Patent Publication Number: US-2023136995-A1

Title: Levitating user-interface gadget

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
     This application is based on and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2021-0146541, filed on Oct. 29, 2021 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a levitating type user interface device, and more particularly, to a levitating user interface device that detects a user&#39;s input by levitating in a holder by a magnetic force of a magnet. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Generally, vehicles have a center fascia, which is provided with various systems that may be controlled by a user. For example, such various systems provided in a center fascia of a vehicle include navigation, radio, and air conditioning control system, and the like. To control such various systems, an input device for receiving a user&#39;s input may be provided. 
     Recently, a center fascia of a vehicle does not merely serve to input/output information, but a key role in an interior design of the vehicle. In other words, interior designs of the vehicle may be configured through an overall shape the center fascia, through the shape and arrangement of input devices such as buttons and knobs and of output devices such as displays and ambient lights, and further have become very important in providing a user experience (UX) that may give users a new feeling. 
     SUMMARY 
     An aspect of the disclosure is to provide a user interface device capable of detecting a user&#39;s input by levitating in a holder by a magnetic force of a magnet. 
     Additional aspects of the disclosure will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the disclosure. 
     In accordance with an aspect of the disclosure, a user interface device includes a levitating knob configured to detect an input by a user&#39;s manipulation; a knob holder configured to be held when the levitating knob does not levitate; a lifting driver provided below the knob holder so that the levitating knob rises from the knob holder and levitates; and an anti-separation section disposed to be spaced apart from the levitating knob by a predetermined distance so that the raised levitating knob does not deviate from an upper side of the knob holder; and wherein the levitating knob is provided with a first magnet, the lift driver is provided with a second magnet arranged to face the first magnet, the second magnet having the same pole as that of the first magnet on facing surface thereagainst, the lift driver is configured to levitate or hold the levitating knob by driving up or down the second magnet. 
     The levitating knob may include a knob cover forming an exterior of the levitating knob, a first light emitting device disposed inside the knob cover, and an input detector configured to detect the input by the user&#39;s manipulation, wherein the knob cover is partially or entirely formed of a light-transmitting material. 
     The first light emitting device may change color or brightness thereof based on detection information of the input detector. 
     The levitating knob may further include a wireless communicator for performing wireless communication with an external device, and the first light emitting device may change color or brightness based on a signal received through the wireless communicator. 
     The knob holder further may include a power supply for supplying power to the levitating knob, and the levitating knob further includes a power receiver configured to receive power from the power supply; and a rechargeable battery configured to store the supplied power. 
     The power supply may be a wireless charging device. 
     The user interface device may further include a second light emitting device configured to apply a lighting to the anti-separation section. 
     The anti-separation section may be formed of a light-transmitting material, and the second light emitting device applies a lighting to an inside of the anti-separation section. 
     The levitating knob may include an input detector configured to detect an input by a user&#39;s manipulation, and the second light emitting device may change color or brightness based on detection information of the input detector. 
     The levitating knob may be provided with a protrusion having a shape protruding along an outer circumferential surface in a horizontal direction thereof, and the anti-separation section is arranged to be spaced apart by a predetermined distance so as to cover all or a part of an upper side of the protrusion of the levitating knob. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and/or other aspects of the disclosure will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the exemplary embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, of which: 
         FIG.  1    is a schematic view illustrating a user interface device according to an embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIGS.  2 A and  2 B  are schematic views illustrating a levitating operation of a levitating knob of a user interface device according to an embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG.  3    is a schematic view illustrating a structure of a user interface device according to an embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG.  4    is a schematic view illustrating an appearance of a levitating knob according to an embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG.  5    is a schematic view illustrating an operation of a light emitting device of a user interface device according to an embodiment of the disclosure; and 
         FIGS.  6 A and  6 B  are schematic views illustrating a knob anti-deviation structure of a user interface device according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Hereinafter, the embodiments of the disclosure will be described in detail with reference to accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the terms used in the specification and the appended claims should not be construed as limited to general and dictionary meanings, but interpreted based on the meanings and concepts corresponding to technical aspects of the disclosure on the basis of the principle that the inventor is allowed to define terms appropriately for the best explanation. Therefore, the description proposed herein is just a preferable example for the purpose of illustrations only, not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, so it should be understood that other equivalents and modifications could be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. 
