Vehicle User Interface with Proximity Activation

• US 20110082616A1
• Filed: 02/19/2010
• Published: 04/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tesla Inc.
• Original Assignee: Tesla Motors Incorporated (Tesla Inc.)
• Inventors: Finn, Brian, Adams, Dan, Small, Evan
• Granted Patent: US 8,892,299 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/29
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/143 Touch sensitive instrument input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1438 Touch screens
• 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 35/654 the user being the driver
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3664 Details of the user input interface, e.g. buttons, knobs or sliders, including those provided on a touch screen; remote controllers; input using gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

A method for using a vehicle user interface is provided, the user interface utilizing a touch screen display mounted within the vehicle. A proximity detection system provides a means for switching the touch screen display from the sleep mode to the normal use mode without the user having to touch the screen, thus expediting user interaction with the touch screen. The proximity detection system may be configured to distinguish the user'"'"'s presence per touch screen zone, thereby allowing the system controller to switch only a zone of the touch screen from the sleep mode to the normal use mode.

Claims

1. A method of using a vehicle interface, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a touch screen mounted within a vehicle, wherein a first vehicle subsystem interface is displayed on said touch screen;

monitoring screen use, wherein said monitoring step is performed by a system controller coupled to said touch screen;

detecting a user'"'"'s presence in proximity to said touch screen prior to said touch screen being touched, said detecting step performed by at least one proximity sensor coupled to said system controller;

setting an operational mode of said touch screen based on said monitored screen use and said detected user'"'"'s presence, wherein said operational mode is selected from a normal use mode and a sleep mode, and wherein said operational mode setting step further comprises the step of automatically switching from said normal use mode to said sleep mode after a preset period of time with no monitored screen use and no detected user'"'"'s presence; and

switching said operational mode of said touch screen from said sleep mode to said normal use mode when said user'"'"'s presence is detected in said detecting step.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of selecting said first vehicle subsystem interface from a plurality of vehicle subsystem interfaces consisting of a climate control interface, an audio control interface, a mobile/cell phone interface, a navigation control interface, a drive train monitoring interface, a battery charging control interface, a vehicle set—

up interface, and a web browser.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of inputting user configuration instructions into said system controller via said touch screen, wherein said preset period of time is set by said user configuration instructions.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of setting a display brightness level based on whether said touch screen is in said normal use mode or in said sleep mode.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said step of setting said display brightness level further comprises the step of setting said display brightness level to a first level when said touch screen is in said normal use mode and to a second level when said touch screen is in said sleep mode.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of inputting user configuration instructions into said system controller via said touch screen, wherein said first and second levels are set by said user configuration instructions.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

dividing said touch screen into a plurality of zones, wherein said first vehicle subsystem interface is displayed on a first zone of said plurality of zones;

displaying at least a second vehicle subsystem interface on said touch screen, wherein said second vehicle subsystem interface is displayed on a second zone of said plurality of zones;

wherein said step of monitoring screen use further comprises the step of independently monitoring screen use within each of said plurality of zones;

determining which zone of said plurality of zones is closest to said user'"'"'s presence when said user'"'"'s presence is detected in said detecting step;

wherein said step of setting said operational mode of said touch screen further comprises the step of independently setting said operational mode for each zone of said plurality of zones, wherein said operational mode setting step further comprises the step of automatically switching from said normal use mode to said sleep mode after said preset period of time with no monitored screen use within said zone of said plurality of zones and no detected user'"'"'s presence proximate to said zone of said plurality of zones; and

