Electric input key

US8978442B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• AUDI AG · DE

Inventors

• Harald Merklein · Schweinfurt, DE
• Martin Bauer · Bismarck, US

Key dates

• Filing date: May 11, 2012
• Grant date: Mar 17, 2015
• Expiry date: May 11, 2032

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01D3/08
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

An electric input key has an actuating surface and a plurality of displacement sensors which are each designed to generate a displacement signal when the actuating surface is touched. The input key also has an evaluation unit for evaluating the displacement signals and outputting a determined switching state. The input key has at least one analog displacement sensor, at least one digital displacement sensor, and a calibration device for calibrating the analog displacement sensor by using displacement signals measured by the digital displacement sensor. The evaluation unit is designed to carry out self-diagnosis by using calibrated and measured displacement signals.