Source: http://patents.com/us-9891756.html
Timestamp: 2018-11-20 20:24:46
Document Index: 683844666

Matched Legal Cases: ['Application No. 16159422', 'Application No. 201410425922', 'Application No. 14002910', 'Application No. 15001174', 'Application No. 10', 'Application No. 15001174']

US Patent # 9,891,756. Vehicle display apparatus including capacitive and light-based input sensors - Patents.com
United States Patent 9,891,756
Cho , et al. February 13, 2018
Vehicle display apparatus including capacitive and light-based input sensors
Cho; Youngjun (Seoul, KR), Joung; Munchae (Seoul, KR), Kim; Sunuk (Seoul, KR)
Family ID: 1000003115934
15/064,741
US 20160266723 A1 Sep 15, 2016
Mar 10, 2015 [KR] 10-2015-0033216
Current CPC Class: G06F 3/0428 (20130101); G06F 3/017 (20130101); G06F 3/044 (20130101); G06F 3/048 (20130101); G06F 3/0416 (20130101); G06F 3/0421 (20130101); G06F 2203/04806 (20130101); B60K 2350/1028 (20130101); B60K 2350/1052 (20130101); G06F 2203/04101 (20130101); G06F 2203/04106 (20130101)
Current International Class: G06F 3/042 (20060101); G06F 3/01 (20060101); G06F 3/044 (20060101); G06F 3/041 (20060101); G06F 3/048 (20130101)
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1. A vehicle display apparatus comprising: a display; a touch sensor provided on an upper surface or a lower surface of the display; a plurality of light emitting units provided at a periphery of the display and configured to sequentially emit light; a plurality of light receiving units provided at the periphery of the display and configured to sequentially receive light in correspondence with the plurality of light emitting units that sequentially emit light; and a processor configured to: calculate intensity levels of light signals received by the plurality of light receiving units; and calculate a position of an external object based on the intensity levels of light signals received by the plurality of light receiving units, wherein the processor is further configured to: calculate that a user's hand corresponds to the external object and is positioned between a first distance value and a second distance value from the display, the second distance value being smaller than the first distance value; based on the calculation that the user's hand corresponds to the external object and is positioned between the first distance value and the second distance value from the display, calculate a motion of the user's hand based on the light emitting units and the light receiving units; calculate that the user's hand is positioned between the second distance value and a third distance value from the display or is positioned within the third distance value from the display, the third distance value being smaller than the second distance value; and based on the calculation that the user's hand is positioned between the second distance value and the third distance value from the display or is positioned within the third distance value from the display: calculate a capacitance change sensed by the touch sensor; and calculate position information of the user's hand based on the calculated capacitance change sensed by the touch sensor.
2. The vehicle display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to calculate the position of the external object based on the intensity levels of light signals received by the plurality of light receiving units by: calculating a plurality of center points between the plurality of light emitting units and the plurality of light receiving units, each of the plurality of center points corresponding to a position between one of the plurality of light emitting units and one of the plurality of light receiving units; calculating a light signal pattern of received light corresponding to each of the plurality of center points; and calculating the position of the external object based on the light signal pattern of received light corresponding to each of the plurality of center points and the intensity levels of the light signals received by the plurality of light receiving units.
3. The vehicle display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to calculate the position of the external object based on the intensity levels of light signals received by the plurality of light receiving units by: calculating a plurality of center points between the plurality of light emitting units and the plurality of light receiving units, each of the plurality of center points corresponding to a position between one of the plurality of light emitting units and one of the plurality of light receiving units; selecting a center point among the plurality of center points based on the intensity levels of the light signals received by the plurality of light receiving units; and calculating the selected center point as the position of the external object.
7. The vehicle display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to: based on a calculation that the user's hand is positioned between the second distance value and the third distance value from the display, set a size of a touch sensing cell to a first size; and based on a calculation that the user's hand is positioned within the third distance value from the display, set the size of the touch sensing cell to a second size, which is smaller than the first size.
