This application claims priority to European Application No. 14155812.2 filed Feb. 19, 2014, and German Application No. 10 2013 209 849.9 filed May 27, 2013, which are hereby incorporated herein in their entireties by reference.
The invention relates to an operating element having an operating element housing, in the upper region, or on the upper side, of which at least one rib made of elastic material is arranged.
It is known, for example from WO 2013/174728 A1, to form such an operating element for an operating device according to the functional principle with capacitive touch sensors. On the upper side of an operating element housing, an upwardly protruding rib made of elastic and electrically conductive material is in this case arranged in a circumferential shape. It is placed at the bottom on a printed circuit board as a carrier, and is electrically connected thereto, and it acts as a capacitive touch sensor for a corresponding touch switch of an operating device.
The object of the invention is to provide an operating element as mentioned in the introduction, with which problems of the prior art can be solved and, in particular, it is possible to make such an operating element usable in a practically suitable and versatile way, as well as functionally reliable.
The object is achieved by an operating element having the features of claim 1. The object is also achieved by an operating element having the features of claim 11. Advantageous and preferred configurations of the invention are the subject matter of the other claims, and will be explained in more detail below. The wording of the claims is incorporated into the content of the description by explicit reference.
In the upper region of the operating element housing, or on its upper side, at least one rib extends along at least partially. This rib consists of elastic material and protrudes from the operating element housing, advantageously upward and particularly advantageously also somewhat beyond it laterally.
According to a first basic aspect of the invention, in the longitudinal extent of the rib, or in the rib itself, an interruption or a gap is provided so that the rib can be subdivided into at least two correspondingly protruding rib sections. The rib therefore does not extend continuously along the entire longitudinal side of the operating element housing. Although the interruption or gap, or the plurality of interruptions or gaps, do not entail a change in the shape, or cross-sectional shape, of the rib, it is nevertheless possible to achieve a reduction in the application force with which the operating element, or a component carrier comprising a multiplicity of such operating elements thereon, has to be pressed onto a lower side of a cover or of an operating panel, because in fact substantially less rib length has to be pressed. This application force can be influenced by the nature or the scope of the interruption of the rib. Lastly, in this aspect of the invention, the required application force is determined by the ratio of the total length of the rib, or of the rib sections, to the total length or sum of the lengths of the interruptions or gaps. Whether they are then respectively subdivided into few long or more shorter rib sections is of somewhat less importance, although this may naturally have a simplifying or complicating effect in terms of production technology.
The operating element housing may generally be formed angularly in plain view, or quadrilaterally, and it is advantageously rectangular. In this case, in principle, ribs, or rib sections, may be provided along each side, the rib being subdivided into at least two, and under certain circumstances even more, rib sections by the interruption or gaps along each side.
On the one hand, it is possible for the sum of the lengths of the interruptions or gaps along a side to be less than the sum of the lengths of the individual rib sections. The total length of the interruptions may for example be from 20% to 60% of the total length of the rib sections, i.e. significantly less. The rib sections extend on a larger percentage of a longitudinal side of the operating element housing.
On the other hand, the sum of the lengths of the interruptions or gaps in the rib may be greater than the sum of the lengths of the rib sections themselves. Advantageously, it may be significantly greater, i.e. for example from 5 times to 20 times as great as the sum of the lengths of the rib sections. Thus, rib sections extend only on a small percentage of a longitudinal side of the operating element housing, for example from 5% to 20%.
Here, in the case of an operating element housing which is polygonal in plan view, and which is advantageously rectangular, it is possible to provide only very short rib sections which, in particular, are approximately as long as they are wide. They thus resemble more an upwardly projecting cylindrical projection than a rib in this extreme embodiment of the invention with very large interruptions and very small rib sections. Short rib sections of this type may in principle be provided at any position on top of the operating element housing, advantageously only one of them per longitudinal side of the operating element housing. Particularly advantageously, these rib sections may be provided only in corner regions of the operating element housing, or precisely one such rib section or small projection in each corner region. In this case, it is to be expected that an application force of the operating element housing from below onto an operating panel or cover is very small and good bearing of the operating element housing with all rib sections or projections on the lower side is possible.
