above is proposed. This tilt-direction evaluation device has at least one light barrier, a mask fixedly arranged in the operating element with at least one recess and a shielding element connected to the handle and movable relative to the mask, the shielding element not having one, one or more recesses of the mask depending on the position of the handle covered.

The mask serves to limit the beam path of a light barrier to a defined spatial area. For this purpose, the mask is provided with indentations, in particular in the form of slots. The shielding element is arranged in the operating element in such a way that it moves relative to the mask when the handle is actuated. The shielding element is impermeable to the light of the light barriers, wherein optionally transparent areas are introduced into the shielding element. These areas are formed for example by a recess or a window of translucent material. The Abschimelement obscured a recess of the mask if and only if an opaque area lies above the recess. The handle is, for example, the lever of the control element described above.

In a preferred embodiment, the opaque areas of the shielding cover when unconfirmed handle none of the recesses in the mask. If the handle is actuated, an opaque area of the shielding element slides over one or more recesses of the mask and thus interrupts the associated light barriers. Based on these interruptions, the tilting direction of the handle can be determined.

Preferably, the tilt-direction evaluation device has at least one light barrier for each possible tilting direction of the handle. This ensures that the switching threshold can be accurately positioned for each tilting direction by the shielding interrupts the associated light barrier at a predetermined deflection of the handle in this tilting direction. In this case, the switching threshold is preferably for all tilt directions at the same deflection of the handle. Alternatively, eight possible tilting directions can be detected by means of four light barriers, which are preferably arranged evenly spaced on a circular path. In an oblique deflection of the handle so two light barriers are interrupted by the shielding.

Optionally, two light barriers have a common light source. The common light source is arranged so that the light emitted by it hits two photosensors through two recesses in the mask. Each beam path from the light source to one of the photosensors can be interrupted by the shielding element independently of the other beam path. This leads advantageously to a reduced number of light sources with a constant number of light barriers. Analogously, a light source can also be shared by three or more light barriers.

In one embodiment of the invention, the shielding element is of star-shaped design. Each arm of the star serves to cover one or more recesses of the mask. In the extreme case, the shielding element consists of a single arm, which is designed so that it can cover any recess of the mask. In another variant, the shielding element is ring-shaped or disc-shaped.

In one embodiment of the invention, the shielding element consists of a flexible material, in particular a film. The advantage of a flexible material is that the shielding element can deform on contact with the mask and therefore in low Distance from the mask can be attached to the handle. On the other hand, a rigid shielding element has to be arranged so far from the mask on the handle that the shielding element does not or only slightly touches the mask when the handle is actuated. The deformability of a flexible shielding element therefore leads to increased freedom in the design of the operating element and a reduced overall height. In addition, a masking element resting against the mask reliably covers the recesses in the mask.

Optionally, the flexible shielding element has a plate-shaped cross section. Because of this plate-shaped cross section, the ends of the shielding element are preferably already in the center position of the handle with slight pressure on the mask.

Figur 1

eine Schnittdarstellung eines erfindungsgemäßen Bedienelements,

Figur 2a-d

einen Teilschnitt durch ein erfindungsgemäßes Bedienelement mit verschie- denen Hebelstellungen,

Figur 3

einen Ausschnitt eines erfindungsgemäßen Bedienelements mit abgerunde- tem zweitem Ende des Hebels als Kraftübertragungselement,

Figur 4

einen Ausschnitt eines erfindungsgemäßen Bedienelements mit würfelförmi- gem Kraftübertragungselement,

Figur 5

einen Teil eines erfindungsgemäßen Bedienelements mit zwei Reflexionslicht- schranken,

Figur 6

einen Teil eines erfindungsgemäßen Bedienelements mit zwei potentiometri- schen Schleifkontakten,

Figur 7

einen Teil eines erfindungsgemäßen Bedienelements mit zwei Schleifkontak-

ten, Figur 8

einen Teil eines erfindungsgemäßen Bedienelements mit vier Schleifkontakten,

Figur 9

ein Bedienelement mit einer Kipprichtungs-Auswertungsvorrichtung,

Figur 10

das Bedienelement aus Figur 9 mit gekipptem Hebel,

Figur 11

eine Aufsicht auf die Maske und das Abschirmelement aus den Figuren 9 und

10, Figur 12 lem

ein Bedienelement mit einer Kipprichtungs-Auswertungsvorrichtung und flexib- Abschirmelement

