The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 10, 2015
Filed:
Sep. 09, 2009
Christoph Wäller, Braunschweig, DE;
Katharina Bachfischer, Dusseldorf, DE;
Lennart Bendewald, Wolfsburg, DE;
Christoph Wäller, Braunschweig, DE;
Katharina Bachfischer, Dusseldorf, DE;
Lennart Bendewald, Wolfsburg, DE;
Volkswagen AG, , DE;
Abstract
The invention relates to an operator control apparatus and to a method for operating an operator control apparatus which comprises at least one operator control element for capturing user inputs and an approach recognition device which is designed to sense an approach by an actuating element, in particular a body part, of a user to the operator control element before the at least one operator control element is touched, wherein the approach recognition device comprises a reflection light barrier, which has at least one lamp (-) for emitting electromagnetic detection radiation () in front of the at least one operator control element into a physically limited detection area () which does not cover an entire volume in front of the at least one operator control element, and a reception element () for detecting a detection radiation () component which is scattered and/or reflected at the actuating element of the user during an approach to the at least one operator control element, wherein the approach recognition device is designed to recognize an approach from intensity of the received detection radiation.