阅读说明：本技术 操作元件 (Operating element ) 是由 E·比格尔 F·施拉德 G·滕克霍夫 M·潘特克 J·毕勒 于 2020-03-04 设计创作，主要内容包括：一种操作元件包括电流变材料(12,13)和用于产生可变磁场或电场的至少一个驱动器装置(14)。借助于驱动器装置(14)可以产生由操作者察觉的可变的触觉。(An operating element comprises an electrorheological material (12, 13) and at least one driver device (14) for generating a variable magnetic or electric field. By means of the driver device (14), a variable haptic sensation can be generated which is perceptible by the operator.)

1. An operating element comprising an electrorheological material (12, 13) and at least one driver device (14) for generating a variable electric field.

2. Operating element according to claim 1, wherein the electro-rheological material is provided with an electro-rheological elastomer (12).

3. Operating element according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the electrorheological material is provided with an electrorheological fluid (13).

4. Operating element according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the driver device (14) comprises a first electrode (16) and a second electrode (18), between which an electric field can be applied.

5. Operating element according to claim 4, wherein the driver device (14) has at least one flexible electrode (16, 18) and the electrorheological material (12, 13) is at least partially arranged between the electrodes (16, 18).

6. Operating element according to one of the preceding claims, which is designed to produce a variable tactile sensation perceived by an operator.

7. Operating element according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the driver device (14) is designed for causing a variable stiffness of the operating element (10, 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d, 10e, 10 f).

8. Operating element according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the driver device (14) is designed for causing a variable shape of the operating element (10, 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d, 10e, 10 f).

9. Operating element according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the driver device (14) is designed for generating vibrations of the operating element (10, 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d, 10e, 10f), in particular with different frequencies, different durations and/or intermittent outputs which are perceptible by an operator.

10. Operating element according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the driver device (14) is designed such that at least a part of the operating element (10c) can protrude from the surface (45) or sink into the surface (45) upon activation.

11. Operating element according to one of the preceding claims, which is designed as a button or a key.

12. Operating element according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a plurality of single operating elements (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34) which each have their own driver device (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43).

13. Operating element according to one of claims 5 to 12, wherein the first electrode (16) is at least partially manually movable for operating an electrical switching device (50).

14. Operating element according to claim 13, having a first electrode (16) on a first end of the elastomer body, which is arranged for contacting an intermediate electrode (49) upon manual activation in order to realize the electrical switching device (50), and having a second electrode (18), which is arranged on the other end and which is coupled together with the first electrode (16) with the driver device (14) in order to provide the variable tactile sensation.

15. Operating element according to claim 13, having a first electrode (16) on a first end of the elastomer body and having a second electrode (18) which is arranged on the other end and which is coupled with the driver device (14) together with the first electrode (16) in order to provide the variable tactile sensation, wherein the electrical switching device (50) comprises means for monitoring a change in capacitance between the first and second electrodes (16, 18) in order to realize an electrical circuit when the first electrode (16) is moved.

16. Operating element according to any of the preceding claims, which is manufactured by 3D printing.

17. Use of an operating element (10, 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d, 10e, 10f) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the operating element (10, 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d, 10e, 10f) is used to communicate with an operator by tactile changes of the operating element (10, 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d, 10e, 10f) perceptible by the operator, in particular to give feedback of the activation of the operating element (10, 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d, 10e, 10f) by vibration or to request input from the operator by vibration.

18. Use of an operating element according to claim 17 in a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, an air vehicle or a water-borne vehicle.