PROGRAMMABLE TACTILE TOUCH SCREEN DISPLAYS AND MAN-MACHINE INTERFACES FOR IMPROVED VEHICLE INSTRUMENTATION AND TELEMATICS

• US 20090267921A1
• Filed: 07/10/2009
• Published: 10/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/1995
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tactile Feedback Technology LLC
• Original Assignee: Tactile Feedback Technology LLC
• Inventors: Pryor, Timothy R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,482,534 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/177
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/143 Touch sensitive instrument input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1438 Touch screens
• 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: B60K 35/654 the user being the driver
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

Disclosed are new methods and apparatus particularly suited for applications in a vehicle, to provide a wide range of information, and the safe input of data to a computer controlling the vehicle subsystems or “Telematic” communication using for example GM'"'"'s “ONSTAR” or cellular based data sources. Preferred embodiments utilize new programmable forms of tactile touch screens and displays employing tactile physical selection or adjustment means which utilize direct optical data input. A revolutionary form of dashboard or instrument panel results which is stylistically attractive, lower in cost, customizable by the user, programmable in both the tactile and visual sense, and with the potential of enhancing interior safety and vehicle operation. Non-automotive applications of the invention are also disclosed, for example means for general computer input using touch screens and home automation systems.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for performing an operation on a computer system in response to input received from a user, the method comprising:

providing a touch screen adapted to display visually observable data and including a front surface having a tactile feature including at least one of a protrusion and an indentation;

receiving a first touch input and a second touch input on the front surface of the touch screen, wherein the first touch input and the second touch input are simultaneously in contact with the touch screen;

determining a characteristic of the first touch input and the second touch input; and

in response to said determining step, performing an operation on the computer system.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the characteristic includes the location of the first touch input and the second touch input.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein:

the first touch input includes at least one of a finger and a thumb in contact with the front surface of the touch screen; and

the second touch input includes at least one of a finger and a thumb in contact with the front surface of the touch screen.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein the tactile feature is an integral component of the touch screen.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein the tactile feature includes a key indent.

6. The method according to claim 5 further comprising displaying a virtual keyboard including a plurality of keys on the front surface, the key indent overlying at least one of the plurality of keys.

7. The method according to claim 1 wherein the tactile feature includes an annular recess.

8. The method according to claim 1 wherein the tactile feature includes an annular protrusion.

9. The method according to claim 1 wherein the tactile feature includes a linear recess.

10. The method according to claim 1 wherein the tactile feature includes a linear protrusion.

11. The method according to claim 1 wherein the tactile feature includes a round indentation.

12. The method according to claim 1 wherein the tactile feature is convex protrusion adapted to change to a concave indentation in response to a touch input on the tactile feature.

13. The method according to claim 1 wherein:

the first touch input generates a first local distortion of the front surface;

the second touch input generates a second local distortion on the front surface; and

the determining step is based in part on the first and second local surface distortion.

14. The method according to claim 1 wherein:

the touch screen is adapted to display one of a plurality of data objects proximate the tactile feature; and

the operation is based on the data object proximate the tactile feature.

15. The method according to claim 1 wherein the tactile feature includes a protrusion defining a height less than 0.01 inches with respect to an adjacent portion of the front surface of the touch screen to produce minimal discontinuity of an underlying image displayed on the touch screen.

16. The method according to claim 1 wherein the tactile feature includes an indentation defining a depth less than 0.01 inches with respect to an adjacent portion of the front surface of the touch screen to produces a minimal discontinuity of an image displayed on the touch screen.

17. A computer implemented method for performing an operation on a computer system in response to input received from a user, the method comprising:

providing a touch screen capable of displaying visually observable data, the touch screen including an annular tactile feature;

identifying a first location on the touch screen corresponding to a first touch input on a first portion of the annular tactile feature;

detecting a time-based change in the location of the first touch input corresponding to movement of the first touch input along the annular tactile feature to a second portion thereof; and

performing an operation in response to said detecting step.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the tactile feature is a recess.

19. The method according to claim 17 wherein the first touch input includes one of a finger and a thumb in contact with the touch screen.

20. The method according to claim 17 wherein the performing step includes determining a desired value of a variable.

21. The method according to claim 17 wherein the movement of the first touch input along the annular tactile feature indicates at least one of an increment and a decrement desired of the variable.

22. The method according to claim 17 wherein the movement of the first touch input along the annular tactile feature is proportional to the at least one of the increment and the decrement desired of the variable.

