INTEGRATED HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE USER INTERFACE

• US 20080164982A1
• Filed: 01/05/2007
• Published: 07/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Incorporated (Visteon Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Incorporated (Visteon Corporation)
• Inventors: Andrews, Michael J., Tschirhart, Michael D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,963,842 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/407.2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 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 integrated user interface has a sensory surface operable to receive a selection signal from a user and send a corresponding command signal within a software system. The integrated user interface has a plurality of tactile features operable to provide a user with tactile feedback corresponding to the selection signal received by the sensory surface when simultaneously selected by the user. A method of integrating the hardware and software functionality for a user interface is also disclosed.

Claims

1. An integrated user interface comprising:

a sensory surface configured to receive a selection signal from a user resulting in a corresponding command signal within a software system;

at least a portion of a frame positioned adjacent to the sensory surface, the portion of the frame including a plurality of tactile features positioned such that the selection signal can be received by the sensory surface simultaneously with the touch of a tactile feature of the plurality of tactile features by a finger of a user, the tactile features providing a user with tactile feedback corresponding to the selection signal received by the sensory surface.

2. The integrated user interface of claim 1, wherein at least some of the plurality of tactile features have a convex structure.

3. The integrated user interface of claim 1, wherein at least some of the plurality of tactile features have a concave structure.

4. The integrated user interface of claim 1, wherein each tactile feature has a surface characteristic, the surface characteristic providing tactile feedback to the user.

5. The integrated user interface of claim 4, wherein the surface characteristic of at least two of the tactile features are different from one another.

6. The integrated user interface of claim 4, wherein the surface characteristic of adjacent ones of the tactile features are different from one another.

7. The integrated user interface of claim 1, wherein a first tactile feature of the plurality of tactile features differs in structure from a second tactile feature of the plurality of tactile features.

8. The integrated user interface of claim 1, wherein a first tactile feature of the plurality of tactile features differs in size from a second tactile feature of the plurality of tactile features.

9. The integrated user interface of claim 1, wherein the sensory surface is a display screen.

10. The integrated user interface of claim 1, wherein the sensory signal is operable to receive the selection signal by way of touch.

11. The integrated user interface of claim 1, wherein the tactile features protrude over the sensory surface.

12. A method of integrating hardware and software functionality for a user interface, comprising:

disposing a portion of a frame adjacent to a sensory surface comprising a software interface, the portion of the frame having a plurality of tactile features;

configuring the software interface such that the software interface is operable to receive selection signals from a user at a plurality of positions, and

configuring the location of at least some of the plurality of positions such that the positions are adjacent to and correspond with the tactile features, the tactile features providing tactile feedback to the user corresponding to the selection signals received by the software interface.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of providing at least some of the plurality of tactile features with a convex shape.

14. The method claim 12, further comprising the step of providing at least some of the plurality of tactile features with a concave shape.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of forming the tactile features with a surface characteristic, the surface characteristic of adjacent ones of the tactile features being different from one another.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the sensory surface is provided as a display screen.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of configuring the sensory surface to receive the selection signals by way of touch.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of locating the positions operable to receive the selection signals relative to corresponding ones of the tactile features for simultaneous contact by a common finger of a user.

19. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of locating the positions operable to receive the selection signals relative to corresponding ones of the tactile features such that the positions are operable to receive the selection signals simultaneously as the corresponding ones of the tactile features are contacted by a finger of a user.