BEDIENSYSTEM FÜR EIN KRAFTFAHRZEUG

CONTROL SYSTEM FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE

The invention relates to a control system for a motor vehicle having a plurality of switches each having a switch base, a cap carrier, and a switch cap, and a method of operating such a control system.

By virtualizing many controls in a motor vehicle, so the relocation of switches, knobs etc. on displays, lost the car a piece of authenticity. An attempt is made to counteract this loss through the use of artificial feel or an overload of the displayed graphic elements with details. Ultimately, however, the user is feeling "flat".

Unquestionable advantages of display-based operating concepts are the easy exchange, expandability and customizability that can be generated using physically bound controls only with great effort. is proposed in the following an operating system, which at least in part, the disadvantage of the "real" switch, namely, corrects the lack of individualization and flexibility.

To simplify manufacturing, as well as to, in terms of a process chain later customizability are known switch systems with a single type of switches that are provided with different switch caps. In principle, any computer keyboard is structured in this way. However, in computer keyboards replacement of individual switch covers or even the allocation of new functions to switch exchanged switch caps generally is not provided. The German patent application DE 102 52 689 A1 is a

Control device for a motor vehicle with at least two

Control element units, and a holding unit is known, wherein the

Operating element units with respect to the holding unit can be freely configured. The operating element units comprise according to the description, a cover plate, on top of which an operating element, such as a rotary / push button or switch is mounted, and a control circuit is disposed on the rear side thereof, the different electronic components comprises and is connected to the control element. Of the operating element, the control circuit of the operation made of the same appropriate control signals obtained.

The control element units transmit signals via their next actuation also signals via their identity to a control device, so that the

Control device, the operation signals obtained a certain

can assign actuator assembly. The actuator assembly can be used in the holding unit at different locations thus, so that a user can set individually according to their needs, the arrangement of the individual operating elements to each other themselves.

The transfer of signals between the control element units, and the control device may be wired, such as via a bus system, optically or via a wireless system take place. In any case, requires the

However, a power supply circuit, are such that to separate the exchange of the positions of control element units, electrical connections, for example through plug / socket connections or manufacture.

it is disadvantageous that such interventions needed to configure in the electrical system, many users can stop them to make changes to the operating device, or it can cause you to restrict such changes to a minimum. In principle is also not excluded that careless changes made to the operating system cause interference, such as when electrical

Connectors are not carefully prepared or if

electrostatic discharges have exposed connectors to a control electronics arrive.

It was therefore the task to create a highly customizable operating device can be easily done with the configuration changes, and the risk of malfunction due to adjustments made is very low.

This object is inventively achieved in that the

Switch caps are interchangeably mountable on the cap carriers of various switches ,, that the switch caps each having an RFID transponder, that at least one RFID reading device is arranged on the switches, and that in each case a readable information in each RFID transponder is stored, which a function within the

associated operating system.

The term switch is to be understood broadly interpreted in the present document and include both on-off switch, changeover switch, and only during the time of actuation of opening or closing push button switch. The cap carrier is in all these cases, a movably arranged against the switch base member, which forms a part of the switch mechanism. The switch may form a pressure switch or rocker switch so that, for example, wherein in the second case the

Cap carrier at the same time may be completely or partially form the rocker of the rocker switch. In addition, the switch can also be designed as touch switches, which has no mechanically moving parts and the touch of a

Switch cap, for example, detected by a capacitive sensor. In this case, the cap carrier only serves as a support member for

Fastening the switch cap and is arranged itself mechanically rigid with the switch base.

The control system described herein may belong has a plurality of, ie at least two switches, wherein the switches can be either all of the same type, or different types of switches in the aforementioned sense. , It is assumed that only the switches have switch caps, which are mutually arranged exchangeably on the switches. Individual switches can in case of a minor assembly with

Blindcaps be closed so that another approximately by buying

are switch caps even after delivery of the vehicle to the customer functions can be retrofitted. The blind caps can be made without a RFID transponder, or can have a RFID transponder whose encoded information explicitly signaled to the control system that the associated one of the switch cap switch to be functional.

