阅读说明：本技术 用于车辆的旋转控制装置 (Rotation control device for vehicle ) 是由 莱纳尔·彼得日克 于 2018-05-23 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明涉及一种用于车辆的旋转控制装置(1),该旋转控制装置(1)包括用户接口表面(3)、特别是旋钮,该用户接口表面(3)被实施成相对于装置(1)的壳体(5)围绕装置(1)的转动轴线(7)旋转,该旋转控制装置(1)还包括：传感器单元(9),该传感器单元(9)用于监测用户接口表面(3)相对于壳体(5)的定向和/或转动；处理单元(11)；以及通信接口(13),该通信接口(13)用于根据来自处理单元(11)的输出(Op)来发送控制信号(Ts),所述输出(Op)由处理单元(11)基于来自传感器单元(9)的传感器数据(Ds)而产生。(The invention relates to a rotary control device (1) for a vehicle, the rotary control device (1) comprising a user interface surface (3), in particular a knob, the user interface surface (3) being embodied to rotate relative to a housing (5) of the device (1) about a rotational axis (7) of the device (1), the rotary control device (1) further comprising: a sensor unit (9), the sensor unit (9) being for monitoring the orientation and/or rotation of the user interface surface (3) relative to the housing (5); a processing unit (11); and a communication interface (13), the communication interface (13) being configured to send the control signal (Ts) in dependence on an output (Op) from the processing unit (11), the output (Op) being generated by the processing unit (11) based on the sensor data (Ds) from the sensor unit (9).)

1. A rotating control device for a vehicle, the rotating control device comprising a user interface surface that is implemented to rotate relative to a housing of the device about an axis of rotation of the device, and

the rotation control device further includes:

a sensor unit for monitoring the orientation and/or rotation of the user interface surface relative to the housing;

a processing unit; and

a communication interface for transmitting a control signal in accordance with an output from the processing unit, the output being generated by the processing unit based on sensor data from the sensor unit,

wherein the rotational control apparatus further comprises a magnetorheological actuator,

wherein the magnetorheological actuator comprises a rotating element mechanically connected to the user interface surface and for interacting with a magnetorheological fluid of the magnetorheological actuator, and

wherein the magneto-rheological actuator comprises an assembly for generating and/or manipulating a characteristic of a magnetic field acting on the magneto-rheological fluid such that the magneto-rheological actuator is used to adjust torque transfer between the user interface surface and the housing,

characterized in that said assembly is implemented to generate and/or manipulate the characteristic of said magnetic field according to an initialization manipulation signal output from said processing unit, when said user interface surface is in an orientation for selecting a parking operating mode and when a status signal received by said device indicates that a drive unit of said vehicle is in an inactive state.

2. A rotary control device according to claim 1, characterized in that the device is embodied to send a control signal for activating the drive unit if: while the initialization manipulation signal is being output to adjust the torque transfer, the user interface surface rotates a predetermined amount about the axis of rotation to achieve an ignition orientation.

3. The rotating control device of claim 1 or 2, wherein the processing unit is implemented to output the initialization manipulation signal for causing the component to manipulate the characteristics of the magnetic field such that a braking force gradient is formed along a rotational path from an initial orientation to an ignition orientation of the user interface surface, and

the braking force ramp from the initial orientation to the ignition orientation is different than a braking force ramp formed along a rotational path of the user interface surface between the initial orientation and an orientation for selecting an operating mode of the vehicle.

4. The rotating control device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the initial orientation corresponds to an orientation for selecting a parking operating mode of the vehicle, and

the ignition orientation can only be reached by rotation of the user interface surface in a rotational direction that is opposite to the rotational direction in which the user interface surface has to be rotated in order to reach an orientation for selecting a further operating mode of the vehicle.

