Patent Publication Number: US-2023134716-A1

Title: User interface device

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. 10-2021-0146580, 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 disclosure relates to a user interface device, and more particularly, to a user interface device in which a knob for detecting a rotation input is positioned on a display and a display screen displayed on the display may be changed by moving the position of the knob. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In general, 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. 
     Meanwhile, an output device for outputting information from such various systems may be provided in a center fascia of a vehicle. Conventionally, simple output devices such as an indicator lamp are provided in order to output information, but nowadays, a large display may be used in order to output various information to a user as needed. Furthermore, by providing a touch input means in a large display device, a user may intuitively perform an input according to output contents. 
     Recently, as a device for manipulating in-vehicle devices, development of knob-on-display technologies that may provide driving environment information through a display and control in-vehicle systems through a physical manipulation method has been ongoing. A knob allows a driver to manipulate devices precisely without taking their eyes off a road, and enables intuitive and physical control through a moderate sense of resistance. 
     However, such a knob may detect only a simple rotation input, so study on a user interface device that allows a user to control a system through various inputs is required. 
     SUMMARY 
     An aspect of the disclosure is to provide a user interface device in which a knob for detecting a rotation input is positioned on a display and a display screen displayed on the display may be changed by moving the position of the knob. 
     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 display; a rail extending in a first direction parallel to the display at one side of the display; a hinge configured to slide along the rail in the first direction; a knob coupled to the hinge to slide in the first direction on a display surface of the display and configured to detect a rotation input; and a magnet holder disposed to face the hinge in a second direction of the hinge and extending in the first direction; wherein the first magnet is provided on the hinge, the magnet holder is provided with a second magnet and a third magnet, the second and third magnets have different magnetic poles from that of the first magnet on facing surface thereagainst, and the first magnet reacts by an magnetic force of the second and third magnets so that the knob is held to a first position or a second position, respectively, on the display surface of the display. 
     The user interface device may further include a hinge sensor configured to detect a position of the hinge. 
     A display content displayed on the display may be switched depending on an output of the hinge sensor. 
     Upon determining that the knob is positioned at the first position by the output of the hinge sensor, the display may display a first display content predetermined, and upon determining that the knob is positioned at the second position, the display may display a second display content predetermined. 
     The first display content may include a first image displayed in a first area including the first position. 
     The second display content includes a second image displayed in a second area including the second position. 
     The knob may include a hollow portion, the first display content includes a first image displayed on the first position, the second display content includes a second image displayed on the second position, and the first and second images are seen through the hollow portion. 
     The user interface device may further include a case in which the rail and the magnet holder are accommodated therein so as not to be exposed to the outside. 
     The knob is configured to slide while spacing apart from the display surface of the display by a predetermined distance. 
    
    
     
       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; 
         FIG.  2    is a schematic view illustrating a configuration of a user interface device according to an embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG.  3    is a schematic view illustrating a configuration of a user interface device according to an embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIGS.  4 A to  4 C  are schematic views illustrating a state in which display contents are switched according to positions of a knob in a user interface device according to an embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG.  5    is a schematic view illustrating an area set on a display of a user interface device according to an embodiment of the disclosure; and 
         FIG.  6    is a schematic view illustrating an image displayed on a display 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, and  FIGS.  2  and  3    are schematic views illustrating a configuration of 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 slidably move on a display surface of the display  100  and may detect a rotation input. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  2  and  3   , the user interface device  1000  may include the display  100 , a rail  280  provided to extend in a first direction (indicated by an arrow in  FIG.  2   ) parallel to the display  100  on one side of the display  100 , a hinge  300  sliding along the rail  280  in the first direction, the knob  200  coupled to the hinge  300  to slide in the first direction on the display surface of the display  100  and detect the rotation input, a magnet holder  400  disposed in a second direction of the hinge  300  opposite to the hinge  300  and extending in the first direction, and a hinge sensor  500  detecting a position of the hinge  300 . 
     Meanwhile, as shown in  FIG.  1   , the user interface device  1000  may further include a case  150  in which the rail  280 , the magnet holder  400 , and the hinge sensor  500  are accommodated therein so as not to be exposed to the outside. The case  150  may be provided to cover an area close to the knob  200  in order to minimize the exposure of the hinge  300 , and the hinge  300  may have a surface similar to the material of the display  100  so as not to be not easily noticeable on the display  100 . 
     The display  100  may display information necessary for a user. For example, the display  100  may be a touch display device including a touch panel (not shown). The user may input information into the user interface device  1000  through such a touch panel or may input information through a manipulation of the knob  200 . 