To allow the users to easily change of functions, and the retrofitting of new functions that switch caps are designed to mechanically simple one and should be expanded. It is particularly advantageous when the switch caps are simply snapped onto the cap carrier so that no special for installation or replacement

Tools or complicated assembly operations are needed. It is particularly advantageous when the switch caps each carry a function of their encoded appropriate label or a corresponding symbol.

In contrast to the subject of the previously mentioned

Patent application DE 102 52 689 A1, the proposed solution here Problem each not the entire operating element but only a design element, the switch cap is provided with a wirelessly interrogatable authorization donors replaced. This replaceable element also transmits control signals not generated by the operating element. The actual control element and its electrical function are and will remain part of the basic switch, so the switch base and the cap carrier. For this reason it is also not necessary in the novel operating system, establish an electrical connection between the replaceable elements, so the switch caps, and the reason switches.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the invention with reference to the

illustrated drawing and explained in more detail. Show it

1 shows a switch panel,

Figure 2 shows the sequence of assembling a switch cap,

Figure 3 is a switch cap with an embedded RFID transponder,

Figure 4 is a schematic representation of an operating system. The drawing shows schematically the construction and operation of a control system of the invention. 1 shows a switch panel 12 as part of the operating system. The switch panel 12 carries here purely

by way of example, seven juxtaposed switch 10. In six of these switches 10 has a switch cap 1 can be seen in each case, on the outside thereof, a symbol 14 is applied, which makes the user to be triggered by the respective switches 10 function recognizable.

The term "switch" are here both permanently switched by an operation or disconnectable switching elements, and switching elements that change their switching state only for the period of manual operation, so-called push-button switch, are summarized. The switches can have mechanical contacts elements or also form contactless Sensorberührschalter. With regard to the inventive idea the kind of switch 10 used is incidental.

A single switch 10, the switch bar 12 is shown in FIG. 2 In this a switch cap 1 is mounted on a fixed to a switch base 3 cap carrier. 2 The switch cap 1 can be laterally on the cap holder 2 defer (Figures 2a and 2b) for mounting and locks on this, if it has reached its intended mounting position (Figure 2c).

In order to prevent unintentional sliding the switch cap 1, it can be provided that a removable to change the switch cap cover frame 1 is attached to the switch 10 of the

Switch 10 laterally encloses. The switch frame itself, which in the

Drawing is not shown, may preferably be secured by a clip connection so that it can be entklipsen with a small screwdriver in a simple manner again.

In Figure 1 a switch is shown without a switch cap to the right switch position of the switch panel 12, whereby a switching mat 15 with four switching domes 7 is recognizable as switching elements. Such a switching mat 15 allows both the realization of toggle-as well, stored for instance by a momentary switch mechanism or by an actuator electronic control device, the creation of on, off or switching functions.

The safety mat 15 is electric on a not shown here

Circuit carrier arranged. This easily enables the

to arrange the region of each switch 10, additional electrical components, such as light-emitting elements 1 1 for backlighting of the

Switches 10 associated with switch caps 1 and especially also in each case an RFID reading device 5 at each switch 10. The abbreviation RFID (English, radio-frequency Identification, "Identification by means of electromagnetic waves") refers to a technology for transmitter-receiver systems for automatically and contactless identification of objects with radio waves. a RFID system consists of an RFI D transponder 4 (colloquially called RFID tag, or radio tag) that is located on or in the object and includes an identifying code, and an RFID reader 5 to read this identification. The reading is done by alternating magnetic fields less

Range or by high-frequency radio waves that are generated by an RFID reading device. 5 This not only data is transmitted, but also the RFID transponder 4 with energy. The RFID reader 5 includes a software (a microprogram), which controls the actual read process, and a hardware interfaces, such as for connecting to an entity belonging to automotive electronic control device 6 (shown in Figure 4).

