I/O DEVICE FOR A VEHICLE AND METHOD FOR INTERACTING WITH AN I/O DEVICE

• US 20120272193A1
• Filed: 04/20/2011
• Published: 10/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Harman Becker Automotive Systems GmbH (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: S1nn GmbH & Co. KG (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: Michaelis, Oliver
• Granted Patent: US 9,604,542 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/863
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1438 Touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/184 Displaying the same information on different displays
• 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 35/29 Instruments characterised by the way in which information is handled, e.g. showing information on plural displays or prioritising information according to driving conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

An I/O device for a vehicle includes at least one touch-sensitive I/O display unit DT, at least one output display unit DI and a control unit CU connecting the I/O display unit DT and the output display unit DI with an information exchange unit IEU. The touch-sensitive I/O display unit DT is located in a readily reachable position for a driver and the output display unit DI is located in a readily discernible position for a driver, and the control unit CU communicates output data DD-I/O related to an interactive I/O communication to the I/O display unit DT, receives touchscreen input data TI from the I/O display unit DT and communicates output data DD-O to the output display unit DI in relation with the input data TI. An I/O method using the above mentioned I/O device for a vehicle is also provided.

Claims

1. I/O device for a vehicle comprising at least one touch-sensitive I/O display unit DT, at least one output display unit DI and a control unit CU connecting the I/O display unit DT and the output display unit DI with an information exchange unit IEU, wherein said the touch-sensitive I/O display unit DT is located in a readily reachable position for a driver and the output display unit DI is located in a readily discernible position for a driver, and the control unit CU communicates output data DD-I/O related to an interactive I/O communication to the I/O display unit DT, receives touchscreen input data TI from the I/O display unit DT and communicates output data DD-O to the output display unit DI in relation with the input data TI.

2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the touch-sensitive I/O display unit DT comprises a touch-sensitive area ST covering a subpart and/or extending beyond the display area of the display unit DT.

3. Device according to claim 1, wherein the touch-sensitive area ST of the touch-sensitive I/O display unit DT is a multiple-point-of-contact-sensitive area.

4. Device according to claim 1, wherein the touch-sensitive I/O display unit DT is arranged in the center console (24) and/or in the steering wheel of the vehicle.

5. Device according to claim 1, wherein the output display unit DI is arranged in the dashboard, instrument board (28) and/or in a rear-view mirror and/or in a steering wheel of the vehicle.

6. Device according to claim 1, wherein the output display unit DI comprises at least one touch-sensitive subarea ST-O for inputting data.

7. Device according to claim 1, wherein the output display unit DI is a head-up display.

8. Method for interacting with an I/O device for a vehicle comprising at least one touch-sensitive I/O display unit DT, at least one output display unit DI and a control unit CU connecting the I/O display unit DT and the output display unit DI with an information exchange unit IEU, preferably according to claim 1, wherein the touch-sensitive I/O display unit DT displays textual or graphical control elements, a driver selects at least one control element by a contact gesture and the output display unit DI displays data in response to the selected control element.

9. Method according to claim 8, wherein the gesture is a multi-point-of-contact gesture pertaining to one or multiple control elements.

10. Method according to claim 8, wherein the touch-sensitive I/O display unit DT displays selectable graphical and/or textual elements RDI being also displayed on the output display unit DI.

11. Method according to claim 8, wherein the types of gesture for selecting graphical and/or textual elements comprise tapping two or more fingers concurrently within an area pertaining to an element for selecting the element, moving two or more fingers concurrently within the area pertaining to the element for initiating a panning action related to the element, horizontally and/or vertically moving two or more fingers concurrently within an area pertaining to the element for initiating a scrolling action related to the element, moving two fingers apart or together for initiating a zoom-in or a zoom-out action related to the element.

12. Method according to claim 11, wherein a type or a set of types of gesture relates to selecting graphical and/or textual elements displayed on the touch-sensitive I/O display unit DT and a different type or set of types of gesture relates to selecting graphical and/or textual elements displayed on the output display unit DI.

13. Method according to claim 9, wherein a type of gesture for selecting a graphical and/or textual element or using a function related to the element is graphically displayed as a visual aid on the output display unit DI when a user touches the element on the touch-sensitive I/O display unit DT.

14. Method according to claim 8, wherein an active region (38) of the touch-sensitive area ST is displayed on the touch-sensitive I/O display unit DT.