8. The vehicle display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to: calculate that a user's hand corresponds to the external object; calculate that a motion trajectory of the user's hand corresponds to a circular trajectory; and based on the calculation that the motion trajectory of the user's hand corresponds to the circular trajectory, control an initiation of a zoom mode for zooming-in or zooming-out of at least a part of an image displayed on the display.
9. The vehicle display apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the processor is configured to: calculate whether the user's hand approaches the display or moves away from the display after the initiation of the zoom mode; based on a calculation that the user's hand approaches the display, control a zooming-in of the at least a part of the image displayed on the display after the initiation of the zoom mode; and based on a calculation that the user's hand moves away from the display, control a zooming-out of the at least a part of the image displayed on the display after the initiation of the zoom mode.
10. The vehicle display apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to: calculate that the vehicle display apparatus is in a state of displaying a map image on the display; calculate that input corresponding to the circular trajectory is received in the state of displaying the map image on the display; and control display of a magnifier object for zooming-in or zooming-out of the map image on the display based on the calculation that the input corresponding to the circular trajectory is received in the state of displaying the map image on the display.
11. The vehicle display apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the processor is configured to: calculate that the vehicle display apparatus is in a state of displaying a map image on the display; calculate that input corresponding to the circular trajectory is received in the state of displaying the map image on the display; and control the initiation of the zoom mode for zooming-in or zooming-out of the map image based on the calculation that the input corresponding to the circular trajectory is received in the state of displaying the map image on the display.
12. The vehicle display apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the processor is further configured to: calculate that the vehicle display apparatus is in a state of displaying a map image on the display; calculate that input corresponding to the circular trajectory is received in the state of displaying the map image on the display; and control a display of a magnifier object for zooming-in or zooming-out of the map image on the display based on the calculation that the input corresponding to the circular trajectory is received in the state of displaying the map image on the display.
13. The vehicle display apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the circular trajectory is in a first direction and the processor is further configured to: calculate that the vehicle display apparatus is in a state of displaying the magnifier object for zooming-in or zooming-out of the map image displayed on the display in the zoom mode; calculate that the motion trajectory of the user's hand corresponds to a circular trajectory in a second direction different from the first direction in the state of displaying the magnifier object for zooming-in or zooming-out of the map image displayed on the display in the zoom mode; and control a termination of the magnifier object based on the calculation that the motion trajectory of the user's hand corresponds to the circular trajectory in the second direction different from the first direction in the state of displaying the magnifier object for zooming-in or zooming-out of the map image displayed on the display in the zoom mode.
14. The vehicle display apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the circular trajectory is in a first direction and the processor is further configured to: calculate, after the initiation of the zoom mode, that the motion trajectory of the user's hand corresponds to a circular trajectory in a second direction different from the first direction; and control a termination of the zoom mode based on a calculation that the motion trajectory of the user's hand corresponds to the circular trajectory in the second direction different from the first direction.
15. The vehicle display apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the processor is further configured to: calculate that input corresponding to the circular trajectory is received in a state of displaying a map image on the display; control initiation of the zoom mode for zooming-in or zooming-out of the map image based on a calculation that the input corresponding to the circular trajectory is received in the state of displaying the map image on the display; calculate that the input corresponding to the circular trajectory is received in a state of displaying a first menu screen on the display; and control a display of a second menu screen or a pre-set application execution screen based on the calculation that the input corresponding to the circular trajectory is received in the state of displaying the first menu screen on the display.
16. A method of controlling a vehicle display apparatus, the method comprising: sequentially emitting light through a plurality of light emitting units provided at a periphery of a display of the vehicle display apparatus; sequentially receiving light, through a plurality of light receiving units provided at the periphery of the display, in correspondence with the plurality of light emitting units that sequentially emit light; and calculating intensity levels of light signals received by the plurality of light receiving units; calculating a position of an external object based on the intensity levels of light signals received by the plurality of light receiving units, calculating that a user's hand corresponds to the external object and is positioned between a first distance value and a second distance value from the display, the second distance value being smaller than the first distance value; based on the calculation that the user's hand corresponds to the external object and is positioned between the first distance value and the second distance value from the display, calculating a motion of the user's hand based on the light emitting units and the light receiving units; calculating that the user's hand is positioned between the second distance value and a third distance value from the display or is positioned within the third distance value from the display, the third distance value being smaller than the second distance value; and based on the calculation that the user's hand is positioned between the second distance value and the third distance value from the display or is positioned within the third distance value from the display: calculating a capacitance change sensed by a touch sensor provided on an upper surface or a lower surface of the display; and calculating position information of the user's hand based on the calculated capacitance change sensed by the touch sensor.
