Input device with function triggering or control which takes place based on capacitively measured actuation force and adaptation by means of capacitive contact detection

US10924111B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Preh GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Norbert Bauer · Bad Neustadt an der Saale, DE
• Thomas Kleffel · Höchberg, DE
• Jochen Schlereth · Sondheim, DE
• Florian Schmitt · Bonn, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 3, 2017
• Grant date: Feb 16, 2021
• Expiry date: May 5, 2037

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H03K2217/9651
• WIPO field: Basic communication processes
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

An input device is disclosed, including a capacitive force sensor, a capacitive touch sensor, and an evaluation unit, where the capacitive force sensor includes an operating surface and a first conductive electrode, and a second conductive electrode; wherein the evaluation unit is configured to detect an associated characteristic value of a touch on the operating surface during the operation, such as a location surface of action of the touch, by means of the capacitive touch sensor, and wherein the evaluation unit is further configured to detect a measured quantity changing with the operating force by generating a first measuring capacitance between the first and second electrodes and to assign a switching or controlling function to the operation in accordance with the characteristic value detected by the capacitive touch sensor and with the measured quantity detected in the operation-detection step.