5. The rotating control device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the processing unit is implemented to output a manipulation signal such that a braking force gradient formed along the rotation path from an initial orientation of the user interface surface to the ignition orientation corresponds to a braking force gradient defined by a mechanical system that needs to be rotated to ignite an engine in a motor vehicle.

6. The rotating control device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the processing unit is implemented to output a manipulation signal such that the braking force gradient formed along the turning path from the initial orientation to the ignition orientation of the user interface surface comprises: a first branch path in which the braking force continues to increase; a second branch path in which the braking force is continuously reduced; and a third partial path, wherein the braking force is continuously increased to a value that is greater than the value of the braking force achieved in the first partial path.

7. The rotating control device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device comprises a torque sensor, and

the apparatus is implemented as: sending the control signal for activating a drive unit of the vehicle only when an operator applies a predetermined amount of torque to the user interface surface while in the ignition orientation.

8. The rotating control device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, when the user interface surface is in the firing orientation and a predetermined amount of torque is applied to the user interface surface, the processing unit is implemented to output a manipulation signal such that a firing braking force ramp is formed along a firing rotational path that extends in the same rotational direction beyond the rotational path from the initial orientation of the user interface surface to the firing orientation, and

the processing unit is implemented to output a manipulation signal for manipulating the component such that the component manipulates the magnetic field acting on the fluid to fluctuate, thereby simulating vibrotactile feedback along the firing rotational path for a user applying torque to the user interface surface while fluctuating.

9. The rotating control device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device comprises an additional MRF actuator for adjusting the force transmission between the user interface surface and the housing when the user interface surface is displaced from a first position to a second position, and

the initialization command signal output from the processing unit regulates the force transmission such that a braking force gradient formed along the displacement path corresponds to a braking force gradient path defined by a mechanical system in which a key is inserted into a key hole.

10. The rotating control device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a control signal for activating a drive unit of the vehicle is sent from the communication interface only when the user interface surface is first displaced from a first position to a second position and subsequently turned from an initial orientation to an ignition orientation.

11. The rotating control device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rotating element comprises a chamber containing the magnetorheological fluid, and

a static element is provided, which is fixedly arranged relative to the housing and at least partially arranged within the chamber, such that the torque transmission between the inner surface of the chamber of the rotating element and the static element depends on the characteristics of the magnetic field.

12. The rotating control device according to at least one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the rotating element is implemented to rotate within a chamber of the actuator containing the magnetorheological fluid, the chamber being fixedly arranged with respect to the housing such that a torque transmission between the rotating element and an inner surface of the chamber depends on a property of a magnetic field.

Technical Field

The invention relates to a rotary control device for a vehicle, comprising a user interface surface which is embodied to rotate relative to a housing of the device about a rotational axis of the device, and further comprising: a sensor unit for monitoring the orientation and/or rotation of the user interface surface relative to the housing; a processing unit; and a communication interface for sending control signals in dependence on output from the processing unit, said output being generated by the processing unit based on sensor data from the sensor unit, wherein the rotary control device further comprises a magneto-rheological actuator, wherein the magneto-rheological actuator comprises a turning element mechanically connected to the user interface surface and for interacting with magneto-rheological fluid of the magneto-rheological actuator, and wherein the magneto-rheological actuator comprises an assembly for generating and/or manipulating a characteristic of a magnetic field acting on the magneto-rheological fluid such that the magneto-rheological actuator is used for adjusting the torque transfer between the user interface surface and the housing.

Background

A haptic interface for control is known, for example, from european patent publication EP2065614a1, in which an assembly for manipulating the magnetic field characteristics is disclosed for adjusting the torque transmission between a rotating element and the housing of the haptic interface.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the present invention is to propose an improved rotation control device.

The object of the invention is achieved by a rotation control device as defined by the subject matter of the independent claims. The dependent claims and the description define advantageous embodiments of the system.

