METHOD OF CONTROLLING A TOUCH-SURFACE CONTROL DEVICE AND CORRESPONDING CONTROL DEVICE

• US 20110037709A1
• Filed: 12/19/2008
• Published: 02/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DAV Société par actions simplifiée
• Original Assignee: DAV Société par actions simplifiée
• Inventors: Chartrain, Cedric, De Vaux Bidon, Florent, Cottarel, Bruno
• Granted Patent: US 9,170,729 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

The invention relates to a method of controlling a touch-surface control device characterized in that it comprises a step of shape recognition of a control trajectory on a touch surface from among at least two predefined shapes of trajectory, in which in the course of a predetermined duration (dT): the control trajectory is sampled in order to determine a sampled angle (dθ) of the control trajectory for each sampling period (Te), a parameter representative of the evolution of at least two sampled angles (dθ) is compared with a predetermined threshold, and a predefined trajectory shape is assigned to the control trajectory as a function of the result of the comparison. The invention also relates to a control device comprising a tough surface characterized in that it comprises a processing unit for implementing a control method as described above.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a touch-surface control device comprising recognizing a shape of a control trajectory on a touch surface from among at least two predefined trajectory shapes, wherein shape recognition comprises, in the course of a predetermined duration:

sampling the control trajectory to determine a sampled angle of the control trajectory for each sampling period;

comparing a parameter representative of the evolution of at least two sampled angles with a predetermined threshold; and

assigning a predefined trajectory shape to the control trajectory as a function of a result of the comparison.

2. The control method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the representative parameter is the sum of the deviations between the sampled angles and a mean of the sampled angles.

3. The control method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a circular trajectory is assigned to the control trajectory when said representative parameter is greater than the predetermined threshold, and wherein a rectilinear trajectory is assigned to the control trajectory when said parameter is less than or equal to said threshold.

4. The control method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the circular or rectilinear trajectories allow parametrization of a control.

5. The control method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

determining a length of displacement of the control trajectory;

comparing the length of displacement of the control trajectory with a predetermined distance; and

assigning a stationary trajectory to the control trajectory if the length of displacement of the control trajectory is less than the predetermined distance.

6. The control method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the stationary trajectory allows a validation or a function selection.

7. The control method as claimed in claim 1, wherein, after the comparison of the shape recognition, the shape of the predefined trajectory is assigned to the control trajectory if the shape of the predefined trajectory satisfies an additional validation criterion.

8. The control method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the additional validation criterion is satisfied when a pressing force detected on the touch surface is greater than a predefined force.

9. The control method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sampling period is variable.

10. A control device comprising a touch surface, wherein the touch surface comprises:

a processing unit for the implementation of a control method, comprising;

recognizing a shape of a control trajectory on a touch surface from among at least two predefined trajectory shapes, wherein shape recognition comprises, in the course of a predetermined duration;

sampling the control trajectory to determine a sampled angle of the control trajectory for each sampling period;

comparing a parameter representative of the evolution of at least two sampled angles with a predetermined threshold; and

assigning a predefined trajectory shape to the control trajectory as a function of a result of the comparison.

11. The control device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the control device is configured to control the functions of at least one set of electrical or electronic members of a motor vehicle.

12. The control device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the at least one set of electrical or electronic members of a motor vehicle comprise at least one selected from a group consisting of an air-conditioning system, an audio system, a navigation system, a telephone system, motorized window winder controls, controls for adjusting exterior rear-view mirrors, controls for adjusting the position of a sunroof, controls for interior lighting, and controls for adjusting a motor vehicle seat.