       FIG.  1    is a schematic view illustrating a user interface device according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
     A user interface device  1000  may be provided on a center fascia of a vehicle to concisely provide driving environment information through a display  100 , and at the same time, control an in-vehicle system through a physical manipulation method of a knob  200 . The knob  200  may slide on a display surface of the display  100  and may detect a rotation input. 
     On the other hand, the user interface apparatus  1000  may include a levitating knob  600  to detect an input by a user&#39;s manipulation. As shown in  FIG.  1   , the levitating knob  600  may detect a user&#39;s input by rising or falling at a predetermined mounting position. A user may manipulate the levitating knob  600  by touching, rotating, or pressing down. 
       FIG.  2    is a schematic view illustrating a levitating operation of the levitating knob of a user interface device according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
     Referring to  FIG.  2   , the user interface device  1000  may include the levitating knob  600  for detecting an input by a user&#39;s manipulation; a knob holder  700  mounted when the levitating knob  600  is not levitating, and a lifting driver  800  provided under the knob holder so that the levitating knob  600  rises and floats in the knob holder  700 . 
       FIG.  2 A  shows a state in which the levitating knob  600  is mounted on the knob holder (or a mounting portion)  700 . 
     The levitating knob  600  may be provided with a first magnet  610 . In this case, the lifting driver  800  may include a second magnet  810  disposed to face the first magnet  610  so that the first magnet  610  and the second magnet  810  have the same poles on facing surfaces. The lifting driver  800  may levitate or hold (or settle) the levitating knob  600  by driving the second magnet  810  upward or downward. 
       FIG.  2 B  shows the levitating knob  600  rises from the knob holder  700  and levitates. As shown in  FIG.  2 B , the lifting driver  800  lifts the second magnet  810  so that the first magnet  610  provided in the levitating knob is pushed up by a magnetic force of the second magnet  810  to rise. The lifting driver  800  may include an actuator device capable of linearly driving the second magnet  810  to ascend and descend. 
     At this time, lifting and driving distances of the second magnet  810  may be adjusted so that the levitating knob  600  rises from the knob holder  700  by a predetermined height to levitate. 
       FIG.  3    is a schematic view illustrating a structure of a user interface device according to an embodiment of the disclosure, and  FIG.  4    is a schematic view illustrating a state of the levitating knob according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
     Referring to  FIG.  3   , the levitating knob  600  may include a knob cover  620  that forms an exterior of the levitating knob  600 , a first light emitting device  630  disposed inside the knob cover  620 , an input detector  640  for detecting an input by a user&#39;s manipulation, and a knob controller  650  for controlling an operation of the levitating knob. 
     In this case, the knob cover  620  may be partially or entirely formed of a light-transmitting material. 
     Referring to  FIG.  4   , an appearance of the knob cover  620  may be seen in more detail. In the embodiment shown in  FIG.  4   , the knob cover  620  may include an upper cover  620   a  that forms an upper surface of the levitating knob  600 , a lower cover  620   b  that forms a lower surface of the levitating knob  600 , a side cover  620   c  that forms a side of the levitating knob  600 , an upper surface decorative layer  620   d  for refracting or reflecting light generated from the first light emitting device  630  inside the upper cover  620   a,  and a lower decorative layer  620   e  for refracting or reflecting light generated from the first light emitting device  630  inside the lower cover  620   b.  The first magnet  610  may be provided inside the lower surface decoration layer  620   e.    
     The upper and lower covers  620   a  and  620   b  may be formed of a transparent light-transmitting material so that light generated from the first light emitting device  630  there inside may be transmitted to the outside. 
     The upper and lower decorative layers  620   d  and  620   e  refract or reflect light generated from the first light emitting device  630 . To this end, the upper and lower decorative layers  620   d  and  620   e  may have a polyhedral shape having a plurality of surfaces (or sides) and corners as shown in  FIG.  4   . Light generated from the first light emitting device  630  may be refracted or reflected through the plurality of surfaces and corners, or selectively transmit only the light in a predetermined wavelength range to express the colors. 
     Referring to  FIG.  3   , the knob holder  700  may include a power supply  710  for supplying power to the levitating knob  600 . The levitating knob  600  may be held on the knob holder  700 , but because it may rise and levitate from the knob holder  700 , the power supply  710  is provided as a flexible material to continuously supply power even if the levitating knob  600  is levitating or held. 
