MULTIPLE-FORCE, DYNAMICALLY-ADJUSTED, 3-D TOUCH SURFACE WITH FEEDBACK FOR HUMAN MACHINE INTERFACE (HMI)

• US 20140092025A1
• Filed: 09/28/2012
• Published: 04/03/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Denso International America Incorporated (DENSO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Denso International America Incorporated (DENSO Corporation)
• Inventors: Pala, Silviu, Miyata, Manabu
• Granted Patent: US 9,372,538 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04105 Pressure sensors for measuring the pressure or force exerted on the touch surface without providing the touch position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04809 Textured surface identifying touch areas, e.g. overlay structure for a virtual keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04144 using an array of force sensing means position sensing using the local deformation of sensor cells G06F3/0447

Abstract

A control interface system for a vehicle includes an input module, a feedback module, and a system controller. The input module has a touchscreen and a control icon arranged thereon. The feedback module includes a pressure sensor in communication with the input module. The pressure sensor provides a sensor signal to the input module indicative of an applied force on the touchscreen. The system controller is in communication with the pressure sensor through the input module. The system controller provides at least one of a haptic feedback, an audible feedback, and a visual feedback, where the feedback is indicative of one of a selection mode, a slow change mode, and a fast change mode.

Claims

1. A control interface system for a vehicle comprising:

an input module having a touchscreen and a selectable control icon arranged thereon;

a feedback module including a pressure sensor in communication with the input module, wherein the pressure sensor provides a sensor signal to the input module indicative of an applied force on the touchscreen; and

a system controller in communication with the pressure sensor through the input module, wherein the system controller provides at least one of a haptic feedback, an audible feedback, and a visual feedback, wherein the feedback is indicative of one of a selection mode, a slow change mode, and a fast change mode.

2. The control interface system of claim 1, wherein the system controller provides the feedback indicative of the selection mode when the applied force is less than a first predetermined force level.

3. The control interface system of claim 2, wherein the system controller provides the feedback indicative of the slow change mode when the applied force is less than a second predetermined force level.

4. The control interface system of claim 3, wherein the system controller provides the feedback indicative of the fast change mode when the applied force is greater than a third predetermined force level.

5. The control interface system of claim 4, wherein the first predetermined force level is less than the second predetermined force level and the second predetermined force level is less than the third predetermined force level.

6. The control interface system of claim 1, wherein the feedback module further includes a plurality of inflatable cells in communication with the system controller for providing the haptic feedback.

7. The control interface system of claim 6, wherein the inflatable cells are inflated into a shape corresponding to a controlled parameter.

8. The control interface system of claim 1, wherein a display is in communication with the system controller, the display providing indicia of the selected control icon.

9. The control interface system of claim 1, wherein the touchscreen includes at least one imbedded switch operable to generate the sensor signal upon actuation thereof.

10. The control interface system of claim 1, wherein the touchscreen is an electroactive polymer.

11. A method for controlling a function comprising:

depressing an inflatable cell on a dynamic touch surface;

sending a sensor signal indicative of the depression force and position to a system controller;

evaluating the sensor signal;

determining if applied force is within an area of a controlled icon;

determining if the sensor signal exceeds a first predetermined force threshold;

determining if the sensor signal exceeds a second predetermined force threshold greater than the first predetermined force threshold;

determining if the sensor signal exceeds a third predetermined force threshold greater than the second predetermined force threshold; and

activating one of a selection module, a slow change module, and a fast change module based on the depression force and position.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

providing feedback indicative of the selection mode when the applied force is less than the first predetermined force threshold.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

providing feedback indicative of the slow change mode when the applied force is greater than the second predetermined force threshold.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

providing feedback indicative of the fast change mode when the applied force is greater than the third predetermined force threshold.

15. The control interface system of claim 14, further comprising:

determining a position of a depression force; and

increasing an activation speed as a function of the position of the depression force.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the inflatable cell is in communication with a system controller for inflating the inflatable cell to provide a haptic feedback.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein a display and an audio system are in communication with the system controller, the display and audio providing an indicia of a selected control icon.

18. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

at least one imbedded switch operable to generate the sensor signal upon actuation thereof.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the touchscreen is an electroactive polymer.

20. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

activating the selection module if the sensor signal is less than a first predetermined force;

activating the slow change module if the sensor signal is between the first and second predetermined forces; and

activating the fast change module if the sensor signal is greater than the third predetermined force.