SELF-CALIBRATING TACTILE HAPTIC MUTI-TOUCH, MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH PANEL

• US 20150097796A1
• Filed: 10/08/2014
• Published: 04/09/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joyson Safety Systems Acquisition, LLC
• Original Assignee: TK Holdings Incorporated (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Lisseman, Jason, Andrews, David
• Granted Patent: US 9,829,980 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/04 Hand wheels
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04104 Multi-touch detection in digitiser, i.e. details about the simultaneous detection of a plurality of touching locations, e.g. multiple fingers or pen and finger
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04106 Multi-sensing digitiser, i.e. digitiser using at least two different sensing technologies simultaneously or alternatively, e.g. for detecting pen and finger, for saving power or for improving position detection
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0414 using force sensing means to determine a position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback

Abstract

A method for determining parameters associated with a haptic feedback output comprises detecting a vibration of at least a portion of a human-machine interface and determining a magnitude associated with the detected vibration. A calibration offset is determined based, at least in part, on the determined magnitude associated with the detected vibration. The method further comprises establishing at least one parameter associated with a haptic actuator of the human-machine interface based on the estimated calibration offset, the at least one parameter at least partially defining a haptic response generated by the haptic actuator.

Claims

1. A method for determining parameters associated with a haptic feedback output, comprising:

detecting a vibration of at least a portion of a human-machine interface;

determining a magnitude associated with the detected vibration;

estimating a calibration offset based, at least in part, on the determined magnitude associated with the detected vibration; and

establishing at least one parameter associated with a haptic actuator of the human-machine interface based on the estimated calibration offset, the at least one parameter at least partially defining a haptic response generated by the haptic actuator.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing at least one parameter associated with the haptic actuator includes setting an output amplitude associate with the haptic actuator.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the haptic actuator comprises a device for generating a mechanical vibration and wherein the output amplitude is configured to control the magnitude of the mechanical vibration.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the haptic actuator includes an acoustic actuator and wherein the output amplitude is configured to control the mechanical displacement of a portion of the acoustic actuator.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing at least one parameter associated with the haptic actuator includes setting a frequency value associated with the haptic actuator.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein estimating the calibration offset includes determining the calibration offset as a value substantially similar to the determined magnitude associated with the detected vibration.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein estimating the calibration offset includes selecting the calibration offset from among a plurality of predetermined calibration offsets, wherein the selected calibration offset has a magnitude greater than or equal to the determined magnitude associated with the detected vibration.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the vibration of at least a portion of the human-machine interface component includes selectively detecting the vibration of the at least a portion of the human machine interface during a time period when the human machine interface is not in use.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the vibration of at least a portion of the human-machine interface includes:

measuring, by at least one sensor associated with the human-machine interface, force applied to a touch surface of the human-machine interface;

determining that the measured force is greater than a first force threshold but less than a second force threshold for at least a predetermined time period; and

determining an average value of the measured force for the predetermined time period.

10. A force-based haptic human-machine interface, comprising:

a touch plate having a touch surface;

at least one force sensor coupled to the touch plate and configured to detect a force applied to the touch surface;

an actuator coupled to the touch plate and configured to deliver a mechanical output to the touch plate;

a processor coupled to the at least one force sensor and the actuator, the processor configured to;

detect a vibration associated with at least a portion of a human-machine interface based on the force detected by the at least one force value;

determine a parameter associated with the detected vibration;

estimate a calibration offset based on the determined parameter associated with the detected vibration; and

establish at least one output parameter associated with the actuator based on the estimated calibration offset, the at least one output parameter configured to affect the mechanical output generated by the haptic actuator.

11. The force-based haptic human-machine interface of claim 10, wherein the at least one force sensor includes a plurality of force sensors, each of which is coupled to the touch plate and configured to detect a respective portion of the force applied to a corresponding area of the touch surface based on the location of the sensor.

12. The force-based haptic human-machine interface of claim 11, wherein the parameter associated with the detected vibration includes a magnitude of the detected vibration, and wherein the processor is further configured to determine the magnitude by averaging the forces detected by each of the plurality of force sensors.

13. The force-based haptic human machine interface of claim 12, wherein the processor is further configured to determine that the magnitude associated with the detected vibration exceeds a threshold, wherein establishing the at least one output parameter associated with the actuator includes setting an output amplitude associated with the haptic actuator in response to determining that the magnitude associated with the detected vibration exceeds the threshold.

14. The force-based haptic human-machine interface of claim 10, wherein the parameter associated with the detected vibration includes a frequency associated with the detected vibration.

15. The force-based haptic human machine interface of claim 14, wherein establishing the at least one output parameter associated with the actuator includes setting an output frequency associated with the haptic actuator based, at least in part, on the frequency associated with the detected vibration.

16. The force-based haptic human-machine interface of claim 10, wherein the processor is configured to detect the vibration of at least a portion of the human-machine interface by:

receiving data indicative of the force detected by the at least one force sensor;

determining that the detected force is greater than a first force threshold but less than a second force threshold for at least a predetermined time period; and

determining an average value of the measured force for the predetermined time period.

17. A vehicle, comprising:

one or more ground-engaging devices;

a steering interface, coupled to one or more ground-engaging devices and comprising a rim portion and a hub portion, the rim portion configured for grasping by an operator of a vehicle;

a touch plate having a touch surface, at least a portion of the touch plate coupled to the steering interface;

at least one force sensor coupled to the touch plate and configured to detect a force applied to the touch surface;

an actuator coupled to the touch plate and configured to deliver a mechanical output to the touch plate;

a processor coupled to the at least one force sensor and the actuator, the processor configured to;

detect a vibration associated with at least a portion of a human-machine interface based on the force detected by the at least one force value;

determine a parameter associated with the detected vibration;

estimate a calibration offset based on the determined parameter associated with the detected vibration; and

establish at least one output parameter associated with the actuator based on the estimated calibration offset, the at least one output parameter configured to affect the mechanical output generated by the haptic actuator.

18. The vehicle of claim 17, wherein the at least one force sensor includes a plurality of force sensors, each of which is coupled to the touch plate and configured to detect a respective portion of the force applied to a corresponding area of the touch surface based on the location of the sensor.

19. The vehicle of claim 18, wherein the parameter associated with the detected vibration includes a magnitude of the detected vibration, and wherein the processor is further configured to determine the magnitude by averaging the forces detected by each of the plurality of force sensors.

20. The vehicle of claim 19, wherein the processor is further configured to determine that the magnitude associated with the detected vibration exceeds a threshold, wherein establishing the at least one output parameter associated with the actuator includes setting an output amplitude associated with the haptic actuator in response to determining that the magnitude associated with the detected vibration exceeds the threshold.

21. The vehicle of claim 17, wherein the parameter associated with the detected vibration includes a frequency associated with the detected vibration.

22. The vehicle of claim 21, wherein establishing the at least one output parameter associated with the actuator includes setting an output frequency associated with the haptic actuator based, at least in part, on the frequency associated with the detected vibration.

23. The vehicle of claim 17, wherein the processor is configured to detect the vibration of at least a portion of the human-machine interface by:

receiving data indicative of the force detected by the at least one force sensor;

determining that the detected force is greater than a first force threshold but less than a second force threshold for at least a predetermined time period; and

determining an average value of the measured force for the predetermined time period.