DE102011006733A1 - Operating device, particularly for sound technical systems for digital mixing console, has touch screen and transparent cover arranged in front of touch screen corresponding to viewing side of touch screen - Google Patents

Abstract

The operating device (20) has a touch screen (30) and a transparent cover (40) arranged in front of the touchscreen corresponding to the viewing side of the touch screen. The cover has a plane-parallel transparent plate, particularly an acrylic plate. Mechanically actuatable operating elements (60) are provided, which are fixed on or to the cover and are arranged in front of the touch screen. The operating element is coupled to the touch screen and is arranged corresponding to the touch screen. A mechanical actuation of the operating element by a user is detected by the touch screen.

Description

The invention relates to an operating device having improved tactile operability, in particular for audio-technical systems, particularly preferably for a digital mixing console, in which individual contents are displayed on a program-controlled display surface, in front of which individual mechanically actuatable operating elements are arranged.

Tontechnische systems, such as digital mixing consoles, usually have a large number of controls that can be haptically operated to capture a variety of different parameters for a variety of input and output channels and to be able to modify. In addition, it is necessary to visually represent the individual parameters acquired as well as information about the audio signals processed in the individual channels for a human user.

A variety of different mechanical controls are known to those skilled in the art, which include, for example, sliders, encoders, push-button, just to name a few. Moreover, in the prior art so-called touchscreens are known as operating devices.

A touch screen comprises a display device, which comprises a freely programmable two-dimensional display surface. In front of the display surface (with respect to a viewing direction), a transparently configured position determining device is arranged in the touch screen. This is able to detect an approach and / or contact of an actuating element, for example a fingertip of a human user, and to determine the approach or touch position in the two-dimensional plane of the position-determining device or the display surface.

To capture user input via a touchscreen, controls are graphically displayed on the freely programmable display area. If the touch screen is touched by the actuating element in the display area or an associated operating area, then the touch position is detected, which coincides with the location of the graphical representation of the operating element. This makes it possible to trigger a function associated with the graphically displayed virtual operating element.

Touchsceens make it possible to create flexibly adaptable user interfaces, since only a program-controlled generation of the virtual control elements as well as program-controlled evaluation and assignment of the touch positions is necessary in order to correctly grasp user inputs. In addition to a simple touch position recorded touch positions can be recorded and evaluated in chronological order and in this case a direction of a grazing motion, a speed and / or acceleration are evaluated to capture user input and this example, parameters for a sound engineering system. A disadvantage of the known touch screen solutions, however, is that the touch screen no haptic feedback, d. H. provides no haptic feedback to the actuator when operating one of the virtual controls.

From the US 5,805,146 A a screen coupled to a sliding control is known. A control device has an operating element which can be moved by a user along a track in order to change the state of a circuit which is arranged on an upper side of the electronic display device. This makes it possible to display calibration marks, symbols and other markings associated with the operation and control in the immediate vicinity of the slidable control. The representation can be made simultaneously with the change in the position of the control or in response to a function that depends on the state of the circuit. The sensor elements for detecting the movement of the operating element are arranged and formed in front of the display surface specifically for the purpose of detecting the operation of the corresponding operating element.

From the WO 00/25332 For example, a device for entering values with a screen is known which comprises at least one screen for displaying values and at least one element for manually entering values. In order to provide unambiguous feedback on values entered via a manual input element, the display is preceded in the viewing direction by a support for input elements which has at least one transparent region assigned to the element. The individual elements are connected via connections in front of the screen with a computer.

Although in the described embodiments, a visual feedback is possible in a blind operation, however, provides an embodiment in which the detection of a user parameter via an approach of an actuator to a touch screen, no feedback, if and at what time a user detection actually takes place.

According to the embodiments US 5,805,146 and WO 00/25332 is a Although unintentional operation is excluded due to a touch of the actuating element, but to operate a very high production cost, since the sensor must be performed to detect the user input via the mechanically operated control element in front of the touch screen. In the case of a large number of operating elements, as occur, for example, in the case of digital mixing consoles, this is technically complex in terms of layout technology and production and partly restricts flexibility with regard to the available display areas of the freely programmable screen.

In the WO 00/25332 An embodiment is also described in which the screen arranged behind the carrier can be a touch screen. The carrier does not completely cover the screen, so areas of the touch screen can be used for conventional user input via touch screen.

The invention is based on the technical object of providing an improved operating device, in particular for audio-technical installations, which also reliably enables blind operation and, with low production costs, allows flexible production, in particular of operating devices adapted to customer requirements.

The invention is based on the idea of creating a novel operating device by coupling a touch screen with adapted mechanical operating elements in such a way that a mechanical actuation of the operating elements is detected by the touch screen itself (and exclusively by means of the touch screen). This means that upon a mechanical actuation of a control element, a local change of an effective variable is brought about, which depends on the touchscreen, i. H. the position determining device of the touch screen, is used for position detection.

