DUAL OPERATIONAL TOUCH SCREEN DEVICE FOR A VEHICLE

• US 20160103512A1
• Filed: 10/05/2015
• Published: 04/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation (AB Volvo)
• Original Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation (AB Volvo)
• Inventors: EDGREN, Claes
• Application Number:
  US14/874,744
• Publication Number:
  US 20160103512A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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: B60K 35/22 Display screens
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04803 Split screen, i.e. subdividing the display area or the window area into separate subareas
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04809 Textured surface identifying touch areas, e.g. overlay structure for a virtual keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus

Abstract

Example embodiments presented herein are directed towards a dual operational touch screen device for a vehicle. The dual operational touch screen device comprises a screen cover with controls, in part, a switching or controlling of the between the different operational modes of the touch screen. The screen cover further provides various markers which aid a user in providing inputs related to a vehicle driving functionality. Example embodiments are also directed towards a vehicle comprising the touch screen device as well as corresponding methods.

Claims

1. A dual operational touch screen device for a vehicle, the touch screen device comprising:

a display screen;

a screen cover configured to cover at least a portion of the display screen, wherein the screen cover comprises at least one predefined area for receiving a user input;

a control unit configured to switch an operational state of the touch screen device from a first operational mode related to a multimedia usage of the touch screen device to a second operational mode related to a vehicle driving functionality, when the screen cover is positioned over the display screen; and

wherein the control unit is further configured to initiate a command of the vehicle driving functionality based on the user input received via the at least one predefined area of the screen cover.

2. The touch screen device of claim 1 wherein the vehicle driving functionality comprises a driving command, route selection, and/or a vehicle related setting.

3. The touch screen device of claim 1 wherein the control unit is configured to determine a receipt of the user input based on a user interaction with the at least one predefined area, the user interaction being based on a pressure, starting location, time duration and/or distance of a user touching the at least one predefined area.

4. The touch screen device of claim 1 wherein the at least one predefined area comprises visual and/or tactile markers defining different possible user inputs.

5. The touch screen device of claim 1 wherein the at least one predefined area comprises a cut-out section, a thinner cross-section of material as compared to other areas of the screen cover, is fully transparent or is semi-transparent.

6. The touch screen device of claim 1 wherein the screen cover comprises, at least in part, a transparent or semi-transparent material.

7. A vehicle comprising the touch screen device of claim 1.

8. The vehicle of claim 7 wherein the touch screen device is located in an instrument panel, center console, or a front seat of the vehicle.

9. The vehicle of claim 7 wherein the touch screen device is configured to attach to the vehicle via a docketing port.

10. The vehicle of claim 7 wherein the touch screen device is configured to operate wirelessly within the vehicle.

11. The vehicle of claim 7 wherein the control unit of the touch screen device is configured to switch the operational state of the touch screen device from the first operational mode to the second operational mode, when the screen cover is positioned over the display screen and the vehicle is in an autonomous driving mode.

12. The vehicle of claim 7 wherein the control unit of the touch screen device is configured to switch the operational state of the touch screen device from the first operational mode to the second operational mode, when the screen cover is positioned over the display screen and the vehicle is in semi-automated driving mode.

13. A method for operating a touch screen device in a vehicle, wherein the touch screen device comprises a display screen and a screen cover configured to cover at least a portion of the display screen, wherein the screen cover comprises at least one predefined area for receiving a user input, the method comprising:

switching an operational state of the touch screen device from a first operational mode related to a multimedia usage of the touch screen device to a second operational mode related to a vehicle driving functionality, when the screen cover is positioned over the display screen; and

initiating a command of the vehicle driving functionality based on the user input received via the at least one predefined area of the screen cover.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the vehicle driving functionality comprises a driving command, route selection, and/or a vehicle related setting.

15. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising stored program instructions for a touch screen device in a vehicle, wherein the touch screen device comprises a display screen and a screen cover configured to cover at least a portion of the display screen, wherein the screen cover comprises at least one predefined area for receiving a user input, wherein the program instructions for execution by one or more processors of a computer system to:

switch an operational state of the touch screen device from a first operational mode related to a multimedia usage of the touch screen device to a second operational mode related to a vehicle driving functionality, when the screen cover is positioned over the display screen; and

initiate a command of the vehicle driving functionality based on the user input received via the at least one predefined area of the screen cover.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 15 wherein the vehicle driving functionality comprises a driving command, route selection, and/or a vehicle related setting.