In another configuration of the invention, the rib sections may be about 1 times to 6 times as long as they are wide. They thus tend to be elongate rib sections. It is also possible for the rib sections respectively to have a length along the sides of the operating element housing which is between 50% and 200% of their width. This is then rather the previously described case of very short rib sections or projections.
In general, the width of the ribs may correspond to between 50% and 150% of the height of the ribs. Both are therefore approximately of the same order of magnitude. For the ribs or rib sections, this may relate to the width of the ribs at the base on the operating element housing, or on its upper side.
According to a second basic aspect of the invention, the rib, or a cross section of the rib, which is advantageously the same over substantial length ranges, is formed in such a way that it is not only materially elastic through the selection of a corresponding elastomer, but also geometrically elastic, i.e. it is formed for geometrical elasticity. Thus, in addition to possible limitations due to a material selection in terms of material strength and possibly electrical conductivity and thermal stability, the overall elasticity of the rib can be influenced and, in particular, increased further. For example, even with relatively hard or inelastic materials with a high Shore hardness, for example a hardness of from 50 to 70 or even 80 Shore A, an overall very elastic rib can be achieved, namely precisely by geometrical elasticity of the rib itself, or its cross section.
Advantageously, an elastically or spring-elastically protruding section of the rib may be provided, which extends away from it in a direction essentially oblique with respect to a plane of the upper side of the operating element. Elasticity of the rib is then achieved not only by pure compressability, but by the deformation or bending of the rib, or of the protruding section. Pressing of the operating element, i.e. of the operating element housing, onto a control surface, in particular on the lower side thereof, can then be carried out for reliable and sufficient bearing of the rib or plurality of ribs of the operating element housing with little force. Lower forces are therefore required overall, or, in the case of an operating device comprising a multiplicity of such operating elements or operating element housing, pressing may be carried out overall with less total force.
In an advantageous configuration of the invention, an aforementioned protruding section of the rib may form a substantial region thereof. This protruding section is advantageously arranged above the operating element housing, so that it can be moved more freely, or more freely bent away or around. A further region of the rib may directly extend along on the upper side or on an outer side of the operating element housing for fastening thereof, and under certain circumstances may also extend therein for reliable and permanent fastening.
In another configuration of the invention, the protruding section of the rib may stand outward from an upper side or an upper region of the operating element housing, i.e. it is substantially distant from a surface at least approximately defined by the ribs of an operating element housing. In this way, for example, a light provided inside the operating element housing may remain unaffected, or have substantially the area of the upper side of the operating element housing available.
An angle, with which the section or the essential part of the rib protrudes laterally, may advantageously be from 30° to 60°. Particularly advantageously, it is between 40° and 50°. The shallower the angle is, the more easily the protruding section can be pressed down, or the more elastic is the rib substantially against pressure force from above. At the same time, naturally, the available spring distance decreases, so that a compromise is to be found.
In one basic configuration of the invention, the rib, or its cross section, may be formed solidly without cavities. This applies in particular for the protruding section, or the region of the rib over or outside the operating element housing. The elasticity is then essentially achieved by the oblique setting, or protruding shape, of the protruding section. Under certain circumstances, the protruding section, in particular close to the operating element housing or in a transition therewith, may have an incision or the like. This may have a substantial hinge effect for easier tilting.
In an alternative basic configuration of the invention, the rib or its cross section may also be made particularly elastic by providing an undercut opening, or by the rib being a hollow profile. Thus, elasticity can be further increased even with small undercuts. By means of a hollow profile, a relatively large outer surface can be achieved with a small wall thickness and therefore low strength. Here again, geometrical elasticity is substantially achieved.
In yet another configuration of the invention, the at least one rib is elongate and as seen in longitudinal cross section is bent convexly away from the upper side of the operating element housing. This means that as seen in longitudinal cross section the rib first extends away somewhat to the side from the operating element housing and is then bent upward. An end direction of the bending on a free edge of the rib, i.e. the end of the longitudinal cross section, may be or extend at an angle of from 60° to 90° with respect to the upper side. With this configuration of the rib, when pressing on an operating panel or cover thereover, the rib can be pressed away downward even more easily than only by lateral protrusion, so that the required application force or spring force is further reduced.
