SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IMPROVING TOUCH SCREEN DISPLAY USE UNDER VIBRATION AND TURBULENCE

• US 20120127115A1
• Filed: 11/23/2010
• Published: 05/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Aviation Systems LLC (GE Aerospace)
• Original Assignee: GE Aviation Systems LLC (GE Aerospace)
• Inventors: Gannon, Aaron James
• Granted Patent: US 9,870,093 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/174
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1438 Touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/693 Cover plate features
• 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: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0418 for error correction or compensation, e.g. based on parallax, calibration or alignment

Abstract

A method and system for improving touch screen display use during vibration and turbulence conditions is provided. The system includes a sensor configured to transmit a first input signal relative to a measured parameter of the vehicle, a touch screen input and display system configured to transmit a second input signal relative to a manual input by a user. The touch screen input and display system includes a planar input and viewing surface having a plurality of edges and a bezel at least partially surrounding the surface proximate at least some of the plurality of edges. The bezel includes a surface configured to engage one or more digits of one or more hands of a user and is formed of an elastomeric material. The system also includes an input unit configured to receive the transmitted first and second input signals.

Claims

1. A vehicle control system comprising:

a sensor configured to transmit a first input signal relative to a measured parameter of the vehicle;

a touch screen input and display system configured to transmit a second input signal relative to a manual input by a user, said touch screen input and display system comprising a planar input and viewing surface having a plurality of edges and a bezel at least partially surrounding said surface proximate at least some of said plurality of edges, said bezel comprising a surface configured to engage one or more digits of one or more hands of a user, said surface formed of an elastomeric material; and

an input unit configured to receive the transmitted first and second input signals.

2. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said bezel comprises at least one of vibration, shock, and turbulence sensor configured to generate an output relative to a motion component between said touch screen and a user resulting from the at least one of vibration, shock, and turbulence.

3. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said sensor is configured to determine a number and placement of the one or more digits using at least one of capacitance, proximity, acceleration, force, and a combination thereof.

4. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said touch screen comprises a touch activated area configured to receive a manual input from a digit, said touch screen area configured to be at least one of relocated and resized on said touch screen based on an input from a sensor configured to use at least one of capacitance, proximity, acceleration, force, and a combination thereof to determine a motion influence due to at least one of vibration, shock, and turbulence.

5. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said bezel comprises at least one of a trough and a protrusion configured to engage one or more digits of one or more hands of a user.

6. A method of improving touch screen display use during vibration and turbulence conditions comprising:

landing at least one digit of at least one hand of a user on a bezel at least partially surrounding a touch screen input and display device;

engaging a touch activated area of the touch screen input and display device with at least one other digit of the at least one hand;

determining an amount of motion influence of the at least one hand is due to at least one of vibration, shock, and turbulence associated with at least one of the touch screen input and display device and the hand; and

adjusting the touch-activated area using the determined amount of motion influence.

7. A method in accordance with claim 6, wherein landing at least one digit of at least one hand of a user on a bezel comprises landing at least one digit of at least one hand of a user in a trough formed in a surface of the bezel and sized to receive the at least one digit.

8. A method in accordance with claim 7, wherein landing at least one digit of at least one hand of a user on a bezel comprises landing at least one digit of at least one hand of a user on a surface of protrusion extending from the trough, the protrusion formed of an elastomeric material.

9. A method in accordance with claim 6, wherein landing at least one digit of at least one hand of a user on a bezel comprises landing at least one digit of at least one hand of a user on a resilient surface of the bezel.

10. A method in accordance with claim 6, wherein landing at least one digit of at least one hand of a user on a bezel comprises landing at least one digit of at least one hand of a user on the bezel formed of elastomeric material.

11. A method in accordance with claim 6, wherein determining an amount of motion influence comprises measuring an amount of movement of the at least one digit with respect to the bezel.

12. A method in accordance with claim 6, wherein determining an amount of motion influence comprises measuring an amount of movement of the at least one digit with respect to the bezel using at least one of a capacitance parameter and a proximity parameter.

13. A method in accordance with claim 6, wherein determining an amount of motion influence comprises measuring an amount of movement of the at least one digit with respect to the bezel using at least one of an acceleration parameter and a force parameter.

14. A method in accordance with claim 6, wherein engaging a touch activated area comprises touching the touch activated area using a thumb of the hand.

15. A method in accordance with claim 6, wherein adjusting the touch-activated area comprises at least one of relocating the touch-activated area and enlarging the touch-activated area to facilitate said engaging during the at least one of vibration, shock, and turbulence based on the determined amount of motion influence.

16. A touch screen input and display system comprising:

a touch screen comprising a planar input and viewing surface having a plurality of edges; and

a bezel at least partially surrounding said surface proximate at least some of said plurality of edges, said bezel comprising a surface configured to engage one or more digits of one or more hands of a user, said surface formed of an elastomeric material.

17. A system in accordance with claim 16, wherein said bezel comprises at least one of vibration, shock, and turbulence sensor configured to generate an output relative to a motion component between said touch screen and a user resulting from the at least one of vibration, shock, and turbulence.

18. A system in accordance with claim 16, wherein said sensor is configured to determine a number and placement of the one or more digits using at least one of capacitance, proximity, acceleration, force, and a combination thereof.

19. A system in accordance with claim 16, wherein said touch screen comprises a touch activated area configured to receive a manual input from a digit, said touch screen area configured to be at least one of relocated and resized on said touch screen based on an input from a sensor configured to use at least one of capacitance, proximity, acceleration, force, and a combination thereof to determine a motion influence due to at least one of vibration, shock, and turbulence.

20. A system in accordance with claim 16, wherein said bezel comprises at least one of a trough and a protrusion configured to engage one or more digits of one or more hands of a user.