Patents by Inventor Michael Wachinger
Michael Wachinger has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 10545659Abstract: A number of objects simultaneously touching a touch-sensitive operator control unit of an operator control apparatus are detected and a trigger position at which one of the number of objects detected touches the touch-sensitive operator control unit is determined. When more than one object touches the touch-sensitive operator control unit, a touch pressure with which the touch-sensitive operator control unit is acted on overall by the number of objects detected is compared to a predefined pressure threshold value. A function of the motor vehicle, assigned to the trigger position, is triggered if the touch pressure is higher than the predefined pressure threshold value. The predefined pressure threshold value is defined in a manner dependent on the number of objects detected.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2015Date of Patent: January 28, 2020Assignee: AUDI AGInventors: Ulrich Müller, Michael Wachinger, Tim Krämer
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Publication number: 20190338561Abstract: A movably mounted actuation element and an actuator apparatus for producing a feedback movement of the actuation element depending on an excitation signal are included in an operating apparatus for a motor vehicle. The actuation element has a defined rest position in the housing. The actuation element is arranged in such a rest position in the non-actuated state in which at least one centering element blocks the feedback movement. The actuation element carries out an evasive movement in a direction aligned obliquely or perpendicular to the direction of the feedback movement in the case of an application of an operating force on part of the user, the actuation element switching from the rest position into a released position, in which it is released for the feedback movement by the at least one centering element, as a result of the evasive movement.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 15, 2016Publication date: November 7, 2019Applicant: AUDI AGInventor: Michael WACHINGER
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Patent number: 10331279Abstract: A transducer converts an actuation, applied to the transducer, into a raw actuation signal. The sensor device comprises an acceleration intermediary for converting an acceleration of the transducer into an actuation which is applied to the transducer, an underlying surface state detector for generating an underlying surface state signal by evaluating the raw actuation signal and an actuation signal generator for generating the actuation signal, processed in dependence on an underlying surface state, by evaluating the raw actuation signal taking into account the underlying surface state signal. Furthermore, the invention relates to a corresponding vehicle and to a corresponding method for generating an actuation signal which is processed in dependence on an underlying surface state.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2014Date of Patent: June 25, 2019Assignee: AUDI AGInventor: Michael Wachinger
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Patent number: 10232714Abstract: An actuating element, actuator device, and a control device are included in an operating device for a motor vehicle. The actuating element detects a user actuation and is movably mounted. The actuator device has an electromagnet and a permanent magnet. The control device applies a first electrical current to the electromagnet, by which the electromagnet applies a first magnetic force to the permanent magnet, which deflects the actuating element out of a rest position. The deflection of the actuating element can be felt as a brief jolt without reverberation. An elastically deformable restoring device presses or pulls the actuating element with a restoring force toward the rest position against a mechanical stop element.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2016Date of Patent: March 19, 2019Assignee: AUDI AGInventor: Michael Wachinger
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Publication number: 20190002326Abstract: A glass element is manufactured by a deep-drawing process with a plurality of surface regions marked by corresponding structure elements in the glass element such that they can be haptically sensed. A respective operator control input can be made by touching the surface regions.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 26, 2016Publication date: January 3, 2019Applicant: AUDI AGInventors: Manuel KÜHNER, Michael WACHINGER, Ulrich MÜLLER
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Patent number: 10163591Abstract: An operating device includes a casing, an operating button arranged at the casing for the manual actuation of the operating device, and a printed circuit board that is arranged in the casing. A switching element is mechanically coupled to the operating button and arranged on the printed circuit board. The switching element produces a pronounced sound when the operating button is actuated. To this end, next to the switching element, the printed circuit board is mechanically connected to the casing by at least one support element and each support element is designed to stabilize the printed circuit board against a tremor that is produced by the switching element when producing the sound.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2016Date of Patent: December 25, 2018Assignee: AUDI AGInventor: Michael Wachinger
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Patent number: 10146432Abstract: A touchpad detects a duration of a touch by an object at a current position and/or a distance traversed by the object. An operator control mode is predefined as a function of the duration and/or the distance. A pressure threshold value is predefined as a function of the operator control mode. The pressure applied to the touchpad is detected and if higher than the predefined pressure threshold value, a function of the motor vehicle which is assigned to the current position is triggered.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2015Date of Patent: December 4, 2018Assignee: AUDI AGInventors: Ulrich Müller, Michael Wachinger, Tim Krämer
