Actuating device having a touch-sensitive surface which can be manually operated

摘要

An operating apparatus has a manually operable touch-sensitive surface with an associated actuator system for providing a haptic feedback signal on the basis of a touch, which represents triggering operation, on the surface. The actuator system can be used to provide a haptic feedback signal upon release of the pressure on the surface. The feedback signal is provided on the basis of a sensed change in the contact area of the finger pushing the surface.

主权项

1. An operating apparatus comprising:
a manually operable touch-sensitive surface to sense a finger-surface contact area of a finger on the touch-sensitive surface during a triggering operation; an actuator system associated with the touch-sensitive surface to provide a haptic feedback signal to the finger via the touch-sensitive surface; a compressive force sensor to sense a pressure provided to the touch-sensitive surface from the finger pushing on the touch-sensitive surface; and a control device:
to trigger a command input when the compressive force sensor senses that the pressure provided to the touch-sensitive surface is at least equal to a minimum sufficient pressure;to determine a first finger-surface contact area A1 at a time at which the minimum sufficient pressure is sensed;to continuously determine a second finger-surface contact area A2 until a ratio A1/A2≧x, where x is a predetermined ratio value; andto identify release of pressure from the touch-sensitive surface when, and to trigger the haptic feedback signal upon, the ratio A1/A2≧x.