The advantage of the invention is that no additional wiring or forming connections between a computer and the one or more operating elements is necessary, which are arranged in front of the touch screen. Likewise, the use of a further sensor technology, as for example in the US 5,805,146 is described. As a result, a reliable detection of user input is possible and a high degree of flexibility, especially for customized operating devices, created because a cover and the controls mounted thereon can be made individually customized without much effort or even modified and / or can be replaced without electronic Intervene circuits of the operating device. Modifications and adjustments, which are necessary, for example, when replacing the cover and the controls mounted thereon, can be performed purely software technology.

definitions

A touch screen is a structural unit which comprises a display device with a freely programmable display area and a position determining device coupled thereto. The position determination device is designed such that it detects a touch and / or approach of an actuating element, in particular a finger, of a human user, and determines and outputs its relative position in the plane of the display surface or the position of a projection of the actuating element on the display surface.

A freely programmable display area is a display area on which different graphical elements can be displayed one after the other at the same location. As a rule, freely programmable display areas are pixelated, ie. H. divided into pixels. Each pixel can be controlled individually via the programming in order to obtain different graphic representations by a sum of the pixels. Preferably, each pixel can assume different color values. Alternatively, the individual pixels may assume different gray level values or, in a very simple embodiment, two different optical states, for example white and black. Examples of freely programmable display surfaces are computer screens, displays by personal digital assistants or displays of mobile phones which comprise a digital camera.

A mechanical operating element is an operating element which comprises at least one element, here referred to as a contact element, which is moved mechanically upon actuation of the operating element. Mechanical controls, for example, as knobs, which are also referred to as knobs or encoders, turn as sliding buttons, which also referred to as sliders, pushbutton, on / off switch, which can assume different positions, dials or the like can be configured.

As a controller or encoder every mechanical control is considered, which has a mechanically movable contact element, which can take several positions. The term controller is used independently of the meaning "regulation". As a controller, controls are considered, which were used in conventional analog or digital control loops for their manual tuning and are. In the Mechanical movement can be any movement, for example a rotary movement, a linear movement, a movement along a circle segment, etc.

As a switch, an object is considered, which has a plurality of switching contacts or contacts and makes an electrical connection at least between at least two of the switch contacts or contacts upon actuation or interrupts an electrical connection. Ie. There is a change in the switching state when actuated. A pushbutton is a switch that changes its switching state during a switching operation and automatically returns to the original switching state after the end of the actuation process. If a mechanical operating element is designed as a switch, an element of the switch is mechanically moved by a user during actuation, as a result of which the switching state is changed.

Mechanical movement of an element is also understood to mean mechanical deformation of the element.

As a haptic feedback a tactile feedback to the actuator is called, which operates a mechanical control. A haptic feedback, for example, then exist that a mechanical resistance, which counteracts the operation of the mechanical operating element, abruptly changes during the operation, for example, abruptly reduced. Such haptic feedback is known, for example, for pushbutton switches, which are also referred to as pushbuttons, with a pressure point or rotary control, which are embodied, for example, as incremental controllers, in the form of detents, etc.

A recess in a surface of a body is a hollow volume projecting into the body in the surface in which there is no material from which the body is made. For example, blind holes or recesses are recesses. A particular form of recesses are through holes or apertures in which the recess extends through the entire body from one surface to an opposite surface.

An effective variable is a physical quantity which can be detected by means of a sensor. Position determining devices, which can detect a two-dimensional position of an object in a plane, can work according to different principles of action, which detect different action variables. One form of position determining device is configured to detect a local pressure change on the surface to determine the position of the actuating element. The print brings different layers into contact with each other. These layers are resistive, for example, so that a resistance value is dependent on the contact position or a distance between the contact position and an edge of the position-determining device. Other position determining devices detect capacitive coupling of the actuating element to electrodes of the position-determining device. In this case, there are systems which evaluate only a small number of electrodes, which are arranged, for example, in the corners of a rectangular-shaped position-determining device. Other embodiments have a plurality of transparently formed electrodes which are arranged in a grid over the display surface. These position-determining devices acting on a so-called capacitive projection are capable of precisely detecting at the same time approaches of several different actuating elements.

As multi-touch capable of such positioning devices are referred to, which can simultaneously detect the positions of several different actuators. It is irrelevant in this case whether the detection takes place only in the case of a touch or already in the case of an immediate approach to the display surface of the display device or the position determining device arranged in front of it.

Preferred embodiments

A preferred operating device with improved tactile operability, in particular for audio-technical systems, particularly preferably for a digital mixing console, comprises:
a touch screen, a transparent, with respect to a viewing side of the touch screen, arranged in front of the touch screen cover;
at least one mechanically operable controls, which is mounted on or on the cover and is also arranged in front of the touch screen, wherein the control element is coupled to the touch screen and arranged relative to this, that detects a mechanical actuation of the operating element by a human user by means of the touch screen becomes. The capture takes place exclusively via the touchscreen. Also, the detection of different positions, if the control element can take several positions.