Figur 13

das Bedienelement aus Figur 12 mit gekipptem Hebel,

Figur 14a-h

Aufsichten auf verschiedene Ausführungsformen des Abschirmelements,

Figur 15a-f

Einzelkomponenten einer Kipprichtungs-Auswertungsvorrichtung,

Figur 16

ein Bedienelement mit einer Kipprichtungs-Auswertungsvorrichtung und Licht- schranken mit gemeinsamer Lichtquelle,

Figur 17

das Bedienelement aus Figur 16 mit gekipptem Hebel,

Figur 18

ein Bedienelement mit pyramidenförmigem Kraftübertragungselement,

Figur 19a-c

verschiedene Ausführungen eines Kraftübertragungselements,

Figur 20a-f

verschiedene Ausführungen eines Aufnahmeelements,

Figur 21

einen Schnitt durch einen Teil eines erfindungsgemäßen Bedienelements mit einem federgelagerten Bedienknopf und

Figur 22

einen Kraftverlauf über der Auslenkung des Hebels.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to several embodiments. Showing:

FIG. 1

a sectional view of a control element according to the invention,

Figure 2a-d

2 a partial section through an inventive control element with different lever positions,

FIG. 3

a detail of an operating element according to the invention with a rounded second end of the lever as a force transmission element,

FIG. 4

a detail of an operating element according to the invention with cubic force transmission element,

FIG. 5

a part of a control element according to the invention with two reflection light barriers,

FIG. 6

a part of an operating element according to the invention with two potentiometric sliding contacts,

FIG. 7

a part of a control element according to the invention with two sliding contact

th, Figure 8

a part of a control element according to the invention with four sliding contacts,

FIG. 9

an operating element with a tilt direction evaluation device,

FIG. 10

the control element off FIG. 9 with tilted lever,

FIG. 11

a plan view of the mask and the shield of the Figures 9 and

10, Figure 12 lem

an operating element with a tilt direction evaluation device and flexible shielding

FIG. 13

the control element off FIG. 12 with tilted lever,

Figure 14a-h

Top views of various embodiments of the shielding,

Figure 15a-f

Individual components of a tilt direction evaluation device,

FIG. 16

a control element with a tilt direction evaluation device and light barriers with a common light source,

FIG. 17

the control element off FIG. 16 with tilted lever,

FIG. 18

an operating element with a pyramid-shaped power transmission element,

Figure 19a-c

various embodiments of a power transmission element,

FIGS. 20a-f

various embodiments of a receiving element,

FIG. 21

a section through a part of an operating element according to the invention with a spring-loaded control knob and

FIG. 22

a force curve over the deflection of the lever.

The directions and orientations given in the following description of the figures relate to the orientation shown in the figures, from which the orientation of the operating element in the installed state can deviate.

FIG. 1 shows a sectional view of an operating element 1 according to the invention with a tiltably mounted in a housing 5 lever 2. A first end 3 of the lever 2 extends out of the housing 5. The second end 4 of the lever 2 has a recess which receives parts of a ball 8. Another part of the ball 8 is received by a receiving element in the form of a recess 7 of a pivotally mounted lever arm 6. The control element 1 further comprises a pair of permanent magnets 9, wherein a magnet 10 on the lever arm 6 and a magnet 11 is fixedly arranged in the housing 5. In the in FIG. 1 shown center position of the lever 2, the magnets 10 and 11 are arranged such that opposite unequal poles. In all figures, the north poles of the magnets are hatched and the south poles of the magnets shown dotted. FIG. 2a shows a further partial section of the control element 1 with a few other components.

Due to the attraction between the magnets 10 and 11, the lever arm 6 in the in FIG. 1 and 2a shown rest position held. The user tilts the first end 3 of the lever 2 as in FIG. 2b shown to the left, the second end 4 of the lever 2 moves to the right. As a result, the ball 8 is pressed to the right. The result is a rolling movement of the ball 8 between the left flank of the recess in the lever 2 and the flank 13 of the recess 7 in the lever arm 6. Due to the shape and orientation of the flanks of the recesses, the lever 6 is pivoted about its axis of rotation such that left, the magnet 10 carrying end moves down. Opposite this movement counteracts the attraction of the magnets 10 and 11, via the lever arm 6, the ball 8 and the lever 2 is transmitted to the user. To tilt the lever 2, the user must overcome this drag. With increasing deflection of the first lever end 3 from the center position, the applied force increases as in FIG. 22 shown first, until the same poles of the magnets 10 and 11 are opposite. Thereafter, the applied force drops until the Hebelarm.6 reaches the end stop 20. Due to the decrease in the applied force the user is haptically signaled that the switching operation has occurred.