The object is therefore achieved by a rotary control device for a vehicle, comprising a user interface surface which is embodied to rotate relative to a housing of the device about an axis of rotation of the device, and further comprising: a sensor unit for monitoring the orientation and/or rotation of the user interface surface relative to the housing; a processing unit; and a communication interface for sending control signals in accordance with outputs from the processing unit, said outputs being generated by the processing unit based on sensor data from the sensor unit, wherein the rotary control device further comprises a magneto-rheological actuator, wherein the magneto-rheological actuator comprises a rotary element mechanically connected to the user interface surface and adapted to interact with magneto-rheological fluid of the magneto-rheological actuator, and wherein the magneto-rheological actuator comprises an assembly for generating and/or manipulating a characteristic of a magnetic field acting on the magneto-rheological fluid such that the magneto-rheological actuator is adapted to regulate torque transmission between the user interface surface and the housing, wherein, when the user interface surface is in an orientation for selecting the parking operation mode and when a status signal received by the device indicates that a drive unit of the vehicle is in an inactive state, the assembly is implemented to generate and/or manipulate a property of the magnetic field in accordance with an initialization manipulation signal output from the processing unit.

The position of the user interface surface according to the invention refers to the placement of the user interface surface in a plane which is spatially displaced by a certain distance with respect to the housing of the device. The orientation of the user interface surface according to the invention refers to a rotational displacement of the user interface surface around the rotational axis of the device at a specific rotational angle with respect to the initial setting of the user interface surface with respect to the housing.

Magnetorheological fluids limit the performance of the rotating control device. To this end, the voltage supplied to the assembly is varied to induce an ambient magnetic field that changes the viscosity of the fluid. Depending on the magnetic field, in particular on the properties (e.g. strength and/or direction) of the magnetic field, the MRF can be varied between liquid and solid state, which can be controlled very precisely. In the fluid state, the MRF transmits little to no torque between the rotating element and the housing. However, as the viscosity increases and the fluid approaches a solid state, shear forces within the fluid and between the fluid and the rotating element and between the fluid and the housing or a component fixedly attached to the housing increase. This results in an increased torque transfer between the user interface surface and the housing.

The device can be used to select the operating mode of the vehicle, which is for example: a forward range mode of operation in which torque is transmitted from a drive unit of the vehicle to propel the vehicle in a forward direction; a reverse operating mode in which torque is transmitted from a drive unit of the vehicle to propel the vehicle in a reverse direction; a neutral operating mode in which no torque is transmitted from the drive unit of the vehicle; a parking operation mode in which a torque transmission unit attached to a drive unit of a vehicle is mechanically locked; or other modes of operation.

When the position and/or orientation of the user interface surface remains constant without applying a force to the device from an external source, then such position and/or orientation of the user interface surface may be referred to as a stable position. On the other hand, when the user interface surface does not remain in a certain position or orientation, for example due to forces being applied internally by the mechanism of the device, then such position and/or orientation may be said to be unstable.

The safety-related function of the vehicle according to the invention may for example be the selection of an operating mode of the vehicle, whereby the vehicle is steered, accelerated or braked. The non-safety function of the vehicle may be, for example, navigation or control of a multimedia interface.

The communication path according to the invention may for example be a hard-wired (e.g. data bus) and/or wireless data transmission channel for transmitting data. In many modern street vehicles, the CAN data bus is a preferred communication path.

The user interface surface or knob according to the present invention may comprise an outer surface of a ring-shaped and/or half-shell shaped structure that is accessible to an operator (i.e., user) of the vehicle. The user interface surface may also include a formation located below an outer surface of the user interface surface.

In an embodiment of the rotation control device, the device is implemented to send a control signal for activating the drive unit if: the user interface surface rotates a predetermined amount about the axis of rotation to achieve the firing orientation while the initialization command signal is being output to adjust torque transfer.

