Control panels for onboard instruments
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A control panel for onboard instruments of vehicles, comprising:
- a touch-screen for displaying information;
a frame defining the periphery of the said screen and including finger guiding zones disposed on said periphery; and
virtual selection and control buttons displayed on the screen at least partially in the said finger guiding zones;
wherein the frame includes one or more orifices, each orifice forming one of said finger guiding zones for a virtual control button, and each orifice being completely surrounded by the frame, with internal edges of each orifice defining a shape;
forming for at least one finger a path corresponding to the mode of actuation of the virtual control button appearing there;
the geometry of which informs the user as to the movement to be performed in order to actuate the virtual button which it defines; and
the internal edge of which is calculated to guide the finger or fingers in its/their movement on the touch screen.
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Abstract
An automotive control/display panel for multiple onboard systems includes a touch-screen for displaying system related information and a peripheral frame defining operator finger guide zones. The touch-screen is selectively reconfigurable to establish virtual display and control buttons on the screen within associated finger guide zones. The information and functionality of the virtual control and display buttons is varied to relate to a particular onboard system as a function of the previous actuation of a virtual selection button. The peripheral frame also defines virtual knobs disposed adjacent the touch-screen.
53 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A control panel for onboard instruments of vehicles, comprising:
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a touch-screen for displaying information; a frame defining the periphery of the said screen and including finger guiding zones disposed on said periphery; and virtual selection and control buttons displayed on the screen at least partially in the said finger guiding zones;
wherein the frame includes one or more orifices, each orifice forming one of said finger guiding zones for a virtual control button, and each orifice being completely surrounded by the frame, with internal edges of each orifice defining a shape;forming for at least one finger a path corresponding to the mode of actuation of the virtual control button appearing there; the geometry of which informs the user as to the movement to be performed in order to actuate the virtual button which it defines; and the internal edge of which is calculated to guide the finger or fingers in its/their movement on the touch screen. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. The control panel for onboard vehicle systems comprising:
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a touch-screen operable for receiving vehicle operator inputs and selectively displaying information pertaining to the status of a plurality of vehicle systems; an escutcheon defining the periphery of the said screen and including a plurality of finger guiding zones disposed on said periphery; and a plurality virtual selection and virtual control buttons displayed on the screen, each said button being at least partially encompassed by one of said guiding zones, wherein the escutcheon defines one or more orifices, each orifice forming one of said finger guiding zones for a virtual control button, and each orifice being completely surrounded by the escutcheon, with internal edges of each orifice defining a characteristic shape, said orifice edge; forming for at least one finger path corresponding to the mode of actuation of the virtual control button appearing there-adjacent; having a geometry which is suggestive to the operator as to the movement to be performed in order to actuate the virtual button which it defines; and having an internal edge which defines a surface configured to guide the operator'"'"'s finger in effecting said input.
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19. A vehicular control panel for onboard systems comprising:
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a touch-screen operable for receiving tactile operator inputs and selectively displaying information pertaining to a status of at least one vehicle system; and an escutcheon defining the periphery of the said touch screen and forming a plurality of finger guiding zones, each said zone being contoured to at least partially encompass an associated virtual selection and/or control button displayed on the screen, said escutcheon defining at least one orifice being completely surrounded by an internal guide edge formed by the escutcheon, the guide edge of said orifice defining a characteristic geometric shape, thereby forming a finger guide path corresponding to a mode of actuation of an associated virtual control button appearing there-adjacent on said touch-screen which is suggestive to an operator as to a movement to be performed in order to actuate the virtual button.
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Specification