Abstract: The invention relates to a device for haptic feedback control, that comprises a bearing plate (3) for transmitting a haptic feedback to a user's finger in a circular movement area of said finger, a touch-surface sensor (5) for detecting a bearing of said finger in said area, characterised in that the device comprises first and second actuators (7a, 7b) connected to said plate (3) for applying a rotation torque (C) to said plate (3) for generating the haptic feedback in said area when a bearing is detected, by the pivotal movement of said plate (3) about a rotation axis (I) that is coaxial with the centre of the movement area of said finger.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for haptic feedback control that comprises a control device for transmitting a haptic feedback to the finger of a user in a movement area of said finger, characterised in that said control method comprises a first step (101) of determining the direction of an elementary movement of said finger and decomposing the elementary movement into components along said first and second driving directions (D1, D2), and a second step (102) of independently driving said first actuator (7a) and second actuator (7b) based on the components of the elementary movement (dU) in order to drive said plate (3) in translation so that the result of the vibratory effect generated by said actuators (7a, 7b) can be felt by said finger in a direction (dR) substantially perpendicular to and coplanar with the direction of said elementary movement (dU).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of controlling a touch-surface control device characterized in that it comprises a step of shape recognition of a control trajectory on a touch surface from among at least two predefined shapes of trajectory, in which in the course of a predetermined duration (dT): the control trajectory is sampled in order to determine a sampled angle (d?) of the control trajectory for each sampling period (Te), a parameter representative of the evolution of at least two sampled angles (d?) is compared with a predetermined threshold, and a predefined trajectory shape is assigned to the control trajectory as a function of the result of the comparison. The invention also relates to a control device comprising a tough surface characterized in that it comprises a processing unit for implementing a control method as described above.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electromagnetic actuator to be mounted in a haptic-feedback control device (1) for transmitting a haptic feedback to a user, wherein said actuator (5a, 5b) comprises a fixed portion (9) and a mobile portion (11), said fixed (9) and mobile (11) portions forming a magnetic circuit defining at least one air gap (e) between said fixed (9) and mobile (11) portions. According to the invention, the actuator (5a, 5b) further comprises: at least two permanent magnets (23a, 23b) respectively generating first (B1) and second (B2) opposite magnetic fields; and an electric coil (25) provided between said magnets (23a, 23b) such that the winding of said coil (25) extends successively through said first (B1) and second (B2) opposite magnetic fields so that, when a current flows through said coil (25), the actuator (5a, 5b) is submitted to a resulting actuation force in a common driving direction for translating said mobile part (11) in said air gap (e).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling a touch surface control device, including at least one step comprising the generation of sensory feedback corresponding to the detection of a pressure applied by a user on the touch surface, said sensory feedback comprising haptic feedback and acoustic feedback. The invention is characterised in that the generation of the acoustic feedback is initiated after the generation of the haptic feedback once a characteristic value of the haptic feedback has exceeded a pre-defined threshold. The invention also relates to an electric control device having a touch surface, characterised in that it includes means for implementing said method (1).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining the elementary angle of a control path on a touch surface, characterised in that it comprises measuring two elementary movement values (|dX|, |dY|) along two perpendicular axes (X, Y) for a predetermined duration (dT), comparing said values (|dX|, |dY|) with unitary value ranges of elementary movements (Xu, Yu) of a reference data table and allocating a reference data representative of an angle to an elementary angle (d?) of the control path. The invention also relates to a method for detecting an angular variation of a control path on a touch surface, characterised in that it comprises implementing the above method for determining the elementary angle of a control path on a touch surface and storing the elementary angle (d?) allocated during an elementary step, repeating the elementary step, and assembling in series the allocated elementary angles (d?) in order to determine an angular variation of the control path.

Abstract: The invention relates to a touch-surface sensor (1) that comprises a touch surface using pressure-sensitive resistors in a control area (2) defining at least one closed path, characterised in that the touch surface includes a first active strip (3) capable of providing a first signal (6a) to a processing unit (8) corresponding to a bearing area of a control finger applied on said first strip (3), and at least one second active strip (5) capable of providing a second signal (6b) to the processing unit (8) corresponding to the bearing area of a control finger applied on said second strip (5), said active strips (3, 5) being arranged so as to locate a bearing in the entire control area (2). The invention also relates to an electric control device comprising a touch-surface sensor (1) as described above.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a tactile-surface control module comprising: a flexible protection layer (9), at least one monostable switch (11) and a rigid mechanical supporting member (13) letting through the light from at least one light source and defining regions for backlighting the flexible protection layer (9), characterized in that said supporting member (13) further includes at least one passage (21) for activating the monostable switch (11), by deformation of the flexible protection layer (9), and in that the module includes a sheet (19) made of incompressible material sandwiched between said rigid mechanical supporting member (13) and the flexible protection layer (9), the sheet (19) defining at least one pivoting arm (23) comprising a hinge (25), joined to said supporting member (13), and a pivoting free end (27) having an actuating lug (29) placed facing a passage (21) in said supporting member (13) for actuating the monostable switch (11).