     In another embodiment, the power supply  710  may supply power when the levitating knob  600  is held on the knob holder  700 , and may not supply power when the levitating knob  600  is levitating from the knob holder  700 . In this embodiment, the power supply  710  is provided with an electrode coming into contact with the levitating knob  600 , and when the levitating knob  600  is held on the knob holder, the levitating knob  600  may be in contact with the electrode of the power supply  710  to receive power. 
     In another embodiment, the power supply  710  may be a wireless charging device. When the power supply  710  is provided as a wireless charging device, the power supply unit  710  may supply power even if not in direct contact with the levitating knob  600 . 
     On the other hand, the knob controller  650  may include a wireless communicator capable of performing wireless communication with an external device, a power receiver  660  for receiving power from the power supply  710 , and a rechargeable battery for storing the supplied power. 
     The knob controller  650  may including the power receiver  660  and the rechargeable battery to receive and store power from the power supply  710  of the knob holder  700 . In one embodiment, the levitating knob  600  may receive power through the power receiver  660  only when it is held on the knob holder  700  and stores the power in the rechargeable battery, and may perform the operation using the power stored in the rechargeable battery only when it rises and levitates from the knob holder  700 . 
     On the other hand, the knob controller  650  may include a wireless communication to perform wireless communication with an external device. Because the levitating knob  600  levitates in the air and operates, transmission of a detecting result input by a user&#39;s manipulation to an external device is required. At this time, the wireless communicator may transmit and receive information without wiring connected to an external device by performing wireless communication. 
     The input detector  640  may detect an input by a user&#39;s manipulation. The user may manipulate the levitating knob  600  in various ways, such as touching, rotating, or pressing down. At this time, the input detector  640  detects the user&#39;s manipulation, converts it into an electric signal, and transmits it to the knob controller  650 . To detect such a user&#39;s manipulation, the input detector  640  may include various types of detecting devices such as a touch sensor, a gyroscope, and the like. 
     The first light emitting device  630  may selectively generate light of two or more colors. For example, the first light emitting device  630  may include red, green and blue light emitting diodes (RGB LEDs). The color or brightness of the first light emitting device  630  may be changed based on the operation of the user interface device  1000 . In other words, the first light emitting device  630  may change color or brightness thereof based on a signal received through the wireless communicator. Accordingly, the user may visually identify the operation of the user interface device  1000  by visually identifying the levitating knob  600  illuminated by the first light emitting device  630 . 
     Meanwhile, the first light emitting device  630  may change color or brightness based on detection information of the input detector  640 . When the color or brightness of the first light emitting device  630  is changed based on the detection information of the input detector  640 , the user may immediately identify that the input through the levitating knob  600  is normally performed, thereby improving feeling of manipulation. For example, the user may apply a touch input to the levitating knob  600 , the input detector  640  detects the touch input, and the first light emitting device  630  change the color based on the detecting result of the input detector, so that the user may visually identify that the touch input is normally performed. 
     On the other hand, the user interface device  1000  may further include a anti-separation section  900  arranged to be spaced apart from the levitating knob  600  by a predetermined distance so that the raised levitating knob  600  does not deviate from the upper side of the knob holder  700 , and a second light emitting device  950  that illuminates the anti-separation section  900 . 
     The anti-separation section  900  has a ring shape spaced a predetermined distance from the side of the levitating knob  600  in a levitating state as shown in  FIG.  3   , and may be fixedly coupled to a cover  750  of the knob holder  700  through a plurality of legs. As such, because the anti-separation section  900  has a shape surrounding the side surface of the levitating knob  600  in a levitating state, the levitating knob  600  may be prevented from deviating to the side. Likewise, because the anti-separation section  900  has a shape surrounding the side surface of the levitating knob  600  in a levitating state and is spaced apart from the levitating knob  600  by a predetermined distance, thereby not disturbing the levitating knob  600  being levitating. 
     At this time, the anti-separation section  900  is formed of a light-transmitting material, and the second light emitting device  950  may apply a lighting to the inside of the anti-separation section  900 . As such, when the second light emitting device  950  applies a lighting from the inside of the anti-separation section  900  made of a light-transmitting material rather than from the outside of the anti-separation section  900 , the light is indirectly spread through the light-transmitting material, thereby enhancing aesthetics. In the embodiment shown in  FIG.  3   , the second light emitting device  950  may apply a lighting to the interior of the anti-separation section  900  at a position where the legs of the anti-separation section  900  is coupled with the cover  750  of the knob holder  700 . 