23. The method according to claim 20 further including displaying the determined value of the variable.

24. The method according to claim 17 wherein the annular recess defines a uniform width.

25. The method according to claim 17 wherein the annular tactile feature includes a first raised portion.

26. The method according to claim 25 wherein the first raised portion is located in the annular recess at one of the 12, 3, 6, and 9 o'"'"'clock positions.

27. The method according to claim 26 wherein the annular recess includes a second raised portion at another of the 12, 3, 6, and 9 o'"'"'clock positions.

28. The method according to claim 27 wherein the first raised portion and the second raised portion provide a first tactile feedback and a second tactile feedback respectively, the first tactile feedback being different from the second tactile feedback.

29. The method according to claim 17 wherein the touch screen is capable of detecting a plurality of simultaneous touch inputs.

30. The method according to claim 17 wherein the first touch input generates a local surface distortion on the touch screen, said identifying step including measuring the local surface distortion to determine the location of the first touch input.

31. The method according to claim 17 wherein the operation is selectable by a user from among a plurality of operations.

32. The method according to claim 17 wherein the annular tactile feature includes a recess defining a depth less than 0.01 inches with respect to an adjacent portion of the front surface of the touch screen to produce a minimal discontinuity of an image displayed on the touch screen.

33. A touch interface for a computer comprising:

a display screen including a front surface defining an annular tactile feature, the display screen being adapted to display visually observable data; and

a control circuit adapted to identify a location on the display screen corresponding to a touch input on the annular tactile feature and further adapted to detect a time-based change in the location of the touch input corresponding to movement of the touch input along the annular tactile feature.

34. The touch interface of claim 33 wherein the tactile feature is a groove.

35. The touch interface of claim 33 wherein the touch input includes at least one of a finger and a thumb in contact with the display screen.

36. The touch interface of claim 33 wherein the movement of the touch input along the tactile feature indicates a desired value of a variable.

37. The touch interface of claim 33 wherein the tactile feature has a uniform width.

38. The touch interface of claim 33 wherein the annual groove includes a first raised portion.

39. The touch interface of claim 38 wherein the first raised portion is located in the annular groove at one of the 12, 3, 6, and 9 o'"'"'clock positions.

40. The touch interface of claim 39 wherein the annular groove includes a second raised portion at another of the 12, 3, 6, and 9 o'"'"'clock positions.

41. The touch interface of claim 40 wherein the first raised portion and the second raised portion provide a first tactile feedback and a second tactile feedback respectively, wherein the first tactile feedback is different from the second tactile feedback.

42. The touch interface of claim 33 wherein the control circuit is capable of detecting a plurality of simultaneous touch inputs.

43. The touch interface of claim 33 wherein the annular tactile feature includes a groove defining a depth less than 0.01 inches with respect to an adjacent portion of the front surface of the display screen to produce minimal discontinuity of an image displayed on the display screen.

44. A computer implemented method for performing an operation on a computer system in response to input received from a user, the method comprising:

providing a touch screen capable of displaying visually observable data and including a tactile feature, the tactile feature including at least one of a linear protrusion and a linear indentation to provide tactile feedback to a user;

identifying a first touch input on the touch screen, wherein the first touch input includes at least one of a finger and a thumb in contact with a first portion of the tactile feature;

detecting a time-based change in the location of the first touch input corresponding to movement of the first touch input along the tactile feature to a second portion thereof; and

performing an operation in response to said detecting step.

45. The method according to claim 44 wherein the performing step includes determining a desired value of a variable.

46. The method according to claim 44 wherein the movement of the first touch input along the tactile feature indicates at least one of an increment and a decrement desired of the variable.

47. The method according to claim 44 wherein the movement of the first touch input along the tactile feature is proportional to the at least one of an increment and a decrement desired of the variable.

48. The method according to claim 44 further including displaying the value of the variable.

49. The method according to claim 44 wherein the tactile feature has a uniform width.

50. The method according to claim 44 wherein the first touch input generates a local surface distortion on the touch screen in response to touch input, said identifying step further including measuring the local surface distortion to determine the location of the first touch input.

51. The method according to claim 44 wherein the tactile feature includes a linear indentation defining a depth less than 0.01 inches with respect to an adjacent portion of the surface of the touch screen to produce minimal discontinuity of an image displayed on the touch screen.

52. The method according to claim 44 wherein the tactile feature includes a linear protrusion defining a height less than 0.01 inches with respect to an adjacent portion of the surface of the touch screen to produce minimal discontinuity of an image displayed on the touch screen.

61. The touch screen according to claim 50 wherein the first transparent material has a first thickness and the second transparent material has a second thickness less than the first thickness.