In a preferred embodiment, the operating element comprises a coupling element, via which a change of an effective variable, which the touch screen for position determination (in the two-dimensional plane of the Touchscreenoberfläche) evaluates, locally caused by an actuation of the control element by the human user. By actuation of the operating element, a local change in the effective size of that effective variable is effected via the coupling element, by means of which the touchscreen carries out a position determination. In the case of a capacitive measuring touchscreen, the effective variable can be, for example, a local change in capacitance or an electric potential or field change. For a touch screen that senses the position through local pressure, it may be a local pressure change on the touch screen surface.

Particularly preferred are embodiments in which the touch screen is designed to determine a position of an entity via a capacitive coupling of the entity to electrodes of the touch screen. In such an embodiment, the manual actuation of the operating element can be detected by capacitive coupling of a body part of the user directly to the touchscreen to the electrodes of the touchscreen via the operating element and its mechanical components when actuated via the coupling element capacitively to the electrodes of the touch screen is effected.

It is desirable to be able to serve a large number of operating elements at the same time. Such a feature or such a capability of the operating device can be most easily achieved with a capacitive measuring touch screen, which is a projected capacitive touchscreen.

Capacitive projected measuring touchscreens have the advantage that they can be operated in such a way that an approach to the touchscreen in the immediate vicinity prior to a touch is already detectable. This makes it possible to leave a material layer of the cover between the touch screen and the coupling element, so that the operating element, without penetrating the cover, can be arranged on this. In this way, the cover for such controls can also act as a protection for the touch screen.

In order to capture different parameters by means of the control element, in a preferred embodiment, the control element is designed as a controller or encoder having a mechanically movable contact element, with a designed as a slider coupling element (for example, mechanically or non-positively) is coupled, wherein the grinder is arranged in contact with the surface of the touch screen or adjacent to the surface of the touch screen and coupled with the mechanical movement of the touch element in the operation of the controller or encoder in a plane parallel to the touch screen surface is moved and a detected parameter derived from a change in position of the grinder becomes. The controller may be formed, for example, as a knob or slider.

In one embodiment, the contact element is electrically conductively connected to the wiper, so that a change in the capacitive coupling of the wiper to the touchscreen can be detected and detected even without a mechanical movement of the contact element when the touch element touches the touch element by the user's operating element becomes. Already at a touch, without a parameter input, for example, a display adjacent to the control element can be adapted to facilitate a user input. For example, a pointer can be displayed enlarged, making a current knob position visually easier to detect. Additionally or alternatively, enlarged marks and associated values for the value of the parameter to be detected and / or a scale can be displayed. It is also possible to display graphically which other parameters are influenced by an input which is detected by means of the touched operating element.

Particularly preferred are control elements that transmit a haptic feedback to the user when actuated. For this purpose, the control element is designed such that it comprises a feedback transmitter, the haptic perceptible feedback, in particular an abrupt change in the mechanical resistance during the movement of the contact element, particularly preferably at a switching, incremental and / or Triggering threshold, generated. If no switching operation is carried out in the operating element, then it is advantageous if the haptic feedback is triggered at mechanical positions, to which a position of the coupling element can be assigned, so that this position can be assigned a switching threshold in the program-controlled application which is triggered, when the coupling element is detected at the corresponding position by the touch screen.

Thus, coupling of signal processing control and haptic feedback is maintained or at least practicable, as is known for traditional wired / connected controls.

In particular, for a blind operation are switches, in particular key switch, of particular importance, which operates a sound engineer, for example, depending on a happening, which he visually observed in a recording studio adjacent to the operating device or on a stage. Therefore, a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention provides that at least one operating element is designed as a switch, wherein the touch element of the operating element, which is preferably designed as a conductive pressure cap, is electrically conductively connected to a switching contact of the switch, with the other switching contact of the switch the coupling element, which is electrically conductive, preferably formed as a conductive contact plate, is arranged adjacent or spaced the surface of the touch screen, so that upon actuation of the operating element by a user when changing the switching state, a change in the capacitive coupling of the coupling element takes place on the touch screen, for example, when closing the key switch, a capacitive coupling to the touch screen is done in such a way that at the position of the coupling element a touch is detected and this erkan a key actuation erkan nt is. As a switch thus a commercial switch can be used, provided that the contact element, such as a pressure hood, is conductive and this is electrically connected to the one switching contact. This key switch can be mounted on a conductive, for example, a metal plate or a conductive plastic coupling element, for example by means of an adhesive, wherein the coupling element is electrically connected to the other switching contact of the key switch. The key switch must now be attached to the coupling element on or in the cover plate so that in the closed switching state, the capacitive coupling of the actuating finger is transmitted through the switching element to the coupling element, which in turn capacitively couples to the touch screen. Thus, commercial push-buttons or switches can be integrated in the manner described in an operating device.

To realize a rotary or incremental controller, a conventional rotary encoder or incremental encoder can be used. This should have as a contact element a conductive rotary cap which is fixed to a rotatably mounted electrically conductive shaft. A transmission of the mechanical movement effected on the rotary cap to a driver disk, on which the coupling element designed as a slider is fastened, is effected via the shaft so that it is connected in an electrically conductive manner to the rotatable shaft. In order to realize an incremental encoder, which is rotatable by a full 360 °, it is advantageous to screw such a knob in a through hole of the cover. The grinder is in this case arranged in a recess facing the touch screen in the cover. In order to avoid damage to the touchscreen, the grinder is preferably formed of a conductive plastic. In such a case, the grinder may be disposed in contact with the touch screen. In other embodiments, a small gap remains between the touch screen surface and the wiper to avoid mechanical stress on the touch screen while still achieving good capacitive coupling.

