DE102024106673A1 - Apparatus with a base body and an operating element - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus (1) with a base body (2) and an operating element (3), wherein the operating element (3) has an operating element base body (4) and an actuating surface (5) and the operating element (3) is mounted in or on the base body (2), wherein the operating element (3) is movable relative to the base body (2) by pressing with at least one finger on the actuating surface (5), wherein the operating element (3) has at least one actuator (6) for generating a mechanical impulse acting on the actuating surface (5).

Description

The present invention relates to an apparatus having a base body and an operating element, wherein the operating element has an operating element base body and an actuating surface and the operating element is mounted in or on the base body, wherein the operating element is movable relative to the base body by pressing with at least one finger on the actuating surface.

Such devices with corresponding control elements are known in a variety of designs in the prior art. For example, there are devices in the form of game controllers, in which corresponding control elements, such as control levers or control buttons, are mounted on or in the base body of the device and can be moved relative to it by pressing on an actuating surface. Other examples of such devices include hand-held power tools such as drills, cordless screwdrivers, staplers, and the like, which also require a finger to press on a corresponding control element to activate the device. Such a device can also be an input device of a motor vehicle. A wide variety of control elements in the form of switches, buttons, pivot levers, and the like are also known in motor vehicles; these control elements can be moved with the finger relative to the base body of the device, such as a vehicle console or a vehicle dashboard. These control elements are generally used in these devices to input control commands into the device using the user's finger.

The object of the invention is to further develop apparatuses of the type mentioned at the outset in such a way that the apparatus can also provide feedback to the user.

For this purpose, the invention proposes an apparatus according to claim 1.

It is thus provided according to the invention that the operating element has at least one actuator for generating a mechanical impulse acting on the actuating surface.

The operating surface, which the user presses with their finger when activating the control element, can thus be subjected to a mechanical impulse. This provides the user of the device with tactile feedback that can be felt with the finger that is currently activating the control element. Using this tactile sensation, a wide variety of information can be transmitted to the user, e.g., about the operating status or operating state of the device. The transmission of other information about the current state of the device is also possible. Particularly if the device is a game controller or similar, specific tactile sensations can also be transmitted to the user or their finger in this way, which are specifically appropriate for the game situation being played. For example, the acceleration situations of a vehicle, the firing of a weapon, particularly a machine gun, or the like can be simulated in the form of tactilely perceptible signals in order to provide immediate tactile feedback to the user or their finger. The applications of the invention are numerous and can be adapted to the respective type of apparatus.

The apparatus according to the invention could also be referred to as an inventive device or a device according to the invention. In particular, the apparatus according to the invention can be a game controller, e.g., with a joystick, or an input device, e.g., a rocker switch, a button, or the like, particularly formed on a vehicle console or dashboard of a vehicle, of a motor vehicle or a hand-held work machine. However, this is, of course, only an incomplete list of examples, since the possible applications for the invention are extremely numerous.

Due to the multitude of possible configurations for devices according to the invention, their base body can also be designed very differently. The base body can be, for example, a housing or another supporting structure of the device. The operating element can be movably mounted in or on the base body of the device. The base body can therefore have a receiving cavity in which the operating element can be moved or into and out of which it can be moved. However, other forms of mounting the operating element on the base body of the device are also conceivable.

Basically, the idea is that the user can feel the mechanical impulse generated by the actuator with their finger resting on the actuating surface, i.e., perceive it as a tactile signal. For this to happen, the actuating surface does not necessarily have to be visibly deflected. It could also be a purely mechanical vibration excitation of the actuating surface. However, in preferred embodiments of the invention, that the mechanical impulse generates a movement of the actuating surface in the direction away from the control element base body.

In principle, a wide variety of actuator forms can be used to generate a mechanical pulse acting on the actuating surface in devices according to the invention. The actuator could also be referred to as a pulse generator. For example, pneumatic or hydraulic actuator designs are conceivable for this purpose. Particularly preferred variants, however, provide for the actuator to be electrically or electromagnetically driven. These can be, for example, electrically driven eccentrics, magnetic or magnetizable counterparts or plungers moved by electromagnetic coils, or the like. Some possible examples are explained below in the description of the figures, without this limiting the variety of actuators possible according to the invention. The actuator, or even just parts thereof, can be arranged either on the control element base body or directly in the actuating surface or in an actuating body having the actuating surface, which will be explained in more detail below.

