Input device for a motor vehicle

• US 8,988,358 B2
• Filed: 10/05/2006
• Issued: 03/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Original Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Inventors: Medler, Andreas, Wehling, Ulrike, Pollex, Alf, Michaelis, Jan, Dehmann, Rainer, Ghler, Dino, Sun Han, Kyoung
• Primary Examiner(s): SHERMAN, STEPHEN G
• Application Number:
  US11/544,524
• Publication Number:
  US 20070146342A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,092 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/168, 345/169, 345/173, 178/18.01
• US Class Current: 345/173
• 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 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

An input device, e.g., for a motor vehicle, includes a display for displaying variable information, and a touch screen, disposed above the display, for inputting instructions by touching the touch screen, and the input device including a control system for generating a selection marking displayable on the display, and for displacing the selection marking displayed by the display according to a touching motion across the touch screen.

Claims

1. An input device, comprising:

a display, in a motor vehicle, adapted to display variable information relating to navigation of the motor vehicle;

a touch screen arranged above the display and adapted to input instructions by touch of the touch screen by a vehicle operator; and

a control system adapted;

(a) to generate an operating element and display the operating element on the display;

(b)to receive an indication of a touch on the touch screen in a region of the operating element displayed on the display, and, in response to the indication, to generate a selection marking and, further in response to the indication, to display the selection marking on the display in a region of the display (i) remote from the region of the operating element and (ii) remote from the touch on the touch screen; and

(c) to move the selection marking displayed by the display in accordance with a touch motion across the touch screen.

2. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the display is adapted to display an operating element to call up the selection marking.

3. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the selection marking includes at least one of (a) a cross, (b) a circle, (c) a ring, (d) an arrow and/or (e) a pointer.

4. The input device of claim 1, wherein the information includes at least one of (a) a map, (b) a map detail, and/or (c) a navigation symbol.

5. The input device of claim 1, wherein the control system is further adapted to read a position signal indicating the coordinates of at least one of (i) the touch on the touch screen and/or (ii) the touch motion across the touch screen.

6. The input device of claim 1, the control system further adapted to move the selection marking displayed by the display regardless of the location of the touch motion across the touch screen.

7. The input device of claim 1, the control system further adapted to generate a second operating element and display the second operating element on the display.

8. The input device of claim 7, the control system further adapted, in response to a second action comprising a touch on the touch screen in a region of the second operating element, to generate an indication of a location of the selection marking as at least one of (i) a starting point and/or (ii) an end point of the route.

9. The input device of claim 7, the control system further adapted, in response to a second action comprising a touch on the touch screen in a region of the second operating element, to output information related to a location of the selection marking, for display on the display.

10. A navigation system for a motor vehicle, comprising:

an input device including;

a display, in a motor vehicle, adapted to display variable information relating to navigation of the motor vehicle;

a touch screen arranged above the display and adapted to input instructions by touch of the touch screen by a vehicle operator; and

a control system adapted;

(a) to generate an operating element and display the operating element on the display;

(b) to receive an indication of a touch on the touch screen in a region of the operating element displayed on the display, and, in response to the indication, to generate a selection marking and, further in response to the indication, to display the selection marking on the display in a region of the display (i) remote from the region of the operating element and (ii) remote from the touch on the touch screen; and

(c) to move the selection marking displayed by the display in accordance with a touch motion across the touch screen.

11. The navigation system according to claim 10, wherein the information includes at least one of (a) a map, (b) a map detail, and/or (c) a navigation symbol.

12. A method for operating an input device, comprising:

displaying on a display variable information relating to navigation of the motor vehicle, including an operating element;

receiving instructions input by a vehicle operator on a touch screen by touching the touch screen, the touch screen arranged above the display;

in response to an indication of a touch on the touch screen in a region of the operating element, displaying a selection marking by the display in a region of the display (i) remote from the region of the operating element and (ii) remote from the touch on the touch screen; and

moving the selection marking displayed by the display in accordance with a touching motion across the touch screen.