Adaptive soft buttons for a vehicle user interface

• US 8,818,624 B2
• Filed: 08/25/2010
• Issued: 08/26/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tesla Inc.
• Original Assignee: Tesla Motors Incorporated (Tesla Inc.)
• Inventors: Small, Evan, Fairman, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Khoi
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Bao Long T
• Application Number:
  US12/868,515
• Publication Number:
  US 20110082619A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,462 Days
• Field of Search: 701/36, 701/45, 701/49, 701/415, 701/418, 701/423, 701/487, 340/438, 340/440, 340/459, 340/461, 715/702, 715/708, 715744-747, 715764-765, 715/768, 715/864
• US Class Current: 701/36
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/143 Touch sensitive instrument input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1438 Touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1868 according to driving situations
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/143 Touch sensitive input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/1438 Touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/1868 according to driving situations
• 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 35/22 Display screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/26 using acoustic 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: 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 21/3664 Details of the user input interface, e.g. buttons, knobs or sliders, including those provided on a touch screen; remote controllers; input using 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

A system and a method are provided for configuring the touch-sensitive area and/or the tap duration associated with a plurality of touch-sensitive soft buttons of a vehicle user interface in response to varying vehicle conditions. In particular, as a monitored vehicle condition deteriorates, the system controller coupled to the vehicle user interface expands the touch-sensitive region and/or increases the tap duration of the touch-sensitive soft buttons, thereby improving the user'"'"'s ability to successfully interact with the interface. Vehicle conditions that may be monitored and used to configure the touch-sensitive area and/or tap duration include passenger cabin vibration levels, vehicle speed, turn radius, lateral force levels, precipitation levels and external ambient temperature.

Claims

1. A method of configuring a vehicle interface, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a touch-screen display interface within a vehicle;

displaying at least one vehicle subsystem interface on said touch-screen display interface, wherein said at least one vehicle subsystem interface corresponds to a particular vehicle subsystem, wherein said at least one vehicle subsystem interface is comprised of displayed information corresponding to said particular vehicle subsystem, and wherein said at least one vehicle subsystem interface is comprised of a plurality of touch-sensitive soft buttons corresponding to a plurality of controllable functions associated with said particular vehicle subsystem, wherein each of said plurality of touch-sensitive soft buttons corresponds to a touch-sensitive region on said touch-screen display interface;

monitoring at least one vehicle condition utilizing at least one vehicle condition sensor;

communicating an output from said at least one vehicle condition sensor to a system controller, wherein said system controller is coupled to said touch-screen display interface and provides configuration instructions to said touch-screen display interface;

configuring a set of touch properties corresponding to each touch-sensitive region of said plurality of touch-sensitive soft buttons in response to said output from said at least one vehicle condition sensor, wherein said set of touch properties corresponds to a tap duration required to register input for each individual touch of said touch-sensitive regions, wherein said configuring step further comprises the step of modifying said tap duration from a first value to a second value when said at least one vehicle condition deteriorates below a preset level; and