wherein said step of switching said operational mode of said touch screen further comprises the step of independently switching said operational mode of each zone of said plurality of zones from said sleep mode to said normal use mode when said user'"'"'s presence is detected proximate to said zone of said plurality of zones.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of selecting said first and second vehicle subsystem interfaces from a plurality of vehicle subsystem interfaces consisting of a climate control interface, an audio control interface, a mobile/cell phone interface, a navigation control interface, a drive train monitoring interface, a battery charging control interface, a vehicle set-up interface, and a web browser.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein said preset period of time is comprised of a plurality of time periods, wherein said plurality of time periods correspond to said plurality of zones.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of inputting a set of user configuration instructions, wherein each of said plurality of time periods are set by said user configuration instructions.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of independently setting a display zone brightness level for each zone of said plurality of zones based on whether said operational mode of said zone is in said normal use mode or said sleep mode.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of inputting user configuration instructions into said system controller via said touch screen, wherein said display zone brightness level for each zone of said plurality of zones for said normal use mode and said sleep mode are set by said user configuration instructions.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

dividing said touch screen into a plurality of zones, wherein said first vehicle subsystem interface is displayed on a first zone of said plurality of zones, and wherein said first vehicle subsystem interface is selected from a plurality of vehicle subsystem interfaces;

displaying at least a second vehicle subsystem interface on said touch screen, wherein said second vehicle subsystem interface is displayed on a second zone of said plurality of zones, and wherein said second vehicle subsystem interface is selected from said plurality of vehicle subsystem interfaces;

wherein said step of monitoring screen use further comprises the step of independently monitoring screen use within each of said plurality of zones;

determining which zone of said plurality of zones is closest to said user'"'"'s presence when said user'"'"'s presence is detected in said detecting step;

wherein said step of setting said operational mode of said touch screen further comprises the step of independently setting said operational mode for each zone of said plurality of zones based on which of said plurality of vehicle subsystem interfaces is displayed on said zone of said plurality of zones, wherein said operational mode setting step further comprises the step of automatically switching from said normal use mode to said sleep mode after said preset period of time with no monitored screen use within said zone of said plurality of zones and no detected user'"'"'s presence proximate to said zone of said plurality of zones; and

wherein said step of switching said operational mode of said touch screen further comprises the step of independently switching said operational mode of each zone of said plurality of zones from said sleep mode to said normal use mode when said user'"'"'s presence is detected proximate to said zone of said plurality of zones.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said plurality of vehicle subsystem interfaces consist of a climate control interface, an audio control interface, a mobile/cell phone interface, a navigation control interface, a drive train monitoring interface, a battery charging control interface, a vehicle set-up interface, and a web browser.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein said preset period of time is comprised of a plurality of time periods, wherein said plurality of time periods correspond to said plurality of vehicle subsystem interfaces.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of inputting a set of user configuration instructions, wherein each of said plurality of time periods are set by said user configuration instructions.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of independently setting a display zone brightness level for each vehicle subsystem interface of said plurality of vehicle subsystem interfaces based on whether said operational mode of said corresponding zone is in said normal use mode or said sleep mode.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of inputting user configuration instructions into said system controller via said touch screen, wherein said display zone brightness level for each vehicle subsystem interface of said plurality of vehicle subsystem interfaces for said normal use mode and said sleep mode are set by said user configuration instructions.

19. A vehicle user interface system, comprising:

a touch screen mounted within a vehicle passenger compartment, said touch screen configured to display at least one vehicle subsystem interface;

at least one proximity sensor for monitoring a user'"'"'s presence in proximity to said touch screen; and

a system controller coupled to said touch screen and to said at least one proximity sensor and to at least one vehicle subsystem corresponding to said at least one vehicle subsystem interface, wherein said system controller monitors screen use and monitors said user'"'"'s presence in proximity to said touch screen, wherein said system controller switches an operational mode of said touch screen from a normal use mode to a sleep mode after a preset period of time with no monitored screen use and no detected user'"'"'s presence, and wherein said system controller switches said operational mode of said touch screen from said sleep mode to said normal use mode after detection of said user'"'"'s presence in proximity to said touch screen.

20. The vehicle user interface system of claim 19, wherein said touch screen is configured into a plurality of zones, wherein each zone displays a different vehicle subsystem interface, and wherein said system controller only switches a particular zone of said plurality of zones from said sleep mode to said normal use mode upon detection of said user'"'"'s presence in proximity to said particular zone of said plurality of zones