Customizable and reconfigurable virtual instrument panel

• US 9,122,306 B2
• Filed: 02/06/2013
• Issued: 09/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Applied Minds LLC
• Original Assignee: Applied Minds LLC
• Inventors: Ferren, Bran, Hillis, W. Daniel, Yates, Randall Adam, Lichtman, Ira M., Hope, Clinton Blake
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tai T
• Application Number:
  US13/761,064
• Publication Number:
  US 20130154922A1
• Time in Patent Office: 937 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/168, 345/173, 345/174, 324/207.2, 324/207.25
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/11 Instrument graphical user interfaces or menu aspects
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1442 Emulation of input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/145 Instrument input by combination of touch screen and hardware input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/148 Instrument input by voice
• 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: G06F 3/01 Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer G06F3/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0227 Cooperation and interconnection of the input arrangement with other functional units of a computer G06F3/023 - G06F3/037 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/00 Control arrangements or circuits for visual indicators common to cathode-ray tube indicators and other visual indicators image data processing or generation, in general G06T

Abstract

The invention provides an instrument control panel that is easily customized and reconfigured, and yet provides the familiar tactile sensation of physical knobs, sliders, and buttons. The instrument control panel comprises one or more interface components that are removably coupled to an interface display wherein the interface components communicate with one or more control components disposed behind the interface display. The present invention lends itself particularly well to an instrument panel.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a device, comprising:

removably coupling an interface component to a first side of an interface surface, wherein the interface component contains a magnet disposed therein;

coupling a control component for controlling the device with a second side of the interface surface, the second side opposite the first side, wherein the control component contains a Hall effect sensor disposed therein;

moving the interface component with respect to the first side of the interface surface, thereby varying a magnetic field created by the magnet disposed therein;

determining, using the Hall effect sensor, magnetic field measurements representing variations of the magnetic field;

determining, using the magnetic field measurements, positional data representing a position of the interface component; and

controlling the device using the positional data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the interface component comprises a knob, and determining the position of the interface component comprises determining the rotational position of the knob.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting the positional data to a processor using a wireless signal.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the wireless signal comprises an RF signal, an IEEE 802.11 protocol signal, or a Bluetooth®

signal.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the interface surface is disposed within a dashboard of an automobile, wherein the dashboard has an outside and an inside opposite the outside;

wherein the second side of the interface surface faces away from a user and towards the inside of the dashboard; and

further comprising;

in response to the user placing the interface component onto the interface surface, determining an association between the interface component and an electronic application of the automobile; and

moving the interface component to manipulate the electronic application of the automobile associated with the interface component.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein determining an association between the interface component and an electronic application of the automobile further comprises:

determining a location where the interface component was placed on the interface surface; and

determining the electronic application of the automobile using the determined location of the interface component.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein determining an association between the interface component and an electronic application of the automobile further comprises:

receiving voice input associated with a placement of the interface component; and

interpreting the voice input to indicate the electronic application of the automobile to be associated with the interface component.

8. A method of controlling a device, comprising:

coupling a control component for controlling the device with an interface surface having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, wherein the control component contains a Hall effect sensor disposed therein, wherein the control component is coupled to the second side of the interface surface;

removably coupling an interface component to the first side of the interface surface, wherein the interface component contains a magnet disposed therein;

moving the interface component, thereby varying a magnetic field created by the magnet; and

measuring the variations of the magnetic field by the Hall effect sensor, thereby determining a position of the magnet, thus creating positional data; and

controlling the device using the positional data.

9. A method of controlling an electronic application of an automobile with a reconfigurable interface component, the method comprising:

providing an interface surface with a first side and a second side, wherein the interface surface is disposed within a dashboard of the automobile, wherein the dashboard has an outside and an inside opposite the outside, wherein the second side of the interface surface faces away from a user and towards the inside of the dashboard;

coupling an interface component to the first side of the interface surface, wherein the interface component contains a magnet disposed therein;

coupling with the second side of the interface surface a control component for controlling the electronic application, wherein the control component contains a Hall effect sensor disposed therein;

in response to the user placing the interface component onto the interface surface, determining an association between the interface component and the electronic application, wherein the determining the association comprises

determining a location where the interface component was placed on the interface surface, and

determining the electronic application of the automobile using the determined location of the interface component;

in response to the user moving the interface component, determining, using the Hall effect sensor, magnetic field measurements representing variations of the magnetic field created by the magnet disposed therein;

determining, using the magnetic field measurements, positional data representing a position of the interface component; and

manipulating the electronic application of the automobile using the positional data.

10. A method of controlling an electronic application of an automobile with a reconfigurable interface component, the method comprising:

providing an interface surface with a first side and a second side, wherein the interface surface is disposed within a dashboard of the automobile, wherein the dashboard has an outside and an inside opposite the outside, wherein the second side of the interface surface faces away from a user and towards the inside of the dashboard;

coupling an interface component to the first side of the interface surface, wherein the interface component contains a magnet disposed therein;

coupling with the second side of the interface surface a control component for controlling the electronic application, wherein the control component contains a Hall effect sensor disposed therein;

in response to the user placing the interface component onto the interface surface, determining an association between the interface component and the electronic application, wherein the determining the association comprises

receiving voice input associated with a placement of the interface component, and

interpreting the voice input to indicate the electronic application of the automobile to be associated with the interface component;

in response to the user moving the interface component, determining, using the Hall effect sensor, magnetic field measurements representing variations of the magnetic field created by the magnet disposed therein;

determining, using the magnetic field measurements, positional data representing a position of the interface component; and

manipulating the electronic application of the automobile using the positional data.