Abstract:
A system includes an active touch surface, the active touch surface being configured to receive a selection action from a pointer, an x-y coordinate system, the x-y coordinate system being configured to output position data relating to the position of the pointer on the active touch surface, and a processing device. The processing device in communication with the x-y coordinate system and the active touch surface, the processing device being configured to determine the position of the pointer using the position data, and the processing device being configured to determine if the active touch surface has received the selection action from the pointer

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The invention relates to electronic touch screens and more specifically to electronic touch screens found in automobiles. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Known Technology 
         [0004]    A traditional electronic touch screen combines the functions of screen location sensing and control activation into a single operation. When a portion of the touch screen is touched, the x-y coordinates associated with the touch point are correlated to a specific underlying control which is simultaneously activated. Thus, when touching a certain portion of the screen, any associated functions located at the touch point are simultaneously selected. 
         [0005]    However, there is a significant drawback to current touch screens. Combining screen location sensing and control activation into a single operation results in restricted product utility since visual feedback to the user can only be provided after a control has been activated. As it is well known in the art, an external cursor device, such as a mouse, connected to a personal computer, allows the user of the personal computer to both move a cursor displayed on a display device to a desired location and select any function located underneath the cursor, thus dividing location sensing and control activation into separate operations. 
         [0006]    As stated previously, existing touch screens only allow the user to select the underlying operation and do not allow the user to move a cursor within the display area of the touch screen. Although it was previously mentioned that one solution to this problem is the implementation of an external cursor device, such as mouse, this implementation is undesirable in an automobile. For example, automobiles while idling create vibrations, making the use of an external cursor device difficult. These vibrations become even more pronounced as the automobile travels. Additionally, controls of an automobile are generally fixedly attached to interior portions of the automobile, such as the instrument panel, so prevent these controls from being a danger to the occupants in the event of automobile accident. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0007]    In overcoming the enumerated drawbacks of the prior art, an active touch system is disclosed. The active touch system includes an active touch surface, the active touch surface being configured to receive a selection action from a pointer, an x-y coordinate system, the x-y coordinate system being configured to output position data relating to the position of the pointer on the active touch surface, and a processing device. More simply, the x-y coordinate system is utilized for location sensing while the active touch surface functions to determine control activation. The processing device in communication with the x-y coordinate system and the active touch surface, the processing device being configured to determine the position of the pointer using the position data, and the processing device being configured to determine if the active touch surface has received the selection action from the pointer. 
         [0008]    Further objects, features and advantages of this invention will become readily apparent to persons skilled in the art after a review of the following description, with reference to the drawings and claims that are appended to and form a part of this specification. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a plan view of the active touch system embodying the principles of the present invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the active touch system of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram of a front view of the active touch system embodying the principles of the present invention; and 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram of a side view of the active touch system of  FIG. 3 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0013]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , an active touch system  10  is shown. The system  10  includes a housing  12  defining an opening  14 . Within the opening  14  is located a display area  16 . The display area  16  is capable of displaying a 2-dimensional image, such an image displayed by a liquid crystal display (“LCD”), a plasma display, a regular projection tube display, or any other type of display capable of displaying a 2-dimensional image. Located around the perimeter of the housing  12  is a plurality of controls  18  for accessing information to be displayed in the display area  16 . The controls  18  are generally of a push button design, but any type of control capable of accessing information to be displayed in the display area  16  may be utilized. Generally, the active touch system  10  is located within the occupant compartment of an automobile and may function as an automobile vehicle navigation system. 
         [0014]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , an exploded view of the system  10  is shown. As stated previously, the system  10  includes a housing  12  defining an opening  14  and controls  18  which may be located on or near the perimeter of the housing  12 . Further disassembly of the system  10  reveals four unique layers. The first layer is an x-y coordinate system  40 . The x-y coordinate system  40  includes a camera system having a first camera  42  and a second camera  44 . As best shown in  FIG. 3 , the fields of view  43 ,  45  of the cameras  42 ,  44 , respectively, are substantially parallel to the plane defined by the opening  14  of the housing  12  and are positioned in a triangular fashion, so as to be able to capture images of a pointer, such as a fingertip of a user. Essentially, the cameras are located near perimeter corners of the opening  14 . As best shown in  FIG. 4 , as the pointer enters a gesture area  47  near the opening  14 , the cameras will capture images of the pointer and, as will be explained later, these images will be relayed to a processor which will determine the location of the pointer within the gesture area  47  based on the images captured by the cameras  42 ,  44   
         [0015]    Referring back to  FIG. 2 , the x-y coordinate system  40  may also include a light source  46 , such as an infrared light source, and a light pipe  48 . The light source  46  and the light pipe  48  work in concert to provide lighting such that the cameras  42 ,  44  are able to capture images of the object that can be later processed by a processor. Generally, if the cameras  42 ,  44  capture images that do not clearly show the pointer, the processor will be unable to determine the position of the pointer based on the captured images. Incorporating the light source  46  and the light pipe  48  results in captured images that clearly show the pointer. An infrared light source is preferred because infrared light sources can be perceived by the cameras  42 ,  44 , while not being perceived by the human eye. 
