Stationary interface control and method for using the same

• US 9,766,705 B2
• Filed: 06/15/2015
• Issued: 09/19/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Motorola Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Motorola Solutions, Inc.
• Inventors: Chan, Eng Wiang, Aihsan, Mohd Wardi Iswali, Chan, Chee Kit, Kaner, Shirish, Kerr, Steven John
• Primary Examiner(s): ROSARIO, NELSON M
• Application Number:
  US14/739,073
• Publication Number:
  US 20160364059A1
• Time in Patent Office: 827 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/126 Rotatable input devices for instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/34 Backlit symbols
• 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 2203/0339 Touch strips, e.g. orthogonal touch strips to control cursor movement or scrolling; single touch strip to adjust parameter or to implement a row of soft keys
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04102 Flexible digitiser, i.e. constructional details for allowing the whole digitising part of a device to be flexed or rolled like a sheet of paper
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0362 with detection of 1D translations or rotations of an operating part of the device, e.g. scroll wheels, sliders, knobs, rollers or belts
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/962 Capacitive touch switches
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/94073 with capacitive detection
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/96062 with tactile or haptic feedback

Abstract

A stationary interface control knob includes a body having a fixed substantially-cylindrical surface with a first axis, and a flexible touch panel sensor having a sensor surface at least partially in cylindrical form with a spaced relationship from the fixed substantially-cylindrical surface. The sensor surface has a second axis coinciding with the first axis. The flexible touch panel sensor senses a user interaction with the fixed substantially-cylindrical surface and generates an interface signal in response thereto. Also discloses are method of controlling the stationary interface control knob.

Claims

1. A stationary interface control comprising:

a knob-like structure including a body having a fixed, substantially-cylindrical surface, a first axis, and a first planar surface perpendicular to the first axis;

a first capacitive touch panel sensor with a second planar surface being parallel with the first planar surface, the first capacitive touch panel sensor generating a first interface signal in response to a touch;

a second capacitive touch panel sensor having a sensor surface substantially forming a cylinder paralleling the fixed, substantially-cylindrical surface and having a second axis coinciding with the first axis, the second capacitive touch panel sensor generating a second interface signal in response to a virtual rotation;

a haptic vibrator; and

a controller connected to the first capacitive touch panel sensor, the second capacitive touch panel sensor, and the haptic vibrator, and configured to

receive the first interface signal and output a first control signal based on the first interface signal; and

receive the second interface signal and output a second control signal based on the second interface signal;

wherein the haptic vibrator produces a first vibration indicative of a mode of operation in response to the first control signal;

and the haptic vibrator produces a second vibration different from the first vibration and indicative of a change in a mode value in response to the second control signal.

2. The stationary interface control of claim 1, wherein the sensor surface provides 360 degree cylindrical touch control.

3. The stationary interface control of claim 1, and further comprising a plurality of capacitive touch panel sensors having a plurality of sensor surfaces, respectively, substantially forming a cylinder paralleling the fixed, substantially-cylindrical surface.

4. The stationary interface control of claim 1, wherein the body includes a multiple piece body.

5. The stationary interface control of claim 1, and further comprising a visual indicator connected to the controller and wherein the first control signal controls an output of the visual indicator.

6. The stationary interface control of claim 1, and further comprising a first visual indicator connected to the controller and a second visual indicator connected to the controller, wherein the first control signal controls a first visual output and the second control signal controls a second visual output.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the touch is one selected from a group consisting of a touch and a swipe.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the mode of operation is one selected from a group consisting of a volume control mode, a channel control mode, and an inactive mode.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the mode of operation is one selected from a group consisting of a volume control mode, a channel control mode, and an inactive mode.

10. A method of controlling a stationary interface control, the method comprising:

providing a knob-like structure including a body having a fixed, substantially-cylindrical surface;

providing a first capacitive touch panel sensor having a second planar surface parallel with the first planar surface,

providing a second capacitive touch panel sensor having a sensor surface substantially forming a cylinder paralleling the fixed, substantially-cylindrical surface;

generating a first interface signal in response to a touch of the first planar surface;

generating a second interface signal in response to a virtual rotation of the fixed surface;

controlling a haptic vibrator to produce a first vibration indicative of a mode of operation based on the first interface signal; and

controlling the haptic vibrator to produce a second vibration different from the first vibration and indicative of a change in a mode value based on the second interface signal.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein generating a second interface signal in response to a virtual rotation of the fixed surface includes sensing a first stimulus indicating a virtual rotation of the fixed surface in a first virtual rotational direction and sensing a second stimulus indicating a virtual rotation of the fixed surface in a second virtual rotational direction different from the first virtual rotational direction.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

controlling a visual indicator with a first output in response to sensing a first stimulus; and

controlling the visual indicator with a second output in response to sensing a second stimulus.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the visual indicator includes a plurality of light emitting diodes and controlling the visual indicator includes increasing a number of lit light emitting diodes with the first output and decreasing the number of lit light emitting diodes with the second output.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the visual indicator includes a numerical display and controlling the visual indicator includes increasing a number of the numerical display with the first output and decreasing the number of the numerical display with the second output.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein generating a first interface signal in response to a touch of the first planar surface includes sensing a first stimulus indicating a tapping of the first planar surface.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein generating a first interface signal in response to a touch of the first planar surface includes sensing a first stimulus indicating a swiping of the first planar surface.