17. At least one non-transitory computer-readable recording medium encoded with at least one computer program comprising instructions that, when executed, operate to cause a vehicle display apparatus to perform operations comprising: sequentially emitting light through a plurality of light emitting units provided at a periphery of a display of the vehicle display apparatus; sequentially receiving light, through a plurality of light receiving units provided at the periphery of the display, in correspondence with the plurality of light emitting units that sequentially emit light; and calculating intensity levels of light signals received by the plurality of light receiving units; calculating a position of an external object based on the intensity levels of light signals received by the plurality of light receiving units, calculating that a user's hand corresponds to the external object and is positioned between a first distance value and a second distance value from the display, the second distance value being smaller than the first distance value; based on the calculation that the user's hand corresponds to the external object and is positioned between the first distance value and the second distance value from the display, calculating a motion of the user's hand based on the light emitting units and the light receiving units; calculating that the user's hand is positioned between the second distance value and a third distance value from the display or is positioned within the third distance value from the display, the third distance value being smaller than the second distance value; and based on the calculation that the user's hand is positioned between the second distance value and the third distance value from the display or is positioned within the third distance value from the display: calculating a capacitance change sensed by a touch sensor provided on an upper surface or a lower surface of the display; and calculating position information of the user's hand based on the calculated capacitance change sensed by the touch sensor.
The terms "module" and "unit" attached to describe the names of components are used herein to aid in understanding of the components and thus they should not be considered as having specific meanings or roles. Accordingly, the terms "module" and "unit" may be used interchangeably.
The vehicle display apparatus 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of light emitting units (122a, . . . , 122p of FIG. 3) provided in the periphery of a display 180, a plurality of light receiving units (124a, . . . , 124h of FIG. 3) provided in the periphery of the display 180, and a processor (170 of FIG. 4) configured to calculate the position of an approaching external object based on the levels of light signals received by the plurality of light receiving units (124a, . . . , 124h of FIG. 3). The plurality of light emitting units 122a, . . . , 122p may sequentially emit light, the plurality of light receiving units (124a, . . . , 124h of FIG. 3) may sequentially receive light in correspondence with sequential light emission of the plurality of light emitting units (122a, . . . , 122p of FIG. 3), the processor (170 of FIG. 4) may calculate the position of the external object based on the levels of the light signals received by the plurality of light receiving units (124a, . . . , 124h of FIG. 3) in correspondence with sequential light emission of the plurality of light emitting units (122a, . . . , 122p of FIG. 3).
The plurality of light emitting units 122a, . . . , 122p and the plurality of light receiving units 124a, . . . , 124h may be included in a space sensor (121 of FIG. 4) for sensing approaching or movement of a user's hand.
Next, FIG. 2B shows the plurality of light emitting units 122a, . . . , 122p and the plurality of light receiving units 124a, . . . , 124h included in the space sensor 121 of the display apparatus 100.
In the figure, in consideration of loss of the output light signal, the number of light emitting units 122a, . . . , 122p provided in the periphery of the display 180 is greater than the number of light receiving units 124a, . . . , 124h provided in the periphery of the display 180.
More specifically, the number of light emitting units 122a, . . . , 122p is 16 and the number of light receiving units 124a, . . . , 124h is 8.
The plurality of light emitting units 122a, . . . , 122p is 16 and the plurality of light receiving units 124a, . . . , 124h are preferably spaced apart from each other.
Referring to the figure, the display apparatus 100 may include the plurality of light emitting units 122a, . . . , 122p provided in the periphery of the display 180 and the plurality of light receiving units 124a, . . . , 124h provided in the periphery of the display 180, for calculation of the position of the external object positioned in front of the display.