While in a trained as an incremental encoder knob without mechanical movement of the control element due to the electrically conductive coupling of the knob to the grinder a touch is detected by the user, this is only possible for a switching element, in particular a push button, if this is a second coupling element is assigned, with which the pressure hood as a contact element of the pushbutton permanently electrically connected, so that in the region of coupling of the second coupling element on the touch screen already at a touch of the push button position detection takes place at that position at which the second coupling element above the touch screen is arranged.

Analogous to a rotary control, a slider can also be configured, wherein a groove for receiving the coupling element is provided in the cover.

Another way to realize a parameter acquisition as in a slider, is that a sliding track of the actuator itself, for example, a fingertip on the touch screen, is evaluated. However, especially in the case of blind operation, there is the danger that a predefined virtual operating surface, which is assigned to a slider, will be left unintentionally and another virtual operating element, for example another slider or a virtual operating key, is actuated unintentionally. Therefore, a development of the invention provides that the transparent cover recesses provides that are assigned to individual virtual controls and provides a haptic guidance and / or limitation of the virtual controls. In this case, the recesses in capacitive measuring touchscreens must not be formed as complete openings through the cover, as a capacitive coupling can also be done by a thin layer of material of the cover. The recesses can thus be formed as depressions, for example groove-like depressions for a slider, or circular or rectangular depressions, for example with rounded corners, to a key-like assigned to virtual control element. In particular, flexible-labeled control buttons can be executed in a context-dependent manner in a simple manner, which nevertheless permit haptic guidance. If the edge is formed into "sharp-edged" depressions, then it can be felt for blind operation, so that inadvertent contact with the control panel can likewise be omitted.

In one embodiment, it is therefore provided that at least one side edge, preferably several or all side edges, of the recess comprise a section formed substantially perpendicular to the surface of the touch screen in order to provide a mechanical guidance for a finger.

It is preferred that the recess is a recess which does not completely penetrate the cover.

The provision of a cover with a material thickness through which an activation of the touch screen is not possible and an introduction of recesses to still allow operation of virtual controls and provide a mechanical guide is an independent invention, even without the provision of mechanically actuated Controls solves the problem underlying the invention.

To form the transparent cover are particularly color neutral materials, such as acrylic plates or other polymers, plastics such as polycarbonates, etc.

Preferred embodiments of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to a drawing. Hereby show:

1 a schematic view of a sound engineering system with a haptic control device;

2 a schematic cross-sectional view of an operating device;

3 a sectional view of a section of an operating device with a control element designed as a pushbutton;

4 a functional diagram for explaining the operation of a trained as a push-button control element;

5 a functional diagram of a werteren embodiment, in which the trained as a push-button control element is equipped with a touch detection;

6 a schematic sectional view of a section of an operating device with a trained as a rotary control element; and

7 a schematic plan view of a section of the operating device.

In 1 is schematically a sound engineering plant 1 shown. The sound engineering system, which is designed for example as a digital mixing console, includes inputs 2 and outputs 3 , With the entrances 2 Here are exemplary microphones 4 linked and exemplified speakers with the outputs 5 , About the inputs 2 and outputs 3 Sound signals are received and output. Via further input and / or output interfaces 6 can other sound equipment 7 Be connected, for example, amplifiers, CD players, DVD players, tape recorders, recording devices, transmitters, computer networks and the like, can be exchanged over the audio-technical signals both analog and digitized. The sound engineering system 1 is configured to process the different audio signals that are received and via the outputs 3 or interfaces 6 to spend again. The skilled person is familiar with the operation of a mixer. It is customary to perform the manipulation of the audio data in a digitized form. For this purpose, the sound engineering system includes 1 a computer device 10 containing one or more processor devices 11 includes. As a rule, the processor devices are 11 to program-controlled processor devices, their program in a memory 12 is stored. The program sequence and thus processing of the audio data and audio signals is via user inputs, which preferably in the field of audio engineering via a haptic control device 20 be affected. The memory and the computing device may be part of the operating device in some embodiments.

In the illustrated embodiment, the operating device comprises 20 at least one touch screen 30 , the integral of a freely programmable, preferably colored, display device 31 and a position determining device measuring in the illustrated embodiment by means of so-called projected capacitance 32 is formed. Here, the capacitive measuring position determining device 32 over a display area 33 the freely programmable display device 31 arranged A viewing of the display area 33 thus takes place by the position determination device 32 therethrough.

The touchscreen is at least partially, preferably over the entire surface of a cover 40 covered. This is made of a transparent and color-neutral material, for example as an acrylic plate. The transparent cover 40 is preferably chosen in terms of material thickness so that when touching the surface of the cover at those locations where the cover 40 their full material thickness 41 has no coupling to the position determining device 31 of the touchscreen 30 done so that the cover 40 can be touched at these locations by a human user without touching the touch screen 30 to influence.