     The knob  200  may detect a rotation input by a user&#39;s manipulation. To this end, the knob  200  may include a knob body that rotates about a rotation axis. The knob  200  may include a hollow portion  290 . 
     The knob  200  is coupled to the hinge  300 , and the hinge  300  may slide along the rail  280  in the first direction. Accordingly, the knob  200  may also slide in the first direction. At this time, the knob  200  may slide on the display surface of the display  100 . 
     On the other hand, the hinge sensor  500  detects a position of the hinge  300 . Because the hinge sensor  500  detects the position of the hinge  300 , the user may input information into the user interface device  1000  through the hinge sensor  500  by sliding the knob  200  coupled to the hinge  300  to move the position of the hinge  300 . 
     Accordingly, the user may input information by touching the display surface of the display  100 , or may input information by sliding or rotating the knob  200  positioned on the display surface. 
     On the other hand, as shown in  FIG.  3   , the knob  200  may be slid while spacing apart from the display surface of the display  100  by a predetermined distance A. As such, the knob  200  moves apart from the display surface of the display  100 , so that damages to the display surface may be prevented and further erroneous input to the touch panel provided on the display surface may be prevented. 
     On the other hand, as shown in  FIG.  2   , the hinge  300  may be provided with a first magnet  310 , and the magnet holder  400  may be provided with a second magnet  410 , a third magnet  420 , and a fourth magnet  430 . Furthermore, the second, third and fourth magnets  410 ,  420  and  430  have different magnetic poles from the first magnet  310  on facing surface thereagainst. At this time, the first magnet  310  reacts by the magnetic force of the second magnet, the third magnet and the fourth magnet  410 ,  420  and  430 , so that the knob  200  may be held a first position, a second position, and a third position on the display surface of the display  100 , respectively. 
     In other words, because an attractive force acts between the plurality of magnets  410 ,  420  and  430  and the first magnet  310  of the hinge  300 , when the first magnet  310  of the hinge  300  is positioned at a position corresponding to each of the plurality of magnets  410 ,  420  and  430  of the magnet holder  400 , the facing magnets may be held by an magnetic force. 
     In the case of that three magnets  410 ,  420  and  430  are provided in the magnet holder  400 , the hinge  300  may be held at three positions corresponding to each magnet, and accordingly, the knob  200  coupled to the hinge  300  may also be held to three positions (a first position, a second position, and a third position) on the display surface of the display  100 . 
     On the other hand, as shown in  FIGS.  2  and  3   , the hinge sensor  500  may detect a position of an extension portion  320  extending to one side from the hinge  300 . The extension portion  320  extends from the hinge  300  to one side (a lower side in  FIG.  3   ), and the hinge sensor  500  may detect the position of the extension portion  320  through a plurality of sensors  510 ,  520  and  530  fixed to the hinge sensor fixing portion  540 , thereby detecting the position of the hinge  300 . 
     Meanwhile, the number of sensors of the hinge sensor  500  may match the number of magnets provided in the magnet holder  400 . At this time, each sensor  510 ,  520  and  530  of the hinge sensor  500  may detect the position of the hinge  300  fixed by each magnet  410 ,  420  and  430  of the magnet holder  400 . In other words, the first hinge sensor  510  may detect whether the knob  200  is at the first position in response to that the first magnet  310  of the hinge  300  is held by the magnetic force of the second magnet  410  of the magnet holder  400 . Furthermore, the second hinge sensor  520  may detect whether the knob  200  is at the second position in response to that the first magnet  310  of the hinge  300  is held by the magnetic force of the third magnet  420  of the magnet holder  400 . Furthermore, the third hinge sensor  530  may detect whether the knob  200  is at the third position in response to that the first magnet  310  of the hinge  300  is held by the magnetic force of the fourth magnet  430  of the magnet holder  400 . 
       FIGS.  4 A- 4 C  are schematic views illustrating a state in which display contents are switched according to positions of a knob in a user interface device according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
     In the user interface device  1000  of an embodiment of the disclosure, the user may input information by sliding the knob  200 . In this case, the display  100  of the user interface device  1000  may switch display contents according to an output of the hinge sensor  500 . In other words, the display  100  may switch the display contents according to the output of the hinge sensor  500  that varies depending on the position of the knob  200 . 
     In other words, upon determining that the knob  200  is positioned at the first position  10  by the output of the hinge sensor  500  the display  100  displays a first display content predetermined, upon determining that the knob  200  is positioned at the second position  20  the display  100  displays a second display content predetermined, and upon determining that the knob  200  is positioned at the third position  30  the display  100  displays a third display content predetermined. 