Preferred embodiments of such actuators provide that at least the part of the actuator that is to be supplied with energy, in particular with electrical current, is arranged in the control element base body. This simplifies the energy supply to the actuator.

The actuator can be designed as a linearly or translationally movable actuator, e.g. with a plunger arranged in an electromagnetic coil, in particular permanent magnets, or also as a rotating actuator, e.g. as an eccentric cam rotatable by means of an electric motor or a correspondingly rotatable eccentric disc or a crank drive.

Particularly preferred variants of the invention provide that the operating element has a support element for supporting the actuator in applying the mechanical impulse to the actuating surface. The operating element can have the support element in addition to the actuator. However, the support element can also be integrated into the actuator. The support element preferably acts elastically. For this purpose, the support element can be designed as a mechanical spring. For this purpose, the support element can also be designed, for example, as a permanent magnet. Particularly preferably, the support element acts on a plunger of the actuator to apply the mechanical impulse to the actuating surface.

Depending on the actuator's design, the actuating surface can also be reset via the actuator itself after the mechanical impulse has been delivered. Examples of this are shown in the figure description below.

Particularly preferred embodiments of the invention, however, provide that the operating element has at least one elastic actuating surface return element for returning the actuating surface toward the operating element base body. Such elastic actuating surface return elements can ensure the return of the actuating surface alone after a mechanical impulse has been transmitted to it. However, such elastic actuating surface return elements can also perform the corresponding return of the actuating surface together with the actuator, thus supporting the actuator in the return process.

The mechanical pulse applied to the actuating surface by the actuator can be a single mechanical pulse or a pulse sequence of consecutive single mechanical pulses. For the sake of simplicity, the term "mechanical pulse" is often used here to refer to both single pulses and corresponding pulse sequences, where appropriate in the respective case. Regardless of whether it is a single mechanical pulse or a pulse sequence of single mechanical pulses, preferred variants of the invention provide for each single mechanical pulse to have a pulse duration of a maximum of 0.2 seconds, preferably a maximum of 0.1 seconds. Pulse durations of a maximum of 0.01 seconds are particularly preferred.

With regard to the strength of the impulse delivered to the actuating surface by the actuator, preferred variants provide that the single mechanical impulse applies a force greater than 0 Newton and up to 1 Newton to the actuating surface.

In order to achieve the best possible tactile perceptibility of the individual pulses in pulse sequences, it is preferred that the pulse sequence has a maximum of 300 consecutively generated mechanical individual pulses per second.

By varying the duration and strength of each individual mechanical impulse, but also by varying the time intervals between The successive individual mechanical impulses in a pulse sequence can transmit a wide variety of tactile signals to the finger of the person operating the device via the actuating surface. With appropriate control and regulation, various forms of tactilely perceptible mechanical impulses can be transmitted to the actuating surface.

If excessive heating of the operating element, in particular of the operating element base body, is to be feared due to the actuator, appropriate cooling measures can be taken to prevent this in devices according to the invention. These can be known measures such as cooling fins, heat pipes, or forced ventilation, e.g., by means of flutter valves, or the like. Overheating of the actuator or the operating element can also be counteracted by an appropriate choice of materials, e.g., by constructing the base body of the device, or at least the area near the operating element, from materials with good thermal conductivity. Examples include highly thermally conductive metals such as aluminum or copper, or the like, but also plastics with good thermal conductivity properties, e.g., through appropriate fillers such as, in particular, hexagonal boron nitride. To avoid unnecessary heating of the operating element or the operating element base body during relative movement to the base body of the device, appropriate measures to reduce mechanical friction can also be taken. These can include, for example, appropriately good fits, the correct choice of materials, the use of sliding materials and/or correspondingly good sliding surfaces, but also lubrication or air cushioning.

Unwanted acoustic side effects, in other words noise development, can also be reduced by appropriate design of guides and padding.

The actuating surface can be formed directly on the actuator. However, an alternative, preferred variant provides for the actuating surface to be formed on an actuating body of the operating element, wherein the actuating body is mounted on the operating element base body so that it can move relative to the operating element base body.