         [0016]    Located just below the x-y coordinate system  40  is an active touch surface  50 . The active touch surface  50  is a touch surface commonly known in the art. When the active touch surface  50  is depressed by an object, such as the pointer, the active touch surface  50  will output a signal indicative as to the location of where the pointer touched the active touch surface  50 . 
         [0017]    The utilization of both the x-y coordinate system  40  and the active touch surface  50  results in effectively separating the operations of locations sensing and control activation. More specifically, the operation of location sensing is provided by the x-y coordinate system  40 , while the operation of control activation is provided by the active touch surface  50 . 
         [0018]    Located below the active touch surface  50  is a display device  52  having a viewing area, defining the display area  16 . As stated previously the display device is generally an LCD display but may be a display of any suitable type. Because the display area  16  of the display device  52  must be visible to the user through the opening  14  of the housing  12 , the active touch surface  50  is a generally a substantially transparent active touch surface  50 . 
         [0019]    Located beneath the display device  52  is an optional feedback device  54 . The feedback device  54  may be a haptic system configured to provide touch feedback at the occurrence of an action. For example, assume that the display device  52  is displaying several push buttons. As the user moves a pointer across the display area  16  of the display device  52 , the feedback device  54  may provide a slight “rumble” to the user indicating that the user is a near a display button  16 . Additionally, the feedback device  54  may be configured such that when the pointer depresses on the active touch surface  50 , the feedback device  54  will provide a slight rumble, indicating to the user that a selection has been made. 
         [0020]    Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , block diagrams of the front and side, respectively, of the system  10  is shown. As stated previously, the system  10  includes a housing  12  defining an opening  14  for a display area  16 . The system  10  also includes two cameras  42 ,  44  as well as a light source  46  along with a light pipe  48 . Here, the system  10  shows that the cameras  42 ,  44  are positioned in a triangular orientation allowing the cameras to each individually have a full field of view encompassing the entire display area  16 . By so doing, as the pointer is placed within the field of view of the cameras  42 ,  44 , a calculation can be made as to the location of the pointer within the gesture area  47 . 
         [0021]    Additionally, it is noted that the cameras  42 ,  44 , the active touch surface  50 , the LCD display  52 , and the optional feedback device  54  are connected to a computer system  60 . The computer system  60  generally includes a processor  62  in communication with at least a memory device  64  containing instructions to configure the processor to perform any one of a number of instructions related to operation of the system  10 . The display device  52  is connected to the processor preferably through a video graphics array (“VGA”) interface, however, any video graphics display adaptor may be used. Additionally, the cameras  42 ,  44 , active touch surface  50 , and the optional feedback device  54  may be placed in communication with the processor  62  via a universal serial bus (“USB”) interface. 
         [0022]    As stated in the background section, it is often desirable to allow the user of the system  10  not only selected underlying operation as well as be able to move a cursor within the display area  16 . For example, referring back to  FIG. 1 , assume that a map is displayed within a display area  16 . The map displays a substantially east-west highway  20  and a substantially north-south highway  22 . Also assume that the user of the system  10  wishes to zoom into the intersection  24  defined by highways  20 ,  22 . The hardware components of the system  10  allow the user to select a first point  26 , with a pointer, such as the user&#39;s fingertip. Furthermore, since location sensing and control activation are separate functions through the utilization of both the x-y coordinate system  40  and the active touch surface  50 , the system  10  is capable of allowing the user to select the first point  26  (control activation) and drag with the pointer (location sensing) to a second point  28 , thereby defining an area of interest  30 . Thereafter, the system  10  can perform any one of a number operations. In this example, the system  10  could magnify the area of interest  30  and display the magnified area of interest within the display area  16 . 
         [0023]    As a person skilled in the art will readily appreciate, the above description is meant as an illustration of implementation of the principles this invention. This description is not intended to limit the scope or application of this invention in that the invention is susceptible to modification, variation and change, without departing from the spirit of this invention, as defined in the following claims.