In the figure, four light emitting units 122a to 122d and two light receiving units 124a and 124b interposed between the four light emitting units 122a to 122d are provided on the upper side of the display 180, four light emitting units 122e to 122h and two light receiving units 124c and 124d interposed between the four light emitting units 122e to 122h are provided on the right side of the display 180, four light emitting units 122i to 122l and two light receiving units 124e and 124f interposed between the four light emitting units 122i to 122l are provided on the lower side of the display 180, and four light emitting units 122m to 122p and two light receiving units 124g and 124h interposed between the four light emitting units 122m to 122p are provided on the left side of the display 180.
In the figure, the plurality of light emitting units 122a, . . . , 122p sequentially emits light in a clockwise direction ROA.
The processor 170 of FIG. 4 may calculate the position of the external object based on the levels of the light signals received by the plurality of light receiving units 124a, . . . , 124b in correspondence with sequential light emission of the plurality of light emitting units 122a, . . . , 122p. In particular, the processor may calculate the position of the user's hand 400.
The light output unit 122 may include a plurality of light emitting units 122a, . . . , 122p provided in the periphery of the display 180 as shown in FIG. 3, in order to sense the user's hand positioned in front of the display apparatus 100.
The plurality of light emitting units 122a, . . . , 122p may sequentially emit light. The output light emitted from the plurality of light emitting units 122a, . . . , 122p may be infrared (IR) light.
The light reception unit 124 may include the plurality of light receiving units 124a, . . . , 124h provided in the periphery of the display 180 as shown in FIG. 3, in order to sense the user's hand positioned in front of the display apparatus 100.
The plurality of light receiving units 124a, . . . , 124h may sequentially receive the output light sequentially emitted from the plurality of light emitting units 122a, . . . , 122p).
In association with the embodiment of the present invention, the processor 170 may calculate the position of the external object based on the levels of the light signals received by the plurality of light receiving units 124a, . . . , 124h in correspondence with sequential light emission of the plurality of light emitting units 122a, . . . , 122p.
For example, the processor 170 may control sequential light emission of the plurality of light emitting units 122a, . . . , 122p and calculate the position of the external object based on the levels of the light signals sequentially received by the plurality of light receiving units 124a, . . . , 124h.
More specifically, the processor 170 may set a plurality of center points between the plurality of light emitting units 122a, . . . , 122p and the plurality of light receiving units 124a, . . . , 124h and calculate the position of the external object based on a light signal pattern of the received light corresponding to each of the plurality of center points and the levels of the light signals received by the plurality of light receiving units 124a, . . . , 124h.
Alternatively, the processor 170 may set a plurality of center points between the plurality of light emitting units 122a, . . . , 122p and the plurality of light receiving units 124a, . . . , 124h, select any one of the plurality of center points based on the levels of the light signals received by the plurality of light receiving units 124a, . . . 124h, and calculate the selected center point as the position of the external object.
First, the plurality of light emitting units 122a, . . . , 122 provided in the periphery of the display 180 sequentially outputs light (S510).
Then, the plurality of light receiving units 124a, . . . , 124h provided in the periphery of the display 180 sequentially receives output light (S515).
The processor 170 calculates the position of the external object, for example, the user's hand, based on the output light emitted from the plurality of light emitting units 122a, . . . , 122p and the light received by the plurality of light receiving units 124a, . . . , 124h (S520).
Alternatively, the processor 170 may set a plurality of center points between the plurality of light emitting units 122a, . . . , 122p and the plurality of light receiving units 124a, . . . , 124h, select any one of the plurality of center points based on the level of each of the light signals received by the plurality of light receiving units 124a, . . . , 124h, and calculate the selected center point as the position of the external object.
FIG. 6A shows light output from the first light emitting unit 122a of the display apparatus 100.
As shown in FIG. 6B, when the user's hand 400 is positioned at a first position P.sub.1 which is between the first light emitting unit 122a and the second light emitting unit 122b, the light output from the first light emitting unit 122a is reflected and scattered and the light is received by the plurality of light receiving units 124a, . . . , 124h.