     The second light emitting device  950  may selectively generate light of two or more colors. For example, the second light emitting device  950  may include RGB LEDs. The color or brightness of the second light emitting device  950  may be changed based on the detection information of the input detector. Like the first light emitting device  630 , the second light emitting device  950  may change color or brightness based on the operation of the user interface device  1000 . Accordingly, the user may visually identify the operation of the user interface device  1000  by visually identifying the anti-separation section  900  that is illuminated by the second light emitting device  950 . In this case, the color or brightness of the second light emitting device  950  may change independently of the color or brightness of the first light emitting device  630 . 
     Meanwhile, the second light emitting device  950  may change color or brightness based on the detection information of the input detector  640 . When the color or brightness of the second light emitting device  950  is changed based on the detection information of the input detector  640 , the user may immediately identify that the input through the levitating knob  600  is normally performed, thereby improving the feeling of manipulation. 
       FIG.  5    is a schematic view illustrating the operation of the light emitting devices of a user interface device according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
     In  FIG.  5   , in the user interface device  1000  as described above, the first and second light emitting devices  630  and  950  generate light to illuminate the levitating knob  600  and the anti-separation section  900 . In  FIG.  5   , the first light emitting device  630  applies red light so that the levitating knob  600  appears red to the user, and the second light emitting device  950  applies blue light so that the anti-separation section  900  appears blue to the user. 
     At this time, based on the detection information of the input detector  640  of the levitating knob  600  or the operation of the user interface device  1000 , the color or brightness of the first and second light emitting devices  630  and  950  may be changed. In this case, the color or brightness of the first and second light emitting devices  630  and  950  may change independently. In other words, even when the color of the first light emitting device  630  is changed from red to green, the color of the second light emitting device  950  may be maintained in blue. Furthermore, while the color of the first light emitting device  630  is maintained in red, only the color of the second light emitting device  950  may change from blue to green. 
       FIG.  6    is a schematic view illustrating a knob anti-deviation structure of a user interface device according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
     The user interface device  1000  of the disclosure may be installed on the center fascia of the vehicle, so the user interface device  1000  needs to prevent the levitating knob  600  levitating in the air from deviating when a sudden stop or rapid acceleration is made according to the operation of the vehicle. In the case of the anti-separation section  900  shown in  FIGS.  3  and  5   , it is disposed on the side of the levitating knob  600  to prevent the levitating knob  600  from being separated to the side. 
     Meanwhile,  FIGS.  6 A and  6 B  show the user interface device  1000  capable of preventing the levitating knob  600  from being separated from the side as well as from being separated from the upper side.  FIG.  6 A  is a view illustrating the levitating knob  600  and the anti-separation section  900  of the user interface device  1000 , and FIG.  6 B is a side view illustrating the levitating knob  600  and the anti-separation section  900 . 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG.  6   , the levitating knob  600  has a protrusion  670  having a protruding shape along an outer circumferential surface in a horizontal direction thereof, and the anti-separation section  900  may be disposed to be spaced apart by a predetermined distance so as to cover all or part of the upper side of the protrusion  670  of the levitating knob  200 . To this end, as shown in  FIG.  6   , the anti-separation section  900  may have a section end  910  extending above the protrusion  670 . 
     When the section end  910  extends to the upper side of the protrusion  670  as shown in  FIG.  6   , it is possible to prevent the levitating knob  600  from being separated upward. Meanwhile, because the section end  910  extends to the upper side of the protrusion  670  protruding along the outer circumferential surface, the upper surface of the levitating knob  600  is exposed to the user without being covered by the anti-separation section  900 . Accordingly, the user may operate the levitating knob  600  through the exposed upper surface. 
     As is apparent from the above, the user interface device  1000  according to the embodiment of the disclosure may provide a new user experience by detecting the user&#39;s input while the levitating knob  600  is levitating in the holder. 
     Further, the user interface device  1000  according to the embodiment of the disclosure may provide feedback to the user by changing the color or brightness of the light emitting device according to the user&#39;s input. 
     Further, the user interface device  1000  according to the embodiment of the disclosure may prevent the levitating knob from deviating from the set position while levitating through the anti-separation section. 
     As described above, although a few embodiments of the disclosure have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the disclosure, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.