Abstract:
An integrated tactile visual interface for device control within a vehicle comprises a touch pad that generates an input signal in response to touch input from a user. The interface further comprises a display having at least one display region and a user focus or cursor. A software component receives the input signal and communicates an output signal to the display, wherein the output signal is indicative of the input signal. The software component generates a feedback signal if the user focus traverses a boundary of the display region on the display. A feedback device is integrated with the touchpad and provides tangible feedback to the user in response to the feedback signal.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to automotive devices, and more particularly to controlling automotive devices with a touch panel input.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Vehicles include multiple devices that may be controlled by input from a user. Examples of such devices include a radio, power windows, a heating and cooling system, and a navigation system. The user interacts with the devices to adjust various functions and operations thereof. For example, the user may adjust the position of the power windows or the volume of the radio.  
           [0003]    Moreover, each device may have multiple adjustable features. For instance, the user may adjust radio settings such as volume, audio characteristics, and tuning. Typically, the devices require a separate input mechanism for each adjustable feature. With the increased number of controllable devices available in vehicles, along with the increased complexity of each individual device, the user may be required to operate a multitude of inputs. As a result, the user may encounter significant difficulty while attempting to operate the devices while driving the vehicle.  
           [0004]    One method for minimizing input mechanisms is to incorporate a display interface. The user adjusts the devices by interacting with a hierarchical menu shown on the display to select the devices and functions. The user may make selections from the menu with input mechanisms external to the display, such as an interface of buttons or switches. Alternatively, the display may be a touchscreen, requiring the user to interact directly with the display to select menu choices.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    An integrated tactile visual interface controls devices within a vehicle. A touch pad generates an input signal in response to input from a user. A display includes at least one display region and a user focus. A software module receives the input signal and communicates an output signal indicative of the input signal to the display. The display adjusts the display region and the user focus according to the output signal. The software module generates a feedback signal if the user focus traverses a boundary of the display region. A feedback device integrated with the touch pad receives the feedback signal and provides tangible feedback to the user through the touch pad in response to the feedback signal.  
           [0006]    Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]    The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 1A illustrates a touchpad interface integrated with a vehicle steering wheel according to the present invention;  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 1B illustrates an array of discrete touchable areas of a touchpad according to the present invention;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate the selectable functions of an audio device according to the present invention;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate the selectable functions of a mobile telephone device according to the present invention;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIGS. 4A, 4B,  5 A, and  5 B illustrate the selectable functions of an HVAC device according to the present invention;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 7 illustrates a touchpad feedback device according to the present invention; and  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 8 is an exemplary system architecture according to the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0015]    The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses. For purposes of clarity, the same reference numbers will be used in the drawings to identify similar elements.  
         [0016]    Referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B, a touchpad  10  is mounted on a steering wheel  12  in a vehicle according to the present invention. The touchpad  10  may be mounted elsewhere in the vehicle proximate the user, such as an instrument panel or an armrest. The user interacts with the touchpad  10  by means of touch inputs as is known in the art. The touchpad  10  comprises an array of discrete touchable areas  14  as shown in FIG. 1B. The touchpad  10  generates signals in response to touch patterns on the discrete touchable areas  14 . The user may input the touch patterns with a finger  16  or a thumb. For example, the user may slide the finger  16  across the discrete touchable areas  14  in the direction indicated by the arrow  18 . The signals generated are indicative of the particular touch pattern input by the user.  
         [0017]    The signals are communicated to a software module  20 , allowing the user to interact with controllable devices  22  using the touchpad  10 . In the preferred embodiment, the interaction between the user and the software module  20  is presented on a display  34 . The software module  20  processes the signals from the touchpad  10  and generates commands for the controllable devices  22 . The display  34  may be mounted on the dashboard  36  or any suitable location within visual range of the user, such as a center console.  
         [0018]    Referring now to FIGS. 2A and 2B, the display  34  presents visual data to the user indicative of touch patterns input at the touchpad  10  (as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B). The display  34  may present selectable audio functions in a primary window  38  such as volume  40 , tuning  42 , antenna mode  44 , fade  46 , balance  48 , bass  50 , and treble  52 . A user focus, such as a cursor  54 , is positioned according to the touch patterns input at the touchpad  10 . For example, sliding the finger  16  according to the arrow  18  (as shown in FIG. 1B) will cause the cursor  54  move from left to right on the display  34 . Alternatively, the user focus may be implemented in another suitable manner as is known in the art. For example, selectable areas or regions of the display  34  may be highlighted or emphasized as the user interacts with the touchpad  10 .  
         [0019]    When the cursor  54  is positioned over a desired function, the user may select or adjust the function. For example, the user may position the cursor  54  over the tuning functions  42 . The user may adjust the tuning  42  by positioning the cursor  54  over a tuning control button  56  and tapping the touchpad  10 . As shown in FIG. 1B, the tuning control button  56  is enlarged when the cursor  54  is positioned thereon. This enables the user to have increased control over the position of the cursor  54  in relation to various locations on the display  34 . Similarly, the portion of the display  34  containing the tuning functions  42  is enlarged when the cursor  54  is positioned thereon. Because of the increased size of the selectable areas of the display  34  as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the user may more easily control the position of the cursor  54  using the touchpad  10 .  
         [0020]    Still referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B, the display  34  presents secondary windows  60  to the user in addition to the primary window  38 . The user may select the secondary window  60  to gain access to additional device functions. The user may move the cursor  54  over any portion of the secondary window  60  and tap the touchpad  10 , causing the display  34  to present the additional device functions in the primary window  38 . As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the secondary window  60  provides access to mobile telephone functions.  
