Human machine interface for vehicle

• US 20060092129A1
• Filed: 09/13/2005
• Published: 05/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Incorporated (Visteon Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Incorporated (Visteon Corporation)
• Inventors: Weiss, Michael, Choquet, Alain, Harris, Simon
• Application Number:
  US11/225,526
• Publication Number:
  US 20060092129A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/105 comprising arrangements for illumination
• 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 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials

Abstract

A human machine interface includes a knob with an integrated electronic display located in the center of the knob. The knob may be used for operation with multiple functions corresponding to a menu on the electronic display. A plurality of buttons are located about the knob in the form of a circle and correspond to menu selections provided on the display.

Claims

1. An HMI unit for a vehicle, the HMI unit comprising a knob including a rotatable portion configured to provide user input and an integrated electronic display, wherein the integrated electronic display is located inside the rotatable portion.

2. The HMI unit according to claim 1, wherein the rotatable portion is received about the integrated electronic display, the integrated electronic display having a fixed orientation, and the rotatable portion being configured to rotate about the integrated electronic display.

3. The HMI unit according to claim 1, wherein the rotatable portion is received about the integrated electronic display, the integrated electronic display being configured to rotate together with the rotatable portion.

4. The HMI unit according to claim 1, further comprising a protrusion located adjacent the knob for use as a finger rest.

5. The HMI unit according to claim 1, further comprising:

controls for providing user input and a proximity sensor for sensing user motion proximate the controls.

6. The HMI unit according to claim 1, wherein the knob includes a touch sensor for sensing user contact with the knob.

7. The HMI unit according to claim 1, further comprising:

user controls for receiving user input,

a controller in electrical communication with the user controls,

an electronic display in communication with the controller, the controller being configured to display a symbol indicative of a user control function corresponding to one of the controls, and

wherein the controller is configured to fill the background of the electronic display based on the one of the controls.

8. The HMI unit according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of menu buttons, each menu button being configured to index through menus for a function category, the knob being configured to index through menu choices on each menu.

9. The HMI unit according to claim 1, wherein the integrated electronic display is a round electronic display, a plurality of buttons are located radially about the round electronic display wherein a segment of the display includes indicia aligned with a button indicating a current button function.

10. The HMI unit according to claim 9, wherein each button of the plurality of buttons is in the shape of an arc and is located to form a continuous circle about a round electronic display.

11. The HMI unit according to claim 1, the HMI unit comprising:

a panel including a plurality of controls and a storage unit located behind the panel, the panel being configured to move relative to the storage unit to expose a storage unit opening.

12. The HMI unit according to claim 11, wherein the storage unit is in electrical communication with a power source and configured with a wireless charging technology to charge items stored in the storage unit.

13. The HMI unit according to claim 11, wherein the storage unit includes a transmitter receiver in communication with a controller, the transmitter receiver being configured to communicate wirelessly with items located in the storage unit.

14. The HMI unit according to claim 1, the HMI unit including a plurality of controls, a first set of controls corresponding to a first function category, a second set of controls corresponding to a second function category, and a third set of controls being multiplexed to correspond to both the first and second function category, wherein the first set of controls are located within a first contiguous region and the second set of controls are located in a second contiguous region, the first region not overlapping the second region, and the third set of controls being located between the first and second region.

15. The HMI unit according to claim 1, wherein at least one of display accents on the display, a menu structure on the display, and a ring light around the integrated electronic display provides a color consistent with a predefined color for a function category.

16. The HMI unit according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of auxiliary knob controls, each auxiliary knob control having a unique tactile indicator for differentiation by feel.

17. The HMI unit according to claim 16, wherein the unique tactile indicator is the profile of the knob surface.