In one configuration of the invention, it is possible respectively to provide a protruding rib with an aforementioned bend in longitudinal cross section only on two of four longitudinal sides of the operating element housing. Advantageously, they are provided on opposite longitudinal sides, particularly advantageously on opposite shorter longitudinal sides. On the other longitudinal sides, either normally continuous ribs or rib sections may be provided or the aforementioned plurality of rib sections with interruptions along a longitudinal side. Furthermore, it is even possible that on a longitudinal side with such a rib bent as seen in cross section, which stands somewhat laterally from the operating element housing, upwardly protruding ribs or rib sections may be provided on top of the operating element housing.
In another configuration of the invention, it is possible that, although the rib is also elongate, it is bent in its longitudinal extent, irrespective of the nature of its longitudinal cross section. This bending, of the rib in the longitudinal extent begins on a rib base on the operating element housing, so that the rib firstly extends obliquely upward, or in a direction upward with respect to the operating panel. It then extends beyond the upper side of the operating element housing with a bending angle becoming increasingly shallower. The rib then reaches a high point and passes through this in its longitudinal extent, then is bent downward again. Advantageously, the bending is approximately symmetrical in the rising and falling regions. At the other end, the rib may either be connected again to the operating element housing, particularly on a corner of the operating element housing or a corner region, or alternatively the other end of the rib may be a free end without fastening on the operating element housing. An application force can also be reduced greatly by such bending of the rib, namely in the longitudinal extent. This depends above all on the fact that, in the case of rather shallow bends of the rib, it is only necessary to bend very little or press down per unit length in relation to the distance by which it must be bent downward overall.
While the configurations described above are based on a rib extending along a longitudinal side of the operating element housing and being connected to the operating element housing or fastened thereon at least in the corner regions, in a further configuration of the invention a rib may be bent differently from a straight line, or be U-shaped, in its longitudinal extent in plan view of the operating element housing, or the upper side thereof. In this case, it is thus possible for a rib to extend not from corner to corner but from a point on a longitudinal side of the operating element housing which is somewhat away from a corner, and over this corner and advantageously also over the next corner, again to a point which lies somewhat beyond a corner in the longitudinal side of the operating element housing. Above all in an above-described embodiment of a rib with bending in the longitudinal extent, this is advantageous since the rib can be bent upward in this angled or U-shaped longitudinal extent. Thus, its length comprising the bend is further increased and an application force necessary for pressing is further reduced. The rib may in this case be connected at both ends to the operating element housing, or fastened thereon. Furthermore, such an angularly extending or U-shaped rib may extend within the contour of the operating element housing in plan view of the upper side, that is to say it does not project laterally. The maximum height of the bending of a rib bent in the longitudinal extent over the operating element housing, or over the upper side, may be a few millimeters, advantageously from 0.5 mm to 2 mm or 3 mm, or may be about 50% to 200% of the height of the rib itself
Advantageously, the operating element housing is substantially formed rectangularly in plan view, particularly advantageously overall in the shape of a block. A rib should extend on at least two of its sides, advantageously on neighboring sides. Particularly advantageously, a rib extends on all four sides or side regions of the operating element housing. A plurality of ribs are generally advantageously formed in the same way, or with the same cross section.
In the configuration described above of a plurality of ribs along the side regions of the operating element housing, a protruding section should not be provided in corner regions. The high elasticity can be preserved by this interruption in the corner regions. Equally, the rib may advantageously also extend over the corner regions, in particular with a flat base region, in order to connect together protruding sections on different sides of the operating element housing. In this way, it is possible to achieve one-piece production, which on the one hand is simpler. On the other hand, a continuous electrical conductivity can be achieved for the aforementioned properties as a capacitive sensor element. Such continuous connecting sections of the ribs may then extend as a base or base region directly on the operating element housing, or therein.
A height of a protruding section may lie between 0.5 mm and 3 mm, for example from 5% to 20% of the height of the operating element housing. A height of about 0.8 to 1.5 mm with an operating element housing height of between 3 mm and 8 mm is generally regarded as advantageous. A thickness of such a protruding section may be somewhat less than its height, for example about half the height.
For aforementioned properties of the rib or the protruding sections as a capacitive sensor element, its elastic material should be electrically conductive. It may generally be an elastomer or a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), likewise rubber. It may be made electrically conductive by additives from the group carbon black, graphite, metal powder and/or carbon nanotubes, above all in the case of TPE. Here, costs and sufficient electrical conductivity should be taken into account.