Will the first lever end 3 as in Figure 2c shown tilted to the right, so moves the second end of the lever 4 and thus the ball 8 to the left. The ball 8 presses against the edge 12 of the recess 7 and thus pivots the left end of the lever arm 6 against the attraction of the permanent magnet pair 9 down. The left end of the lever arm 6 also pivots downward when the first end 3 of the lever 2 is tilted into the plane of the drawing or out of the plane of the drawing. Therefore, the left end of the lever arm 6 pivots at each actuation of the operating element 1, regardless of the tilting direction of the lever 2 down. The same applies to the pressing of the lever 2 along its longitudinal axis. This is in Figure 2d shown. The ball 8 serves as a force transmission element, which converts the tilting or pushing movement of the lever 2 into a pivoting movement of the lever arm 6.

In the FIGS. 2a to 2d Furthermore, a reflection light barrier 14 with a transmitter 15 and a receiver 16 is shown. The light emitted by the transmitter 15 is reflected by a reflector in the form of a reflective surface 17, which is arranged on the lever 2, to the receiver 16. If the lever 2 is tilted, the distance and the angle of the reflective surface 17 to the transmitter 15 and the receiver 16 changes FIG. 2b shown tilting of the lever end 3 to the left, the reflective surface away from the reflection light barrier 14, so that the level of the output signal of the receiver 16 decreases. At the in Figure 2c shown tilting of the lever end 3 to the right, the reflective surface 17 of the reflection light barrier 14 approaches, whereby the level of the output signal of the receiver 16 increases. From this output signal can thus determine the tilting direction of the lever 2.

That in the FIGS. 2a to 2d shown control element 1 further has a fork light barrier 18. In the detection range of this fork light barrier 18, a projection 19 arranged on the lever arm 6 is inserted. In the in FIG. 2a shown middle position of the lever 2 interrupts the projection 19, the fork light barrier 18. Has the lever 2, the switching threshold and the lever arm 6 thus achieved a certain deflection, as in

FIGS. 2b and 2c is shown, or was the lever 2 as in Figure 2d shown pressed along its longitudinal axis to above the switching threshold, so the projection 19 is no longer in the detection range of the forked light barrier 18. This causes a change in the output signal of the forked light barrier 18, by means of which the operation of the operating element 1 is detected. If this operation has been detected, it is determined whether and in which direction the lever 2 has been tilted or whether the lever 2 has been pressed.

FIG. 3 shows parts of an alternative embodiment of an operating element 21, in which the second end 24 of the lever 22 is formed as a force transmission element 28. By tilting the lever 22, the rounded end 28 of the lever 22 slides over the flanks of the introduced into the lever arm 26 recess 27 and pushes the free end of the lever arm 26 down. The advantage of this embodiment is the simple structure, in which no further element, for example in the form of a sphere, is necessary.

In the FIGS. 20a to 20f various possible embodiments of the receiving element are indicated. It is assumed that these are recesses in the lever arm. However, the receiving element may for example also be formed by a different shape with the specified shape. In some of the figures, a ball 220 is indicated as a power transmission element. As an alternative to using a ball 220, the power transmission element, as in FIG FIG. 3 represented formed by the rounded end of the lever. Due to the shape of the receiving element, the possible rolling directions of the ball or sliding directions of the lever end are limited. At the same time this limits the possible tilting directions of the lever, without a separate backdrop is necessary.

FIG. 20a shows a conical recess 221. In this embodiment, there are no preferred directions for the rolling motion of the ball 220, which is why the lever of the control element is tiltable in any direction FIG. 20b shows a pyramidal recess 222. The ball 220 moves preferably one of the four directions in which meet two side surfaces of the pyramid, wherein the ball 220 can roll in principle on one of the side surfaces of the recesses.

