阅读说明：本技术 旋转控制装置 (Rotation control device ) 是由 赖纳·黑弗舍尔 阿图尔·诺伊曼 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),该旋转控制装置包括用户接口表面(3),特别是旋钮,所述用户接口表面被实施为绕装置(1)的转动轴线(7)相对于装置(1)的外壳(5)转动,所述旋转控制装置进一步包括用于监视用户接口表面(3)相对于外壳(5)的定向和/或转动的传感器单元(9)、处理单元(11),和用于根据来自处理单元(11)的输出(Op)传输控制信号(Ts)的通信接口(13),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)生成。(The invention relates to a rotary control device (1) for a vehicle, comprising a user interface surface (3), in particular a knob, which is embodied to be rotatable about a rotational axis (7) of the device (1) relative to a housing (5) of the device (1), further comprising a sensor unit (9) for monitoring an orientation and/or rotation of the user interface surface (3) relative to the housing (5), a processing unit (11), and a communication interface (13) for transmitting a control signal (Ts) in dependence on an output (Op) from the processing unit (11), which output (Op) is generated by the processing unit (11) on the basis of sensor data (Ds) from the sensor unit (9).)

1. A rotational control apparatus comprising a user interface surface implemented to rotate relative to a housing of the apparatus about an axis of rotation of the apparatus,

the rotation control device further includes:

a sensor unit for monitoring 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 rotary control device further comprises a magnetorheological actuator,

wherein the magnetorheological actuator comprises a rotating element mechanically connected to the user interface surface 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 for adjusting a torque transfer between the user interface surface and the housing,

characterized in that the rotary control device further comprises a servo actuator implemented to apply a torque to the user interface surface according to a manipulation signal output by a processing unit of the device.

2. The rotating control device of claim 1, wherein the MRF actuator is implemented to generate and/or manipulate a characteristic of the magnetic field as a function of haptic feedback signals received by the device via the communication interface.

3. The rotating control device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the processing unit is implemented to output, based on sensor data from the sensor unit, a manipulation signal for manipulating the component for generating and/or manipulating the property of the magnetic field.

4. The rotating control device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the servo actuator is embodied to apply a torque to the user interface surface such that the orientation of the user interface surface relative to the housing is returned to a predetermined orientation when the orientation of the user interface surface changes by a predetermined amount in at least one rotational direction from the predetermined orientation.

5. The rotating control device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the predetermined orientation is determined based on sensor data from the sensor unit.

6. The rotating control device of at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the processing unit is implemented to output a manipulation signal to the component, causing the component to manipulate the magnetic field such that, when the orientation of the user interface surface changes by a predetermined amount in at least one rotational direction from a predetermined orientation, the torque transfer between the user interface surface and the housing is increased to a predetermined value to inhibit movement of the user interface surface relative to the housing.

7. The rotating control device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the torque transmission gradually increases as the orientation of the user interface surface deviates from a predetermined position according to a predetermined braking force path progression, in particular an exponentially increasing braking force path progression.

8. The rotating control device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sensor unit of the device further comprises a sensor for monitoring the torque applied to the user interface surface.

9. The rotating control device of at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a sensor unit of the device further monitors an acceleration of the rotation of the user interface surface relative to the housing.

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

a static element is provided, which is arranged in a fixed manner with respect to the housing and is arranged at least partially 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.

11. The rotating control device according to at least one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the rotating element is embodied to rotate within a chamber of the actuator containing magnetorheological fluid, which chamber is arranged in a fixed manner relative to the housing such that the torque transmission between the rotating element and the inner surface of the chamber depends on the characteristics of the magnetic field.

12. System for a vehicle comprising a rotary control device according to at least one of the preceding claims and a graphical user interface unit comprising a display and a processing unit, the system further comprising a communication path between the rotary control device and the graphical user interface unit.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the graphical user interface unit transmits a haptic feedback signal to the rotational control device via the communication path.

14. The system of one of claims 12 or 13, wherein the rotational control device transmits a control signal to the graphical user interface unit, and wherein a display of the graphical user interface unit displays visual feedback according to the control signal received from the device.

