TOUCH INPUT DEVICE AND VEHICLE INCLUDING THE SAME

• US 20160137064A1
• Filed: 11/13/2015
• Published: 05/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group), Hyundai Motor Europe Technical Center GmbH (Hyundai Motor Group), Kia Motors Corporation (Kia Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group), Hyundai Motor Europe Technical Center GmbH (Hyundai Motor Group), Kia Motors Corporation (Kia Corp.)
• Inventors: KANG, Nae Seung, JOO, Sihyun, LEE, Jeong-Eom, PETER, Werner, PRILL, Andy Max, MIN, Jungsang, HONG, Gi Beom, KIM, Sung Un, CHOI, Seo Ho
• Application Number:
  US14/941,520
• Publication Number:
  US 20160137064A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/143 Touch sensitive instrument input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/146 Instrument input by gesture
• 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 35/25 using haptic output
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/81 for controlling displays
• 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 3/0338 with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0354 with detection of 2D relative movements between the device, or an operating part thereof, and a plane or surface, e.g. 2D mice, trackballs, pens or pucks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

A touch input device includes a touch unit to which a user is able to input a touch gesture, wherein the touch unit includes a concave shape, and gradually deepens from an edge portion toward a central portion.

Claims

1. A touch input device comprising a touch unit to which a user is able to input a touch gesture,

wherein the touch unit includes a concave shape, and gradually deepens from an edge portion toward a central portion.

2. The touch input device according to claim 1, wherein the touch unit includes a curved concave shape whose slope becomes gentler toward the central portion.

3. The touch input device according to claim 1, wherein the touch unit has a greatest depth at the central portion.

4. The touch input device according to claim 2, wherein the touch unit includes a partial spherical shape.

5. The touch input device according to claim 1, wherein the touch unit includes the central portion and the edge portion which have different slopes or curvatures.

6. The touch input device according to claim 5, wherein the central portion is a planar surface, and

the edge portion surrounding the central portion deepens toward the central portion.

7. The touch input device according to claim 6, wherein the touch unit and the central portion have a circular shape.

8. The touch input device according to claim 5, wherein the central portion and the edge portion receive separate touch signals.

9. The touch input device according to claim 1, wherein the touch unit has an oval shape, and a lowest area in the touch unit is positioned to deviate in any one direction from a center of the touch unit.

10. The touch input device according to claim 1, wherein the touch unit comprises:

a gesture input unit positioned at a center; and

a swiping input unit positioned along an edge of the gesture input unit, wherein the gesture input unit and the swiping input unit receive separate touch signals.

11. The touch input device according to claim 10, wherein the gesture input unit has a circular shape, and the swiping input unit surrounds a circumferential edge of the gesture input unit.

12. The touch input device according to claim 11, wherein the swiping input unit is tilted downward toward the gesture input unit.

13. The touch input device according to claim 12, wherein a slope of the swiping input unit is larger than a tangential slope of the gesture input unit adjoining the swiping input unit.

14. The touch input device according to claim 10, wherein the gesture input unit and the swiping input unit are formed in one body.

15. The touch input device according to claim 10, wherein the swiping input unit includes a plurality of gradations formed by engraving or embossing.

16. The touch input device according to claim 1, wherein the touch unit is capable of a pressing operation.

17. The touch input device according to claim 1, wherein the touch unit is capable of a tilting operation.

18. The touch input device according to claim 1, wherein the touch unit is pressed or tilted by a pressure applied by the user to receive a signal.

19. The touch input device according to claim 10, wherein the gesture input unit is capable of a tilting operation in four directions, that is, up, down, left and right, directions.

20. The touch input device according to claim 1, further comprising a button input tool for performing designated functions.

21. The touch input device according to claim 20, wherein the button input tool comprises:

a touch button for performing a designated function by a touch of the user; and

a pressurizing button for performing a designated function when a position of the pressurizing button is changed by an external force applied by the user.

22. The touch input device according to claim 1, further comprising a wrist support tool positioned on one side of the touch unit to support a wrist of the user, and protruding higher than a touch surface of the touch unit.

37. The touch input device according to claim 1, wherein the touch unit includes a uniform depth.

23. A touch input device comprising:

a touch unit capable of receiving a touch gesture of a user; and

an edge unit configured to surround the touch unit,

wherein the touch unit includes a portion lower than a boundary between the touch unit and the edge unit, and gradually deepens from an edge portion toward a central portion.

24. The touch input device according to claim 23, wherein a touch surface of the touch unit is positioned lower than the boundary between the touch unit and the edge unit.

25. The touch input device according to claim 23, wherein the touch unit includes a curved portion including a curved concave shape.

26. The touch input device according to claim 25, wherein an edge portion of the curved portion has a larger curvature than a central portion.

27. The touch input device according to claim 23, wherein the touch unit includes the central portion and the edge portion which have different slopes or curvatures, and the edge portion includes a slope portion inclined downward toward the central portion.

28. The touch input device according to claim 23, wherein the touch unit has a circular shape,

the central portion of the touch unit includes a curved concave shape, and

the edge portion is inclined downward toward the central portion along an edge of the central portion.

29. The touch input device according to claim 28, wherein the edge portion includes a plurality of gradations formed by engraving or embossing.

30. The touch input device according to claim 23, wherein the edge unit comprises:

a touch button for performing a designated function by a touch of the user; and

a pressurizing button for performing a designated function when a position of the pressurizing button is changed by an external force applied by the user.

31. The touch input device according to claim 23, wherein the touch unit has a circular shape, and a diameter of the touch unit is selected from within a range of 50 mm to 80 mm.

32. The touch input device according to claim 31, wherein a depth-to-diameter ratio of the touch unit is selected from within a range of 0.04 to 0.1.

33. A vehicle comprising:

the touch input device according to claim 23;

a display device; and

a control unit for operating the display device according to an input signal input to the touch input device.

34. The vehicle according to claim 33, wherein the display device is included in at least one of an audio system, an audio/video navigation (AVN) system, a dashboard, and a head-up display (HUD) device.

35. The vehicle according to claim 33, wherein the control unit converts a gesture input to the touch input device into the input signal, and sends an operation signal to display an operation indicated by the input signal on the display device.

36. The vehicle according to claim 33, wherein the touch input device is installed in a gearbox.