Systems and methods for controlling multiple displays with single controller and haptic enabled user interface

• US 9,244,532 B2
• Filed: 12/31/2013
• Issued: 01/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Original Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Inventors: Olien, Neil
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheng, Joe H
• Application Number:
  US14/145,753
• Publication Number:
  US 20150185843A1
• Time in Patent Office: 756 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/126 Rotatable input devices for instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/135 Joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/143 Touch sensitive instrument input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1438 Touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/145 Instrument input by combination of touch screen and hardware input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/182 Distributing information between displays
• 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 35/25 using haptic output
• 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 35/81 for controlling displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/16 Tactile feedback to the driver, e.g. vibration or force feedback to the driver on the steering wheel or the accelerator pedal
• 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 2203/014 Force feedback applied to GUI
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/015 Force feedback applied to a joystick
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0338 with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1423 controlling a plurality of local displays, e.g. CRT and flat panel display

Abstract

A method includes displaying information via a first display, displaying information via a second display, controlling the information displayed via the first display and the second display with a controller, and receiving a first input from a user through a user interface. The first input includes a command to change a setting of the first display or the second display and/or the information being displayed via the first display or the second display. The method also includes generating a first haptic effect to confirm receipt of the first input.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a first display;

a second display;

a controller in signal communication with the first display and the second display, the controller being configured to control output of the first display and the second display; and

a user interface in signal communication with the controller, the user interface comprising

an input device configured to receive a first input from a user of the system and output a control command to the controller to change a setting and/or the output of the first display or the second display based on the first input,

a display control selector configured to receive a second input from the user to switch which of the first display and the second display is being controlled by the user, and

a haptic output device in signal communication with the controller, the haptic output device configured to receive a haptic output signal generated by the controller and output a haptic effect to the user to confirm receipt of the first input to the user, and to change the haptic effect based on a determination by the controller of which of the first display and second display is being controlled by the user.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the haptic output device comprises an actuator, and wherein the haptic effect comprises vibrotactile feedback.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the actuator is selected from the group consisting of a piezoelectric actuator, a voice coil, a magnetic actuator, a pneumatic actuator, an ultrasonic energy actuator, an eccentric mass actuator, an electroactive polymer actuator, and a shape memory alloy actuator.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first display comprises a display screen and the second display comprises a display screen.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first display is a heads-up display and the second display comprises a display screen.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the input device comprises a touch input device.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the haptic output device comprises an electrostatic device, and wherein the haptic effect comprises a friction effect.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the touch input device comprises a touch pad.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the touch input device comprises a touch screen.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the input device comprises a joystick.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the input device comprises a rotary knob.

12. A motor vehicle comprising the system of claim 1.