The actuating surface as well as the actuating body can be moved translationally and/or rotationally relative to the operating element base body. Particularly preferred is a pivotable mounting of the actuating body on the operating element base body. Preferred variants provide for the actuating body to be articulatedly attached to the operating element base body or molded thereon. Suitable joints can be, for example, film hinges, axle joints, or ball joints. When designed as a film hinge, its elastic properties can then also form the elastic actuating surface return element mentioned above. Of course, separate actuating surface return elements such as return springs or the like are also conceivable to ensure appropriate return of the actuating body and/or the actuating surface relative to the operating element base body.

There are also a variety of options for the relative movement of the operating element relative to the base body of the device. For example, it can be provided that the operating element can be moved and/or pivoted relative to the base body by pressing on the actuating surface with at least one finger. Preferably, the operating element is mounted in or on the base body so that it can be moved back and forth between an initial position and a maximum deflected end position. In the maximum deflected end position, the operating element can strike an end stop on the base body of the device. It is also advantageous if an operating element reset element is provided for resetting the operating element relative to the base body. Preferably, therefore, the device has a preferably elastic operating element reset element for returning the operating element to the initial position.

In order to be able to determine the current actual position of the operating element relative to the main body of the device, preferred variants of the invention provide that the device has a position sensor for determining the current actual position of the operating element. The current actual position of the operating element determined by the position sensor can be used in a variety of ways. For example, it is possible to vary the type of mechanical impulse depending on the measured actual position of the operating element. However, the current actual position of the operating element measured by the position sensor can also be used to influence the mobility of the operating element during its movement relative to the main body.

The apparatus may comprise a braking device for braking and/or holding the operating element during its movement and/or in its current position relative to the base body.

This braking device can be integrated into the base body or into the control element. The braking device can be an adjustable have braking force. The actual position of the control element can be used, for example, as a measurement variable for this controllable braking force. Of course, other state parameters of the device can also be used to control the braking force. The braking device can be, for example, known disc or drum brakes. The braking device is also advantageously actuated electrically and/or electromagnetically. A particularly preferred variant provides for the braking device to be a magnetorheological braking device, as is known per se. Magnetorheological braking devices have the advantage that their braking force can be adjusted very quickly by appropriately applying and changing the magnetic field, and a wide variety of types and forms of braking profiles can be implemented with them. The type and intensity of braking can be virtually freely specified with such magnetorheological braking devices.

Particularly preferably, the actuator applies a mechanical impulse to the actuating surface when the operating element or the operating element base body either rests against an end stop of the base body or is momentarily braked or held by a corresponding braking device. In principle, however, it is also possible to generate the tactile signal independently of the current position of the operating element.

In preferred embodiments, the apparatus has an internal and/or external control or regulation with which the actuator and optionally also the braking device can be controlled, in particular also depending on the measured actual position.

For the sake of completeness, it should be noted that in the course of describing this invention, the numerical terms used, such as one, two, three, and the like, generally only describe the minimum number of a feature present. Individual features or components of the apparatus may, of course, also be present in larger numbers.

• 1 bis 3 Darstellungen zu einem Ausführungsbeispiel eines erfindungsgemäßen Apparats in Form eines Spielecontrollers;
• 4 und 5 eine schematisierte Darstellung eines grundsätzlich möglichen Aufbaus eines Ausführungsbeispiels eines erfindungsgemäßen Apparats;
• 6 bis 8 Darstellungen zu Ausführungsvarianten eines entsprechenden Bedienelements;
• 9 und 10 Prinzipdarstellungen, jeweils in einem Längsschnitt, zu Ausgestaltungsmöglichkeiten von Bremsvorrichtungen;
• 11 bis 16 Darstellungen anderer Varianten von Bedienelementen, die bei erfindungsgemäßen Apparaten zum Einsatz kommen können;
• 17 eine weitere Prinzipskizze zu einer möglichen Ausgestaltung eines erfindungsgemäßen Apparats und
• 18 und 19 Varianten des Ausführungsbeispiels aus den 6 und 7, bei denen jeweils ein Unterstützungselement vorgesehen ist.

Further features and details of preferred embodiments of the invention are explained below by way of example in the description of the figures. They show:

• 1 to 3 Representations of an embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention in the form of a game controller;
• 4 and 5 a schematic representation of a fundamentally possible structure of an embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention;
• 6 to 8 Representations of design variants of a corresponding control element;
• 9 and 10 Principle diagrams, each in a longitudinal section, of possible designs of braking devices;
• 11 to 16 Representations of other variants of operating elements that can be used in devices according to the invention;
• 17 a further schematic diagram of a possible embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention and
• 18 and 19 Variants of the embodiment from the 6 and 7 , each of which has a support element.

