Haptic input devices with intelligent signal processing ensuring process stability and quality management

As part of the Cluster of Excellence Merge, a complete process chain was developed for the production of a hybrid laminate with sensory function for continuous production processes. An interior surface of the VW UP! is a good example of this. In this work, the forming processes of the centre console and the parameters influencing quality are discussed. An important parameter for the polarisation of the sensor layer is the thickness of the piezoceramic foil after forming. The maximum signal quality can only be achieved by an exact prediction of the thinning of the foil during the forming process. In addition, the electrical characterisation, especially the capacitance, of the sensor areas is used to determine the foil thickness within the sensor areas in the complex-shaped centre console. Furthermore, a practicable polarisation strategy is deducted in consideration of thickness, electrical characteristics of the piezoceramic foil and process parameters of forming process. For evaluation a novel impact localisation method based on machine learning is shown. Special focus is put on the independence of the impact intensity in order to guarantee a user-independent operation. In this respect, the suitability of various intensity-independent localisation methods will be discussed and subsequently empirically evaluated.