Reconfigurable instrument panels

• US 7,489,303 B1
• Filed: 07/02/2003
• Issued: 02/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Timothy R. Pryor
• Original Assignee: Timothy R. Pryor
• Inventors: Pryor, Timothy R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lefkowitz; Sumati
• Assistant Examiner(s): BODDIE, WILLIAM
• Application Number:
  US10/611,814
• Time in Patent Office: 2,050 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/170, 345/172, 345/173, 345/179, 345/184
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/126 Rotatable input devices for instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/143 Touch sensitive instrument input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1438 Touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/145 Instrument input by combination of touch screen and hardware input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1868 according to driving situations
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/21 using cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/774 on or in the centre console
• 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 35/29 Instruments characterised by the way in which information is handled, e.g. showing information on plural displays or prioritising information according to driving conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/60 Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/265 constructional aspects of navigation devices, e.g. housings, mountings, displays G01C21/3688 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/365 Guidance using head up displays or projectors, e.g. virtual vehicles or arrows projected on the windscreen or on the road itself
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0421 by interrupting or reflecting a light beam, e.g. optical touch-screen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• 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

Disclosed are what I call “Reconfigurable Tactile Control Displays” particularly suited for applications such as automobile instrument panels where large displays and controls are desirable to provide a wide range of information, with minimal driver distraction and the safe input of data to vehicle subsystems or for communication based activities. Preferred embodiments utilize rear projection displays with electro-optically sensed controls and offer, at low cost, a maximum of reconfigurability to different car lines, drivers, and tasks. Also disclosed are novel implementations for military vehicles, and other applications such as control of appliances, heating and other household functions which may share common control and display presentation with those used in the vehicle.

Claims

1. A configurable instrument panel for controlling functions of a vehicle, said panel comprising:

a vehicle instrument panel display including a rear projection display screen;

a plurality of physical control details capable of movement between a plurality of positions and mounted in front of said screen, at least one of said physical control details comprising a rotatable control knob;

an electro-optical sensing system, located behind said screen and capable of sensing the plurality of positions of each of said plurality of physical control details, and having a field of view which encompasses said plurality of physical control details, for sensing a current position of each of said plurality of physical control details based on reflected light; and

a computer, connected to said electro-optical sensing means, for reconfiguring the instrument panel from a display on the screen of one vehicle function to a different display on the screen of at least one other vehicle function, and for determining, from a current position of a physical control detail sensed by the electro-optical sensing means, as least one input to control a currently configured function of the vehicle, said vehicle functions and associated displays on said screen being selected from the group consisting of functions and associated displays of an audio system, climate control system and navigation system.

2. A configurable instrument panel according to claim 1 wherein said computer controls said display as a result of data inputted to said computer from an external source.

3. A configurable instrument panel according to claim 1 wherein said electro-optical sensing system is comprised by a TV camera.

4. A configurable instrument panel according to claim 1 wherein said electro-optical sensing system is comprised by an optical sensor incorporated into a projector for rear projection display.

5. A configurable instrument panel according to claim 1 wherein said computer additionally controls a desired function.

6. A configurable instrument panel according to claim 1 wherein absolute position of said at least one physical control detail is determined.

7. A configurable instrument panel according to claim 1 further including sensing of touch position on said screen.

8. A configurable instrument panel according to claim 7 wherein said touch sensing is also achieved electro-optically.

9. A configurable instrument panel according to claim 1 wherein a datum on said at least one physical control detail located on the user'"'"'s side of said screen is sensed.

10. A configurable instrument panel according to claim 1 wherein a datum on a member related to the current position of said at least one physical control detail is sensed by said electro-optical sensing means, said member being located in back of said screen.

11. A configurable instrument panel according to claim 1 wherein force feedback is provided to the user as a result of sensing the current position of at least one of said plurality of physical control details.

12. A configurable instrument panel according to claim 1 wherein said screen incorporates at least one relief feature.

13. A configurable instrument panel according to claim 12 wherein said relief feature does not unduly disrupt images projected on said screen.

14. A configurable instrument panel according to claim 1 wherein at least one of said plurality of physical control details comprises a transparent portion.

15. A configurable instrument panel according to claim 1 wherein at least one of said physical control details includes an opening through which said screen may be viewed.

16. A configurable instrument panel according to claim 1 wherein at least one of said physical control details comprises one of a slider and a dial.

17. A configurable instrument panel according to claim 1 further comprising projection means of a flying spot scanning type.

18. A configurable instrument panel according to claim 1 further comprising projection means comprising an image modulating projector.

19. A configurable instrument panel according to claim 1 wherein said plurality of physical control details comprises two control knobs spaced horizontally in front of said screen.

20. A configurable instrument panel according to claim 19 wherein a first displayed image on said screen corresponds to a radio configured around said two knobs, and said first image is capable of being reconfigured to a further image corresponding to another function.

21. A configurable instrument panel according to claim 1 wherein the instrument panel comprises a center stack and wherein the screen of said display is located in the center stack and is of a size occupying a substantial portion of the center stack.

22. A configurable instrument panel according to claim 1 wherein said screen is curvilinear.

23. A configurable instrument panel according to claim 1 wherein said screen is of an irregular non-standard geometrical shape.

24. A configurable instrument panel according to claim 1 wherein said display screen has an area of at least ninety square inches.

25. A configurable instrument panel according to claim 1 wherein said display screen is located in the center stack of said vehicle and extends toward the steering wheel of said vehicle.

26. A configurable instrument panel according to claim 1 wherein said display screen comprises a plastic screen.

27. A configurable instrument panel according to claim 1 wherein video images are displayed on an upper portion of said display screen so as to be easily seen by the driver of said vehicle.

28. A configurable instrument panel according to claim 1 wherein said display screen is easily interchanged with a further display screen.

29. A configurable instrument panel according to claim 1 wherein data displayed on said display screen is comprised of labels and other data relating to the function of at least one of said plurality of physical control details.

30. A configurable instrument panel according to claim 27 wherein a video image is provided on the screen which can be touched at a desired location to acknowledge or confirm data presented.

31. A configurable instrument panel according to claim 1 wherein said computer is further used to process data from other electro-optical systems within the vehicle.

32. A configurable instrument panel according to claim 7 wherein data to be acted on by touch sensing is projected on said screen under control of said computer.

33. A configurable instrument panel according to claim 1 wherein at least a portion of said screen is non-flat.

34. A configurable instrument panel according to claim 1 further comprising touch sensing means for sensing xy touch position of a finger of a user on at least a portion of said display screen.

35. A configurable instrument panel according to claim 1 wherein at least one of said physical control details comprises a switch.