CONTROL PANELS FOR ONBOARD INSTRUMENTS

• US 20100188349A1
• Filed: 09/15/2008
• Published: 07/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aptiv Technologies AG (Aptiv PLC)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Molard, Yannick, Tupinier, Laurent
• Granted Patent: US 8,446,381 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/126 Rotatable input devices for instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/139 Clusters of instrument input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/143 Touch sensitive instrument input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1438 Touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/145 Instrument input by combination of touch screen and hardware input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/21 using cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/126 Rotatable input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/139 Clusters of input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/143 Touch sensitive input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/1438 Touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/145 Input by combination of touch screen and hardware input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/155 Virtual instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/21 using cameras
• 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 35/213 Virtual instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 37/06 of controls, e.g. controls knobs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04809 Textured surface identifying touch areas, e.g. overlay structure for a virtual keyboard
• 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

Control panel for onboard instruments of vehicles, comprising:

• • a touch-screen for displaying information:
  • a frame defining the periphery of the said screen and including finger guiding zones;
  • virtual selection and control buttons displayed on the screen at least in the said guiding zones;
  • the information and virtual control buttons appearing on the screen depending on the last virtual selection button activated.

Claims

1. A control panel for onboard instruments of vehicles, comprising:

a touch-screen for displaying information;

a frame defining the periphery of the said screen and including

finger guiding zones; and

virtual selection and control buttons displayed on the screen at least in the said guiding zones;

wherein the frame includes one or more orifices completely surrounded by the frame, the edges of each orifice defining a shape;

forming for at least one finger a path corresponding to the mode of actuation of the virtual control button appearing there;

the geometry of which informs the user as to the movement to be performed in order to actuate the virtual button which it defines; and

the internal edge of which is calculated to guide the finger or fingers in its/their displacement.

2. The control panel of claim 1, wherein said orifices are round and define virtual rotary control knobs.

3. The control panel of claim 2, wherein said virtual rotary control knobs each comprise a concentric outer annular peripheral zone and an inner central zone occupied by a virtual push button.

4. The control panel claim 3, wherein the annular zone of at least one of the virtual knobs scans sequentially and in a loop a succession of actions appearing on the screen, the corresponding central zone validating the action on which the knob is situated at the moment of its actuation.

5. The control panel as of claim 4, wherein the annular zone of at least one of the virtual knobs varies a single parameter, the corresponding central zone selectively activating or deactivating the said parameter.

6. The control panel of claim 4, wherein each said virtual knob affects a fixed operational logic as a function of its position within the frame.

7. The control panel of claim 1, wherein said orifices are elongate and generally rectilinear, defining virtual control cursors.

8. The control panel of claim 1, wherein at least certain of the virtual buttons appearing on the screen co-operate with a haptic device providing a tactile sensation to the finger in response to actuation of the button.

9. The control panel of claim 8, wherein said haptic device comprises a vibrating electromagnet.

10. The control panel of claim 1, wherein lateral sides defined by the frame define orifices at least partially surrounding representations on the screen of virtual selection buttons.

11. The control panel of claim 1, wherein said frame includes tabs disposed adjacent associated orifices for location and for guiding of the fingers.

12. The control panel of claim 1, further comprising an infra-red position detector operative to detect whether the activation of the virtual buttons comes from the left or the right.

13. The control panel of claim 1, further comprising an infra-red position detector affecting precise location of the activation zone using X. Y co-ordinates in a plane, to confirm pre-selection of a particular function.

14. The control panel of claim 1, wherein the frame includes mechanical buttons employed for emergency or priority functions.

15. The control panel of claim 14, wherein said priority functions include one or more of:

the hazard warning lights;

the sound volume;

bluetooth activation;

demisting;

temperature control;

interior recycling of air in case of exterior pollution;

remote control of functions associated with habitation (opening the garage, door . . . ).

16. The control panel of claim 1, wherein the virtual selection buttons are applied to one or more of:

telephony;

control of components of the vehicle;

navigation;

audio functions;

air conditioning.

17. The control panel of claim 1, wherein the virtual control buttons adjust the parameters of the functions selected by the virtual selection buttons.

18. The control panel for onboard vehicle systems comprising:

a touch-screen operable for receiving vehicle operator inputs and selectively displaying information pertaining to the status of a plurality of vehicle systems;

an escutcheon defining the periphery of the said screen and including a plurality of finger guiding zones; and

a plurality virtual selection and virtual control buttons displayed on the screen, each said button being at least partially encompassed by one of said guiding zones,

wherein the escutcheon defines one or more orifices, each orifice being completely surrounded by the escutcheon, the edges of each orifice defining a characteristic shape, said orifice edge

forming for at least one finger path corresponding to the mode of actuation of the virtual control button appearing there-adjacent;

having a geometry which is suggestive to the operator as to the movement to be performed in order to actuate the virtual button which it defines; and

having an internal edge which defines a surface configured to guide the operator'"'"'s finger in effecting said input.