In an embodiment of the rotating control device, the processing unit is implemented to output an initialization manipulation signal for causing the component to manipulate the characteristic of the magnetic field such that a braking force gradient is formed along a rotational path from an initial orientation of the user interface surface to an ignition orientation, and the braking force gradient from the initial orientation to the ignition orientation is different from the braking force gradient formed along the rotational path of the user interface surface between the initial orientation and an orientation for selecting an operation mode of the vehicle.

In an embodiment of the rotational control device, the initial orientation corresponds to an orientation for selecting a parking operation mode of the vehicle and the ignition orientation can only be reached by rotation of the user interface surface in a rotational direction which is opposite to a rotational direction in which the user interface surface has to be rotated in order to reach an orientation for selecting a further operation mode of the vehicle.

In an embodiment of the rotating control device, the processing unit is implemented to output the manipulation signal such that a braking force gradient formed along a rotational path from an initial orientation to an ignition orientation of the user interface surface corresponds to a braking force gradient defined by a mechanical system that needs to be rotated to ignite an engine in the motor vehicle.

In an embodiment of the rotating control device, the processing unit is implemented to output the manipulation signal such that a braking force gradient formed along a turning path from an initial orientation to an ignition orientation of the user interface surface comprises: a first branch path in which the braking force continues to increase; a second branch path in which the braking force is continuously reduced; and a third partial path, wherein the braking force is continuously increased to a value which is greater than the value of the braking force achieved in the first partial path.

In an embodiment of the rotation control device, the device comprises a torque sensor, and the device is implemented to: while in the firing orientation, the device sends a control signal for activating a drive unit of the vehicle only when the operator applies a predetermined amount of torque to the user interface surface.

In an embodiment of the rotational control apparatus, when the user interface surface is in the firing orientation and a predetermined amount of torque is applied to the user interface surface, the processing unit is implemented to output a manipulation signal such that a firing braking force gradient is formed along a firing rotational path that extends in the same rotational direction beyond a rotational path from an initial orientation of the user interface surface to the firing orientation, and to output a manipulation signal for manipulating the assembly such that the assembly manipulates a magnetic field acting on the fluid to create fluctuations, thereby simulating a vibrotactile feedback along the firing rotational path for a user applying torque to the user interface surface upon fluctuations.

In an embodiment of the rotating control device, the device comprises an additional MRF actuator for: the MRF actuator adjusts a force transmission between the user interface surface and the housing when the user interface surface is displaced from the first position to the second position, and the initialization manipulation signal output from the processing unit adjusts the force transmission such that a braking force ramp formed along the displacement path corresponds to a braking force ramp path defined by a mechanical system in which a key is inserted into a key hole.

In an embodiment of the rotating control device, the control signal for activating the drive unit of the vehicle is sent from the communication interface only when the user interface surface is first displaced from the first position to the second position and subsequently turned from the initial orientation to the ignition orientation.

In an embodiment of the rotating control device, the rotating element comprises a chamber containing a magnetorheological fluid, and a static element is provided, which is fixedly arranged with respect to the housing and at least partially arranged within the chamber, such that the torque transmission between the inner surface of the chamber of the rotating element and the static element depends on the characteristics of the magnetic field.

In an embodiment of the rotating control device, the rotating element is implemented to rotate within a chamber of the actuator, the chamber containing the magnetorheological fluid, the chamber being fixedly arranged with respect to the housing such that a torque transfer between the rotating element and an inner surface of the chamber depends on a property of the magnetic field.

Drawings

Certain embodiments of the present invention will be explained in detail below with reference to the following drawings. The figures show:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an embodiment of a rotational control apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of an operational mode selection sequence for an embodiment of the rotational control apparatus of the present invention; and is

Fig. 3 is an exemplary braking force gradient diagram of an embodiment of the rotation control apparatus of the present invention.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of a rotating control device 1 of the invention having a user interface surface 3, which user interface surface 3 can be moved and turned by a user or operator of a vehicle. The user interface surface can be rotated about the axis of rotation 7 of the device 1 into various orientations, for example for selecting an operating mode of the vehicle. Further, the user interface surface 3 may be moved by a user or operator of the vehicle between the first position P1, the second position P2, and the third position P3.