At the in FIG. 20c shown recess 223, the side surfaces of the pyramid are divided into two parts, wherein the line of contact of the two partial surfaces is inclined into the recess and the two partial surfaces are thus inclined to each other. This results in four grooves in the four directions, in which two sides of the pyramid meet. Due to the angle of the partial surfaces to each other, the ball 220 rolls upon actuation of the Levers in other than a designated tilting direction on the part surface in one of the four grooves. This leads to four possible tilting directions of the lever. FIG. 20d shows the recess 224 as a modification of the recess 223 in FIG. 20c , The recess 224 has eight grooves in which the ball 220 can roll, and thus eight possible tilting directions of the lever. The FIGS. 20e and 20f The recesses 225 and 226 are similar to the recesses 223 and 224 in Figs FIGS. 20c and 20d wherein the edges of the recesses 225 and 226 are rounded.

FIG. 4 shows a part of an alternative embodiment of a control element 31, in which a cube 38 is used as a force transmission element instead of a ball. In the illustrated middle position of the lever 32 is a side surface of the cube 38 in a recess at the second end 34 of the lever 32 and the opposite side of the cube 38 in a recess 37 of the lever arm 36. If the lever 32 is tilted, the cube 38 tilts over one of its edges and thereby exerts a force on the lever arm 36. The lever arm 36 then pivots about his in FIG. 4 not shown bearing point.

FIG. 18 shows a further alternative embodiment of an operating element 201. The force transmission element between the second end 204 of the lever 202 and the lever arm 206 consists of a four-sided pyramid 208 whose base rests in the middle position of the lever 202 at the second end 204 of the lever 202 and the tip is in a recess 207 of the lever arm 206 extends. When the first end 203 of the lever is deflected, the pyramid 208 tilts over an edge of its base. This changes the distance between the second end 204 of the lever 202 and the lever arm 206. Due to the mounting of the lever 202, this leads to a pivoting movement of the lever arm 206 about its storage. The haptic generation is analogous to the preceding embodiments based on a permanent magnet pair.

As an alternative to the pyramid 208, the in FIG. 19a illustrated element 210 usable. It consists of a square base 211, in the middle of a tip 212 is arranged. The base 211 is in contact with the second end 204 of the lever 202, while the tip 212 engages in the recess 207 of the lever arm 206. When tilting the lever 202, the element 210 tilts over an edge of its base 211 and thereby pivots the lever arm 206.

The number of sides of the pyramid corresponds to the number of possible tilting directions of the lever. So shows FIG. 19b a pyramid 213 with a six-sided base 214 for a control element with six tilting directions and FIG. 19c a pyramid 215 with a octagonal base 216 for a control element with eight tilt directions. The number of sides of the pyramid is in principle arbitrary. In the limit, the pyramid becomes one. Cone with circular base. Instead of a pyramid is always an element analogous to that in FIG. 19a shown with a corresponding footprint possible.

FIG. 5 shows a section of a control element according to the invention. In this case, two reflection light barriers 47 and 51 are arranged on a board 41 at right angles to each other. This means that the reflection light barriers with respect to the longitudinal axis of the lever 42 offset by 90 degrees on the board 41 are arranged. The reflection light barrier 47, consisting of the transmitter 48, the receiver 49 and the reflector 50, serves to detect the tilting direction left and right of the lever 42, the reflection light barrier 51, consisting of the transmitter 52, the receiver 53 and the reflector 54, is used Depending on the tilting direction, the position of the reflector 50 or 54 changes in the respective light barrier, resulting in a changed output signal of the light barrier 47 or 51. From this output signal, the tilting direction of the lever 42 can be determined. An additional fork light barrier 44, consisting of a transmitter 45 and a receiver 46, serves as shown in FIG FIGS. 2a to 2d described, the detection of the operation of the operating element.

FIG. 6 shows on the basis of a part of another operating element according to the invention an alternative configuration for detecting the tilting direction of the lever 62. For this purpose, two wiper springs 68 and 70 are arranged at right angles to each other on the lever 62, which are in contact with the contact surfaces 67 and 69 respectively. The contact surfaces 67 and 69 are formed as Potentiometerschichten having a defined electrical resistance. By tilting the lever 62, the wiper 68 moves over the contact surface 67 and the wiper 70 via the contact surface 69. About a measurement of the resistance across the wiper springs 68 and 70, the tilting direction and / or the deflection of the lever 62 can be calculated. The existing from the transmitter 65 and the receiver 66 fork light barrier 64 is used to detect the switching threshold, which signals an actuation of the control.

