User interface with proximity detection for object tracking

• US 8,626,384 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2010
• Issued: 01/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Uusi LLC (Nartron Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Uusi LLC (Nartron Corporation)
• Inventors: Newman, Todd R., Washeleski, John M., Shank, David W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dunn, Alex C
• Application Number:
  US13/381,154
• Publication Number:
  US 20120109455A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,287 Days
• Field of Search: 701/36
• US Class Current: 701/36
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04105 Pressure sensors for measuring the pressure or force exerted on the touch surface without providing the touch position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04166 Details of scanning methods, e.g. sampling time, grouping of sub areas or time sharing with display driving Synchronisation with the driving of the display or the backlighting unit to avoid interferences generated internally G06F3/04184
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0446 using a grid-like structure of electrodes in at least two directions, e.g. using row and column electrodes

Abstract

A system or method for tracking items proximate a user interface device include a user interface device having at least one solid-state touch-sensitive region and a receiver for wirelessly receiving a signal from at least one item to determine proximity of the item relative to the user interface device. The device may also include a display screen for displaying controls and information. The user interface device may be permanently or removably mounted in a vehicle and used to interface with vehicle systems and personal electronic devices for control and information display. Tracked items or objects may include passive or active data tags and communicate identification information and optionally position information to the user interface device. The device may alert the user to movement of tracked objects, and/or confirm presence of a group of objects intended for a particular task or project.

Claims

1. A user interface device comprising:

a display surface having at least one touch-sensitive region;

a receiver for wirelessly receiving a signal having identification information for at least one selected item; and

a processor in communication with the at least one touch-sensitive region and the receiver, the processor detecting user input via the at least one touch-sensitive region and determining whether the at least one selected item is within proximity of the user interface device in response to the signal received from the at least one selected item.

2. The user interface device of claim 1 wherein the at least one touch-sensitive region detects user input via capacitive coupling.

3. The user interface device of claim 2 further comprising:

an electrically conductive layer adjacent to the display surface; and

drive electronics for selectively applying a charge to at least a portion of the electrically conductive layer to detect capacitive coupling with a user.

4. The user interface device of claim 3 wherein the electrically conductive layer is substantially transparent, the user interface further comprising a display screen, wherein the electrically conductive layer is positioned between the display screen and the display surface.

5. The user interface device of claim 4 wherein the electrically conductive layer is secured to the display surface using a spray adhesive having an index of refraction that reduces visibility of the electrically conductive layer through the display surface.

6. The user interface device of claim 1 further comprising an audio input for receiving voice commands.

7. The user interface device of claim 1 further comprising a transmitter in communication with the processor, the transmitter broadcasting a polling signal to elicit at least one signal transmission from the at least one selected item within proximity of the user interface device.

8. The user interface device of claim 1 wherein the receiver receives at least one RFID signal from the at least one selected item.

9. The user interface device of claim 1 wherein the processor compares identification information for identified items within proximity of the user interface device to a list of selected items.

10. The user interface device of claim 1 wherein the processor generates a user alert in response to movement of the at least one selected item.

11. The user interface device of claim 1 wherein the processor determines location of the user interface device in response to GPS signals received by the receiver.

12. The user interface device of claim 1 wherein the processor determines location of the at least one selected item based on GPS data associated with the at least one selected item.

13. The user interface device of claim 1 wherein the processor determines location of the user interface device and the at least one selected item based on GPS data associated with the user interface device and the at least one selected item.

14. The user interface device of claim 1 further comprising a remotely located input device in communication with the processor.

15. The user interface device of claim 14 wherein the remotely located input device is mounted on a steering wheel of a vehicle.

16. The user interface device of claim 14 wherein the remotely located input device communicates wirelessly with the receiver of the user interface device.

17. The user interface device of claim 14 wherein the remotely located input device comprises a track ball.

18. The user interface device of claim 14 wherein the remotely located input device communicates with the processor to control a cursor displayed on the display surface.

19. The user interface device of claim 1 wherein the processor generates at least one command in response to proximity of a user to the display surface, and wherein the command is communicated to a vehicle accessory to control an accessory function.

20. The user interface device of claim 1 wherein the user interface device is removably mounted in a vehicle.

32. The user interface device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further operable to detect a user input identifying a specified proximity range for the at least one selected item.

33. The user interface device of claim 1, wherein the receiver is operable to wirelessly receive a signal having identification information for a plurality of selected items.

34. The user interface device of claim 33, wherein the plurality of selected items includes packages, bins, or pallets.

35. The user interface device of claim 33, wherein the plurality of tracked items comprises construction equipment.

36. The user interface device of claim 33, wherein the display surface allows the user to select the at least one selected item from a plurality of displayed representations of a plurality of selected items.

21. A method comprising:

identifying at least one selected object using a touch-sensitive user interface device;

receiving a signal having identification information for the at least one selected object via the user interface device;

determining a position of the at least one selected object relative to the user interface device; and

determining whether the at least one selected object is within a desired proximity of the user interface device.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the identifying comprises using a remotely located input device.

23. The method of claim 21 further comprising detecting user input to the user interface device in response to capacitive coupling of a user with the user interface device.

24. The method of claim 22 wherein the remotely located input device is mounted on a steering wheel of a vehicle.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the remotely located input device controls cursor position of a cursor displayed by the user interface device.

26. The method of claim 21 comprising determining the position of the at least one selected object and a position of the user interface device using GPS data.

27. The method of claim 21 further comprising controlling at least one vehicle accessory using the touch-sensitive user interface device.

28. A computer readable storage medium having stored data representing instructions executable by a microprocessor, the computer readable storage medium comprising:

instructions for identifying at least one selected object using a touch-sensitive user interface device;

instructions for determining a position of the at least one selected object relative to the user interface device in response to a signal received from the at least one selected object, the signal including identification information regarding the at least one selected object; and

instructions for determining whether the at least one selected object is within a desired proximity of the user interface device.

29. The computer readable storage medium of claim 28 further comprising:

instructions for detecting user proximity to an active surface of the user interface device in response to a change in capacitive coupling.

30. A user interface comprising:

a display surface having at least one touch-sensitive region;

a processor in communication with the at least one touch-sensitive region;

an electronically conductive and substantially transparent layer positioned behind a panel surface; and

a remote device for at east one of controlling a selection or moving a cursor on the user interface.

31. The user interface of claim 30 wherein the electronically conductive layer is positioned on the display surface.