The device 1 comprises a housing 5, which housing 5 at least partly encloses a processing unit 11, which processing unit 11 is mounted on a substrate 15, which substrate 15 is a printed circuit board. The processing unit 11 is connected to a communication interface 13. Via the communication interface 13, signals such as the control signal Ts may be transmitted and received. The processing unit 11 is further connected to a sensor unit 9, which sensor unit 9 is used to monitor the rotation and/or orientation of the user interface surface with respect to the housing 5. The sensor unit 9 sends sensor data Ds to the processing unit 11, and based on the sensor data Ds, the processing unit 11 may generate a control signal to send via the communication interface 13.

The device further comprises an assembly 17, which assembly 17 is used to generate and manipulate a magnetic field in a chamber 19 of the housing 5. The chamber contains a magnetorheological fluid 21 (also referred to as MRF). The rotating element 23 is partially located within the chamber. The rotating element 23 is mechanically connected to the user interface surface 3 and rotates with the rotation of the interface 3.

The viscosity of the magnetorheological fluid 12 can be said to change in response to changes in the magnetic field characteristics (e.g., field strength and direction) caused by the assembly 17. Thus, in a corresponding manner, the fluid transfers more or less torque between the user interface surface 3 and the housing 5 of the device 1. This is due to the variation in shear forces within the fluid and between the fluid and the chamber walls. Since the housing 5 of the device is typically fixedly mounted in the vehicle, the assembly can be considered to accommodate a braking force acting on the user interface surface 3. Such a system, commonly referred to as an MRF actuator, includes an MRF21 in the chamber 19, a rotating element 23, and an assembly 17 for manipulating the magnetic field within the chamber 19. The processing unit 11 is implemented to output manipulation signals for controlling the components 17. For example, the component 17 may be driven by circuitry on the substrate 15 which feeds a Pulse Width Modulated (PWM) current or voltage to the component 17 in accordance with a steering signal from the processing unit 11.

The device further comprises a servo actuator 25, which servo actuator 25 is engaged with the turning element 23 and can thus apply a torque to the user interface surface 3.

Fig. 2 shows a schematic view of an operation mode selection sequence of an embodiment of the rotation control device 1 of the present invention. The user interface surface 3 is in an orientation in which the parking operation mode P of the vehicle is selected. When the operator or user of the vehicle turns the knob counterclockwise in the direction of the ignition (start/stop) orientation, the MRF actuator effects an ignition manipulation signal from the processing unit 11, thereby providing tactile feedback to the operator. Since the tactile feedback is defined based on the conventional mechanical key-turn tactile sense, the cognitive burden on the operator is reduced.

Fig. 3 shows an exemplary braking force gradient diagram of an embodiment of the rotation control device of the invention with respect to the ignition turning path. The braking force increases and then decreases, which emulates a half turn of a key in a conventional street vehicle. Then, as the user interface surface approaches the firing orientation, the braking force increases. When the operator applies a predetermined level of torque to the user interface surface, the device sends a control signal to a drive unit of the vehicle, which may be an electric motor, for example, to activate the drive unit. At the same time, the MRF actuator can manipulate the magnetic field such that the braking force is removed at certain intervals and increased again to a predetermined value at certain intervals. This manipulation of the magnetic field causes the user interface surface to move incrementally at intervals, which may be interpreted by the operator as a vibration.

List of reference numerals

1 rotation control device

3 user interface surface

5 casing

7 axis of rotation

9 sensor unit

11 processing unit

13 communication interface

15 base plate/PCB

17 assembly for generating/manipulating a magnetic field

19 chamber

21 magnetorheological fluid

23 rotating element

25 servo actuator

X1 first direction

Second direction of X2

P1 first position

P2 second position

P3 third position