On, in or on the cover 40 are mechanical controls 60 In the illustrated embodiment, the mechanical controls include push buttons 61 and encoders 81 , In the environment of the controls 60 are on the display area 33 passing through the transparent cover 40 is observable, the controls 60 associated information, such as scales 121 with scale values 122 and pointers 123 , displayed. Any information can be displayed and changed on the display surface, in particular adapted to actuations of the controls 60 , In addition, the cover points 40 first wells 42 on to virtual controls 50 which are directly actuable by an actuator, such as a user's finger.

In 2 is the operating device 20 shown schematically as a sectional view. Technically similar features are identified in all figures with the same reference numerals. The first wells 42 are preferably formed as recesses in which the material thickness of the transparent cover 40 is reduced, but not broken. A remaining material thickness 43 is chosen so that when touching a floor 44 the first well 42 by means of a finger of a human user, a coupling to the position determining device 31 of the touchscreen 30 causes, so the touch screen 30 a touch at the position 45 captured, over which the first recess 41 which is touched, is arranged. The touch position coordinates are sent to the computer device 10 output. In this way, common virtual controls known in prior art touchscreens can be realized but with the first pits 42 a haptic guide is provided for the formed as a finger actuator.

Especially if the first wells 42 be formed as elongated grooves, these can be used, for example, to detect a sliding movement a parameter adjustment analogous to a mechanically formed slide control. This is also possible with a blind operation, without there being any danger of "accidentally" slipping off into a neighboring virtual operating element, because walls 47 the first well 42 provide a tactile perceivable guide for the actuator. In addition, the depression forms 42 also a mechanical guide, which slipping and slipping out of the recess 42 prevented. For this purpose, one, preferably at least two, particularly preferably all side edges of the recess or depression 42 formed at least in sections substantially perpendicular to the surface, so that these sections provide a mechanical guide for a human finger against accidental slipping. By doing that, the first wells 42 not designed as through holes, also provides reliable protection against wear, contamination and damage to the touch screen 30 , in particular the position-determining device 31 , reached.

However, other embodiments may additionally and / or alternatively provide different recesses, which are formed as passage openings, so that an immediate touch of the touch screen surface is possible. Such embodiments also offer the advantages, with suitable design of the side edges, that both haptic and mechanical guidance are ensured.

Although it is in the area of the wells 42 trained virtual control possible to position a trained as a finger actuator to the edge of the recess and then without a glance zuzu the associated virtual control by guiding the actuator, finger, in the recess and on the floor 44 the depression 42 trigger, but the risk of false tripping is still greater than mechanically trained controls, especially those in which a mechanical resistance must be overcome to operate, as this is given for example in rasterized encoders or push buttons with a pressure point.

Therefore, the operating device includes 20 additionally or alternatively, the mechanically formed controls 60 , One of the mechanical controls 60 in the illustrated embodiment, as a pushbutton 61 is formed is more detailed schematically in 3 shown The pushbutton 61 includes a key body 62 in which a key switch mechanism (not shown) is arranged and configured. This can be via a mechanically movable contact element 63 which as a conductive pressure hood 64 is formed, operated. One on the surface of the touchscreen 30 directed mechanical movement of the contact element 63 ie the pressure hood 64 , leads to a mechanical movement of the touch element on the touch screen and thereby triggers the Tastschaltmechanismus in the key body. In a preferred embodiment, this is an electrically conductive connection between a closing contact 65 and another closing contact 66 The one make contact 65 , which is also marked with the letter "A", is with a coupling element 67 electrically connected. The coupling element 67 is made of a conductive material, for example as a metal plate, which is also referred to as a coupling bar, formed and in a second type recess, as a second recess 72 the cover 40 is called, at the bottom 74 attached for example by means of an adhesive. The coupling element 87 is thus formed as a surface extensively conductive contact plate, with respect to an outer surface parallel to the surface of the touch screen 30 is oriented.

The further closing contact 66 , which is additionally marked with the letter "B", is over a wire 68 with the pressure hood 64 ie the mechanically movable contact element 63 electrically connected. If the pressure hood is designed as a metal button, so the connection between the wire 68 and the pressure hood 64 for example, via a solder joint 69 getting produced. However, any other ways of forming an electrically conductive connection, such as clamping, screwing, or the like, may be used.

The key body 62 is on the coupling element 67 attached, for example, also glued. Alternatively, the coupling element 67 also bolted to the probe body or otherwise secured and fixed. The second wells 72 in which as a push button 61 trained mechanical controls 60 are arranged analogous to the first wells 42 designed as blind holes. On the ground 74 is a reduced material thickness 73 selected such that a capacitive coupling between the coupling element and the position-determining device of the touch screen 30 takes place when the closing contacts electrically conductive upon actuation of the push button 61 are connected and thus an electrically conductive connection between the touched by the actuator pressure hood 63 and the coupling element 67 is made.

The operating principle of the pushbutton and its connection to the touchscreen is in 4 again exemplified.