wherein said system controller periodically performs said configuring step during vehicle operation and as vehicle conditions change.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of configuring said set of touch properties further comprises the step of expanding an area associated with each touch-sensitive region as said at least one vehicle condition deteriorates.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said step of expanding said area associated with each touch-sensitive region is performed in stages, with each stage of further expanding area corresponding to further deterioration of said at least one vehicle condition.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein said step of expanding said area associated with each touch-sensitive region further comprises the step of expanding said area transparently so that the expanded area associated with each touch-sensitive region is not visible when viewing said touch-screen display interface.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein said step of expanding said area associated with each touch-sensitive region further comprises the step of expanding a soft button graphic visible on said touch-screen display interface in proportion to said expanded area.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of configuring said set of touch properties further comprises the step of increasing said tap duration as said at least one vehicle condition deteriorates.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said step of increasing said tap duration is performed in stages, with each stage of further increasing tap duration corresponding to further deterioration of said at least one vehicle condition.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one vehicle condition includes vehicle cabin vibration levels, wherein said at least one vehicle condition sensor further comprises a vibration sensor, and wherein said step of monitoring said at least one vehicle condition further comprises the step of detecting changes in said vehicle cabin vibration levels, wherein increasing vehicle cabin vibration levels corresponds to deterioration of said at least one vehicle condition.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one vehicle condition includes vehicle cornering force, wherein said at least one vehicle condition sensor further comprises a steering wheel position sensor, and wherein said step of monitoring said at least one vehicle condition further comprises the step of detecting changes in said vehicle cornering force, wherein increasing vehicle cornering force corresponds to deterioration of said at least one vehicle condition.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one vehicle condition includes vehicle cornering force, wherein said at least one vehicle condition sensor further comprises a wheel position sensor, and wherein said step of monitoring said at least one vehicle condition further comprises the step of detecting changes in said vehicle cornering force, wherein increasing vehicle cornering force corresponds to deterioration of said at least one vehicle condition.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one vehicle condition includes lateral force applied to said vehicle, wherein said at least one vehicle condition sensor further comprises a lateral force sensor, and wherein said step of monitoring said at least one vehicle condition further comprises the step of detecting changes in said lateral force, wherein increasing lateral force corresponds to deterioration of said at least one vehicle condition.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one vehicle condition includes vehicle speed, wherein said at least one vehicle condition sensor further comprises a vehicle speed sensor, and wherein said step of monitoring said at least one vehicle condition further comprises the step of detecting changes in said vehicle speed, wherein increasing vehicle speed corresponds to deterioration of said at least one vehicle condition.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one vehicle condition includes precipitation levels, wherein said at least one vehicle condition sensor further comprises a precipitation sensor, and wherein said step of monitoring said at least one vehicle condition further comprises the step of detecting changes in said precipitation level, wherein increasing precipitation levels corresponds to deterioration of said at least one vehicle condition.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said at least one vehicle condition includes external ambient temperature, wherein said at least one vehicle condition sensor further comprises an external ambient temperature sensor, and wherein said step of monitoring said at least one vehicle condition further comprises the step of detecting changes in said external ambient temperature along with changes in said precipitation level, wherein increasing precipitation levels and external ambient temperatures below freezing correspond to deterioration of said at least one vehicle condition.

15. The method of claim 2, wherein said at least one vehicle condition includes vehicle cabin vibration levels, wherein said at least one vehicle condition sensor further comprises a vibration sensor, and wherein said step of monitoring said at least one vehicle condition further comprises the step of detecting changes in said vehicle cabin vibration levels, wherein increasing vehicle cabin vibration levels corresponds to deterioration of said at least one vehicle condition.

16. The method of claim 2, wherein said at least one vehicle condition includes vehicle cornering force, wherein said at least one vehicle condition sensor further comprises a steering wheel position sensor, and wherein said step of monitoring said at least one vehicle condition further comprises the step of detecting changes in said vehicle cornering force, wherein increasing vehicle cornering force corresponds to deterioration of said at least one vehicle condition.

17. The method of claim 2, wherein said at least one vehicle condition includes vehicle cornering force, wherein said at least one vehicle condition sensor further comprises a wheel position sensor, and wherein said step of monitoring said at least one vehicle condition further comprises the step of detecting changes in said vehicle cornering force, wherein increasing vehicle cornering force corresponds to deterioration of said at least one vehicle condition.

18. The method of claim 2, wherein said at least one vehicle condition includes lateral force applied to said vehicle, wherein said at least one vehicle condition sensor further comprises a lateral force sensor, and wherein said step of monitoring said at least one vehicle condition further comprises the step of detecting changes in said lateral force, wherein increasing lateral force corresponds to deterioration of said at least one vehicle condition.

19. The method of claim 2, wherein said at least one vehicle condition includes vehicle speed, wherein said at least one vehicle condition sensor further comprises a vehicle speed sensor, and wherein said step of monitoring said at least one vehicle condition further comprises the step of detecting changes in said vehicle speed, wherein increasing vehicle speed corresponds to deterioration of said at least one vehicle condition.

20. The method of claim 2, wherein said at least one vehicle condition includes precipitation levels, wherein said at least one vehicle condition sensor further comprises a precipitation sensor, and wherein said step of monitoring said at least one vehicle condition further comprises the step of detecting changes in said precipitation level, wherein increasing precipitation levels corresponds to deterioration of said at least one vehicle condition.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said at least one vehicle condition includes external ambient temperature, wherein said at least one vehicle condition sensor further comprises an external ambient temperature sensor, and wherein said step of monitoring said at least one vehicle condition further comprises the step of detecting changes in said external ambient temperature along with changes in said precipitation level, wherein increasing precipitation levels and external ambient temperatures below freezing correspond to deterioration of said at least one vehicle condition.

