DE102023127074A1 - Radio keys, in particular for motor vehicles, with operating elements - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a radio remote control, in particular a radio key for motor vehicles, wherein the radio remote control
- has transmitting and receiving means with which the radio remote control can communicate with a remote station, for example a remote station in a motor vehicle, via radio,
- has at least one signal processing means with which signals received via the receiving means can be processed and/or signals to be transmitted via the transmitting means can be generated,
- has at least one actuating means (2) with which a signal for controlling the signal processing means can be generated, characterized in that
- the actuating means is a mechanical element and the radio remote control has a micro-electro-mechanical system with which an actuation (A) of the actuating means can be converted (C) into an electrical signal with which the signal processing means is controlled (D).

Description

• - Sendemittel und Empfangsmittel aufweist, mit denen die Funkfernbedienung mit einer Gegenstelle, zum Beispiel einer Gegenstelle in einem Kraftfahrzeug, über Funk kommunizieren kann,
• - wenigstens ein Mittel zur Signalverarbeitung aufweist, mit denen über das Empfangsmittel empfangene Signale verarbeitet und/oder über das Sendemittel zu sendende Signal erzeugt werden können,
• - wenigstens ein Betätigungsmittel aufweist, mit dem ein Signal zum Steuern der Mittel zur Signalverarbeitung erzeugt werden kann.

The invention relates to a radio remote control, in particular a radio key for motor vehicles, wherein the radio remote control

• - has transmitting and receiving means with which the radio remote control can communicate with a remote station, for example a remote station in a motor vehicle, via radio,
• - has at least one signal processing means with which signals received via the receiving means can be processed and/or signals to be transmitted via the transmitting means can be generated,
• - has at least one actuating means with which a signal for controlling the signal processing means can be generated.

A variety of radio remote controls are known from the state of the art, which can be used to control various types of electrical devices. Radio keys for unlocking or locking vehicles are also very common.

Radio remote controls usually have buttons as their actuating elements. When a button is pressed, an electrical circuit is opened or closed, which sends a signal to the signal processing device to control the device. Radio remote controls usually have electromechanical switches coupled to the buttons to close and open the circuits. Their wiring and construction are often complex and therefore expensive. Such switches are also prone to wear.

From the document DE 10 2018 217 463 A1 , paragraph 22, it is known to detect movement gestures performed with a radio key using a motion sensor in the form of a micro-electro-mechanical system in the radio key, and then to wake the radio key from a sleep state and establish a radio connection with the vehicle. However, such control via gesture recognition is complicated, unreliable, and requires considerable training, patience, and concentration from the user. A radio key with such gesture recognition has not yet become a practical replacement.

This is where the present invention comes in.

The invention is based on the object of proposing a radio remote control that does not require electromechanical switches and gesture recognition.

• - das Betätigungsmittel ein mechanisches Element ist und
• - die Funkfernbedienung ein mikro-elektro-mechanisches System (MEMS) aufweist, mit dem eine Betätigung des Betätigungsmittels in ein elektrisches Signal umgewandelt werden kann, mit dem das Mittel zur Signalverarbeitung gesteuert wird.

This object is achieved according to the invention in that

• - the actuating means is a mechanical element and
• - the radio remote control has a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) with which an actuation of the actuating means can be converted into an electrical signal with which the signal processing means is controlled.

According to the invention, actuation of the actuating means does not cause an electrical contact to close, i.e. no electromechanical reaction, but rather a movement or vibration in or on the radio key, which is detected by the micro-electro-mechanical system and converted into an electrical signal.

The actuating means can be or comprise a movable or elastically deformable element. The actuating means can comprise a spring. The spring can be, for example, a click-action frog. It can also comprise one or more locking elements, in particular one or more locking teeth. These can cause vibrations upon actuation that are characteristic of the actuation of the actuating means and that can be converted by the micro-electro-mechanical system into an equally characteristic electrical signal.

Even without locking elements, when the actuating means is actuated, acceleration patterns can be caused by movement-sensitive structures of the micro-electro-mechanical system, which are converted into a characteristic electrical signal with which the signal processing means can be controlled.

It is possible for the radio remote control to have multiple differently designed actuating means. When actuated, the differently designed actuating means can cause different acceleration patterns in the motion-sensitive structures of the micro-electromechanical system, which are converted into different electrical signals, so that actuation of the differently designed actuating means produces different electrical signals.

It is also possible that the different actuating means have the same design and differ in their position relative to the micro-electro-mechanical system. Due to the different positions relative to the micro-electro-mechanical system, the motion-sensitive structures of the micro- electro-mechanical system, different acceleration patterns are caused, which are converted into different electrical signals, so that different electrical signals are generated by actuating the actuating means which are constructed in the same way.

However, it is not necessary for the actuating element to be or comprise a movable or elastically deformable element. It is possible for the actuating element to comprise a marking that marks a location at which, through a simple or repeated application of force, an acceleration is introduced into the radio remote control. This acceleration pattern causes an acceleration pattern in the motion-sensitive structures of the micro-electro-mechanical system, which is converted into an electrical signal. It is then possible for an actuation to be triggered by tapping or knocking on this marking, which is then detected by the micro-electro-mechanical system. Preferably, a specific "knocking pattern" can be provided to characterize a specific function.