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Patent number: 10106101Abstract: A housing, an actuating element, and a spring element are included in an operating device for a motor vehicle. The housing fastens the operating device. The actuating element is mounted for translatory deflection from a resting position with respect to the housing by the application of an actuating force. The spring element is resiliently mounted and a restoring force is applied to the actuating element in the direction of the resting position in the event of the translatory deflection. The spring element can be a plate or a strip and is supported by at least two supporting elements so as to be immovable with respect to the housing at respective support points. An intermediate region is defined between the support points and the actuating element lies against the spring element at two opposite ends of the spring element outside of the intermediate region.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2017Date of Patent: October 23, 2018Assignee: AUDI AGInventor: Michael Wachinger
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Publication number: 20180194229Abstract: An actuating element, actuator device, and a control device are included in an operating device for a motor vehicle. The actuating element detects a user actuation and is movably mounted. The actuator device has an electromagnet and a permanent magnet. The control device applies a first electrical current to the electromagnet, by which the electromagnet applies a first magnetic force to the permanent magnet, which deflects the actuating element out of a rest position. The deflection of the actuating element can be felt as a brief jolt without reverberation. An elastically deformable restoring device presses or pulls the actuating element with a restoring force toward the rest position against a mechanical stop element.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 29, 2016Publication date: July 12, 2018Applicant: AUDI AGInventor: Michael WACHINGER
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Patent number: 10019098Abstract: A touch-sensitive sensor element is mounted movably such that it is movable in a direction of operation of a manual operation. The touch-sensitive sensor element is mechanically coupled to a force sensor element.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2015Date of Patent: July 10, 2018Assignee: AUDI AGInventors: Manuel Kühner, Michael Wachinger, Ulrich Müller
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Publication number: 20180186304Abstract: A housing, an actuating element, and a spring element are included in an operating device for a motor vehicle. The housing fastens the operating device. The actuating element is mounted for translatory deflection from a resting position with respect to the housing by the application of an actuating force. The spring element is resiliently mounted and a restoring force is applied to the actuating element in the direction of the resting position in the event of the translatory deflection. The spring element can be a plate or a strip and is supported by at least two supporting elements so as to be immovable with respect to the housing at respective support points. An intermediate region is defined between the support points and the actuating element lies against the spring element at two opposite ends of the spring element outside of the intermediate region.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 10, 2017Publication date: July 5, 2018Applicant: AUDI AGInventor: Michael WACHINGER
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Patent number: 9981668Abstract: At least one operator control element which can be moved by an operator is included in an operator control device. Furthermore, the operator control device includes an actuator with which activation of the operator control element can be communicated to the operator. The actuator includes a coil element and an armature which can move relative to the coil element. The armature is secured to the operator control element. The operator control device also includes an evaluation device with which a position of the armature relative to the coil element can be detected.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2015Date of Patent: May 29, 2018Assignee: AUDI AGInventor: Michael Wachinger
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Publication number: 20180134158Abstract: A touchpad detects a duration of a touch by an object at a current position and/or a distance traversed by the object. An operator control mode is predefined as a function of the duration and/or the distance. A pressure threshold value is predefined as a function of the operator control mode. The pressure applied to the touchpad is detected and if higher than the predefined pressure threshold value, a function of the motor vehicle which is assigned to the current position is triggered.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2015Publication date: May 17, 2018Inventors: Ulrich MÜLLER, Michael WACHINGER, Tim KRÄMER
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Publication number: 20180033573Abstract: An operating device includes a casing, an operating button arranged at the casing for the manual actuation of the operating device, and a printed circuit board that is arranged in the casing. A switching element is mechanically coupled to the operating button and arranged on the printed circuit board. The switching element produces a pronounced sound when the operating button is actuated. To this end, next to the switching element, the printed circuit board is mechanically connected to the casing by at least one support element and each support element is designed to stabilize the printed circuit board against a tremor that is produced by the switching element when producing the sound.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 28, 2016Publication date: February 1, 2018Applicant: AUDI AGInventor: Michael WACHINGER
