OPERATING DEVICE FOR VEHICLE

• US 20160054842A1
• Filed: 08/03/2015
• Published: 02/25/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: YAMADA, Yoshinori
• Granted Patent: US 9,870,101 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/00 Indexing scheme associated with groups B60K35/00 or B60K37/00 relating to details of instruments or dashboards
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1438 Touch screens
• 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: 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 2203/04102 Flexible digitiser, i.e. constructional details for allowing the whole digitising part of a device to be flexed or rolled like a sheet of paper
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0304 Detection arrangements using opto-electronic means constructional details of pointing devices not related to the detection arrangement using opto-electronic means G06F3/033; optical digitisers G06F3/042
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/042 by opto-electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0425 using a single imaging device like a video camera for tracking the absolute position of a single or a plurality of objects with respect to an imaged reference surface, e.g. video camera imaging a display or a projection screen, a table or a wall surface, on which a computer generated image is displayed or projected tracking a projected light spot to determine a position on a display surface G06F3/0386
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2354/00 Aspects of interface with display user
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/002 to project the image of a two-dimensional display, such as an array of light emitting or modulating elements or a CRT

Abstract

An operating device for a vehicle includes a screen having an operating surface, the screen being configured such that a region of the screen including a portion of the screen to which an operating force is applied is deformed in a direction in which the operating force is applied, in accordance with the operating force applied to the operating surface; a projecting unit configured to project an image onto the screen; a detecting unit configured to detect, as an operating position, the portion of the screen to which the operating force is applied and which is deformed due to the applied operating force; and a processing unit configured to perform predetermined processing associated with a portion of the image projected onto the screen, based on a result of detection performed by the detecting unit, the portion of the image corresponding to the operating position.

Claims

1. An operating device for a vehicle, comprising:

a screen having an operating surface, the screen being configured such that a region of the screen including a portion of the screen to which an operating force is applied is deformed in a direction in which the operating force is applied, in accordance with the operating force applied to the operating surface;

a projecting unit configured to project an image onto the screen;

a detecting unit configured to detect, as an operating position, the portion of the screen to which the operating force is applied and which is deformed due to the applied operating force; and

a processing unit configured to perform predetermined processing associated with a portion of the image projected onto the screen, based on a result of detection performed by the detecting unit, the portion of the image corresponding to the operating position.

2. The operating device according to claim 1, wherein the projecting unit is configured to project the image onto the screen from a side opposite to the operating surface of the screen.

3. The operating device according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit is configured to further perform image processing such that a plurality of images around the portion of the screen, to which the operating force is applied and which is deformed due to the applied operating force, move to the portion of the screen.

4. The operating device according to claim 1, wherein:

the projecting unit is configured to project the image toward a ceiling of the vehicle; and

the projecting unit is movable to a projecting position and to a non-projecting position such that when the projecting unit is located at the projecting position, the image is projected onto the screen, and when the projecting unit is located at the non-projecting position, the image is not projected onto the screen.

5. The operating device according to claim 1, wherein the detecting unit is a camera or a distance sensor.

6. The operating device according to claim 1, wherein the detecting unit includes a first position detecting unit provided on a side opposite to the operating surface of the screen, and a second position detecting unit provided on a side of the operating surface of the screen.