A radio remote control according to the invention can have multiple markings that differ in their position relative to the micro-electro-mechanical system. Due to the different positions relative to the micro-electro-mechanical system, different acceleration patterns can be induced in the motion-sensitive structures of the micro-electro-mechanical system. These different acceleration patterns induced in the motion-sensitive structures can then be converted into different electrical signals, so that a simple or repeated application of force to the markings can generate different electrical signals that control the signal processing means.

• 1 eine schematische Darstellung einer Draufsicht auf einen erfindungsgemäßen Funkschlüssel und
• 2 ein vereinfachtes Fussdiagramm betreffend die Betätigung des Funkschlüssels.

An example of a radio remote control according to the invention is described in more detail with reference to the drawing. It shows

• 1 a schematic representation of a top view of a radio key according to the invention and
• 2 a simplified foot diagram regarding the operation of the radio key.

The one in the 1 The radio key shown has a housing 1 in which a circuit carrier is arranged, which carries an electronic circuit. This comprises transmitting and receiving means for transmitting and receiving radio signals, a signal processing means, and a micro-electro-mechanical system. In the signal processing means, signals to be transmitted can be generated via the transmitting means, and signals received by the radio key via the receiving means can be processed. For this purpose, the transmitting and receiving means are connected to the signal processing means. The micro-electro-mechanical system is also connected to the signal processing means. In the micro-electro-mechanical system, electrical signals can be generated, with which the signal processing means can be controlled.

Which electrical signals are generated by the micro-electro-mechanical system can be determined by a user of the remote key. To enable the user to influence the micro-electro-mechanical system in a controlled manner, the remote key has buttons 2 as actuating means. The remote key shown as an example has three buttons 2, as are typically found on remote keys for motor vehicles. Usually, this is one button 2 for unlocking the vehicle, one button 2 for locking the vehicle, and one button 2 for unlocking or opening a trunk lid. The buttons are mechanical actuating means. They do not have any electrical components that close or open a circuit when actuated.

The three buttons 2 in the example are mechanically designed differently, so that when each of the buttons 2 is actuated (step B), an individual acceleration pattern is generated in the radio key and in particular in movement-sensitive structures of the micro-electro-mechanical system of the radio key. These individual movement patterns can be caused, for example, by different springs or other elastic elements in the buttons 2 when the buttons 2 are actuated. Locking elements, in particular locking teeth or the like, can also generate individual vibrations in the radio key when a button is actuated for the actuation of this button. These vibrations are then converted by the micro-electro-mechanical system into an electrical signal assigned to this button (step C), which controls the signal processing means of the radio key (step D).

List of reference symbols

1

Housing

2

Keys

A

Pressing a key

B

Generation of an acceleration pattern

C

Conversion of the acceleration pattern into an electrical signal

D

Control of the signal processing device

QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 10 2018 217 463 A1 [0004]

Claims (10)

Radio remote control, in particular a radio key for motor vehicles, the radio remote control comprising - transmitting means and receiving means with which the radio remote control can communicate with a counterpart, for example a counterpart in a motor vehicle, via radio, - at least one signal processing means with which signals received via the receiving means can be processed and/or signals to be transmitted via the transmitting means can be generated, - at least one actuating means (2) with which a signal for controlling the signal processing means can be generated, characterized in that - the actuating means is a mechanical element and - the radio remote control comprises a micro-electro-mechanical system with which an actuation (A) of the actuating means can be converted (C) into an electrical signal with which the signal processing means is controlled (D). Radio remote control after Claim 1 , characterized in that the actuating means (2) is or has a movable or elastically deformable element. Radio remote control after Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the actuating means (2) comprises a spring. Radio remote control according to one of the Claims 1 until 3 , characterized in that the actuating means (2) has one or more locking elements, in particular one or more locking teeth. Radio remote control according to one of the Claims 1 until 4 , characterized in that the actuating means (2) upon actuation (A) causes acceleration patterns of movement-sensitive structures of the micro-electro-mechanical system (B), which are converted into an electrical signal (C). Radio remote control according to one of the Claims 1 until 5 , characterized in that the radio remote control has several actuating means (2) which are designed differently. Radio remote control after Claim 6 , characterized in that the differently designed actuating means (2) upon actuation (A) cause different acceleration patterns of the movement-sensitive structures of the micro-electro-mechanical system (B), which are converted into different electrical signals (C), so that by actuating the differently designed actuating means different electrical signals for controlling (D) the means for signal processing are generated. Radio remote control after Claim 6 or 7 , characterized in that the different actuating means (2) are structurally identical and differ in their position with respect to the micro-electro-mechanical system and that, due to the different position with respect to the micro-electro-mechanical system, different acceleration patterns are caused in the movement-sensitive structures of the micro-electro-mechanical system, which acceleration patterns are converted into different electrical signals, so that different electrical signals are generated by actuating the actuating means (2) which are structurally identical. Radio remote control after Claim 1 , characterized in that the actuating element comprises a marking which marks a point at which an acceleration is introduced into the radio remote control by a simple or repeated application of force, which causes an acceleration pattern in movement-sensitive structures of the micro-electro-mechanical system which is converted into an electrical signal. Radio remote control after Claim 9 , characterized in that the radio remote control has a plurality of markings which differ in their position with respect to the micro-electro-mechanical system and that, due to the different position with respect to the micro-electro-mechanical system, different acceleration patterns are caused in the movement-sensitive structures of the micro-electro-mechanical system, which acceleration patterns are converted into different electrical signals, so that different electrical signals are generated by a simple or repeated application of force to the markings.

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