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Patent number: 9812272Abstract: A base element and at least one switching element are included in an operator control device which may be disposed in a vehicle. By closing at least one electrical contact, the switching element is moveable from a first position into a second position relative to the base element. The operator control device can also include at least one pushbutton switch moveable relative to the base element between a position of rest and at least one activation position. The operator control device can further include at least one restoring element, formed of silicone and supported on the base element and on the pushbutton switch, which can be elastically deformed by moving the pushbutton switch from the position of rest into the activation position. Using the restoring element, the pushbutton switch can be moved from the activation position into the position of rest by relaxing the restoring element.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2015Date of Patent: November 7, 2017Assignee: AUDI AGInventor: Michael Wachinger
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Publication number: 20170316897Abstract: A base element and at least one switching element are included in an operator control device which may be disposed in a vehicle. By closing at least one electrical contact, the switching element is moveable from a first position into a second position relative to the base element. The operator control device can also include at least one pushbutton switch moveable relative to the base element between a position of rest and at least one activation position. The operator control device can further include at least one restoring element, formed of silicone and supported on the base element and on the pushbutton switch, which can be elastically deformed by moving the pushbutton switch from the position of rest into the activation position. Using the restoring element, the pushbutton switch can be moved from the activation position into the position of rest by relaxing the restoring element.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 27, 2015Publication date: November 2, 2017Applicant: AUDI AGInventor: Michael WACHINGER
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Publication number: 20170308217Abstract: The invention relates to an input device (10) for ascertaining manual operation, having a touch-sensitive sensor element (12) that is mounted movably such that it is movable in a direction of operation (14) on the manual operation, the touch-sensitive sensor element (12) being mechanically coupled to a force sensor element (16).Type: ApplicationFiled: November 27, 2015Publication date: October 26, 2017Applicant: AUDI AGInventors: Manuel KÜHNER, Michael WACHINGER, Ulrich MÜLLER
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Patent number: 9798422Abstract: A detection device detects a position at which a touch-sensitive operator control unit is touched by an object by detecting a pressure (pm) which is applied to the touch-sensitive operator control unit by the object at the position. In addition, a speed (vm) and/or an acceleration (am) of the motor vehicle is detected and a pressure threshold value (ps) is predefined as a function of speed (vm) and/or accelerations (am) of the motor vehicle. The method determines whether the detected pressure (pm) is higher than the predefined pressure threshold value (ps) and triggers a function (F), assigned to the detected position, of the motor vehicle exclusively if the detected pressure (pm) is higher than the predefined pressure threshold value (ps).Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2015Date of Patent: October 24, 2017Assignee: AUDI AGInventors: Ulrich Mueller, Michael Wachinger, Tim Kraemer
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Publication number: 20170277385Abstract: A number of objects simultaneously touching a touch-sensitive operator control unit of an operator control apparatus are detected and a trigger position at which one of the number of objects detected touches the touch-sensitive operator control unit is determined. When more than one object touches the touch-sensitive operator control unit, a touch pressure with which the touch-sensitive operator control unit is acted on overall by the number of objects detected is compared to a predefined pressure threshold value. A function of the motor vehicle, assigned to the trigger position, is triggered if the touch pressure is higher than the predefined pressure threshold value. The predefined pressure threshold value is defined in a manner dependent on the number of objects detected.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2015Publication date: September 28, 2017Applicant: AUDI AGInventors: Ulrich MÜLLER, Michael WACHINGER, Tim KRÄMER
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Publication number: 20170277353Abstract: A detection device detects a position at which a touch-sensitive operator control unit is touched by an object by detecting a pressure (pm) which is applied to the touch-sensitive operator control unit by the object at the position. In addition, a speed (vm) and/or an acceleration (am) of the motor vehicle is detected and a pressure threshold value (ps) is predefined as a function of speed (vm) and/or accelerations (am) of the motor vehicle. The method determines whether the detected pressure (pm) is higher than the predefined pressure threshold value (ps) and triggers a function (F), assigned to the detected position, of the motor vehicle exclusively if the detected pressure (pm) is higher than the predefined pressure threshold value (ps).Type: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2015Publication date: September 28, 2017Applicant: AUDI AGInventors: Ulrich MUELLER, Michael WACHINGER, Tim KRAEMER