Variable sensitivity input device for vehicle

• US 10,551,837 B1
• Filed: 11/06/2018
• Issued: 02/04/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kitty Hawk Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kitty Hawk Corporation
• Inventors: Cutler, Mark Johnson, Selwa, Alexander David, Reichert, Todd
• Primary Examiner(s): Chace, Christian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Torchinsky, Edward
• Application Number:
  US16/182,463
• Time in Patent Office: 455 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 13/042 operated by hand
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 13/0421 control sticks for primary flight controls
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 13/16 actuated automatically, e.g. responsive to gust detectors
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 13/18 using automatic pilot
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0061 for transition from automatic pilot to manual pilot and vice versa
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/042 specially adapted for aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/006 in accordance with predefined flight zones, e.g. to avoid prohibited zones

Abstract

A first sensitivity level is used to interpret an input signal received from an input device in a vehicle while the vehicle is in a first region. A second sensitivity level is used to interpret the input signal received from the input device in the vehicle while the vehicle is in a second region, wherein the second sensitivity level is greater than the first sensitivity level.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory coupled with the processor, wherein the memory is configured to provide the processor with instructions which when executed cause the processor to;

use a first sensitivity level to interpret an input signal received from an input device in a vehicle while the vehicle is in a first region;

use a second sensitivity level to interpret the input signal received from the input device in the vehicle while the vehicle is in a second region, wherein the second sensitivity level is greater than the first sensitivity level; and

control the altitude of the vehicle using a signal other than the input signal from the input device, wherein the input device is not configured to control the altitude of the vehicle and no other input device is provided which controls the altitude of the vehicle.

2. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the memory is further configured to provide the processor with instructions which when executed cause the processor to receive a signal associated with switching between the first sensitivity level and the second sensitivity level, wherein in response to receiving the signal, a switch between using the first sensitivity level and using the second sensitivity level is performed.

3. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the memory is further configured to provide the processor with instructions which when executed cause the processor to:

obtain a current location of the vehicle; and

determine whether the vehicle is in the first region or the second region based at least in part on the current location of the vehicle, wherein;

in response to determining that the vehicle is in the first region, the first sensitivity level is used; and

in response to determining that the vehicle is in the second region, the second sensitivity level is used.

4. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the first sensitivity level is at a sensitivity level where the input signal received from the input device is ignored and at least some of the time when the input signal received from the input device is ignored, an autonomous process is used to guide the vehicle.

5. The system recited in claim 1, wherein:

the memory is further configured to provide the processor with instructions which when executed cause the processor to receive a signal associated with switching between the first sensitivity level and the second sensitivity level, wherein in response to receiving the signal, a switch between using the first sensitivity level and using the second sensitivity level is performed; and

the first sensitivity level is at a sensitivity level where the input signal received from the input device is ignored and at least some of the time when the input signal received from the input device is ignored, an autonomous process is used to guide the vehicle.

6. The system recited in claim 1, wherein:

the memory is further configured to provide the processor with instructions which when executed cause the processor to;

obtain a current location of the vehicle; and

determine whether the vehicle is in the first region or the second region based at least in part on the current location of the vehicle, wherein;

in response to determining that the vehicle is in the first region, the first sensitivity level is used; and

in response to determining that the vehicle is in the second region, the second sensitivity level is used; and

the first sensitivity level is at a sensitivity level where the input signal received from the input device is ignored and at least some of the time when the input signal received from the input device is ignored, an autonomous process is used to guide the vehicle.

7. A system, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory coupled with the processor, wherein the memory is configured to provide the processor with instructions which when executed cause the processor to;

use a first sensitivity level to interpret an input signal received from an input device in a vehicle while the vehicle is in a first region;

use a second sensitivity level to interpret the input signal received from the input device in the vehicle while the vehicle is in a second region;

receive a signal associated with switching between the first sensitivity level and the second sensitivity level, wherein in response to receiving the signal, a switch between using the first sensitivity level and using a second sensitivity level is performed; and

control the altitude of the vehicle using a signal other than the input signal from the input device, including by, in response to receiving the signal, changing the altitude of the vehicle, wherein;

the second sensitivity level is greater than the first sensitivity level; and

the input device is not configured to control the altitude of the vehicle and no other input device is provided which controls the altitude of the vehicle.