     The first display content, the second display content and the third display content may be determined by an operation mode of the user interface device  1000  determined by the position of the knob  200 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG.  4   , when the knob  200  is positioned at the first position  10  as shown in  FIG.  4 A , the user interface device  1000  may be switched to a heating, ventilation, &amp; air conditioning (HVAC) mode for controlling indoor air conditioning of the vehicle, resulting in displaying the first display content including buttons for identifying an indoor air conditioning state and controlling an indoor air conditioning state of the vehicle. Furthermore, when the knob  200  is positioned at the second position  20  as shown in  FIG.  4 B , the user interface device  1000  may be switched to a navigation mode, resulting in displaying the second display content including buttons for controlling a map around current vehicle, route guidance, and navigation to a destination. When the knob  200  is positioned at the third position  30  as shown in  FIG.  4 C , the user interface device  1000  may be switched to a system control mode of the vehicle, resulting in displaying the third display content including buttons for identifying a current overall state the vehicle and controlling the same. 
     As described above, the user may change the operation mode of the user interface device  1000  by sliding the knob  200  on the display surface of the display  100 , thereby changing the display contents of the display  100 , and the knob  200  may be held depending on the positions of the plurality of magnets  410 ,  420  and  430  provided in the magnet holder  400  so as not to easily move in the corresponding positions. 
       FIG.  5    is a schematic view illustrating an area set on a display of a user interface device according to an embodiment of the disclosure, and  FIG.  6    is a schematic view illustrating an image displayed on a display of a user interface device according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
     As shown in  FIG.  5   , the knob  200  may be held to the first position  10 , the second position  20 , or the third position  30  on the display surface of the display  100 . As described above, the contents displayed on the display  100  may be switched depending on the positions of the knob  200 . In this case, the first display content includes a first image displayed in a first area  15  including a first position  10 . The second display content includes a second image displayed in a second area  25  including a second position  20 , and the third display content includes a third image displayed in a third area  35  including a third position  30 . 
     The first area  15 , the second area  25  and the third area  35  may be set in the display  100 , respectively. In this case, the first area  15 , the second area  25  and the third area  35  include the first position  10 , the second position  20 , and the third position  30 , respectively. In the embodiment shown in  FIG.  5   , the first area  15 , the second area  25  and the third area  35  are set as circular areas centered at the first position  10 , the second position  20  and the third position  30 , respectively. 
     The first display content, the second display content and the third display content displayed through the display  100  may include a specific image displayed in the vicinity of the knob  200  when the corresponding display content is displayed, respectively. In this way, by displaying a specific image near the knob  200 , the user can visually and clearly identify the position of the knob  200 , and can easily grasp information based on the position of the knob  200 . 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG.  5   , since the knob  200  is positioned at the second position  20 , the display  100  displays the second display content. At this time, since the second display content includes the second image displayed in the second area  25 , the second image is displayed in the second area  25 . 
     On the other hand, the knob  200  may include a hollow portion  290  as shown in  FIG.  2   . As such, in the knob  200  including the hollow portion  290 , the first image, the second image, and the third image may be seen through the hollow portion  290 . According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the first to third images displayed to be seen through the hollow portion  290  may include icons and characters indicating the current operation mode of the user interface apparatus  1000 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG.  5   , since the knob  200  is positioned at the second position  20 , the user interface device  1000  may operate in the navigation mode, and the second image including a navigation icon and a NAVIGATION character may be displayed at the position corresponding to the hollow portion  290  of the knob  200 . At the same time, in the second area  25  corresponding to the outside of the knob  200 , the second image of a gradation color surrounding the knob  200  to emphasize the periphery thereof may be displayed. 
     Referring to  FIG.  6   , when the knob  200  is in the first position  10 , as shown in  FIG.  5   , the appearance of the first image displayed in the first area  15  adjacent to the knob  200  may be identified. As shown in  FIG.  6   , the first image is displayed not only to the first position  10  where the knob  200  is positioned, but also to the first area  15  that is extended to the vicinity thereof including the first position  10 , thereby focusing a user&#39;s gaze to the position where the knob  200  is positioned. 
     As is apparent from the above, the user interface device  1000  according to an embodiment of disclosure may change the display contents by receiving an input by the position of the knob  200  in addition to the rotation input of the knob  200  through the knob  200  sliding on the display  100 . 
     Further, the user interface device  1000  according to an embodiment of disclosure may hold the knob  200  that slides using a magnet at a predetermined position. 
     Further, the user interface device  1000  according to an embodiment of disclosure may change the display contents depending on the positions of the knob, and display an image at the position of the knob to intuitively provide information to the user. 
     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.