In 5 is an embodiment similar to that of 4 shown schematically, but in which a werteres coupling element 67 ' electrically conductive via a werteren wire 68 ' with the mechanically movable contact element 63 , which as a metallic pressure hood 64 is formed, is connected. The further coupling element 67 ' is spaced from the first coupling element 67 adjacent to the touch screen 30 arranged. When touching the pressure hood 64 through a finger 141 thus finds a capacitive coupling via the further coupling element 67 ' to the touch screen 30 instead of. As a result, the touch of the push button is detected. Will the push button 61 through the finger 141 operated and hereby the closing contacts 65 . 66 electrically connected, in addition, a capacitive coupling via the coupling element 67 with the touch screen, so that the triggering of the key switch is detected. In other embodiments, the key switch may include a second switching mechanism via which, for example, the electrically conductive connection between the contact element 63 and the further coupling element 67 ' is formed in the unactuated state and upon actuation of the push button 61 is interrupted. This can be advantageous for touch screen capture. Are the coupling elements 67 and 67 ' arranged close to each other, so changed in the latter embodiment, the detected "touch position", ie the position at which the coupling is detected. In the former embodiment, both coupling elements are connected to the actuating element in the depressed state, so that the touch screen in unfavorable cases or only limited resolution, the additional coupling of the coupling element 67 recorded only as an enlargement of the "contact surface" and not as a second or significantly changed "contact position". In these cases, however, the detected center of gravity position of the touch will generally change, so that the shifting, albeit more difficult, can still be detected.

In other embodiments, it may be provided that the key body 62 in a passage opening of the cover 40 is fixed so that the coupling element 67 directly on the surface of the touchscreen 30 is arranged. As a result, embodiments with a mechanical interaction with the touchscreen are possible.

By way of example, the operating device comprises 20 in the illustrated embodiment additionally as a mechanical control element 60 a rotary encoder 81 , The encoder 81 comprises as a mechanically movable contact element 83 a metal button 84 , This is at a proximal end 91 one rotatable in a carrier housing 82 stored also conductive trained shaft 85 attached. Of the shaft 85 represents a physically formed axis of rotation around which the metal button 84 is rotatable. The shaft 85 extends through the carrier housing 82 therethrough. At a distal end 92 of the shaft 85 is a conductive trained drive plate 86 , For example, made of metal, attached. A rotary motion of the metal button 84 transfers to the drive plate 86 , At one of the carrier housing 82 opposite bottom 93 the drive disc 86 is a trained as a slider coupling element 87 attached. The coupling element 87 , ie the grinder, is preferably formed from a conductive plastic. The arrangement of the rotary encoder 81 in the cover 40 done in such a way that in a bottom 46 the transparent cover 40 a third well 102 is trained. The third well 102 has a first cylindrical recess portion 103 on which one depth 104 opposite the bottom 46 the cover 40 having. The third recess has a concentric with the first recess portion 103 formed, preferably also cylinder-like, second recess portion 105 on, which has a smaller diameter than the first recess portion 103 having. A second depth 106 of the second recess portion 105 based on the bottom 46 the cover 40 is bigger than the first depth 104 , A depth difference 107 between the first depth 104 and the second depth 106 as well as a diameter 108 of the second recess portion 105 are chosen so that a lower part 94 of the carrier housing 82 in the second recess portion 105 can be included. The first recess section 105 is dimensioned so that here the drive plate 86 and the trained as a grinder contact element 87 Turn the grinder over and the sander flush with the bottom 46 Completing the transparent cover or slightly protrudes down over this. This can be ensured that in an arrangement of the cover on the touch screen 30 the coupling element 87 , which is designed as a grinder, in contact with the touch screen 30 is arranged. This results in a good capacitive coupling to the touch screen despite a small spatial extent of the grinder 30 guaranteed. Already with a touch of the encoder 81 finds a capacitive coupling on the touchscreen 30 instead, leaving at the touch position 49 of the grinder a touch of the touchscreen 30 is detected. Finds a twist of the metal cap 84 takes place and gets over the shaft 85 and the drive disc 86 a rotation of the coupling element formed as a slider over this 87 mediates, so the touch position changes, which through the touch screen 30 is recorded and evaluated as a user input. The covered angle segment is hereby preferably evaluated as an increment.

Particularly preferred is the rotary encoder 82 designed so that it transmits a haptic feedback, for example via screenings to the user. Such mechanisms are formed in the shaft or carrier housing and already known from the prior art and therefore not explained here.