At this time, the waveforms of the light signals received by the plurality of light receiving units 124a, . . . , 124h are shown in FIG. 6C.
Referring to FIG. 6C, the levels P.sub.a and P.sub.h of the light signals received by the first light receiving unit 124a and the eighth light receiving unit 124h closest to the position of the first light emitting unit 122a and the user's hand 400 are largest, the levels P.sub.b and P.sub.g of the light signals received by the second light receiving unit 124b and the seventh light receiving unit 124g are secondly largest, the levels P.sub.c and P.sub.f of the light signals received by the third light receiving unit 124c and the sixth light receiving unit 124f are thirdly largest, and the levels P.sub.d and P.sub.e of the light signals received by the fourth light receiving unit 124d and the fifth light receiving unit 124e are smallest.
The processor 170 may calculate the first position P1 as the position of the external object, that is, the user's hand 400, when the light signal pattern of the received light shown in FIG. 6C appears, upon light emission of the first light emitting unit 122a.
Next, FIG. 6D shows output light emitted from the first light emitting unit 122a of the display apparatus 100 as shown in FIG. 6A.
As shown in FIG. 6E, when the user's hand 400 is positioned at a second position P.sub.2 between the second light emitting unit 122b and the third light emitting unit 122c, the output light emitted from the first light emitting unit 122a is reflected and scattered and the received light is received by the plurality of light receiving units 124a, . . . , 124h.
The waveforms of the light signals received by the plurality of light receiving units 124a, . . . , 124h are shown in FIG. 6F.
Referring to FIG. 6F, the levels P.sub.a1 and P.sub.h1 of the light signals received by the first light receiving unit 124a and the eighth light receiving unit 124h closest to the position of the first light emitting unit 122a and the user's hand 400 are largest, the levels P.sub.b1 and P.sub.g1 of the light signals received by the second light receiving unit 124b and the seventh light receiving unit 124g are secondly largest, the levels P.sub.e1 and P.sub.f1 of the light signals received by the third light receiving unit 124c and the sixth light receiving unit 124f are thirdly largest, and the levels P.sub.d1 and P.sub.e1 of the light signals received by the fourth light receiving unit 124d and the fifth light receiving unit 124e are smallest.
The levels P.sub.a1, P.sub.b1, P.sub.c1, P.sub.d1, P.sub.e1, P.sub.f1, P.sub.g1 and P.sub.h1 of the light signals received by the light receiving units 124a, . . . , 124h of FIG. 6F may be less than the levels P.sub.a, P.sub.b, P.sub.c, P.sub.d, P.sub.e, P.sub.f, P.sub.g and P.sub.h of the light signals received by the light receiving units 124a, . . . , 124h of FIG. 6C.
The difference between the levels of the received light signals of FIGS. 6F and 6C is caused because the position P.sub.2 of the hand is between the second light emitting unit 122b and the third light emitting unit 122c, which is far from the first light emitting unit 122a.
The processor 170 may calculate the second position P.sub.2 as the position of the external object, that is, the user's hand 400, when the light signal pattern of the received light shown in FIG. 6F appears, upon light emission of the first light emitting unit 122a.
Next, FIG. 6G shows output light emitted from the second light emitting unit 122b of the display apparatus 100 as shown in FIG. 6A.
As shown in FIG. 6H, when the user's hand 400 is positioned at the second position P.sub.2 between the second light emitting unit 122b and the third light emitting unit 122c, the output light emitted from the second light emitting unit 122b is reflected and scattered and the received light is received by the plurality of light receiving units 124a, . . . , 124h.
The waveforms of the light signals received by the plurality of light receiving units 124a, . . . , 124h is shown in FIG. 6I.