         [0021]    If the user selects the secondary window  60 , the display  34  presents selectable mobile telephone functions in the primary window  38  as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B. The secondary windows  60  now provide additional devices. For example, the secondary window  60  may provide access to HVAC functions. The user may also select secondary window  62  to return to the selectable audio functions. In this manner, the user may interact with the touchpad  10  to navigate through the selectable functions of various devices. The primary window  38  provides the user with all of the selectable functions for a particular device.  
         [0022]    For example, as shown in FIGS. 4A, 4B,  5 A, and  5 B, the primary window  38  may provide the user with the selectable functions for HVAC devices. The user may select secondary window  62  to return to mobile telephone functions. As shown in FIG. 4B, a fan speed control button  64  is enlarged when the cursor  54  is positioned thereon. Similarly, the HVAC mode area of the primary window  38  is enlarged when the cursor  54  is positioned thereon, as shown in FIG. 5A. The behavior of the primary window  38  with respect to the cursor  54  and the touchpad  10  is consistent as the user navigates the display  34 . In this manner, the user may easily interact with the selectable devices using the touchpad  10  and the display  34 . It is to be understood that the relative positions and sizes of the secondary windows  60  and  62  in relation to the primary window  38  may vary. Additionally, other window configurations are anticipated.  
         [0023]    In the preferred embodiment, each of the controllable devices  22  may be represented in a window on the display  34 , as shown in FIG. 6. For example, when audio functions  66  are displayed in the primary window  38 , the user may quickly access telephone functions  68  or navigation functions  70 , depending on whether the user selects secondary window  60  or  62 . Selecting the secondary window  62  a second time will access seat position functions  72 . It should be noted that the navigation of the display  34  is executed in a revolving manner. For example, the user may access HVAC functions  74  from either the telephone functions  68  or the seat position functions  72 . In another embodiment, the controllable devices  22  are represented in windows on the display  34  in an arrangement analogous to the actual positions of the controllable devices  22  in the vehicle.  
         [0024]    Heretofore, the interaction between the touchpad  10  and the cursor  54  has been discussed in relative position. For example, the position of the cursor  54  on the display  34  is adjusted relative to the motion of the finger  16  on the touchpad  10 . Alternatively, the position of the cursor  54  on the display  34  may be adjusted according to an absolute position of the finger  16  on the touchpad  10 , as is known in the art. For example, the exact position of the finger  16  on the touchpad  10  is directly translated to the position of the cursor  54  on the display  34 .  
         [0025]    Referring now to FIGS. 1B and 7, a further embodiment of the present invention incorporates a feedback device  80 . When activated, the feedback device  80  actuates, causing the user to experience a tangible vibration through the touchpad  10 . The feedback device  80  provides the user with indicia relating to the user&#39;s interaction with the touchpad  10  and the display  34 . For example, as the user slides a finger across the touchpad  10 , the feedback device  80  may actuate at discrete intervals to indicate the position of the cursor  54 . In particular, the feedback device  80  may actuate when the cursor  54  is moved to a different area of the display  34 . For example, the feedback device  80  actuates when the cursor  54  is moved from the mode function  44  to the tuning function  42 , as shown in FIG. 2A. Additionally, the feedback device  80  actuates when the cursor  54  is moved over a control button such as the tuning control button  56 , as shown in FIG. 2B. The feedback device  80  may also actuate when the cursor is moved from the primary window  38  to the secondary window  60  or  62 .  
         [0026]    In this manner, the feedback device  80  enables the user to navigate the selectable devices on the display  34  while maintaining focus on driving the vehicle. It is therefore not necessary for the user to look at the display  34  while navigating and interacting with the selectable devices. In another embodiment, the feedback device  80  actuates when the user taps the touchpad  10  to select a function or device. The user can be confident that a function or device was properly selected without directing his or her attention away from the road. Other variations of the feedback device  80  are anticipated. Any suitable actuator that is operable to provide vibration or tapping to the touchpad  10  may be used.  
         [0027]    Referring now to FIG. 8, an exemplary system architecture  82  according to the present invention is shown. The touchpad  10  generates an input signal  84  indicative of user interaction with the touchpad  10 . A command processor  86  of the software module  20  processes the input signal  84 . The command processor  86  generates an output signal  88  according to the input signal  84  and communicates the output signal  88  to the display  34 . The display  34  dynamically presents data such as cursor position and window arrangement according to the output signal  88 .  
         [0028]    Referring still to FIG. 8, the command processor  86  tracks the position of the user focus, or cursor  54 , according to the input signal  84  and the output signal  88 . More specifically, the command processor  86  tracks the position of the cursor  54  in relation to dynamic display regions  90  of the display  34 . The dynamic display regions  90  correspond to the selectable functions and regions of the display  34  as shown in FIGS. 3A through 5B. The command processor  86  generates a feedback signal  92  according to the position of the cursor  54 . In the preferred embodiment, the command processor  86  generates the feedback signal  92  as the cursor  54  traverses a boundary between the dynamic display regions  90 . The feedback signal  92  is communicated to the feedback device  80 . It is to be understood that the command processor  86  may generate the feedback signal  92  at other instances to indicate the position of the cursor  54  to the user.  
         [0029]    Referring still to FIG. 8, the command processor  86  generates a command signal  94  according to the input signal  84 . The command signal  94  is communicated to the controllable devices  22 . In this manner, the command processor  86  issues commands to the controllable devices  22  according to inputs from the user.  
         [0030]    It is to be understood that the touchpad  10  may be used in combination with other interface devices in the vehicle. For example, a second touchpad may be mounted on the steering wheel or another location, allowing the user to navigate different devices with each touchpad. Additionally, the user may select a particular device with the touchpad  10  and make adjustments thereto with a second touchpad or interface device, such as a dial or knob.  
         [0031]    The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.