The attachment of the carrier housing to the cover 40 is preferably done in such a way that the shaft 85 together with a threaded section 95 from the bottom through a concentric with the third recess 102 trained passage opening 110 to be led. At the threaded section 95 is an external thread 88 formed as a diameter of the passage opening 110 less than the diameter 108 of the second recess portion 105 the third well 102 is selected, remains a circumferential material web 111 the cover 40 who is between a mother 112 , which on the external thread 88 is fastened, and the lower part 94 of the carrier housing 82 is clamped. This is where the rotary encoder on the transparent cover 40 fixed. To the mother 112 completely or partially in the cover 40 can sink, as in the example shown, a concentric with the passage opening 110 trained cylindrical depression depression 113 in a top 48 the cover 40 be educated. This reduces a material thickness of the material web 111 ,

In an analogous manner, a mechanical slider can be realized, in which a contact element, which is electrically conductive, is connected via a guided in a groove connecting shaft with a slider designed as a coupling element through the cover, so that the coupling element as a grinder on the Touchscreen is guided. In embodiments in which the rotary encoder or a slider, for example, are glued into a recess of the cover introduced from an upper side, it is not necessary for the cover to be broken in the movement range of the grinder. A capacitive coupling is similar to a key switch also possible by a remaining minimum material thickness of the transparent cover. Thus, completely closed covers can be realized, which protect the touch screen very well.

In 7 is a schematic plan view of a section of the operating device 20 shown. For one thing, there are three rotary encoders next to each other 81-1 . 81-2 and 81-3 on the transparent cover 40 arranged. About the underlying touch screen is circumferentially each one scale 121 with scale values 122 from 0 to 7 as well as a pointer 123 , which one above the respective encoders 81-1 to 81-3 recorded parameter value with respect to the scale 121 displays. The encoder 81-2 is currently being touched by a user. Therefore, its scale values 122 ' enlarged and preferably highlighted highlighted. On the one hand, the user's attention is directed to the fact that this control element 60 currently can be used for a parameter value detection of a parameter associated with the control element. On the other hand, the representation of the scale values 122 ' at a greater distance from the associated encoder 81-2 and in an enlarged view that the scale values 122 not by the metal button 84-2 grasping fingers 125 . 126 to be covered. Will the metal button 84-2 of the rotary encoder 81-2 rotated, an incrementation or decrement of the encoder associated with the parameter is detected depending on the rotational movement. Preferably, the rotary encoder 81-2 designed so that it has a screening, which provides a haptic feedback to the fingers 125 . 126 transmitted by the user that a mechanical rotational resistance increases before reaching a detent position and abruptly drops when reaching a detent position.

On the user interface are also first wells 42-1 to 42-3 educated. The first recess 42-1 is here designed as an elongated groove, so that a grazing motion within the first recess 42-1 depending on a touch and / or a movement length, a movement speed and / or a movement acceleration of a grinding movement on the ground 44 the first well 42-1 a parameter value detection can be made. Adjacent to the first well 42-1 is a scale 121 with scale values 122 representing possible values of a parameter caused by a touching grazing operation within the first recess 42-1 can be varied.

In some embodiments, the parameter value depends on a length of a touch track at the bottom of the first recess 42-1 increased or decreased. Whether an increase or a decrease takes place depends on the direction of movement.

In other embodiments, a change in the parameter value occurs only when the touch is in a region of the first well 42-1 starts, at the part 124 a parameter value pointer 123 below the first well 42-1 is shown on the display surface of the display device. An adjustment of the pointer 123 is preferably carried out at the same time coupled with the movement of the finger performing the operation on the bottom of the first recess 42-1 ,

The other first wells 42-2 and 42-3 here are rectangular designed to virtual on and off controls 131 . 132 to realize. A current switching state can be visualized. For example, the one with the first recess 42-2 linked function activated by hatching the virtual control 131 to which the function A is assigned is symbolized. The function B, which with the first well 42-3 is not active, however, which is due to the bright deposit of the first depression or the virtual control element shown on the display surface 132 is displayed.

In the illustrated section are also three push buttons 61-1 to 61-3 shown. The pushbuttons 61-1 to 61-3 in each case a function is assigned, which activates, indicated by a hatched border 135 , or can be deactivated, indicated by a non-hatched border 136 , The button located in the middle 61-2 is currently being activated by a finger 141 depressed. As a result, the closing contacts of the pushbuttons 61-2 conductively connected together, leaving a coupling of the finger 141 via the coupling element of the pushbutton 61-2 to the touchscreen. As a result, the touchscreen detects the triggering of the pushbutton 61-2 , As a result of the triggering becomes an enlarged border 137 shown, which indicates that the push-button is currently actuated. The border also has hatching to indicate that the button is 61-2 assigned function by the current operation of the pushbutton 61-2 is set to the activated state. When pressed again, an enlarged border without hatching is displayed to indicate that a current operation is detected, and that a change to the deactivated state is detected. As soon as the finger 141 releases the push button and the closing contacts are no longer electrically connected to each other, this is also detected by the touch screen, that no contact in the region of the coupling element is detected more, ie no capacitive coupling is detected more, and then the border 137 reduced to a size that of the other border 135 . 136 the pushbutton 61-1 . 61-3 equivalent.