Abstract: The invention relates to an electric control device for an automobile, that comprises a touch-surface sensor using pressure-sensitive resistors and to be assembled with a holder (3) having a recessed or protruding three-dimensional surface, characterised in that the touch-surface (1) of the sensor is shaped so that, at the assembled state, a portion of at least the shaped touch-surfaces (1) meet each other while conforming to the shape of said three-dimensional surface (4) in order to define an essentially continuous touch-surface (1).

Abstract: The invention relates to a touch-surface control device (1) including a sensor (3) having a surface (3) that is sensitive to a variation of the touch pressure and a holder (5) bearing said sensor (3), characterised in that the sensor (3) is floatingly mounted on the holder (5) and in that the holder (5) includes a positioning means (17) interacting with an inactive area (11) of the sensor (3) for positioning the sensor (3) on the holder (5).

Abstract: The invention relates to a haptic-feedback tactile control device that comprises a tactile surface (2) for detecting the touch contact of a user's control finger for example, and at least one vibrator (11) coupled to said tactile surface (2) for applying a vibration to said tactile surface as a response to a touch contact detection. The device further includes a mechanical vibration hollow guide (13) having an elongated shape and coupled to said vibrator (11) and having an end (15) mechanically connected to the tactile surface at an opening (17) formed in the tactile surface (12).

Abstract: The invention relates to a control device that comprises a plate (7) having at least first (9) and second (11) adjacent portions, a flexible protection layer (3) covering the plate (7), and a touch-surface sensor (5) sandwiched between said protection layer (3) and the first portion (9) of the plate (7), characterised in that it comprises at least one hinging film (13) connecting the first portion (9) to the second portion (11) for hinging both portions (9, 11) relative to each other, the first portion (9) being fixed, and at least one switch (17) associated with the second portion (11) that is capable of pivotal movement between a raised rest position and an active position for activating the switch (17).

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electric control module comprising—a substrate (1) for electric circuits,—first electric contact pads (3; 5) provided on a side (2a) of the substrate (1), each contact pad (3; 5) being linked to an associated electric track (7; 9) of the substrate (1) so that each contact pad (3; 5) corresponds to a position on the substrate. The module according to the invention also comprises an surface contact element (23) in the form of a metallic grid connected to the ground, this element (23) covering the side (2a) of the substrate including the contact pads (3; 5) so that a pressure on the surface contact element (23) connects the contact pads (3; 5) at the pressure point to the ground, whereby it is possible to determine the position of the pressure point.

Abstract: The invention relates to an touch-surface electric control device (1) comprising a touch-surface sensor (29), a printed circuit board (33), connection means (42) for the electric connection between the touch-surface sensor (29) and the printed circuit board (33), the connections means (42) and the touch-surface (29) being flexible and including a connection tab (67), the touch-surface sensor (29) and the printed circuit board (33) being provided on the opposite faces of a common substrate (31) provided between said sensor (29) and said board (33), characterised in that a side face of the common substrate (31) includes a guiding protrusion (44) for the connection tab (67).

Abstract: The invention concerns a lighting device (10) for motor vehicle comprising means (12) for ambient lighting of the vehicle passenger compartment. It comprises means (14) for measuring brightness, and means (16) for automatically controlling the ambient lighting means (12) based on the measured brightness.

Abstract: An electrical microcontact for printed circuit boards is adapted to make an electrical contact between two associated connecting areas of a circuit board. The microcontact includes a metal plate having a generally U-shaped first portion each of the branches whereof has at its end reflow areas adapted to be connected by the reflow process to associated connecting areas of the circuit board and a second portion taking the form of a central tongue connected in one piece to the base of the U and extending between the two branches of the U, this tongue being inclined relative to a plane defined by the U in such a manner that pressing on a pressure area situated toward the free end of the tongue makes electrical contact between a contact area of the tongue and the associated connecting area of the printed circuit board.

Abstract: The invention concerns a control device comprising a lever (12), having a globally circular shape about an axis of revolution (Z), articulated on a fixed support (14) and provided with a maneuvering proximale end (16). It also comprises an electrode (24) for detecting proximity of a user's hand relative to the end (16) for maneuvering the lever (12), and means (28) for electrically connecting said electrode (24) with a fixed electric circuit (26) borne by the support (14). The electrically connecting means (28) comprise an annular deformable conductive member (50) enclosing the lever (12) so as to contribute in masking said lever (12).