The 1 and 2 show an example of an apparatus 1 according to the invention in the form of a game controller 14. This initially has numerous features known per se. It comprises a base body 2 in the form of a housing, on the surface of which various switching buttons 20 and also two joysticks 19 are provided. In addition to these features known per se, the game controller 14, i.e. the apparatus 1 according to the invention of this exemplary embodiment, also has an operating element 3 designed according to the invention, which in this first exemplary embodiment is designed as a pivotably mounted operating lever. This operating element 3 has an actuating surface 5, onto which a user presses with his finger when he wants to move the operating element 3 accordingly relative to the base body 2, in this exemplary embodiment pivot it. As will be seen further below, the actuating surface 5 in this exemplary embodiment is a surface of an actuating body 8, which is pivotable relative to a 1 and 2 The control element base body 4, which is not yet visible and is arranged inside the base body 2, is movably mounted, here pivotably, on the control element base body 4. The control element base body 4 of this exemplary embodiment is in turn pivotably mounted on the base body 2.

3 now shows a section through this apparatus 1 according to the invention or the game controller 14 from the 1 and 2 . The operating element 3 or its operating element base body 4 can be seen inside the base body 2. The entire operating element 3 is thus movable, in this embodiment pivotable about the pivot axis 41, mounted in or on the base body 2 of the device 1. The pivoting is carried out by the user pressing his finger on the actuating surface arranged on the actuating body 8 of the operating element 3 in this embodiment. surface 5, whereby the entire operating element 3 is pivoted about the pivot axis 41 relative to the base body 2. In this exemplary embodiment, the actuating body 8 is integrally formed on the operating element base body 4 by means of a film hinge 9. The film hinge 9 can also simultaneously form an elastic actuating surface return element 7, which elastically prestresses or pivots the actuating body 8 toward the operating element base body 4 as soon as the actuator 6 is no longer active.

While in this embodiment the film hinge 9 ensures a corresponding return of the actuating body 8 relative to the operating element base body 4, the operating element return element 10 is provided to pivot the entire operating element 3, i.e. the operating element base body 4 together with the actuating body 8 and the actuating surface 5 back into the starting position when pressure is no longer applied to the actuating surface 5. The operating element return element 10, designed here as a spring, is, as shown in 3 can be seen, supported on the one hand on a contact shoulder 22 of the control element base body 4 and on the other hand on a support shoulder 21 of the base body 2.

In addition, in this embodiment, according to the 1 to 3 A position sensor 11 is also provided with which the current position of the operating element 3 or the operating element base body 4 relative to the base body 2 can be measured or determined.

The 4 and 5 show a somewhat reduced representation of this based on 3 The structure already explained in the introduction and thus a simplified schematic diagram. 4 shows the control element 3 in its initial position relative to the base body 2, while 5 shows the maximum deflected end position of the control element 3. This is determined from the initial position according to 4 achieved when the user presses with the finger sufficiently strongly against the actuating surface 5, so that the operating element 3 is pivoted against the pretension of the operating element return element 10 about the pivot axis 41 relative to the base body 2 until it is in the, in 5 shown, maximum deflected end position at the end stop 23 of the base body 2.

During this relative movement between the operating element 3 and the base body 2, which in this exemplary embodiment is implemented as a pivoting movement, the current relative position between the operating element 3 and the base body 2 or between the operating element base body 4 and the base body 2 can be determined using the position sensor 11, which in this exemplary embodiment is fixed to the base body 2, and the sensor counterpart 24, which in this example is designed as a permanent magnet and is fixed to the operating element base body 4. Suitable position sensors 11 for this purpose are known in the prior art, e.g., in the form of Hall sensors or the like, and need not be described further.

