Control system with a tactile input field

• US 20030071853A1
• Filed: 09/10/2002
• Published: 04/17/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: TRW Automotive Electronics & Components GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: TRW Automotive Electronics & Components GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: Gotz, Matthias, Bubb, Peter, Hafner, Ernst
• Application Number:
  US10/238,205
• Publication Number:
  US 20030071853A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/810
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

The control system has a touch-sensitive input field (touchpad). Symbols are entered on the surface of the touchpad by tracing rough lines. The lines are interpreted in relation to a particular control context. In each particular control context, only a limited set of a few symbols are valid, thereby permitting symbols to be reliably recognised even when they are traced with a fingertip.

Claims

1. A control system wherein control commands are generated by entering symbols on a touch-sensitive input field, comprising

context selecting means for selecting one out of a plurality of different control contexts and associating a limited set of valid symbols with a selected control context;

and

a symbol interpreter capable of recognising a symbol entered on the surface of the input field by tracing a rough line with a fingertip, by comparing the line with the set of valid symbols associated with the selected control context.

2. The control system according to claim 1, wherein a starting point of a line traced on the input field is defined by detecting an initial point of contact that remains stationary for a predetermined period of time on the order of a fraction of a second.

3. The control system according to claim 1, wherein the sets of symbols include symbols that are associated with typified control functions.

4. The control system according to claim 3, wherein the typified control functions are selected among the group of commands comprising:

enter

skip

delete

insert

scroll

page up

page down

to top

to bottom.

5. The control system according to claim 1, wherein the symbols comprise alphanumeric symbols.

6. The control system according to claim 1, wherein sets of valid symbols associated with different control contexts are retrieved from a database.

7. The control system according to claim 1, wherein a controller receives input from the symbol interpreter and from a keyboard.

8. The control system according to claim 1, wherein a controller receives input from the symbol interpreter and from a speech control unit.