62. The touch screen according to claim 50 wherein the control circuit is adapted to detect a plurality of simultaneous touch inputs.

53. A touch interface for a computer comprising:

a display screen adapted to display visually observable data and including a front surface having a linear tactile feature including at least one of an indentation and a protrusion; and

a control circuit adapted to identify a location on the display screen corresponding to a touch input on the linear tactile feature and further adapted to detect a time-based change in the location of the touch input corresponding to movement of the touch input along the linear tactile feature.

54. The touch interface of claim 53 wherein the touch input includes at least one of a finger and a thumb in contact with the display screen.

55. The touch interface of claim 53 wherein the movement of the touch input along the linear tactile feature indicates a value desired of a variable.

56. The touch interface of claim 53 wherein the linear tactile feature has a uniform width.

57. The touch interface of claim 53 wherein the control circuit is capable of detecting a plurality of simultaneous touch inputs.

58. The touch interface of claim 53 wherein the linear tactile feature includes a indentation defining a depth less than 0.01 inches with respect to an adjacent portion of the surface of the display screen to produce minimal discontinuity of an image displayed on the display screen.

59. The method according to claim 53 wherein the linear tactile feature includes a protrusion defining a height less than 0.01 inches with respect to an adjacent portion of the surface of the display screen to produce minimal discontinuity of an image displayed on the display screen.

60. A touch screen comprising:

a front surface including a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion is fabricated of a first transparent material and the second portion is fabricated of a second transparent material different from the first transparent material, the first and second materials responding differently to the forces of touch inputs; and

a control circuit adapted to detect touch inputs on the first and second portions of the front surface.

63. A touch interface comprising:

a display screen including a front surface and adapted to display visually observable data;

a sensor circuit adapted to identify a characteristic of a touch input on the front surface of the display screen; and

a transducer responsive to the sensor circuit and adapted to excite the display screen by generating a force feedback signal in response to the characteristic of the touch input.

64. The touch interface of claim 63 wherein:

the force feedback signal includes a frequency; and

the frequency is selected as a function of at least the characteristic of the touch input.

65. The touch interface of claim 63 wherein:

the force feedback signal includes an amplitude; and

the amplitude is selected as a function of at least the characteristic of the touch input.

66. The touch interface of claim 63 wherein:

the force feedback signal includes a pulse sequence; and

the pulse sequence is selected as a function of at least the characteristic of the touch input.

67. The touch interface of claim 63 wherein the characteristic includes the location of the touch input.

68. The touch interface of claim 63 wherein the characteristic includes at least a component of the force vector of the touch input.

69. The touch interface of claim 68 wherein the frequency of the force feedback signal varies as a function of the normal component of the force vector of the touch input.

70. The touch interface of claim 68 wherein the amplitude of the force feedback signal varies as a function of the normal component of the force vector of the touch input.

71. The touch interface of claim 63 wherein the touch input includes one of a finger and a thumb in contact with the touch screen.

72. The touch interface of claim 63 wherein the force feedback signal is directed to a portion of the display screen underlying the touch input.

73. The touch interface of claim 63 wherein the transducer includes a piezoelectric crystal.

74. The touch interface of claim 63 wherein the transducer includes an air blast generator.

75. The touch interface of claim 63 wherein the force feedback signal is an acoustic wave signal.

76. A computer implemented method for providing tactile feedback in response to input received from a user, the method comprising:

providing a touch screen including a front surface, the touch screen adapted to display visually observable data;

detecting a first touch input on the touch screen front surface; and

actuating the touch screen front surface with a first force feedback signal in response to said detecting step.

77. The method according to claim 76 further including determining a characteristic of the first touch input.

78. The method according to claim 77 wherein the characteristic of the first touch input includes the location of the first touch input on the touch screen front surface.

79. The method according to claim 77 wherein the characteristic of the first touch input includes the force of the first touch input.

80. The method according to claim 76 wherein the force feedback signal indicates a function selected by the user.

81. The method according to claim 76 wherein the force feedback signal indicates the first touch input has registered.

82. The method according claim 77 wherein:

the detecting step includes the first touch input generating a local surface distortion; and

the characteristic of the first touch input is based on the local surface distortion.

83. The method according to claim 76 wherein the first touch input includes one of a finger and a thumb in contact with the touch screen front surface.

84. The method according to claim 76 wherein said actuating step includes vibrating the touch screen front surface.

85. The method according to claim 76 wherein the first force feedback signal is directed to a portion of the touch screen underlying the first touch input.

