HUMAN INTERFACES FOR VEHICLES, HOMES, AND OTHER APPLICATIONS

• US 20110018832A1
• Filed: 10/04/2010
• Published: 01/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Tactile Feedback Technology LLC
• Original Assignee: Tactile Feedback Technology LLC
• Inventors: Pryor, Timothy R.
• Application Number:
  US12/897,079
• Publication Number:
  US 20110018832A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04109 FTIR in optical digitiser, i.e. touch detection by frustrating the total internal reflection within an optical waveguide due to changes of optical properties or deformation at the touch location
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04808 Several contacts: gestures triggering a specific function, e.g. scrolling, zooming, right-click, when the user establishes several contacts with the surface simultaneously; e.g. using several fingers or a combination of fingers and pen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0312 for tracking the rotation of a spherical or circular member, e.g. optical rotary encoders used in mice or trackballs using a tracking ball or in mouse scroll wheels tracking relative movement in co-operation with a regularly or irregularly patterned surface, e.g. as in optical mice G06F3/0317; constructional details of scroll or thumb-wheels G06F3/0362; optical rotary encoders G01D5/3473
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0425 using a single imaging device like a video camera for tracking the absolute position of a single or a plurality of objects with respect to an imaged reference surface, e.g. video camera imaging a display or a projection screen, a table or a wall surface, on which a computer generated image is displayed or projected tracking a projected light spot to determine a position on a display surface G06F3/0386
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0428 by sensing at the edges of the touch surface the interruption of optical paths, e.g. an illumination plane, parallel to the touch surface which may be virtual sensing beam interruptions in a planar beam grid of an optical touch-screen G06F3/0421
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

The disclosed invention concerns novel methods and apparatus for controlling computer systems using both touch screens and physical controls, and is useful in many applications such as vehicles, homes and the like. Physical controls and virtual displayed controls on single and multipoint touch screens are used, separately or in combination to enable higher visibility and understanding of control information and easier operation of controls, particularly useful in stressful situations.

Claims

1. A control interface comprising:

a touch surface including a physical selection device;

a first sensor operable to detect operation of the physical selection device by a user; and

a transducer adapted to vibrate the touch surface with a force feedback signal in response to the operation of the physical selection device.

2. The control interface of claim 1 wherein the touch surface is operable to display visually observable data.

3. The control interface of claim 1 wherein the physical selection device includes at least one of a knob, a slider, a switch and a lever.

4. The control interface of claim 1 wherein the first sensor is operable to detect a touch input on the touch surface.

5. The control interface of claim 1 further including a second sensor operable to detect a touch input on the touch surface.

6. The control interface of claim 5 wherein the second sensor includes at least one of a resistive touch sensor, a capacitive touch sensor, and an electro-optical touch sensor.

7. The control interface of claim 1, wherein:

the physical selection device includes a knob rotatable among a plurality of positions; and

the force feedback signal includes a frequency that varies based, at least in part, on the rotational position of the knob.

8. The control interface of claim 1 wherein the force feedback signal simulates a mechanical detent.

9. The control interface of claim 1 wherein the force feedback signal is defined by a pulse imparted to the touch surface.

10. The control interface of claim 1 wherein the force feedback signal indicates a function corresponding to the position of the physical selection device.

11. The control interface of claim 10 wherein the touch surface is adapted to provide a visual indication of the function selected or selectable by the physical selection device.

12. The control interface of claim 1 further including an acoustic source operable to provide an audio signal in response to the operation of the physical selection device.

13. The control interface of claim 1 wherein the touch surface is located in an automobile passenger compartment.

14. The control interface of claim 13 wherein the touch surface is located on one of a center console, a center stack, a steering wheel, and a dash board within the automobile passenger compartment.

15. A method for providing tactile feedback, the method comprising:

providing a touch surface including a physical selection device mounted thereto;

detecting operation of the physical selection device by a user; and

vibrating the touch surface with a force feedback signal in response to the operation of the physical selection device.

16. The method according to claim 15 wherein the touch surface is a touch screen operable to display visually observable data.

17. The method according to claim 15 wherein the physical selection device includes at least one of a knob, a slider, a switch and a lever.

18. The method according to claim 15 further including detecting a touch input on the touch surface.

19. The method according to claim 15 further including providing a sensor to detect a touch input on the touch surface, the sensor including at least one of a resistive touch sensor, a capacitive touch sensor, and an electro-optical touch sensor.

20. The method according to claim 15 wherein:

the physical selection device includes a knob rotatable among a plurality of positions; and

the force feedback signal includes a frequency that varies based, at least in part, on the rotational position of the knob.

21. The method according to claim 15 wherein the force feedback signal simulates a mechanical detent.

22. The method according to claim 15 wherein the force feedback signal is defined by a pulse imparted to the touch surface.