According to the invention, however, in this 4 and 5 In the embodiment shown, the operating element 3 has an actuator 6 for generating a mechanical impulse that acts on the actuating surface 5 and can thus be felt with a finger on this actuating surface. This actuator 6 is in the 4 and 5 shown only schematically and can be designed very differently, as will be described below with reference to various embodiments. Preferably, in this and other embodiments, it is provided that the mechanical impulse generated by the actuator 6 generates a movement of the actuating surface 5 in the direction away from the control element base body. In this embodiment according to the 4 and 5 As already mentioned, the actuating surface 5 is formed on the actuating body 8, which is mounted on the operating element base body 4 by means of the film hinge 9 and is pivotably mounted relative to the operating element base body 4. In this exemplary embodiment, the film hinge 9 creates a one-piece connection between the actuating body 8 and the operating element base body 4. In this embodiment, the film hinge 9 also serves simultaneously as an actuating surface reset element 7, which resets the actuating body 8 together with the actuating surface 5 in the direction of the operating element base body 4 when the actuator 6 is not active and is not currently transmitting a mechanical impulse to the actuating body 8 and thus to the actuating surface 5.

The actuator 6 is advantageously driven electrically or electromagnetically. Parts of the actuator 6 can be formed on the control element base body 4, but also on the actuating body 8 or on the actuating surface 5. Depending on the design of the respective actuator 6, however, it is advantageous for the components of the actuator 6 that are to be supplied with electrical power to be arranged on the control element base body 4, as this facilitates the power supply to the actuator 6.

For the sake of completeness, as already explained at the beginning, it is again stated here that instead of electrically or electromagnetically driven actuators 6, other actuators 6 can also be used in the apparatus 1 according to the invention. For example, hydraulic or pneumatic actuators 6 could also be used on be used at the appropriate location to apply a mechanical pulse to the actuating surface 5. As already explained, the mechanical pulse can be a single mechanical pulse or a sequence of consecutive individual mechanical pulses. Regarding the preferred pulse durations and forces with which the actuating surface 5 is subjected by the mechanical pulse, reference is made to the above statement. The same applies in the case of pulse sequences for the preferred maximum number of individual pulses per second.

Even if this is not mandatory, it is nevertheless advantageous if the operating element base body 4 is held in its position relative to the base body 2 when a mechanical impulse is generated by the actuator 6 and thus the actuating surface 5 is acted upon. This can be achieved, on the one hand, by the operating element 3 or the operating element base body 4 resting against an end stop 23 of the base body 2 in its maximum deflected end position, as is the case in the position according to 5 is shown. In order to be able to hold the operating element base body 4 in intermediate positions between the starting position and the maximally deflected end position, preferred variants of devices 1 or operating elements 3 according to the invention provide that the device 1, preferably the operating element 3, has a braking device 12 or 13 for braking and/or holding the operating element 3 during its movement and/or in its current position relative to the base body 2.

Examples of such braking devices 12 and 13 are now described below using the 6 to 10 explained. In the 6 to 8 First, it is shown how a corresponding braking device 12 or 13 can be arranged in a corresponding receptacle of the operating element base body 4 in order to hold the operating element base body 4 in the desired positions during its pivoting movement relative to the base body 2 or to simply brake it. These can be various types of braking devices 12 or 13 known per se. 9 a suitable magnetorheological braking device 12 and based on 10 A possible embodiment of the braking device 13 in the form of a disc brake is explained by way of example. Of course, other known braking devices, such as drum brakes and the like, can also be used in the apparatus 1 according to the invention.

Before we go into this, we will first look at the 6 to 8 The embodiment of the actuator 6 is explained. This is an electromagnetic actuator 6, which has a coil 34 fixed in the control element base body 4 for generating a magnetic field. In this coil 34 is a sliding bushing 35. A plunger 36, which can be moved back and forth by means of the coil 34, is mounted in the sliding bushing 35. This plunger 36 can be, for example, a permanent magnet. By appropriately energizing the coil 34, a magnetic field is generated, with which the plunger 36, depending on the polarity of the magnetic field, is either accelerated in the direction of the actuating body 8 and thus towards the actuating surface 5, or moved back in the opposite direction. By striking the plunger 36 against the actuating body 8, the actuating surface 5 is subjected to a corresponding mechanical impulse. This mechanical impulse can be perceived as a tactile signal with the finger when the finger rests on the actuating surface 5. In the 6 and 7 the actuating surface 5 is formed on the actuating body 8. The plunger 36 strikes the actuating body 8 from behind, so that the latter, together with the actuating surface 5, as shown in 7 shown, away from the control element base body 4. The return, when the plunger 36 is retracted accordingly, into the position according to 6 is then carried out by means of the actuating surface return element 7, which is designed here as a film hinge 9.

