Input device

• US 20060146039A1
• Filed: 12/30/2005
• Published: 07/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG), Volkswagen AG
• Original Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG), Volkswagen AG
• Inventors: Bloehs, Wolfgang, Alessandrini, Philippe, Prados, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,040,323 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/014 Force feedback applied to GUI
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04104 Multi-touch detection in digitiser, i.e. details about the simultaneous detection of a plurality of touching locations, e.g. multiple fingers or pen and finger
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0414 using force sensing means to determine a position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus

Abstract

An input device, especially an input device for a vehicle, includes a display for optical display of information, a touchscreen arranged above the display for input of commands by touching an operating surface of the touchscreen and a control for optical display of additional or other information on the display during at least a second simultaneously occurring touching of the operating surface.

Claims

1. An input device comprising:

a display for optical display of information;

a touchscreen arranged above the display for entry of commands by touching an operating surface of the touchscreen; and

a control for optical display of additional or other information on the display on at least a second simultaneously occurring touching of the operating surface.

2. An input device according to claim 1, wherein said additional or other information can be displayed by the control on the display only when the first touching of the operating surface begins before the second touching of the operating surface.

3. An input device according to claim 1, wherein said additional or other information can be displayed by the control on the display only when the second touching of the operating surface ends before the first touching of the operating surface.

4. An input device according to claim 2, wherein said additional or other information can be displayed by the control on the display only when the second touching of the operating surface ends before the first touching of the operating surface.

5. An input device according to claim 1, wherein said additional or other information can be displayed on the display by the control only when the second simultaneously occurring touching of the operating surface lasts shorter than an upper time limit.

6. An input device according to claim 5, wherein the upper time limit is less than or equal to 1 s.

7. An input device according to claim 6, wherein the upper time limit is less than or equal to 0.5 s.

8. An input device according to claim 1, further comprising:

an actuator for movement of the touchscreen.

9. An input device according to claim 8, wherein the actuator can be controlled by a control, so that the touchscreen is moved for confirmation of a display of said additional or other information.

17. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of controlling an actuator for moving of the touchscreen such that the touchscreen is moved for confirmation of a display of said additional or other information.

10. A method of operating an input device comprising the steps of:

providing a touchscreen display for optical display of information and for entry of information;

entering commands by detecting a touching of an operating surface of the touchscreen display; and

detecting at least a second simultaneously occurring of a touching of the operating surface and upon occurrence displaying additional or other information on the touchscreen display.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein said additional or other information can be displayed on the display only when the first touching of the operating surface begins before the second touching of the operating surface.

12. A method according to claim 10, wherein said additional or other information can be displayed on the display only when the second touching of the operating surface ends before the first touching of the operating surface.

13. A method according to claim 11, wherein said additional or other information can be displayed on the display only when the second touching of the operating surface ends before the first touching of the operating surface.

14. A method according to claim 10, wherein said additional or other information can be displayed on the display only when the second simultaneously occurring touching of the operating surface lasts shorter than an upper time limit.

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein the upper time limit is less than or equal to 1 s.

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein the upper time limit is less than or equal to 0.5 s.

18. An input device comprising:

a display for optical display of information;

a touchscreen arranged above the display for entry of commands by touching an operating surface of the touchscreen;

a control for optical display of additional or other information on the display on at least a second simultaneously occurring touching of the operating surface; and

an actuator for movement of the touchscreen.

19. An input device according to claim 18, further comprising a control for controlling the actuator which is operable to move the touchscreen for confirmation of a display of said additional or other information.