Haptic tracking remote control for driver information center system

• US 20090244017A1
• Filed: 03/28/2008
• Published: 10/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Denso International America Incorporated (DENSO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Denso International America Incorporated (DENSO Corporation)
• Inventors: Motoyama, Yuji, Pala, Silviu
• Granted Patent: US 9,056,549 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/143 Touch sensitive instrument input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1438 Touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/143 Touch sensitive input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/1438 Touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/158 Haptic output
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/25 using haptic output
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 37/06 of controls, e.g. controls knobs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user

Abstract

A control interface system for a driver of a vehicle comprises a touchscreen, a control module, and a display. The touchscreen is located proximate to the driver of the vehicle and upon driver interaction therewith is operable to generate a sensor signal. The control module is adapted to receive the sensor signal from the touchscreen and is operable to initiate control of a vehicle function and to generate a haptic feedback signal in response thereto. The touchscreen is adapted to receive the haptic feedback signal from the control module and is operable to provide haptic feedback to the driver of the vehicle in response thereto. The display is embedded in an instrument panel of the vehicle and provides an indicia of the vehicle function controlled by the touchscreen and of driver interaction therewith.

Claims

1. A control interface system for a driver of a vehicle, comprising:

a touchscreen located proximate to the driver of the vehicle and upon driver interaction therewith operable to generate a sensor signal;

a control module adapted to receive the sensor signal from the touchscreen and operable to initiate control of a vehicle function and to generate a haptic feedback signal in response thereto, wherein the touchscreen is adapted to receive the haptic feedback signal from the control module and is operable to provide haptic feedback to the driver of the vehicle in response thereto; and

a display embedded in an instrument panel of the vehicle and providing an indicia of the vehicle function controlled by the touchscreen and of driver interaction therewith.

2. The control interface system of claim 1 wherein the control module is in data communication with the display and operable to initiate control of the vehicle function as indicated on the display.

3. The control interface system of claim 1 wherein the touchscreen includes at least one control icon upon driver interaction therewith operable to generate the sensor signal.

4. The control interface system of claim 3 wherein the display provides an indicia of the control icon currently selectable via the touchscreen.

5. The control interface system of claim 3 wherein the control module determines an applied force on the touchscreen based on the sensor signal.

6. The control interface system of claim 5 wherein the control module generates the haptic feedback signal when the applied force is applied to the control icon.

7. The control interface system of claim 6 wherein the display provides an indicia of the control icon currently selected via the touchscreen.

8. The control interface system of claim 5 wherein the control module initiates control of the vehicle function when the applied force is applied to the control icon, removed from the control icon, and reapplied to the control icon within a predetermined time.

9. The control interface system of claim 8 wherein the control module generates the haptic feedback signal.

10. The control interface system of claim 8 wherein the display provides an indicia of the control icon currently executed via the touchscreen.

11. The control interface system of claim 5 wherein the control module initiates control of the vehicle function when the applied force is applied to the control icon and is greater than a predetermined value.

12. The control interface system of claim 11 wherein the control module generates the haptic feedback signal.

13. The control interface system of claim 11 wherein the display provides an indicia of the control icon currently executed via the touchscreen.

14. The control interface system of claim 1 wherein the touchscreen includes at least one imbedded switch operable to generate the sensor signal upon actuation thereof.

15. The control interface of system of claim 1 wherein the touchscreen includes at least one imbedded piezo device operable to generate the sensor signal upon driver interaction therewith, adapted to receive the haptic feedback signal from the control module, and operable to provide haptic feedback to the driver of the vehicle in response thereto.

16. A control interface system for a driver of a vehicle, comprising:

a touchscreen located proximate to the driver of the vehicle that includes at least one control icon upon driver interaction therewith operable to generate a sensor signal;

a control module adapted to receive the sensor signal from the touchscreen and operable to initiate control of a vehicle function and to generate a haptic feedback signal in response thereto, wherein the touchscreen is adapted to receive the haptic feedback signal from the control module and is operable to provide haptic feedback to the driver of the vehicle in response thereto; and

a display embedded in an instrument panel of the vehicle and providing an indicia of the vehicle function controlled by the touchscreen and of driver interaction therewith.

17. The control interface system of claim 16 wherein the control module is in data communication with the display and operable to initiate control of the vehicle function as indicated on the display.

18. The control interface system of claim 16 wherein the display provides an indicia of the control icon currently selectable via the touchscreen.

19. The control interface system of claim 16 wherein the control module determines an applied force on the touchscreen based on the sensor signal.

20. The control interface system of claim 19 wherein the control module generates the haptic feedback signal when the applied force is applied to the control icon.

21. The control interface system of claim 20 wherein the display provides an indicia of the control icon currently selected via the touchscreen.

22. The control interface system of claim 19 wherein the control module initiates control of the vehicle function when the applied force is applied to the control icon, removed from the control icon, and reapplied to the control icon within a predetermined time.

23. The control interface system of claim 22 wherein the control module generates the haptic feedback signal.

24. The control interface system of claim 22 wherein the display provides an indicia of the control icon currently executed via the touchscreen.

25. The control interface system of claim 19 wherein the control module initiates control of the vehicle function when the applied force is applied to the control icon and is greater than a predetermined value.

26. The control interface system of claim 25 wherein the control module generates the haptic feedback signal.

27. The control interface system of claim 25 wherein the display provides an indicia of the control icon currently executed via the touchscreen.

28. The control interface system of claim 16 wherein the touchscreen includes at least one imbedded switch operable to generate the sensor signal upon actuation thereof.

29. The control interface of system of claim 16 wherein the touchscreen includes at least one imbedded piezo device upon driver interaction therewith operable to generate the sensor signal, adapted to receive the haptic feedback signal from the control module, and operable to provide haptic feedback to the driver of the vehicle in response thereto.