Behr-hella Thermocontrol Gmbh

Bhtc Gmbh

Bastian Bandlow

Harri Pankratz

Alexander Beschnitt

Frank Vogt

Matthias Stallein

Winfried Fust

Stefan Kirsch

Lars Heeper

The invention relates to a device for controlling armature solenoid provided with a DC voltage source (), at least one buffer capacitor (), which is connected in parallel to the DC voltage source () and has a known capacitance (C), and a first switch (), which is arranged between the DC voltage source () and the buffer capacitor (). The exciter coil () and a second switch () arranged in series therewith are connected in parallel to the buffer capacitor (). A control and evaluation unit (), when the buffer capacitor () is charged, opens the first switch () and closes the second switch () in order to determine, on the basis of the measurement voltage (), the frequency of the resonant circuit having the capacitance (C) of the buffer capacitor () and the inductance (L) of the armature solenoid (). The inductance (L) of the armature solenoid () is determined on the basis of the frequency, and the air gap width (h) of the armature solenoid () is determined on the basis of the inductance. The PWM control signal with which the armature solenoid () is operable in order to generate a predefined force to be applied by the armature solenoid () is applied to the second switch () on the basis of a look-up table or a mathematical modelling of the electromagnetic behavior of the armature solenoid ().

Method and device for controlling an armature solenoid

The invention relates to an operating unit for a vehicle, provided with an operating element () having an operating interface () with multiple symbol fields (), to which are assigned operating functions that can be triggered with the actuation of the operating element (). The operating element () is arranged on a support structure () such that it can be pressed down in a resettable manner and by means of an actuation object, in particular by means of the finger of a hand. The operating unit () is also provided with a mechanical switch () which can be actuated when pressing down the operating element (), a controllable press-down force threshold switching device () for switching the force to be overcome to press down the operating element () between a first threshold value and a second threshold value that is smaller in comparison to the first threshold value, an actuation sensor system () for detecting whether, when the operating element () is actuated, the actuation object contacts same within one of the symbol fields () of the operating interface (), and an evaluation and control unit () which receives signals from the actuation sensor system () or, inter alia, from the actuation sensor system (), and which only causes the press-down force threshold switching device () or, inter alia, the press-down force threshold switching device () to switch from the first threshold value to the second threshold value by changing its control, when the actuation object within one of the symbol fields is in contact with the operating interface () within one of the symbol fields () with an actuation of the operating element (). An electromagnet or permanent holding electromagnet () is used as the press-down force threshold switching device ().

Operating unit for a vehicle

The operating unit for a vehicle, in particular for a vehicle component, is provided with a housing () which has an operating element (), such as a display for example, and is designed to be secured in a device, in particular in a vehicle dashboard. The operating element () is elastically mounted on the housing (). An actuator () is additionally provided for mechanically exciting the operating element () when an operation of the operating element () has been detected. Finally, the operating unit also has a vibration compensating mass () which can be mechanically excited by the actuator or by one actuator () when an operation of the operating element () has been detected and/or which is mounted on the housing () and can be moved in order to substantially compensate for forces acting on the housing () when the operating element () is moved.

Operating unit for a device, in particular for a vehicle component

The operating unit for a vehicle is provided with a housing with a front face and an operating element which is arranged on the front face of the housing and has an operating surface. The operating element is mounted in a spring-elastic manner. Furthermore, at least one sensor is provided for detecting an actuation movement of the operating element. The operating unit additionally has at least one actuator for the feedback movement of the operating element in the case of an actuation movement of the operating element detected by the sensor as well as an analysis and control unit which is connected to the at least one sensor and to the actuator. The actuator is designed as an armature-type electromagnet with a first stator which has a first excitation coil, and an armature as a drive element. Furthermore, the armature is provided with a measuring coil to which a measuring voltage is applied when the magnetic flux generated by the first excitation coil flows through the armature. The first excitation coil and the measuring coil are connected to the analysis and control unit, and with the analysis and control unit it is possible to apply open-loop and/or closed-loop control to the force with which the armature of the actuator can move towards the first stator and/or the displacement movement of the armature out of its rest position and the return movement of the armature back into its rest position are adapted to be controlled and/or regulated.

Growing community of inventors

Paderborn, Germany

Bastian Bandlow