86. The method according to claim 77 wherein:

the first force feedback signal includes a frequency; and

the frequency is selected as a function of the characteristic of the first touch input.

87. The method according to claim 77 wherein:

the first force feedback signal includes a pulse sequence; and

the pulse sequence is selected as a function of the characteristic of the first touch input.

88. The method according to claim 77 wherein:

the first force feedback signal includes an amplitude; and

the amplitude is selected as a function of the characteristic of the first touch input.

89. The method according to claim 77 further including:

detecting a second touch input;

determining a characteristic of the second touch input different from the characteristic of the first touch input; and

actuating the touch screen front surface with a second force feedback signal different from the first force feedback signal.

90. The method according to claim 89 wherein:

the first force feedback signal includes a first pulse sequence; and

the second force feedback signal includes a second pulse sequence different from the first pulse sequence.

91. The method according to claim 89 wherein the second touch input includes one of a finger and a thumb in contact with the touch screen.

92. The method according to claim 89 wherein the second force feedback signal is directed to a portion of the touch screen underlying the second touch input.

93. The method according to claim 89 wherein:

the first force feedback signal indicates a first function selected by the user; and

the second force feedback signal indicates a second function selected by the user different from the first function selected by the user.

94. The method according to claim 89 wherein the first touch input and the second touch input are simultaneously in contact with the touch screen front surface.

95. The method according to claim 76 wherein the first force feedback signal is generated by a piezoelectric crystal.

96. The method according to claim 76 wherein the first force feedback signal is generated by an air blast generator.

97. The method according to claim 76 wherein the first force feedback signal is an acoustic wave signal.

98. A touch interface comprising:

a display screen including a front surface and adapted to display visually observable data;

a sensor circuit adapted to identify the location of at least two simultaneous contacts on the front surface of the display screen; and

a transducer responsive to the sensor circuit and adapted to excite the display screen by generating a force feedback signal in response to at least one of the at least two simultaneous contacts.

99. The touch interface of claim 98 wherein each of the at least two simultaneous touch contacts includes one of a finger and a thumb in contact with the touch screen.

100. The touch interface of claim 98 wherein the force feedback signal is directed to a portion of the display screen underlying at least one of the at least two simultaneous contacts.

101. The touch interface of claim 98 wherein the force feedback signal includes a variable frequency.

102. The touch interface of claim 98 wherein:

the sensor circuit is adapted to determine at least a component of the force vector of each of the at least two simultaneous contacts; and

the frequency of the force feedback signal varies as a function of the normal component of the force vector of one of the at least two simultaneous contacts.

103. The touch interface of claim 98 wherein the force feedback signal includes a variable amplitude.

104. The touch interface of claim 98 wherein:

the sensor circuit is adapted to determine the at least a component of the force vector of each of the at least two simultaneous contacts; and

the amplitude of the force feedback signal varies as a function of the normal component of the force vector of one of the at least two simultaneous contacts.

105. The touch interface of claim 98 wherein the transducer includes a piezoelectric crystal.

106. The touch interface of claim 98 wherein the transducer includes an air blast generator.

107. The touch interface of claim 98 wherein the force feedback signal is an acoustic wave signal.

108. A computer implemented method for providing tactile feedback in response to input received from a user, the method comprising:

providing a touch screen including a front surface, the touch screen adapted to display visually observable data;

identifying a first touch input in a first location on the touch screen front surface from one of a finger and a thumb;

identifying a second touch input in a second location on the touch screen front surface from one of a finger and a thumb, the first touch input and the second touch input being simultaneously in contact with the touch screen front surface, the first location and the second location being different from one another; and

vibrating the touch screen front surface with a force feedback signal.

109. The method according to claim 108 wherein the force feedback signal is directed to at least one of the first location and the second location.

110. The method according to claim 108 further including:

determining at least a component of the force vector corresponding to the first touch input; and

determining at least a component of the force vector corresponding to the second touch input.

111. The method according to claim 108 wherein the force feedback signal includes a variable frequency.

112. The method according to claim 108 wherein the force feedback signal includes a variable amplitude.

113. The method according to claim 108 wherein the force feedback signal includes a variable pulse width.

114. The method according to claim 108 wherein the force feedback signal is generated by a piezoelectric crystal.

115. The method according to claim 108 wherein the force feedback signal is generated by an air blast generator.

116. The method according to claim 108 wherein the force feedback signal is an acoustic wave signal.

117. The method according to claim 108 wherein:

the force feedback signal includes a pulse sequence; and

the pulse sequence varies as a function of the location of one of the first touch input and the second touch input.