Thus, a user of the operating system, the switches can individually assign in arrangement and order of the executable by the automotive functions 10 in a simple manner, it is provided that a clear, non-contact evaluatable identification feature is arranged on or in each switch cap 1, by a RFID transponder is realized. 4 3 shows in this respect a switch cap 1, in which a RFID transponder 4, here in simplified form by a shaped as a square spiral coupling coil is disposed on the underside of a switch cap 1 or the material of the switch cap is cast. 1 RFID readers 5 on or in the individual switches 10

Switch bar 12 detect whether the switches 10 arranged at the

Switch caps 1 and be read if this is the case, the coded regularly in the RFID transponders 4 is a RFID transponder 4

Identifiers from. This information is one belonging to the control system the electronic control device 6, which is shown in outline in Figure 4, respectively.

The basic structure and function of the operating system will be further explained with reference to FIG. 4 The switch panel 12 representational shown in Figure 1 is sketched here once more and more schematically. Shown in turn are a plurality of switches 12, 10 on a switch block Each switch 10 is assigned an RFID reading device 5, all connected via a bus system 13 or, alternatively, via a number of individual conductors with an electronic control device. 6

The control device 6 controls the individual RFID readers 5 at regularly sequentially to determine whether a RFID transponder 4 is in close proximity and to optionally read the coded information in the RFID transponder 4. This information, which represent identifiers for the respective switch 10 and to be triggered by the switch 10 functions are preferably read out at each start of the motor vehicle by the controller. 6 Newly added features or functions that have been set by a user in the meantime by means of an exchange of switch caps 1 to other switch positions, it is automatically recognized by the control apparatus. 6 The control device 6 can thus by reading out the RFID transponder 4 the switches 10 to assign each switch position a to be triggered upon actuation function.

Detecting whether a certain switch 10 is operated or not, on the other hand is independent of the RFID system by the monitoring of the conventional switching elements 7. In the figure 4 each switch 10 is an electrical switching element 7 is symbolically associated with which at

Operation connects a leading to the control device 6 signal line 9 to a ground potential. 8 Is on the signal line 9 of a switch 10, the ground potential 8, so detects, the control device 6 that the corresponding switch is operated 10th Because of the previously read out information of the RFID transponder 4 of the switch 10, assigns the

Control device 6 of the switch operating a function to be triggered to and causes a corresponding control or actuation of a functional element 17. The illustrated here as single lines

Signal lines 9 can be designed as an alternative, of course, as a bus system.

In principle, it is not necessary to assign to each individual switch 10 an RFID reading device 5, since RFID readers 5 can also detect the information from multiple RFID transponder 4 parallel often. In this case, the entire control system, shown differently in the drawing, even with a single RFID reader along, provided that the positions of the RFI D transponder 4, some may detect a spatially resolved by an appropriate antenna system to the received identifying information 10 assign specific switch positions of the switch, or as a guided by other measures

User intervention, such as a display prompt to press a particular key, a single switch cap 1 of a particular switch position can be assigned.

, The periodic reading of the identification features by the at least one RFID reading device 5 allows the assignment of

easy to change switching functions to switch positions by a simple exchange of switch caps one at any time.

In addition, it is possible in a simple manner by adding switch caps 1 with new identification features completely new

introduce functions in a motor vehicle. For this purpose, may be advantageously provided that the motor vehicle via a remote data link 16, such as a GSM or LTE connection, the required software for execution of the activatable by a new switch 10 function can be purchased from the manufacturer.

Another embodiment may provide that the motor vehicle from the factory already functional trim levels in the operating software of

Control device has embedded 6, which in the presence of

corresponding identification features in the RFID transponders of switch caps 1 are authorized for use.

Alternatively, the packaging of the switch cap 1 may include a unique assigned 2D barcode that can be transmitted for example via a smart phone and the Internet connection to the data center of the manufacturer. The activation of each function in the motor vehicle can be triggered via its Internet connection to the manufacturer's data center or it can be a corresponding software are transmitted to the motor vehicle. The switch cap one needs in this embodiment, no individual information to wear, but only the often assigned identification feature of the function to be released.

reference numeral

1 switch cap (s)

2 cap carrier

3 switch base

4 RFI D transponder

5 RFID reader

6 controller

7 switch domes (switching elements)

8 ground potential

9 signal line

10 switch

1 1 luminous elements

12 switch panel

13 bus system

14 symbol

15 Safety Mat

16 remote data connection

17 functional element