Reconfigurable user interface

• US 7,986,306 B2
• Filed: 11/18/2004
• Issued: 07/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Incorporated (Visteon Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Hotary, James T., Eich, Rodger W., Busch, David B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shalwala; Bipin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ketema; Benyam
• Application Number:
  US10/579,483
• Publication Number:
  US 20070063980A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,441 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173, 345/156, 701/200
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04809 Textured surface identifying touch areas, e.g. overlay structure for a virtual keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0238 Programmable keyboards key guide holders G06F3/0224
• 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

A user interface for receiving inputs from a user includes a touch sensitive surface having a plurality of regions where each region corresponds to a switch having a function. The user interface also includes an interface disposed on the touch sensitive surface over at least one of the plurality of regions. The interface comprises a material that is at least partially transparent and that is configured to provide tactile feedback to the user. The touch sensitive surface may emit light that is visible through the interface. The interface may further include a plurality of buttons disposed over the plurality of regions wherein the light is selectively provided to each of the plurality of buttons. The touch sensitive surface may include a display that is configured to provide text and graphics that are visible through the interface. The user interface may be mounted in, for example, a vehicle.

Claims

1. A user interface for receiving inputs from a user, the user interface comprising:

a touch sensitive surface having a plurality of regions, each region corresponding to a selectable function;

an interface formed from a continuous flexible sheet of at least partially transparent material and disposed on the touch sensitive surface over the plurality of regions, the interface configured to provide tactile feedback to the user by flexibly deforming when pressed by the user, wherein the touch sensitive surface is at least partially transparent and wherein at least one of a system of lights and an electronic display are disposed under the touch sensitive surface and controlled by electronics configured to selectively provide light to each of the regions; and

a rotary switch formed from the flexible sheet of the interface and configured for twisting relative to the at least one of a system of lights and the electronic display, wherein the rotary switch is configured to be twisted and to create one or more buckle points in the flexible sheet of the interface when twisted, the buckle points detectable by the touch sensitive surface.

2. A user interface according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the interface is flexed upward and away from the touch sensitive surface over each region to simulate a mechanical button over each region.

3. A user interface according to claim 2, wherein the function corresponding to one or more of the plurality of regions is configured to be changed by changing the light provided to each of the regions.

4. A user interface according to claim 1,

wherein the interface is configured to make localized contact with the region of the touch sensitive surface when pressed by the user.

5. A user interface according to claim 1, wherein the user interface is mounted in a vehicle.

6. A user interface according to claim 1, wherein the touch sensitive surface includes a display for at least one of graphics and text, and the at least one of graphics and text are visible through the interface.

7. A user interface according to claim 1, wherein the touch sensitive surface and interface are mounted in an automobile interior element.

8. A user interface according to claim 6, wherein the display is mounted in an automobile interior element.

18. A user interface according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the interface is formed as a rotary control configured to twist with respect to the touch sensitive surface.

19. A user interface according to claim 1, wherein the a portion of the interface is configured to move in a direction not perpendicular to the touch sensitive surface;

and

wherein moving of the portion of the interface in a direction not perpendicular to the touch sensitive surface is sensed by a control circuit which causes light to be selectively provided to one or more of the plurality of regions on the touch sensitive surface, each region corresponding to a different function.

20. A user interface according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the interface and the touch sensitive surface is coupled to a control circuit configured to provide feedback to user actuation of the interface via audible feedback.

21. A user interface according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the interface and the touch sensitive surface is coupled to a control circuit configured to provide feedback to user actuation of the interface via vibratory feedback.

9. A user interface for a vehicle, the user interface comprising:

a plurality of switches, each switch corresponding to a function;

an interface formed from a continuous flexible sheet of at least partially transparent material and disposed over and spaced away from the plurality of switches, the interface configured to provide tactile feedback to a user by flexibly deforming toward the plurality of switches when pressed;

a display disposed beneath the interface, the display configured to provide display signals corresponding to the function of each switch, wherein the interface is flexed away from the plurality of switches over each switch to simulate a plurality of buttons disposed over the plurality of switches and wherein the display is configured to selectively provide light beneath each of the plurality of simulated buttons; and

a rotary switch formed from the flexible sheet of the interface and configured for twisting relative to the display, wherein the rotary switch is configured to be twisted and to create one or more buckle points in the flexible sheet when twisted, the buckle points detectable by the plurality of switches.

10. A user interface according to claim 9, wherein the display signals include light that is visible through the interface.

11. A user interface according to claim 9, wherein the display signals include text that is visible through the interface.

12. A user interface according to claim 9, wherein the display signals include graphics that are visible through the interface.

13. A user interface according to claim 9, wherein the plurality of switches, interface and display are mounted in a automobile interior element.

22. A user interface according to claim 9, wherein the rotary switch is configured to be twisted in a direction not perpendicular to the face of the display.

23. A user interface according to claim 9, wherein at least one of the interface and the plurality of switches is coupled to a control circuit configured to provide feedback to user actuation of the interface via audible feedback.

24. A user interface according to claim 9, wherein at least one of the interface and the plurality of switches is coupled to a control circuit configured to provide feedback to user actuation of the interface via vibratory feedback.

14. A user interface system for a vehicle, the system comprising:

a display;

an interface disposed over the display and comprising a continuous sheet of flexible material that is at least partially transparent and configured to provide tactile feedback to a user, the interface including a plurality of contact regions, each contact region corresponding to a switch having a function;

a control circuit coupled to the display and the interface, the control circuit configured to receive control data from the interface in response to actuation of a contact region, to provide the control data to a vehicle system based on the corresponding switch function and to provide display signals to the display based on the corresponding switch function; and

a memory coupled to the control circuit and configured to store display data; and

a rotary switch formed from the material of the interface and configured for twisting relative to the display, wherein the rotary switch is configured to be twisted and to create one or more buckle points in the material when twisted, the buckle points detectable by the plurality of contact regions.

15. A user interface system according to claim 14, wherein the display is a touch sensitive surface having a plurality of regions, each region corresponding to a switch having a function.

16. A user interface system according to claim 14, wherein the display, the interface, the control circuit and the memory are mounted in an automobile interior element.

17. A user interface system according to claim 14, wherein a function corresponding to a contact region may be reconfigured by at least changing the display signals provided to an area of the display disposed beneath the contact region.