It is understood that only exemplary embodiments are described and in particular with regard to the graphical design of the user interface many possibilities exist and the examples described here are merely exemplary in nature.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Tontechnische plant

2

inputs

3

outputs

4

Microphones

5

speaker

6

Interfaces (input and / or output)

7

Tontechnische devices

8th

Network Interface

10

Computer device

11

processor means

12

Storage

20

operating device

30

touchscreen

31

freely programmable display device

32

Positioning device

33

display area

34

position

40

cover

41

Material thickness (total material thickness of the cover)

42

first recess

43

reduced material thickness

44

ground

45

position

46

bottom

47

wall

48

top

49

contact position

60

mechanical controls

61

pushbutton

62

key bodies

63

contact member

64

Lens

65

Normally open ("A")

66

additional NO contact ("B")

67, 67 '

Coupling element (contact plate)

68, 68 '

wire

69

solder

72

second recess

73

reduced material thickness

74

ground

81

Rotary encoder

82

support housing

83

contact member

84

metal button

85

shaft

86

driver disc

87

Coupling element (grinder)

88

external thread

91

proximal end of the shaft

92

distal end of the shaft

93

Underside (the drive disc)

94

lower part

95

threaded portion

102

third recess

103

first recess section

104

depth

105

second recess section

106

second depth

107

depth difference

108

diameter

110

Through opening

111

material web

112

mother

113

counterbore

121

scale

122, 122 '

scale value

123

pointer

124

Part of the pointer

125

finger

126

finger

131

virtual on / off control

132

virtual on / off control

135

border

136

border

137

border

141

finger

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• US 5805146 A [0007]
• WO 00/25332 [0008, 0010, 0011]
• US 5805146 [0010, 0014]

Claims (10)

Operating device ( 20 ) with improved tactile operability, in particular for audio-technical installations, particularly preferably for a digital mixing console, comprising: a touchscreen ( 30 ), a transparent, relative to a viewing side of the touch screen ( 30 ), in front of the touch screen arranged cover ( 40 ); at least one mechanically operated control elements ( 60 ) on or on the cover ( 40 ) and also in front of the touch screen ( 30 ), characterized in that the operating element ( 60 ) so with the touchscreen ( 30 ) is arranged and arranged relative thereto, that a mechanical actuation of the operating element ( 60 ) by a human user by means of the touchscreen ( 30 ) is detected. Operating device ( 20 ) according to claim 1, characterized in that the operating element ( 60 ) a coupling element ( 67 . 67 ' . 87 ), via which a change in an effective variable, which the touchscreen ( 30 ) for determining the position in the two-dimensional plane of a touch screen surface, locally upon actuation of the operating element ( 60 ) caused by the human user. Operating device ( 20 ) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the cover ( 40 ) is a plane-parallel transparent plate, in particular an acrylic plate. Operating device ( 20 ) according to claim 3, characterized in that a material thickness of the cover is dimensioned such that a touch of a touchscreen surface facing away from the surface ( 48 ) of the cover ( 40 ) in areas where no recesses in the cover ( 40 ) are formed, not to touch position detection by the touch screen ( 30 ) and the cover comprises at least one recess which is formed so that upon insertion of an actuating element, in particular a finger, of a human user into the recess, a touch position detection by the touch screen. Operating device ( 20 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the touchscreen ( 30 ) a capacitive touchscreen ( 30 ), preferably a projected capacitive measuring touchscreen ( 30 ). Operating device ( 20 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that that the at least one mechanically actuable operating element ( 60 ) is a controller that a mechanically movable contact element ( 83 ) with which the coupling element designed as a wiper is coupled, wherein the wiper is in contact with a surface of the touchscreen ( 30 ) or adjacent to the surface of the touchscreen ( 30 ) and coupled with the mechanical movement of the contact element ( 83 ) is moved in a plane parallel to a touch screen surface upon actuation of the controller, and the different positions of the grinder are detected by the touch screen. Operating device ( 20 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that that the grinder is conductive, in particular made of a conductive plastic and the contact element ( 83 ) is electrically connected to the grinder, so that a change in the capacitive coupling of the grinder to the touch screen ( 30 ) at a touch of the touch element ( 83 ) by an actuator of a user through the touch screen without a mechanical movement of the contact element ( 83 ) is detected and recorded. Operating device ( 20 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the operating element ( 60 ) comprises a feedback transmitter which, during a mechanical movement of the contact element ( 63 . 83 ) generates a mechanically perceptible feedback (in particular via a sudden change in the movement of the contact element occurring mechanical resistance. Operating device ( 20 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the operating element ( 60 ) as a switch ( 61 ), wherein the contact element ( 63 ) of the operating element ( 60 ) is conductive and electrically conductive with a switching contact ( 65 ) and with another switch contact ( 66 ) of the switch ( 61 ) a conductive coupling element ( 87 ) is electrically connected, which is adjacent to the surface of the touchscreen ( 30 ) or spaced to the surface of the touch screen ( 30 ) is arranged so that upon actuation of the operating element ( 60 ) by a user in which a conductive connection between the switching contacts ( 65 . 66 ), a capacitive coupling to the touchscreen ( 30 ) and at the position of the coupling element ( 87 ) is detected by the touch screen a touch. Operating device ( 20 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the operating device ( 20 ) a computer device ( 10 ) and a memory ( 12 ), wherein the computer device with the touchscreen ( 30 ) is connected in terms of information technology and is designed to store data, in particular audio data, programmatically to process, with derived from the touch screen when operating the mechanically operated controls detected positions parameters that affect the data processing.

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