23. The method according to claim 16 wherein the force feedback signal indicates a function corresponding to the position of the physical selection device.

24. The method according to claim 16 wherein the touch screen provides a visual indication of a function selected or selectable by the physical selection device.

25. The method according to claim 15 further including generating an audio signal in response to the operation of the physical selection device.

26. The method according to claim 15 further including locating the touch surface in an automobile passenger compartment.

27. The method according to claim 26 further including locating the touch surface on one of a center console, a center stack, a steering wheel, and a dash board within the automobile passenger compartment.

28. A control interface comprising:

a touch screen having a touch input area;

a physical selection device positioned on or over the touch input area of the touch screen; and

a transducer adapted to vibrate the touch screen with a force feedback signal in response to operation of the physical selection device.

29. The control interface of claim 28 further including a first sensor operable to detect the operation of the physical selection device by a user.

30. The control interface of claim 29 wherein the first sensor is operable to detect a touch input on the touch input area of the touch screen.

31. The control interface of claim 30 wherein the first sensor includes at least one of a resistive touch sensor, a capacitive touch sensor, and an electro-optical touch sensor.

32. The control interface of claim 29 further including a second sensor operable to detect a touch input on the touch input area of the touch screen.

33. The control interface of claim 32 wherein the second sensor includes at least one of a resistive touch sensor, a capacitive touch sensor, and an electro-optical touch sensor.

34. The control interface of claim 28 wherein the physical selection device includes at least one of a knob, a slider, a switch and a lever.

35. The control interface of claim 28 wherein:

the physical selection device includes a knob rotatable among a plurality of positions; and

the force feedback signal includes a frequency that varies based, at least in part, on the rotational position of the knob.

36. The control interface of claim 35 wherein the force feedback signal simulates a mechanical detent.

37. The control interface of claim 28 wherein the force feedback signal is defined by a pulse imparted to the touch screen.

38. The control interface of claim 35 wherein the force feedback signal indicates a function corresponding to the position of the physical selection device.

39. The control interface of claim 28 further including an acoustic source operable to provide an audio signal in response to the operation of the physical selection device.

40. The control interface of claim 28 wherein the touch screen is operable to provide a visual indication of a function selected or selectable by the physical selection device.

41. The control interface of claim 28 wherein the touch screen is located in an automobile passenger compartment.

42. The control interface of claim 41 wherein the touch screen is located on one of a center console, a center stack, a steering wheel, and a dash board within the automobile passenger compartment.

43. A control interface comprising:

a touch surface including a physical selection device mounted thereto;

a sensor operable to detect a position or an orientation of the physical selection device; and

a transducer adapted to vibrate the touch surface with a force feedback signal to indicate a function controllable by a user based on the position or orientation of the physical selection device.

44. The control interface of claim 43 wherein the physical selection device includes at least one of a knob, a slider, a switch and a lever.

45. The control interface of claim 43 wherein the transducer is a piezo-electric transducer.

46. The control interface of claim 43 wherein the force feedback signal includes a frequency selected as a function of the position or orientation of the physical selection device.

47. The control interface of claim 43 wherein the touch surface is adapted to display visually observable data.

48. The control interface of claim 47 wherein the touch surface is adapted to provide a visual indication of the function controllable by a user.

49. The control interface of claim 43 wherein the function controllable by a user includes a vehicle function.

50. The control interface of claim 43 wherein the touch surface is located in an automobile passenger compartment.

51. The control interface of claim 50 wherein the touch surface is located on one of a center console, a center stack, a steering wheel, and a dash board within the automobile passenger compartment.

52. A method for providing tactile feedback, the method comprising:

providing a touch member including a physical selection device mounted thereon;

detecting a position or orientation of the physical selection device; and

vibrating the touch member with a force feedback signal to indicate a function controllable by a user based on the position or orientation of the physical selection device.

53. The method according to claim 52 wherein the physical selection device includes at least one of a knob, a slider, a switch and a lever.

54. The method according to claim 52 wherein vibrating the touch member includes providing a transducer.

55. The method according to claim 54 wherein the transducer is a piezo-electric transducer.

56. The method according to claim 52 wherein the force feedback signal includes a frequency selected as a function of the position or orientation of the physical selection device.

57. The method according to claim 52 wherein the touch member is a touch screen operable to display visually observable data.

58. The method according to claim 57 further including providing a visual indication of the function controllable by a user.

59. The method according to claim 52 wherein the function controllable by a user includes a vehicle function.

60. The method according to claim 52 further including locating the touch surface in an automobile passenger compartment.

61. The method according to claim 60 further including locating the touch surface on one of a center console, a center stack, a steering wheel, and a dash board within an automobile passenger compartment.