FIG. 7 shows a section of another alternative embodiment of a control element according to the invention. On a printed circuit board 81, two contact surface pairs of the contact surfaces 88 and 89 or 91 and 92 are arranged at right angles to each other. On the lever 82, the contact springs 87 and 90 are fixed at right angles to each other. In the middle position of the lever 82 are the ends of the wiper springs 87 and 90 between the contact surfaces of the associated contact surface pairs, without making an electrical contact. If the first lever end 83 of the lever 82 is deflected to the right, for example, the end of the wiper 90 on the board 81 shifts to the left and establishes contact with the contact surface 91. The presence of this contact is registered by an evaluation electronics, not shown, and interpreted as tilting of the lever 82 to the right. The detection of the other tilting directions via the contact surfaces 88, 89 and 92 analog.

Also arranged on the board 81 is a fork light barrier 84 consisting of a transmitter 85 and a receiver 86 for the above-described detection of the operation of the operating element.

FIG. 8 shows in plan a part of an operating element with a circuit board 101 and a lever 105. The lever 105 extends through a recess in the circuit board 101, wherein the recess is surrounded by a contact surface 114 at which a voltage, in the present example in the amount of 5 volts, is applied. On the lever 105 four sliding contacts 106, 107, 108 and 109 are arranged in a cross shape. Depending on the position of the lever 105, the sliding contacts 106 to 109 establish an electrical contact between the contact surface 114 and one or more of the contact surfaces 110 to 113. On the basis of the produced contacts a in FIG. 8 evaluation electronics, not shown, the tilting direction of the lever 105. Alternatively, the sliding contacts 106 to 109 are directly connected to a voltage source, for example by means of a cable. As a result, the contact surface 114 can be dispensed with. The fork light barrier 102 consisting of the transmitter 103 and the receiver 104 serves, as described with reference to the preceding exemplary embodiments, for detecting the actuation of the operating element.

FIG. 9 shows an operating element 121 with a tilt direction evaluation device. In the control element 121 four light barriers are arranged, each consisting of a light emitting diode and a photosensor. In FIG. 9 the light emitting diodes 126, 130 and 133 and the associated photosensors 125, 129 and 134 are shown, the fourth light barrier is covered by the lever 122. The beam path of the light emitted by the light emitting diodes 126 and 130 is indicated at 127 and 131. The light falls on a mask 123, which is provided with recesses 135. The propagation of the light behind the mask 123 is denoted by 128 and 132, respectively. In the illustrated middle position of the operating element 121, a cross-shaped, rigid shielding element 124 arranged on the lever 122 does not influence the propagation of the light.

FIG. 10 shows the operating element 121 FIG. 9 with the lever 122 tilted to the right. The shielding element connected to the lever 122 is thereby also inclined, wherein it now protrudes into the propagation region 128 of the light of the sinking photocell and shadows the photodiode 125. From this interruption of the left light barrier detects an unillustrated electronics that the lever 122 has been tilted to the right.

FIG. 11 shows a plan view of the mask 123 and the shielding 124 from the FIGS. 9 and 10 at the middle position of the lever 122. Upon actuation of the lever 122, the shielding member 124 is displaced relative to the mask 123 and conceals one or more of the recesses 135, whereby the associated light barriers are interrupted. From the information about the interrupted light barriers, the tilting direction of the lever 122 can be determined.

The FIGS. 12 and 13 show the control element 141 as a modification of the control element 121 from the FIGS. 9 and 10 , The control element 141 has a mask 143 with recesses 149. On the lever 142, a flexible, cross-shaped shielding element 144 is arranged with four arms, which in the sectional view in FIG. 12 has a plate-shaped cross-section. Flexible means that the shielding element is deformable by the movement of the lever 142. In FIG. 12 the lever 142 is shown in its center position. The ends of the arms of the shielding member 144 rest on the mask 143 and do not obscure the recesses 149. The light of the light-emitting diodes 145 and 147 thus impinges on the photodiodes 146 and 148, respectively. The plan view of the mask 143 and the shielding element 144 corresponds analogously to the plan view FIG. 11 ,

In FIG. 13 the lever 142 is tilted to the right, whereby its lower end is deflected to the left. As a result, the shielding element 144 shifts with respect to the mask 143, with the end of the right arm of the shielding element 144 still resting on the mask 143. The left arm of the shielding element 144 now covers the left-hand recess 149 of the mask 143, as a result of which the light emitted by the light-emitting diode 145 no longer reaches the photodiode 146.