Technical Field

The invention relates to a rotary control device comprising a user interface surface which is embodied to be rotated about an axis of rotation of the device relative to a housing of the device, the rotary control device 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 transmitting control signals in dependence on an 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 rotary element which is mechanically connected to the user interface surface and is adapted to interact with a magneto-rheological fluid of the magneto-rheological actuator, and wherein the magneto-rheological actuator comprises an assembly, the assembly is for generating and/or manipulating a characteristic of a magnetic field acting on the magnetorheological fluid such that the magnetorheological actuator is used to adjust 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 characteristics of a magnetic field is disclosed, the purpose of which is to regulate 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 introduce 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.

This object is therefore achieved by a rotary control device comprising a user interface surface which is embodied to be rotated about an axis of rotation of the device relative to a housing of the device, the rotary control device 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 transmitting control signals in dependence on an 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 rotating element which is mechanically connected to the user interface surface and which is adapted to interact with a magneto-rheological fluid of the magneto-rheological actuator, and wherein the magneto-rheological actuator comprises an assembly, the assembly is for generating and/or manipulating a characteristic of a magnetic field acting on the magnetorheological fluid such that the magnetorheological actuator is for adjusting a torque transfer between the user interface surface and the housing, wherein the rotational control apparatus further comprises a servo actuator implemented to apply a torque to the user interface surface in accordance with a manipulation signal output by a processing unit of the apparatus.

In the sense of the present invention, the position of the user interface surface refers to the placement of the user interface surface in a plane spatially displaced from the housing of the device by a specified distance. The orientation of the user interface surface in the sense of the present invention refers to the initial setting of the reference housing relative to the user interface surface, the rotational displacement of the user interface surface around the rotational axis of the device with a specific angular rotation.

The magnetorheological fluid defines the behavior of the rotary 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 of the magnetic field (such as strength and/or direction), 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 member 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 an operating mode of the vehicle, such as the following: a forward drive 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 drive mode of operation in which torque is transmitted from a drive unit of the vehicle to propel the vehicle in a reverse direction; a neutral operation mode in which no torque is transmitted from a 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 blocked; or another mode of operation.

When the position and/or orientation of the user interface surface remains constant in the absence of a force applied to the device from an external source, then this position and/or orientation of the user interface surface can be referred to as a stable position. On the other hand, when the user interface surface is not held in a certain position or orientation, such as because a mechanism of the device internally applies a force, such position and/or orientation can be referred to as unstable.

A safety-relevant function of the vehicle in the sense of the invention can be, for example, selection of an operating mode of the vehicle, steering, accelerating or braking of the vehicle. The non-safety function of the vehicle can be, for example, navigation or control of a multimedia interface.

In the sense of the present invention, the communication path can be, for example, a hard wire, such as a data bus and/or a wireless data transmission channel, for transmitting data. In many modern street vehicles, the CAN data bus is a preferred type of communication path.

In the sense of the present invention, the user interface surface or knob can comprise an outer surface of an annular and/or half-shell structure accessible to an operator (i.e., user) of the vehicle. The user interface surface can further include a formation beneath an outer surface of the user interface surface.

In an embodiment of the rotational control device, the MRF actuator is implemented to generate and/or manipulate a characteristic of the magnetic field in dependence of a haptic feedback signal received by the device via the communication interface.

In an embodiment of the rotating control device, the processing unit is implemented to output a manipulation signal for manipulating a component for generating and/or manipulating a property of the magnetic field based on the sensor data from the sensor unit.

In an embodiment of the rotational control apparatus, the servo actuator is implemented to apply a torque to the user interface surface such that the orientation of the user interface surface relative to the housing is returned to the predetermined orientation when the orientation of the user interface surface changes by a predetermined amount in at least one rotational direction from the predetermined orientation.

In an embodiment of the rotational control apparatus, the servo actuator is adapted to apply a torque to the user interface surface such that a braking force gradient employed by the MRF actuator along a first defined portion of a rotational path of the user interface surface is reversed, i.e. mirrored and applied to the user interface surface by the servo actuator as a torque applying gradient along a second defined portion of the rotational path. Thereby enabling the tactile feedback provided by conventional rotary control devices to be mimicked.

In an embodiment of the rotating control device, the predetermined orientation is determined based on sensor data from the sensor unit.

In an embodiment of the rotating control device, the processing unit is implemented to output a manipulation signal to the component, thereby causing the component to manipulate the magnetic field such that, when the orientation of the user interface surface changes by a predetermined amount from the predetermined orientation in at least one rotational direction, the torque transfer between the user interface surface and the housing is increased to a predetermined value to inhibit movement of the user interface surface relative to the housing.