22. A vehicle user interface system, comprising:

a touch-screen interface display mounted within a vehicle passenger compartment of a vehicle, said touch-screen interface display configured to display at least one vehicle subsystem interface, wherein said at least one vehicle subsystem interface corresponds to a particular vehicle subsystem, wherein said at least one vehicle subsystem interface is comprised of displayed information corresponding to said particular vehicle subsystem, and wherein said at least one vehicle subsystem interface is comprised of a plurality of touch-sensitive soft buttons corresponding to a plurality of controllable functions associated with said particular vehicle subsystem, wherein associated with each of said plurality of touch-sensitive soft buttons is a set of touch properties, wherein said set of touch properties corresponds to a tap duration required to register input for each individual touch of said touch-sensitive regions;

a system controller coupled to said touch-screen interface display, wherein said system controller configures said set of touch properties associated with each of said plurality of touch-sensitive soft buttons, wherein said system controller periodically configures said set of touch properties during vehicle operation; and

a vehicle condition monitor, said vehicle condition monitor periodically communicating at least one current vehicle condition to said system controller, wherein said system controller configures said set of touch properties associated with each of said plurality of touch-sensitive soft buttons in response to said at least one current vehicle condition, and wherein said system controller modifies said tap duration from a first value to a second value when said at least one vehicle condition deteriorates below a preset level.

23. The vehicle user interface system of claim 22, wherein said system controller expands an area associated with each touch-sensitive region when said at least one vehicle condition deteriorates below said preset level.

24. The vehicle user interface system of claim 23, wherein said expanded area associated with each touch-sensitive region is transparent.

25. The vehicle user interface system of claim 22, wherein said system controller expands an area associated with each touch-sensitive region in steps, wherein each step of expanding area corresponds to a different level associated with said at least one vehicle condition.

26. The vehicle user interface system of claim 25, wherein said expanded area associated with each touch-sensitive region is transparent.

27. The vehicle user interface system of claim 22, wherein said system controller increases said tap duration associated with each touch-sensitive region when said at least one vehicle condition deteriorates below said preset level.

28. The vehicle user interface system of claim 22, wherein said system controller increases said tap duration associated with each touch-sensitive region in steps, wherein each step of increasing tap duration corresponds to a different level associated with said at least one vehicle condition.

29. The vehicle user interface system of claim 22, wherein said vehicle condition monitor is comprised of a vibration sensor, wherein said at least one current vehicle condition is comprised of vehicle cabin vibration levels.

30. The vehicle user interface system of claim 22, wherein said vehicle condition monitor is comprised of a steering wheel position sensor, wherein said at least one current vehicle condition is comprised of vehicle turning radius.

31. The vehicle user interface system of claim 22, wherein said vehicle condition monitor is comprised of a wheel position sensor, wherein said at least one current vehicle condition is comprised of vehicle turning radius.

32. The vehicle user interface system of claim 22, wherein said vehicle condition monitor is comprised of a lateral force sensor, wherein said at least one current vehicle condition is comprised of lateral force applied to said vehicle.

33. The vehicle user interface system of claim 22, wherein said vehicle condition monitor is comprised of a vehicle speed sensor, wherein said at least one current vehicle condition is comprised of vehicle speed.

34. The vehicle user interface system of claim 22, wherein said vehicle condition monitor is comprised of a precipitation sensor, wherein said at least one current vehicle condition is comprised of a precipitation level.

35. The vehicle user interface system of claim 34, wherein said vehicle condition monitor is further comprised of an external ambient temperature sensor, wherein said at least one current vehicle condition is further comprised of an external ambient temperature.

36. The vehicle user interface system of claim 23, wherein said vehicle condition monitor is comprised of a vibration sensor, wherein said at least one current vehicle condition is comprised of vehicle cabin vibration levels.

37. The vehicle user interface system of claim 23, wherein said vehicle condition monitor is comprised of a steering wheel position sensor, wherein said at least one current vehicle condition is comprised of vehicle turning radius.

38. The vehicle user interface system of claim 23, wherein said vehicle condition monitor is comprised of a wheel position sensor, wherein said at least one current vehicle condition is comprised of vehicle turning radius.

39. The vehicle user interface system of claim 23, wherein said vehicle condition monitor is comprised of a lateral force sensor, wherein said at least one current vehicle condition is comprised of lateral force applied to said vehicle.

40. The vehicle user interface system of claim 23, wherein said vehicle condition monitor is comprised of a vehicle speed sensor, wherein said at least one current vehicle condition is comprised of vehicle speed.

41. The vehicle user interface system of claim 23, wherein said vehicle condition monitor is comprised of a precipitation sensor, wherein said at least one current vehicle condition is comprised of a precipitation level.

42. The vehicle user interface system of claim 41, wherein said vehicle condition monitor is further comprised of an external ambient temperature sensor, wherein said at least one current vehicle condition is further comprised of an external ambient temperature.