The FIGS. 14a to 14d show the views of possible embodiments of the shielding at four possible tilting directions of the lever. In Figure 14a For example, the shield member 161a is formed in a cross shape with translucent windows 162a inserted in the ends of the four arms. In the middle position of the lever all windows 162a are above the recesses 163a, so that none of the light barriers is interrupted. Will the When the lever is tilted and the shielding element 161a is moved to the left, for example, the shielding element 161a conceals the left-hand recess 163a in the mask 160a, but the right-hand recess 163a is still located in the region of the right-hand window 162a in the shielding element 161a and the right-hand light barrier will not be interrupted.

The operation of the shielding 161 b in FIG. 14b and 161d in Figure 14d is analogous to that of the shielding element 161a in FIG Figure 14a , The shielding member 161 b consists of an annular basic structure having cross-shaped projections. In these extensions window 162b are introduced. The shielding member 161d is disc-shaped, wherein the window 162d are inserted into the disk. The shielding element 161c in FIG. 14c is also disc-shaped, but the disc has no windows. During a tilting movement of the lever, the disc 161c is displaced relative to the mask 161c such that it obscures one or more of the recesses 163c.

The shielding elements 161e, 161f and 161h in the FIGS. 14e, 14f and 14h are analogous to those in the Figures 14a, 14b and 14d constructed, however, each have eight windows to detect eight tilting directions of the lever can. The shielding 161g off Figure 14g is again disc-shaped and not provided with windows. Upon a tilting movement of the lever, the disc 161g is displaced with respect to the mask 161g so as to obscure one or more of the recesses 163g

The FIGS. 15a to 15e show the individual components of a tilt direction evaluation device. FIG. 15a shows a circuit board 170, on the upper side in each case four pairs of photosensors 171, 172, 173 and 174 are arranged. The photosensors 171 and 172 detect an operation of the operating member to the left or right, the photosensors 173 and 174, an operation up or down. FIG. 15b shows a printed circuit board 177, on the underside of light-emitting diodes 175 and 176 are arranged. The printed circuit boards 170 and 177 are arranged in a control element such that the light-emitting diode 175 illuminates the photosensors 171 and 172 and the light-emitting diode 176 illuminates the photosensors 173 and 174.

Arranged between the circuit boards are the mask 178 FIG. 15c and the shielding member 183 FIG. 15d , In the mask 178 slot-shaped recesses 179, 180, 181 and 182 are introduced. The shielding element 183 consists of two arms arranged at right angles to one another. In the first arm, the windows 184 and 185 are introduced, in the second arm, the windows 186 and 187. The windows 184 to 187, in contrast to the rest of the shielding element 183 permeable to the light of the light emitting diodes 175 and 176. In FIG. 15e a three-dimensional view is shown showing the spatial configuration of the shielding element 183. The windowed ends of the arms of the shielding member rest on the mask 178. In the present exemplary embodiment, the photosensors 171 and 172 or 173 and 174 are optionally arranged offset against one another like a checkerboard. This simplifies the mountability on the circuit board 170 and reduces the stray light that passes through a different than the recess of the mask 178 associated with the photosensor.

FIG. 15f shows a plan view of the assembled components of the FIGS. 15a to 15d , wherein the circuit board 177 has been omitted. The LED 175 radiates its light through the recess 179 on the photosensor 171 and through the recess 180 on the photosensor 172. The LED 176 emits its light through the recess 181 on the photosensor 173 and through the recess 182 on the photosensor 174. This will a total of four light barriers formed, with two photocells use a common light emitting diode as the light source. This is also in FIG. 16 shown, which is a control with the tilt direction evaluation device FIG. 15f shows. Furthermore, the areas illuminated by the light emitting diodes 175 and 176 are shown.

In FIG. 17 If the lever of the operating element is tilted to the right, which is why the shielding element 183 has moved relative to the mask 178 to the left. The web between the windows 184 and 185 now covers the recess 180 in the mask 178, which is why no more light falls on the photosensor 172. The recess 179 is still covered by the window 184, which is why light continues to strike the photosensor 171.

FIG. 21 shows a section through a part of a control element according to the invention. On the lever 230, a spring 233 is pushed, which rests on a projection 234 of the lever 230. On the first end 231 of the lever 230, a control knob 232 is further pushed, which has a projection 235 which cooperates with the spring 233. If the push functionality of the operating element is used, that is, the control knob 232 is depressed, then both the spring 233 is compressed and the one in FIG. 21 not shown lever arm - as described in the preceding examples - pivoted against the attraction of the permanent magnet pair, also not shown. The actuation of the control knob 232 is thus opposed by a counterforce consisting of the superposition of the spring force and the magnetic force transmitted via the lever arm. This push-feel is therefore adjustable independently of the tilt feel by means of the spring 233. The pushing of the control knob 232 and the lever 230 is detectable by means of a light barrier, not shown, or a switch.