8. A system, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory coupled with the processor, wherein the memory is configured to provide the processor with instructions which when executed cause the processor to;

use a first sensitivity level to interpret an input signal received from an input device in a vehicle while the vehicle is in a first region;

use a second sensitivity level to interpret the input signal received from the input device in the vehicle while the vehicle is in a second region; and

control the altitude of the vehicle using a signal other than the input signal from the input device, including by changing the altitude of the vehicle using the autonomous process, wherein;

the second sensitivity level is greater than the first sensitivity level;

the first sensitivity level is at a sensitivity level where the input signal received from the input device is ignored and at least some of the time when the input signal received from the input device is ignored, an autonomous process is used to guide the vehicle; and

the input device is not configured to control the altitude of the vehicle and no other input device is provided which controls the altitude of the vehicle.

9. A method, comprising:

using a first sensitivity level to interpret an input signal received from an input device in a vehicle while the vehicle is in a first region;

using a second sensitivity level to interpret the input signal received from the input device in the vehicle while the vehicle is in a second region, wherein the second sensitivity level is greater than the first sensitivity level; and

controlling the altitude of the vehicle using a signal other than the input signal from the input device, wherein the input device is not configured to control the altitude of the vehicle and no other input device is provided which controls the altitude of the vehicle.

10. The method recited in claim 9 further comprising receiving a signal associated with switching between the first sensitivity level and the second sensitivity level, wherein in response to receiving the signal, a switch between using the first sensitivity level and using the second sensitivity level is performed.

11. The method recited in claim 9 further comprising:

obtaining a current location of the vehicle; and

determining whether the vehicle is in the first region or the second region based at least in part on the current location of the vehicle, wherein;

in response to determining that the vehicle is in the first region, the first sensitivity level is used; and

in response to determining that the vehicle is in the second region, the second sensitivity level is used.

12. The method recited in claim 9, wherein the first sensitivity level is at a sensitivity level where the input signal received from the input device is ignored and at least some of the time when the input signal received from the input device is ignored, an autonomous process is used to guide the vehicle.

13. The method recited in claim 9, wherein:

the method further includes receiving a signal associated with switching between the first sensitivity level and the second sensitivity level, wherein in response to receiving the signal, a switch between using the first sensitivity level and using the second sensitivity level is performed; and

the first sensitivity level is at a sensitivity level where the input signal received from the input device is ignored and at least some of the time when the input signal received from the input device is ignored, an autonomous process is used to guide the vehicle.

14. The method recited in claim 9, wherein:

the method further includes;

obtaining a current location of the vehicle; and

determining whether the vehicle is in the first region or the second region based at least in part on the current location of the vehicle, wherein;

in response to determining that the vehicle is in the first region, the first sensitivity level is used; and

in response to determining that the vehicle is in the second region, the second sensitivity level is used; and

the first sensitivity level is at a sensitivity level where the input signal received from the input device is ignored and at least some of the time when the input signal received from the input device is ignored, an autonomous process is used to guide the vehicle.

15. A method, comprising:

using a first sensitivity level to interpret an input signal received from an input device in a vehicle while the vehicle is in a first region;

using a second sensitivity level to interpret the input signal received from the input device in the vehicle while the vehicle is in a second region;

receiving a signal associated with switching between the first sensitivity level and the second sensitivity level, wherein in response to receiving the signal, a switch between using the first sensitivity level and using the second sensitivity level is performed; and

controlling the altitude of the vehicle using a signal other than the input signal from the input device, including by, in response to receiving the signal, changing the altitude of the vehicle, wherein;

the second sensitivity level is greater than the first sensitivity level; and

the input device is not configured to control the altitude of the vehicle and no other input device is provided which controls the altitude of the vehicle.

16. A method, comprising:

using a first sensitivity level to interpret an input signal received from an input device in a vehicle while the vehicle is in a first region;

using a second sensitivity level to interpret the input signal received from the input device in the vehicle while the vehicle is in a second region; and

controlling the altitude of the vehicle using a signal other than the input signal from the input device, including by changing the altitude of the vehicle using the autonomous process, wherein;

the second sensitivity level is greater than the first sensitivity level;

the first sensitivity level is at a sensitivity level where the input signal received from the input device is ignored and at least some of the time when the input signal received from the input device is ignored, an autonomous process is used to guide the vehicle; and

the input device is not configured to control the altitude of the vehicle and no other input device is provided which controls the altitude of the vehicle.

17. A computer program product, the computer program product being embodied in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium and comprising computer instructions for:

using a first sensitivity level to interpret an input signal received from an input device in a vehicle while the vehicle is in a first region;

using a second sensitivity level to interpret the input signal received from the input device in the vehicle while the vehicle is in a second region, wherein the second sensitivity level is greater than the first sensitivity level; and

controlling the altitude of the vehicle using a signal other than the input signal from the input device, wherein the input device is not configured to control the altitude of the vehicle and no other input device is provided which controls the altitude of the vehicle.