# US 10,481,631 B2 · Haptic operating device with a rotating element and method of operating technical equipment

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- Number: US 10,481,631 B2
- Document ID: US10481631B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/939,630
- Filed: 2018-03-29
- Published: 2018-08-02
- Granted: 2019-11-19
- Earliest claimed: 2010-09-15
- Assignees: INVENTUS Engineering GmbH
- Applicants: Inventus Engineering GmbH
- Inventors: Stefan Battlogg
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10481631B2

## CPC

- G05G 5/03: Means for enhancing the operator's awareness of arrival of the controlling member at a command or datum position; Providing feel, e.g. means for creating a counterforce (arrangements for indicating the position of the controlling member G05G1/015)
- A61F 2/38: for elbows or knees
- F16C 1/00: Flexible shafts (flexible shafts in dental machines for boring or cutting A61C1/18); Mechanical means for transmitting movement in a flexible sheathing
- F16D 37/02: the particles being magnetisable
- F16D 57/002: {comprising a medium with electrically or magnetically controlled internal friction, e.g. electrorheological fluid, magnetic powder}
- F16H 59/0217: {with electric switches or sensors not for gear or range selection, e.g. for controlling auxiliary devices}
- F16H 59/08: Range selector apparatus
- F24C 7/08: Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
- G05G 1/08: Controlling members for hand actuation by rotary movement, e.g. hand wheels
- F16D 2037/002: {characterised by a single substantially axial gap in which the fluid or medium consisting of small particles is arranged}
- F16D 2300/0214: Oil or fluid cooling
- F16D 2300/18: Sensors; Details or arrangements thereof
- F16H 59/0204: {for automatic transmissions with means for range selection and manual shifting, e.g. range selector with tiptronic}
- F16H 59/044: {consisting of electrical switches or sensors}
- F16H 2059/081: {using knops or discs for rotary range selection}
- G05G: CONTROL DEVICES OR SYSTEMS INSOFAR AS CHARACTERISED BY MECHANICAL FEATURES ONLY ("Bowden" or like mechanisms F16C1/10; gearings or mechanisms not peculiar to this purpose F16H; speed changing or reversing mechanisms for gearings conveying rotary motion F16H59/00 - F16H63/00)
- A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C)
- F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS
- F16D: COUPLINGS FOR TRANSMITTING ROTATION; CLUTCHES; BRAKES
- F16H: GEARING
- F24C: DOMESTIC STOVES OR RANGES (exclusively for solid fuels F24B); DETAILS OF DOMESTIC STOVES OR RANGES, OF GENERAL APPLICATION

## Abstract

Apparatus and method for operating vehicles and other technical equipment by way of a haptic operating device having a rotating unit. Selectable menu items are displayed on a display unit, and a menu item being selected by rotating the rotating unit. The rotating unit latches at a number of haptically perceptible latching points during rotation. The number and rotational position of the haptically perceptible latching points is dynamically changed.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of operating technical equipment, the method comprising:
providing a haptic operating device having a rotating unit and a display unit displaying selectable menu items;
rotating the rotating unit to select a menu item from the menu items;
causing the rotating unit to latch at any of a plurality of haptically perceptible latching points during rotation; and
dynamically changing a number of the haptically perceptible latching points in dependence on the selectable menu items displayed on said display unit;
generating the latching points by deliberately generating a magnetic field at a channel at least partially filled with a magnetorheological medium; and
dynamically generating an end stop in at least one direction of rotation, and thereby setting the magnetic field considerably stronger at the end stop than at a latching point.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, which comprises dynamically changing a torque profile of a torque opposing the rotation during the rotation of the rotating unit.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, which comprises detecting an angular position of the rotating unit, and setting an intensity of the magnetic field on a basis of the detected angular position.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, which comprises providing at least one permanent magnet and dynamically superimposing a magnetic field of an electrical coil on the magnetic field of the permanent magnet.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, which comprises dynamically setting the number of latching points to correspond to the number of currently available menu items.

### Claim 6

A method of operating technical equipment, the method comprising:
providing a haptic operating device having stationary unit, a rotating unit rotatably mounted relative to the stationary unit, and a display unit displaying selectable menu items;
rotating the rotating unit to select a menu item from the menu items;
causing the rotating unit to latch at any of a plurality of haptically perceptible latching points during rotation; and
dynamically changing a number of the haptically perceptible latching points in dependence on the selectable menu items displayed on the display unit; and
dynamically generating an end stop in at least one direction of rotation, the end stop having a considerably stronger resistance against rotation that any of the latching points.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method according to claim 6, which comprises generating the latching points by deliberately generating a magnetic field at a channel at least partially filled with a magnetorheological medium, and dynamically generating the end stop by setting the magnetic field considerably stronger at the end stop than at a latching point.