These and other features may furthermore be found in the claims and the description and the drawings. The individual features may be implemented individually or several together in the form of subcombinations in an embodiment of the invention and in other fields, and may represent advantageous and protectable embodiments for which protection is claimed here. The division of the application into subheadings and individual sections does not restrict the comments made therein in their general applicability.
Exemplary embodiments of the invention are schematically represented in the drawings and will be explained in more detail below. In the drawings:
Above on the operating element housing, 13, or on the upper side, or on an outer edge, ribs 20a to 20c are fitted, preferably by multicomponent injection moulding onto the operating element housing, 13, or the shell body 14. While the shell body 14 consists of light-nontransmissive plastic and the light guide 17 consists of light-transmissive plastic, the ribs 20a to 20c consist of an elastomer, advantageously an aforementioned electrically conductive elastomer, for example TPE. The inherent hardness of the elastomer may be about 10 to 70 Shore A, advantageously from 20 to 60 Shore A, so that it is relatively soft and elastic.
The cross sections of the ribs 20 are respectively the same. For example, the rib 20a has a lower base region 21a, which is arranged directly on the operating element housing 13, or the shell body 14. The base region 21a merges into a protruding region 23a, here in the manner of an obliquely standing lip or the like. The cross sections of the ribs 20a to 20c are respectively the same over their lengths. The base region 21a to 21c may also be sunk or injected somewhat into the operating element housing 13, or the shell body 14, and/or light guide 17 for better fastening. A further fourth rib corresponding to the rib 21d is provided, but is not represented here.
From the right-hand rib 20c, or from the base region 21c, web-like contacting 20 on the outer region of the shell body 14 extends downward and opens into a contact region 27′. The latter is used for electrical contacting of the ribs 20a to 20c, as will be explained in more detail below.
The installed state of the operating element 11 is shown by
Furthermore, the operating device 28 has a printed circuit board 32 with holes 33, into which the holding feet 15 are retainingly inserted. An LED 35, which protrudes into the recess 18 and shines through the light guide 17 for lighting which can be seen from above through the light-transmissive operating surface 30, is arranged on top of the printed circuit board 32. Toward the side, the light is shielded by the shell body 14, which is seated firmly on the upper side of the printed circuit board 32, as well as the ribs 20a to 20c, or all four ribs provided around. Here, it can also be seen that the contact foot 27′ of the contacting 27 is pressed onto a contact area 36 on the printed circuit board 32 for electrical contacting by means of conductor tracks (not represented) on the ribs 20. The ribs 20, or their elongate regions pressed onto the lower side of the operating surface 30, form a capacitive operating element, or a capacitive sensor surface, as described in WO 2013/174728 A1, which was mentioned in the introduction.
From the representation of
In a variant of an operating element 111 according to
The installed state, that is to say when the operating element 111 is pressed against the lower side of an operating surface 130, i.e. in a similar way as in
Yet another configuration is represented in
On the right, it can be seen from
Another operating element 511 according to the first basic aspect of the invention as mentioned in the introduction is represented in
It can be seen clearly both from the side and from the top that, compared for example with
An exemplary embodiment of a configuration, likewise described in the introduction, of an operating element 611 is represented in
On the one hand, in
In this exemplary embodiment, it can thus be seen that substantially both types of ribs, on the one hand with interruptions and on the other hand with a design protruding at an angle, may be provided together on an operating element. It is, however, obviously to be understood that either only the two angled-off ribs 738a and 738c may advantageously be provided, that is to say no rib sections 720 with interruptions between them, or these may also be provided with angled-off ribs 738 along the long longitudinal sides of an operating element housing.
Yet another configuration of ribs or rib sections for an operating element is represented in
From
A variant of the configuration of
Yet another configuration, derived from
Somewhat more complex is the exemplary embodiment of
With this configuration, it is likewise possible to achieve a very small application force, but with a much larger application surface, namely that of essentially the entire upper side of the transverse regions 1341. For yet further reduction of a necessary application force, the transverse regions 1341 could also be bent upward according to the configuration of
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
10 2013 209 849.9 | May 2013 | DE | national |
14155812.2 | Feb 2014 | EP | regional |