In an embodiment of the rotational control device, the torque transfer gradually increases as the orientation of the user interface surface deviates from the predetermined position according to a predetermined braking force path progression, in particular an exponentially increasing braking force path progression.

In an embodiment of the rotating control device, the sensor unit of the device further comprises a sensor for monitoring the torque applied to the user interface surface.

In an embodiment of the rotating control device, the sensor unit of the device further monitors the acceleration of the rotation of the user interface surface relative to the housing.

In an embodiment of the rotating control device, the rotating element comprises a chamber containing the magnetorheological fluid, and in the chamber a static element is provided, which is arranged in a fixed manner with respect to the housing and at least partly inside 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 containing the magnetorheological fluid, said chamber being arranged in a fixed manner with respect to the housing, such that the torque transfer between the rotating element and the inner surface of the chamber depends on the characteristics of the magnetic field.

The system for a vehicle of such embodiments that include a rotational control device can further include a graphical user interface unit that includes a display and a processing unit, the system further including a communication path between the rotational control device and the graphical user interface unit.

Such a system can be further implemented to cause the graphical user interface unit to transmit a haptic feedback signal to the rotational control device via the communication path.

Such a system can further be implemented such that the rotational control device transmits a control signal to the graphical user interface element, and wherein the display of the graphical user interface element displays visual feedback according to the control signal received from the device.

Drawings

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

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

Fig. 2 is a force ramp diagram of an embodiment of a rotational control apparatus according to the present invention.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows a diagrammatic view of an embodiment of a rotating control device 1 of the invention with a user interface surface 3, which user interface surface 3 can be moved and turned by a user or operator of the vehicle. The user interface surface is capable of being rotated about the axis of rotation 7 of the device 1 into various orientations a 1-. Furthermore, the user interface surface 3 is movable by a user or operator of the vehicle between a first position P1, a second position P2 and a third position P3.

The device 1 comprises a housing 5, which housing 5 at least partly encloses a processing unit 11 mounted on a substrate 15, which substrate 15 is a printed circuit board. The processing unit 11 is connected to a communication interface 13. A signal such as the control signal Ts can be transmitted and received via the communication interface 13. 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 transmits sensor data Ds to the processing unit 11, and based on the sensor data Ds, the processing unit 11 is able to generate control signals to be transmitted via the communication interface 13.

The device further comprises an assembly 17 for generating and manipulating a magnetic field in a chamber 19 of the housing 5. The chamber contains a magnetorheological fluid 21, also known 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.

It can be said that the viscosity of the magnetorheological fluid 12 changes in response to changes in the characteristics of the magnetic field (such as field strength and direction) induced by the assembly 17. Thus, in a corresponding manner, the fluid transfers more or less torque between the user interface surface 3 of the device 1 and the housing 5. This is due to changes in shear forces within the fluid and between the fluid and the chamber walls. Since the housing 5 of the device is normally mounted in a fixed manner in the vehicle, the assembly can be considered to regulate a braking force acting on the user interface surface 3. Such a system comprising the MRF 21 in the chamber 19, the rotating element 23 and the assembly 17 for manipulating the magnetic field inside the chamber 19 is generally referred to as an MRF actuator. The processing unit 11 is implemented to output manipulation signals for controlling the components 17. For example, the component 17 can be driven by a circuit on the substrate 15, which feeds a Pulse Width Modulated (PWM) current or voltage to the component 17 in accordance with the manipulation 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 is thus able to apply a torque to the user interface surface 3.

Fig. 2 shows a braking force gradient diagram of an embodiment of the rotation control device according to the present invention. The force gradient is shown with respect to the rotational path of the user interface surface 3 between two orientations for making a selection such that the processing unit generates a control signal for transmission by the device.

In a first part of the path, labeled MRF, the braking force increases to a certain value as the user interface is turned. The braking force is caused by the MRF actuator. In the second portion of the path, the braking force ramp is reversed, or correlatively undergoes a mathematical rotational transformation, and applied as a negative braking force (i.e., propulsion) to the user interface surface. This force is employed by the servo actuator. The operator of the device 1 can interpret this as an acceleration caused by passing through a latching point in a mechanical, conventional rotating device in order to reach the second orientation for making the selection.

Reference numerals

1 rotation control device

3 user interface surface

5 outer cover

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