Touch operation information output device

• US 6,198,475 B1
• Filed: 06/23/1998
• Issued: 03/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho
• Inventors: Mori, Satoshi, Morikawa, Minoru, Nishikawa, Masato, Kunimatsu, Yoshimasa, Nagasaka, Chikao
• Primary Examiner(s): Hjerpe, Richard A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LESPERANCE, JEAN E
• Application Number:
  US09/102,904
• Time in Patent Office: 987 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173, 345/175, 345/172, 345/168, 345/22, 345/21, 345/24, 345/25, 341/22, 341/21, 341/24, 241/25
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1434 Touch panels
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/162 Visual feedback on control action
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• 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 35/25 using haptic output
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/28 characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04809 Textured surface identifying touch areas, e.g. overlay structure for a virtual keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

A touch operation information output apparatus is provided in a position at which a driver can operate it, and detects a touched position with respect to the input pad and outputs its coordinate data to the display device. Here, protruding brackets are provided at 16 positions on the input pad. A first group of protruding brackets that are in 4 positions at a center of the input pad are formed in a “+” shape, a second group of protruding brackets that are in four corners of the input pad are formed in an “L” shape and a third group of protruding brackets are formed in a “T” shape. Because of this, the driver can recognize the touched position with respect to the touch operation information output apparatus and blind operation becomes possible.

Claims

1. A touch operation information output apparatus that outputs coordinate data showing a finger-touched position on an operating surface, comprising:

a plurality of surface variations provided at specified positions on said operating surface to define a particular area on the operating surface, the surface variations having different shapes corresponding to their positions on said operating surface.

8. The touch operation information output apparatus of claim 1, wherein the specified positions of the surface variations correspond to respective positions on a remote display screen.

9. The touch operation information output apparatus of claim 1, wherein each surface variation has a shape that is determined based on the surface variation'"'"'s position on the operating surface.

10. The touch operation information output apparatus of claim 1, wherein the output apparatus is an interface between an operator and at least one of a display, a navigation system, a radio, a climate control system and a climate control component.

11. The touch operation information output apparatus of claim 1, wherein the output apparatus outputs visual coordinate data showing a finger-touched position on the operating surface.

2. A tactile surface panel apparatus for a touch operation information output device operably connected to a remote display screen, the display screen having button display portions, the tactile surface panel apparatus and the display screen being arranged respectively in different directions from an operator, the tactile surface panel apparatus comprising:

a substantially flat panel member having a plurality of tactile sensing elements disposed thereon, each one of the plurality of tactile sensing elements having different shape being disposed on the flat panel member in a manner to correspond to a button display portion on the remote display screen, each tactile sensing element having a surface configuration that identifies its relative position on the substantially flat panel member.

3. A tactile surface panel apparatus according to claim 2, wherein each one of the plurality of tactile sensing elements is a protuberance.

4. A tactile surface panel apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the protuberances have identifiable shapes based upon position on the flat panel member.

5. A tactile surface panel apparatus according to claim 2, wherein at least two of the plurality of tactile sensing elements have different configurations.

6. A tactile surface panel apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the different configurations are at least two of a cross-shape configuration, an L-shaped configuration and a T-shaped configuration.

7. A tactile surface panel apparatus according to claim 2, wherein each one of the plurality of tactile sensing elements is a concavity.

12. The tactile surface panel apparatus of claim 2, wherein the tactile surface panel apparatus is disposed at an armrest of a vehicle, and the display screen is disposed at a dashboard of the vehicle.