While in the 4 to 7 In the variants shown, the actuating surface 5 is arranged on an actuating body 8 of the operating element 3, 8 a variant in which the actuating surface 5 is arranged directly on the actuator 6, in the illustrated embodiment directly on its plunger 36. The actuating body 8 can then be omitted accordingly in such variants, as is the case in 8 is also shown.

The 18 and 19 show further variants of the embodiment from the 6 and 7 . In the 18 and 19 The actuator 6 is supported by a support element 42 when the actuating surface 5 is subjected to the mechanical impulse. In both variants shown here, the support element 42 acts elastically on the plunger 36. In addition to its acceleration by means of the coil 34 and thus by means of the actuator 6, the plunger 36 is accelerated elastically by the support element 42 in the direction of the actuating surface 5. In 18 The support element 42 is a mechanical spring, here for example in the form of a spiral spring. 19 the support element 42 is a permanent magnet which is poled in such a way that the plunger 36 is first elastically braked during its movement towards the support element 42 and then again in towards the actuating surface 5. Analogously, the support element 42 can of course also be used in the variant in 8 and, in a possibly adapted form, also in the other embodiments of the control element 3.

In the cases already mentioned and now in the following based on the 9 and 10 The braking devices 12 and 13 explained by way of example are advantageously those which have an adjustable braking force. This means that the operating element 3 can be braked to different degrees and at different positions during its movement relative to the base body 2 by means of the braking device 12 or 13. A particularly preferred embodiment provides that this is a magnetorheological braking device 12, as shown schematically in 9 is shown as an example. Such magnetorheological braking devices 12 are known in the prior art and are therefore only shown schematically here. They have two advantages. One is that they enable a virtually freely programmable or freely predeterminable braking force distribution. Second, such a braking device 12 responds very quickly to the corresponding control signals.

9 shows a schematic longitudinal section through such a magnetorheological braking device 12. It has a stator 25 and a rotor 26 rotatably mounted relative to it and thereon by means of the bearing 30. Between the stator 25 and the rotor 26 there is a free space 28 in which a magnetorheological fluid is located. The magnetorheological fluid can be a magnetorheological liquid or a mixture of gas and the corresponding particles necessary for the magnetorheological effect. By means of the coil 27, a magnetic field can be applied in the free space 28, which acts on the magnetorheological fluid and changes its viscosity. As a result, braking forces of varying strengths can be exerted on the rotor 26. With sufficient strength, these can lead to the rotor 26 being completely held stationary relative to the stator 25. The windings of the coil 27 are advantageously located on the stator 25, as this simplifies the power supply 29. This type of magnetorheological braking device 12, as shown in 9 However, as stated, this is only an example. Magnetorheological braking devices 12 are known in a wide variety of designs in the prior art and can be used, where appropriate, in the context of the invention.

10 shows, by way of example, a mechanical braking device 13 in the form of a disc brake, which can also be used in apparatuses 1 according to the invention. This mechanical braking device 13 also has a stator 25 and a rotor 26 rotatably mounted thereon. As in the exemplary embodiment according to 9 Bearings 30 are advantageously arranged between the stator 25 and the rotor 26 in order to minimize friction when the rotor 26 rotates around the stator 25. In this embodiment, a brake drive 33, e.g. in the form of an electromagnet or its coil and a brake pad 32, is located on the stator 25. The brake disc 31 rotates with the rotor 26 and is lifted off the brake pad 32 by the spring element 18 in the de-energized state of the brake drive 33, see 10 above. If, however, the brake disc 31 is pressed against the brake pad 32 by appropriate current supply to the brake drive 33, see 10 down, a corresponding braking effect is achieved. The strength of the braking effect can be adjusted through the interplay of brake drive 33 and spring element 18. Of course, this embodiment can also be implemented the other way around, by a corresponding spring 18 preloading the brake disc 31 toward the brake pad 32, and the brake drive 33 ensuring that the brake disc 31 is pressed away from the brake pad 32 against the preload of the spring element 18. Here, too, the strength of the braking force can be regulated by appropriately energizing the brake drive 33, i.e., in this case, the corresponding electromagnet.

