Ergonomic frame for a touch-sensitive control interface and a corresponding control interface

• US 9,538,670 B2
• Filed: 07/09/2013
• Issued: 01/03/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Safran Electronics & Defense Cockpit Solutions
• Original Assignee: ECE (Safran SA)
• Inventors: De Bossoreille, Romain, Nahmiyace, Michal
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Binh
• Application Number:
  US13/937,666
• Publication Number:
  US 20140020924A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,274 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679.01, 361/679.02, 361/679.03, 361/679.04, 361/679.05, 361/679.06, 361/679.07, 361/679.21, 361/679.22, 361/679.26, 361/679.29, 361/679.3, 361/679.55, 361/679.56, 361/679.57, 361/679.58, 361/679.59, 174/50, 174/520
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1624 with sliding enclosures, e.g. sliding keyboard or display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1628 Carrying enclosures containing additional elements, e.g. case for a laptop and a printer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1633 Constructional details or arrangements of portable computers not specific to the type of enclosures covered by groups G06F1/1615 - G06F1/1626
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1637 Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0279 Improving the user comfort or ergonomics
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0017 with operator interface units

Abstract

This frame for a touch-sensitive control interface comprises a peripheral border designed to surround all or some of the touch-sensitive interface and a central zone by which the interface can be activated by touch. It comprises at least one hollow zone delimiting a surface for receiving a finger of a user.

Claims

1. A frame for a touch-sensitive control interface comprising:

a peripheral border comprising longitudinal edges and transverse edges designed to surround all or some of the touch-sensitive interface;

an open central zone by which the interface can be activated by touch; and

at least one hollow zone delimiting a surface for receiving a finger of a user, wherein the at least one hollow zone extends along a substantial portion of a longitudinal edge of the peripheral border, and wherein the at least one hollow zone is configured to allow the finger of the user to slide along the longitudinal edge, allowing the user to reach any zone of the interface;

wherein the hollow zone constitutes a concave gutter which extends along at least one of the longitudinal edges of the frame;

wherein the gutter has a shape that varies along the said edges;

wherein the bottom of the said hollow zone is furnished with reliefs for indexing the position of the finger of the user.

2. The frame of claim 1, wherein the gutter is furnished with a luminous edging.

3. The frame of claim 1, wherein the gutter forms an angle of 45°

relative to a plane of the frame.

4. The frame of claim 1, wherein the gutter is bordered, on the side of the open central zone, by a raised zone.

5. The frame of claim 1, wherein the hollow zone constitutes a gutter which extends along at least one of the lateral edges of the frame.

6. The frame of claim 5, wherein the gutter has a shape that varies along the said edges.

7. The frame of claim 6, wherein the bottom of the said hollow zone is furnished with reliefs for indexing the position of the finger of the user.

8. The frame of claim 5, wherein the gutter is furnished with a luminous edging.

9. The frame of claim 5, wherein the gutter forms an angle of 45°

relative to a plane of the frame.

10. The frame of claim 5, wherein the gutter is bordered, on the side of the open central zone, by a raised zone.

11. The frame of claim 1, wherein the hollow zone is made of a material that differs from that of the rest of the frame and can be identified by touch.

12. A control interface with a touch-sensitive screen, comprising a frame on which is mounted at least one touch-sensitive screen, wherein the frame comprises:

a peripheral border comprising longitudinal edges and transverse edges designed to surround all or some of the touch-sensitive screen;

an open central zone by which the touch-sensitive screen can be activated by touch; and

at least one hollow zone delimiting a surface for receiving a finger of a user, wherein the at least one hollow zone extends along a substantial portion of a longitudinal edge of the peripheral border, and wherein the at least one hollow zone is configured to allow the finger of the user to slide along the longitudinal edge, allowing the user to reach any zone of the touch-sensitive screen;

wherein the hollow zone constitutes a concave gutter which extends along at least one of the longitudinal edges of the frame;

wherein the gutter has a shape that varies along the said edges;

wherein the bottom of the said hollow zone is furnished with reliefs for indexing the position of the finger of the user.

13. The control interface of claim 12, wherein the control interface is a control interface of an item of control equipment on board an aircraft.