Selectively visible user interface

• US 9,495,040 B2
• Filed: 08/06/2014
• Issued: 11/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Salter, Stuart C., Surman, James J.
• Primary Examiner(s): BRUCE, DAVID VERNON
• Application Number:
  US14/452,908
• Publication Number:
  US 20150199041A1
• Time in Patent Office: 832 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/122 Instrument input devices with reconfigurable control functions, e.g. reconfigurable menus
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/141 Activation of instrument input devices by approaching fingers or pens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1446 Touch switches
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/331 Electroluminescent elements
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/34 Backlit symbols
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/345 Illumination of controls
• 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: B60Q 3/14 lighting through the surface to be illuminated
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/64 for a single lighting device
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/68 using ultraviolet light
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/74 for overall compartment lighting; for overall compartment lighting in combination with specific lighting, e.g. room lamps with reading lamps general lighting mounted on specific fittings B60Q3/20; general lighting for mass transit vehicles B60Q3/43
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/80 Circuits; Control arrangements for dashboards B60Q3/16; for mass transit vehicles B60Q3/47
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/82 Switches specially adapted for vehicle interior lighting, e.g. switching by tilting the lens
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/042 by opto-electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

A user interface for a vehicle is disclosed. The user interface comprises a vehicle panel having a proximity sensor, a first photoluminescent portion and a second photoluminescent portion. The user interface further includes a first light source configured to selectively activate the first photoluminescent portion and a second light source configured to selectively activate the second photoluminescent portion. The second photoluminescent portion is configured to reveal a symbol in a backlit configuration in response to the activation of the second light source.

Claims

1. A user interface for a vehicle comprising:

a first light guide disposed proximate an exterior surface;

a second light guide disposed proximate the first light guide;

a proximity sensor disposed proximate the first light guide and the second light guide; and

at least one symbol disposed between the first light guide and the second light guide, wherein, a symbol is selectively illuminated in a backlit configuration.

2. The user interface according to claim 1, wherein the symbol is selectively illuminated by the second light guide in response to the proximity sensor detecting an object within a first threshold.

3. The user interface according to claim 1, wherein the exterior surface comprises a touch surface of the user interface.

4. The user interface according to claim 1, wherein the first light guide and the second light guide are configured to illuminate a first photoluminescent portion and a second photoluminescent portion.

5. The user interface according to claim 4, wherein the first light source is configured to emit a first emission at a first wavelength to illuminate the first photoluminescent portion in a second emission.

6. The user interface according to claim 5, wherein the first light source is selectively activated in response to the proximity sensor communicating an absence of an object in a first threshold.

7. The user interface according to claim 6, wherein the second light source is configured to emit a third emission at a second wavelength to illuminate the second photoluminescent portion in a fourth emission.

8. The user interface according to claim 7, wherein the fourth emission corresponds to a different color than the second emission.

9. A selectively visible user interface comprising:

a controller in communication with at least one light source and a proximity sensor; and

a vehicle panel configured to conceal the proximity sensor, wherein the controller is configured to;

identify a first signal from the proximity sensor corresponding to a detection of an object at a first proximity; and

activate the light source in response to the detection to reveal a symbol demonstrating a function of a user input to the proximity sensor.

10. The user interface according to claim 9, further comprising:

a photoluminescent portion disposed on the vehicle panel, the photoluminescent portion being configured to selectively emit a second emission in response to receiving a first emission from the light source.

11. The user interface according to claim 10, wherein the second emission comprises an ambient lighting configured to illuminate the vehicle panel in ambient light having a first color.

12. The user interface according to claim 10, wherein the at least one light source comprises a first light source and a second light source, the first light source configured to emit the first emission and the second light source configured to emit a third emission.

13. The user interface according to claim 12, wherein the photoluminescent portion comprises a first photoluminescent portion configured to emit the second emission and a second photoluminescent portion configured to emit a fourth emission in response to receiving the third emission.

14. The user interface according to claim 13, wherein the second photoluminescent portion is configured to illuminate the symbol in the backlit configuration in response to the detection.

15. The user interface according to claim 13, wherein the controller is configured to selectively illuminate the second photoluminescent portion to emit the fourth emission and deactivate the first photoluminescent portion from emitting the second emission in response to the detection.

16. A user interface for a vehicle comprising:

a vehicle panel comprising a proximity sensor, a first photoluminescent portion and a second photoluminescent portion,

a first light source configured to selectively activate the first photoluminescent portion; and

a second light source configured to selectively activate the second photoluminescent portion, wherein the second photoluminescent portion is configured to reveal a symbol in a backlit configuration in response to the activation of the second light source.

17. The user interface according to claim 16, wherein the second light source is selectively activated in response to a detection of an object in a first proximity by the proximity sensor.

18. The user interface according to claim 16, wherein the proximity sensor comprises a capacitive sensor printed in transparent conductive ink.

19. The user interface according to claim 17, wherein the first light source is configured to emit a first emission having a first wavelength to activate the first photoluminescent portion to output a second emission corresponding to a first color of light.

20. The user interface according to claim 18, wherein the second light source is configured to emit a third emission having a third wavelength to activate the second photoluminescent portion to emit a fourth emission corresponding to a second color of light.