11 now shows schematically an alternative embodiment of a control element 3, which also, as in the 4 and 5 shown schematically, can be pivoted or otherwise movably mounted on the base body 2. The essential difference to the previously described variants lies only in the design of the actuator 6. In 11 The actuator 6 is an eccentric cam 38, which can be rotated by the electric motor 39. Whenever the eccentric cam 38 strikes the actuating body 8, the actuating surface 5, which in this example is located on the actuating body 8, is subjected to a corresponding mechanical impulse. With appropriate control of the electric motor 39, the actuating surface 5 can be subjected here, as in the previously shown variants, to both individual mechanical impulses and pulse sequences. Also in this embodiment according to 11 appropriate braking devices 12 or 13 can be implemented at the corresponding location, which are shown here in 11 but are no longer shown separately.

Another possibility for the design of the actuator 6 is in 12 This is also an electromagnetic actuator 6. This is a coil 34 with a ferromagnetic core 40, which are arranged together on the operating element base body 4. This simplifies the power supply to the coil 34. The magnetic field generated by the coil 34 and the ferromagnetic core 40 acts on the counterpart 37, which can be designed as a permanent magnet or made of magnetizable material. The counterpart 37 is located in this example on the actuating body 8. This is therefore an example of how parts of the actuator 6 can be designed or arranged both on the operating element base body 4 and on the actuating body 8. By appropriately energizing the coil 34, the actuating surface 5 can also be subjected to corresponding mechanical pulses. These mechanical pulses can also be individual mechanical pulses or pulse sequences of successive individual mechanical pulses. As in the exemplary embodiment according to 11 Here, too, the reset can be effected via the film hinge 9 and a corresponding elastic loading of the actuating body 8 in the direction of the operating element base body 4. In the variant according to 12 it would even be possible to generate the reset via a corresponding current supply to the coil 34, i.e. via the actuator 6.

In 13 A variant is now sketched in which the actuating body 8, which has the actuating surface 5, is not designed as a pivotable lever 8, but as a body movably mounted on both sides of the operating element base body 4 by means of membrane-like film hinges 9. The actuator 6 is not shown in more detail here, but can be implemented, for example, as shown in the other exemplary embodiments. Here, too, the actuating body 8 with the actuating surface 5 can be moved away from the operating element base body 4 when it is subjected to a corresponding mechanical impulse by means of the actuator 6. The two membrane-like film hinges 9 again serve as the actuating surface return elements 7.

In 14 It is schematically illustrated that an actuating body 8 pivotably mounted on the operating element base body 4 can also be mounted on the operating element base body 4 by means of an axle joint 15. The reset is ensured here by an actuating surface reset element 7 designed as a tension spring. The actuator 6 for applying the corresponding mechanical impulse to the actuating surface 5 can also be designed differently here, e.g., just as specifically shown in the other exemplary embodiments.

The 15 and 16 The embodiment of the control element 3 shown differs from that shown in 11 shown variant essentially by the type of actuator 6. This is designed as a crank drive and has a transmission lever 17, which is articulated on one side to the actuating body 8 and on the other side eccentrically on the eccentric disc 16. By rotating the eccentric disc 16 using a corresponding electric motor, corresponding mechanical impulses can be generated to act on the actuating surface 5. This type of actuator 6 can also simultaneously form the actuating surface return element 7 in that it can move the actuating body 8 not only in the direction away from the operating element base body 4 but also in the direction towards the operating element base body 4. Therefore, an elastic return via the film hinge 9 does not necessarily have to be provided here. Nevertheless, the film hinge 9 can of course also serve additionally as an actuating surface return element 7 here.

In 17 Now, by way of example, a variant of an apparatus 1 according to the invention is shown, in which the operating element 3 is not pivoted relative to the base body 2, but is displaced when the finger is pressed accordingly on the actuating surface 5. By applying appropriate pressure to this actuating surface 5, the operating element 3 can be pushed into the base body 2 against the pretension of the operating element reset element 10, which is designed here as a spring, until the operating element 3 strikes the end stop 23. If the actuating surface 5 is released, the operating element reset element 10 ensures a corresponding return to the 17 The initial position of the operating element 3 is shown. Here, too, an actuator 6 is provided to apply a mechanical impulse to the actuating surface 5. The actuator 6 can be designed in a variety of different configurations, as already mentioned, but also in other embodiments. In the variant shown according to 17 the actuating surface 5 is formed on an actuating body 8, which is analogous to the variant according to 13 , is held on the operating element base body 4 by means of two elastic film hinges 9, which simultaneously form the actuating surface return element 7.

