AIRCRAFT USER INTERFACES WITH MULTI-MODE HAPTICS

• US 20120299839A1
• Filed: 05/27/2011
• Published: 11/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Lu, Kanghua
• Granted Patent: US 10,180,722 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 43/00 Arrangements or adaptations of instruments arrangements of cameras B64D47/08; aeronautical measuring instruments per se G01C
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are provided for a user interface with haptic feedback. The user interface includes a display element configured to display a visual image; a touch screen panel coupled to the display element and configured to receive a user input; a controller coupled to the touch screen panel and configured to generate a feedback signal based on the user input; a first actuator coupled to the controller and the touch screen panel and configured to operate in a first mode based on the feedback signal; and a second actuator coupled to the controller and the touch screen panel and configured to operate in a second mode based on the feedback signal.

Claims

1. A user interface, comprising:

a display element configured to display a visual image;

a touch screen panel coupled to the display element and configured to receive a user input;

a controller coupled to the touch screen panel and configured to generate a feedback signal based on the user input;

a first actuator coupled to the controller and the touch screen panel and configured to operate in a first mode based on the feedback signal; and

a second actuator coupled to the controller and the touch screen panel and configured to operate in a second mode based on the feedback signal.

2. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the first mode includes a first pattern of nodes and the second modes includes a second pattern of nodes, the first pattern of nodes and the second pattern of nodes being non-overlapping relative to one another on the touch screen panel.

3. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the first mode has a first frequency and the second mode has a second frequency, different that the first frequency.

4. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the first mode includes a third pattern of peaks, the first actuator being positioned at one of the peaks of the third pattern of peaks.

5. The user interface of claim 4, wherein the second mode includes a fourth pattern of peaks, the second actuator being positioned at one of the peaks of the fourth pattern of peaks.

6. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the first mode is a (2, 2) mode and the second mode is a (3, 3) mode.

7. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the first mode is a (2, 2) mode and the second mode is a (4, 3) mode.

8. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the first actuator and the second actuator are asymmetrically arranged with respect to one another relative to the touch screen panel.

9. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the touch screen panel is defined by a perimeter with a plurality of sides joined at a plurality of corners, the first actuator being positioned adjacent one of the sides and the second actuator being positioned adjacent one of the corners.

10. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the perimeter is rectangular with first, second, third, and fourth sides, a first corner joining the first and second sides, a second corner joining the second and third sides, a third corner joining the third and fourth sides, and a fourth corner joining the fourth and first sides.

11. The user interface of claim 10, wherein the first actuator is positioned at the first side and the second actuator is positioned at the second corner.

12. The user interface of claim 11, wherein the first actuator is positioned at a first midpoint on the first side between the first and fourth corners.

13. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the first and second actuators are configured to generate the haptic response with a force of at least 10 Gee.

14. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the display element is an avionics touch screen panel.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of selecting the first mode with the first frequency includes selecting the first mode based on a tactile sensation associated with the first frequency, and wherein the step of selecting the second mode with the second frequency includes selecting the second mode based on a tactile sensation associated with the second frequency.

15. A method for controlling haptic feedback in a user interface having a first actuator and a second actuator coupled to a touch screen display panel, comprising the steps of:

operating the first actuator in a first mode to generate a first portion of the haptic feedback on touch screen panel with first nodes; and

operating the second actuator in a second mode to generate a second portion of the haptic feedback on touch screen panel with second nodes, different from the first nodes.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the steps of positioning the first actuator at a first peak associated with the first mode and positioning the second actuator at a second peak associated with the second mode.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of selecting the first mode based on a first frequency associated with the first mode and selecting the second mode based on a second frequency associated with the second mode.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the steps of operating the first actuator and operating the second actuator include operating the first actuator and the second actuator such that the haptic response is at least 10 Gee over the entire touch screen panel.

19. A method for designing a user interface having a first actuator and a second actuator generating haptic feedback on a touch screen display panel, comprising the steps of:

selecting a first mode with a first frequency and a pattern of first nodes and first peaks;

selecting a second mode with a second frequency and a pattern of second nodes and second peaks such that the second nodes are non-overlapping with respect to the first nodes;

positioning the first actuator at one of the first peaks to generate the first mode; and

positioning the second actuator at one of the second peaks to generate the second mode.