US 10,095,566 B2 · Detecting activation of an operator control element in a motor vehicle

Abstract

An operator control element in a motor vehicle generates an activation signal as a function of the activation of the operating element, and a control unit receives the activation signal and measures a signal length of the activation signal, and signals the activation if the signal length becomes greater than a predetermined debounce time. Despite possible incorrect triggering of the activation signal owing to voltage fluctuations, the debounce time is to be short. The control unit determines for this purpose an operating parameter, and on the basis of the operating parameter it is detected that a supply voltage, made available at the control unit, satisfies a predetermined instability criterion, and when the instability criterion is satisfied the control unit delays the measurement of the signal length for a predetermined blocking time.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A method for detecting activation of an operator control element in a motor vehicle, the method comprising:

generating, by the operator control element an activation signal based on an activation of the operator control element;
receiving, by a control device, the activation signal;
determining, by the control device, an operating parameter;
detecting, by the control device, whether a voltage for the motor vehicle supplied to the control device satisfies a predetermined instability criterion, based on the operating parameter;
delaying measurement of a signal duration of the activation signal for a predetermined blocking time when the predetermined instability criterion is satisfied;
measuring the signal duration of the activation signal after the predetermined blocking time expires when the predetermined instability criterion is satisfied or measuring the signal duration of the activation signal without delay when the predetermined instability criterion is not satisfied;
and
signaling the activation of the operator control element when the signal duration is greater than a predetermined debounce time.

5 more elements

A control device for detecting activation of an operator control element, the control device comprising:

a signal input configured to receive an activation signal generated by the operator control element;
and
at least one processor configured to:
determine an operating parameter,
detect whether a voltage supplied to the control device satisfies a predetermined instability criterion, based on the operating parameter,
delay measurement of a signal duration of the activation signal for a predetermined blocking time when the predetermined instability criterion is satisfied,
measure the signal duration of the activation signal after the predetermined blocking time expires when the predetermined instability criterion is satisfied or measure the signal duration of the activation signal without delay when the predetermined instability criterion is not satisfied, and
signal the activation of the operator control element when the signal duration is greater than a predetermined debounce time.

5 more elements

A motor vehicle, comprising:

an operator control element;
and
a control device configured to detect activation of the operator control element, the control device including:
a signal input, electrically connected to the operator control element, configured to receive an activation signal generated by the operator control element, and
at least one processor configured to:
determine an operating parameter,
detect whether a voltage for the motor vehicle supplied to the at least one processor satisfies a predetermined instability criterion, based on the operating parameter,
delay measurement of a signal duration of the activation signal for a predetermined blocking time when the predetermined instability criterion is satisfied,
measure the signal duration of the activation signal after the predetermined blocking time expires when the predetermined instability criterion is satisfied or measure the signal duration of the activation signal without delay when the predetermined instability criterion is not satisfied, and
signal the activation of the operator control element when the signal duration is greater than a predetermined debounce time.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Detecting activation of an operator control element in a motor vehicle

Life of this patent

Detecting activation of an operator control element in a motor vehicle

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19