Of course, even in variants in which the operating element 3 is displaced relative to the base body 2, the actuating surface 5 and the actuating body 8 as well as the actuator 6 can be realized in a wide variety of embodiments, e.g. in the variants already shown and explained. In particular, even in such variants possible to form the actuating surface 5 directly on the actuator 6 and to dispense with a separate actuating body 8, as is the case, for example, in 8 is shown.

The various embodiments shown here illustrate that the invention can be implemented in a wide variety of forms. In particular, the individual features shown here in various embodiments can, of course, also be combined with one another in other ways.

L e g e n d e

1

apparatus

2

Basic body

3

Control element

4

Control element base body

5

Actuating surface

6

Actuator

7

Actuating surface reset element

8

Actuating body

9

film hinge

10

Control element reset element

11

Position sensor

12

magnetorheological braking device

13

mechanical braking device

14

Game controller

15

axle joint

16

Eccentric disc

17

transmission lever

18

spring element

19

joystick

20

Switch button

21

Support shoulder

22

Investment shoulder

23

End stop

24

Sensor counterpart

25

stator

26

rotor

27

Sink

28

Free space

29

Power supply

30

warehouse

31

brake disc

32

brake pad

33

Brake drive

34

Sink

35

sliding bushing

36

pestle

37

counterpart

38

Eccentric cam

39

electric motor

40

ferromagnetic core

41

Swivel axis

42

Support element

Claims (15)

Apparatus (1) with a base body (2) and an operating element (3), wherein the operating element (3) has an operating element base body (4) and an actuating surface (5) and the operating element (3) is mounted in or on the base body (2), wherein the operating element (3) is movable relative to the base body (2) by pressing with at least one finger on the actuating surface (5), characterized in that the operating element (3) has at least one actuator (6) for generating a mechanical impulse acting on the actuating surface (5). Apparatus (1) according to Claim 1 , wherein the mechanical impulse generates a movement of the actuating surface (5) in the direction away from the operating element base body (4), and/or wherein the actuator (6) is electrically or electromagnetically driven. Apparatus (1) according to Claim 2 , wherein the operating element (3) has at least one elastic actuating surface return element (7) for returning the actuating surface (5) in the direction towards the operating element base body (4). Apparatus (1) according to one of the Claims 1 until 3 , where the mechanical pulse is a single mechanical pulse or a pulse sequence of successive single mechanical pulses. Apparatus (1) according to Claim 4 , wherein the mechanical single pulse has a pulse duration of a maximum of 0.2 seconds, preferably a maximum of 0.1 seconds, and/or the actuating surface (5) is subjected to a force greater than 0 Newton and up to 1 Newton. Apparatus (1) according to Claim 4 or 5 , where the pulse sequence may not exceed 300 consecutive generated single mechanical impulses per second. Apparatus (1) according to one of the Claims 1 until 6 , wherein the actuating surface (5) is formed directly on the actuator (6). Apparatus (1) according to one of the Claims 1 until 7 , wherein the actuating surface (5) is formed on an actuating body (8) of the operating element (3), wherein the actuating body (8) is mounted on the operating element base body (4) so as to be movable relative to the operating element base body (4). Apparatus (1) according to Claim 8 , wherein the actuating body (8) is articulatedly attached or formed on the operating element base body (4), preferably by means of a film hinge (9) or an axle joint (15). Apparatus (1) according to one of the Claims 1 until 9 , wherein the operating element (3) is displaceable and/or pivotable relative to the base body (2) by pressing on the actuating surface (5) with at least one finger. Apparatus (1) according to one of the Claims 1 until 10 , wherein the operating element (3) is mounted in or on the base body (2) so as to be movable back and forth between an initial position and a maximally deflected end position. Apparatus (1) according to Claim 11 , wherein the apparatus (1) has a preferably elastic operating element return element (10) for returning the operating element (3) to the starting position. Apparatus (1) according to one of the Claims 1 until 12 , wherein the apparatus (1) has a position sensor (11) for determining a current actual position of the operating element (3). Apparatus (1) according to one of the Claims 1 until 13 , wherein the apparatus (1), preferably the operating element (3), has a preferably magnetorheological braking device (12, 13), preferably with adjustable braking force, for braking and/or holding the operating element (3) during its movement and/or in its current position relative to the base body (2). Apparatus (1) according to one of the Claims 1 until 14 , wherein the apparatus (1) is a game controller (14) or an input device of a motor vehicle or a hand-held work machine.