The above exemplary embodiments are to be understood as purely exemplary. In particular, the shape and arrangement of the individual elements may differ from the described embodiments. This relates in particular to the bearing of the lever, the shape of the receiving element on the lever arm and the configuration of the force transmission element. In principle, the shape of the flanks of the receiving element on the lever arm for each tilting direction of the lever can be configured individually, whereby a kipprichtungsabhängige haptics can be generated. To detect the tilting direction of the lever, the push function and the operation of the operating element other elements than the aforementioned light barriers or sliding contacts can be used. Instead of being a joystick, the operating element can also be designed, for example, as a seesaw or a cross-rocker.

Claims (19)

1. Control element (1), in particular a joystick, with tilting haptics for a motor vehicle, comprising

   - a housing (5),

   - a lever (2) tiltably mounted in the housing (5), comprising a first lever end (3) and a second lever end (4), wherein the first lever end (3) extends out from the housing (5) of the control element (1),

   - a permanent magnet pair (9) with two magnets, wherein the one magnet (11) is disposed stationary in the control element (1) on the housing (5) and, in the centre position of the lever (2), unlike poles of the magnets (10, 11) face each other at a distance,

   characterised in that the control element further comprises a lever arm (6) mounted pivotably in the housing (5) with a receiving element (7) and a force transfer member (8) at the second end (4) of the tiltably mounted lever (2), wherein the force transfer member (8) extends into the receiving element (7) of the lever arm (6) and transforms a tilting movement of the lever (2) into a pivoting movement of the lever arm (6), and that the other magnet (10) of the permanent magnet pair (9) is disposed on the lever arm (6).
2. Control element (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the receiving element (7) is a recess in the lever arm (6).
3. Control element (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterised by a mechanical end stop for the lever (1) and/or the lever arm (6).
4. Control element (1) according to any one of the claims 1 to 3, characterised by a switch guide plate for limiting the possible tilting directions and/or the deflection of the lever (2).
5. Control element (1) according to any one of the claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the force transfer member (8) is a sphere.
6. Control element (1) according to any one of the claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the force transfer member (8) is a pyramid.
7. Control element (1) according to any one of the claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the force transfer member (8) is a shaped portion (38) of the second lever arm (34).
8. Control element (1) according to any one of the claims 1 to 7, characterised by at least one reflection light barrier (14) for detecting the tilting direction of the lever (2).
9. Control element (1) according to any one of the claims 1 to 7, characterised by at least one forked light barrier for every possible tilting direction of the lever (2), wherein each forked light barrier detects one possible tilting direction of the lever (2).
10. Control element (1) according to any one of the claims 1 to 9,
    characterised by at least one sliding contact (67, 69, 88, 89, 91, 92) for detecting the tilting direction of the lever (62, 82).
11. Control element (1) according to any one of the claims 1 to 10,
    characterised by a light barrier (18, 44, 64, 84), in particular a forked light barrier, for detecting the pivoting movement of the lever arm (6).
12. Control element (1) according to any one of the claims 1 to 11,
    characterised by a control button (124) disposed at the first lever end (123).
13. Control element (1) according to claim 12, characterised in that the control button (124) is elastically mounted on the first lever end (123).
14. Control element (121) comprising a tiltable handle (122) according to any one of the claims 1 to 13, with a tilting direction evaluation device comprising at least one light barrier, a mask (123) disposed stationary in the control element (121) and comprising at least one recess (135), and a shielding member (124) which is connected to the handle (122) and movable relative to the mask (123), wherein the shielding member (124), depending on the position of the handle (122), masks no, one or more recesses (135) of the mask (123).
15. Control element according to claim 14, characterised in that the shielding member (124) is configured star-shaped.
16. Control element according to claim 14 or 15, characterised in that the shielding member (124) is configured ring- or disc-shaped.
17. Control element according to any one of the claims 14 to 16, characterised by at least one transparent area in the shielding member (124).
18. Control element according to any one of the claims 14 to 17, characterised in that the shielding member (124) consists of a flexible material, in particular a foil.
19. Control element according to claim 18, characterised in that the shielding member (124) has a saucer-shaped cross-section.

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