Referring to FIG. 6I, the levels P.sub.aa and P.sub.ha of the light signals received by the first light receiving unit 124a and the eighth light receiving unit 124h closest to the position of the first light emitting unit 122a and the user's hand 400 are largest, the levels P.sub.ba and P.sub.ga of the light signals received by the second light receiving unit 124b and the seventh light receiving unit 124g are secondly largest, the levels P.sub.ca and P.sub.fa of the light signals received by the third light receiving unit 124c and the sixth light receiving unit 124f are thirdly largest, and the levels P.sub.da and P.sub.ea of the light signals received by the fourth light receiving unit 124d and the fifth light receiving unit 124e are smallest.
The levels P.sub.aa, P.sub.ca, P.sub.da, P.sub.ea, P.sub.fa, and P.sub.ha among the levels P.sub.aa, P.sub.ba, P.sub.ca, P.sub.da, P.sub.ea, P.sub.fa, P.sub.ga and P.sub.ha of the light signals received by the light receiving units 124a, . . . , 124h of FIG. 6I may be less than the levels P.sub.a, P.sub.c, P.sub.d, P.sub.e, P.sub.f, and P.sub.h of the light signals received by the light receiving units 124a, . . . , 124h of FIG. 6C.
The levels P.sub.ba and P.sub.ga of the light signals received by the second light receiving unit 124b and the seventh light receiving unit 124g are greater than the levels P.sub.b and P.sub.g of the light signals received by the second light receiving unit 124b and the seventh light receiving unit 124g of FIG. 6C.
The difference between the levels of the received light signals of FIGS. 6I and 6C is caused because the position P.sub.2 of the hand is between the second light emitting unit 122b and the third light emitting unit 122c, which is far from the first light emitting unit 122a.
The processor 170 may calculate the second position P.sub.2 as the position of the external object, that is, the user's hand 400, when the light signal pattern of the received light shown in FIG. 6I appears, upon light emission of the second light emitting unit 122b.
As a result, as shown in FIG. 7A, when the plurality of light emitting units 122a, . . . , 122 sequentially emits light in the clockwise direction ROA, the plurality of light receiving units 124a, . . . , 124h receives light in correspondence with sequential light emission.
The processor 170 may calculate the position of the external object based on the levels of the light signals received by the plurality of light receiving units 124a, . . . , 124h in correspondence with sequential light emission of the plurality of light emitting units 122a, . . . , 122p. In particular, the position of the user's hand 400 may be calculated.
As shown in FIG. 7B, the processor 170 may set the plurality of center points between the plurality of light emitting units 122a, . . . , 122p and the plurality of light receiving units 124a, . . . , 124h.
Part (b) of FIG. 7B shows the center of a virtual line 762 between the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit as the center point 764 and part (a) of FIG. 7B shows such center points labeled "x".
The processor 170 may compare the levels of the light signals received by the plurality of light receiving units 124a, . . . , 124h in correspondence with the output light sequentially emitted from the plurality of light emitting units 122a, . . . , 122p and the light signal reception pattern corresponding to the plurality of center points Cp1, Cp2, . . . stored in the memory 140.
The processor 170 may select the light signal reception pattern corresponding to any one center point corresponding to the levels of the light signals received by the plurality of light receiving units 124a, . . . , 124h.
The processor 170 may select any one of the plurality of center points based on the levels of the light signals received by the plurality of light receiving units 124a, . . . , 124h and calculate the selected center point as the position of the external object. Therefore, it is possible to stably calculate the position of the external object.
For example, when the level of the received light signal is stored in the memory 140 according to a distance value between the first distance value L1 and the second distance value L2, the processor 170 performs matching with the level of the light signal corresponding to the distance value between the first distance value L1 and the second distance value L2 using the levels of the light signals received by the plurality of light receiving units 124a, . . . , 124h.
In the figure, a distribution map 510 of the output light in the first area Area1 and the second area Area2 is shown. In particular, in the figure, the intensity of the output light in the periphery of the display apparatus 100 is higher, but the output light is uniformly distributed in the entire area of the front portion of the display apparatus 100.
The size of the touch sensing cell (grouped electrodes) may be variously set to 1.times.1, 2.times.2, 3.times.3 or 2.times.7 in correspondence with the position of the user's hand or finger.
The light output unit 122 of the space sensor 121 and, more particularly, the plurality of light emitting units 122a, . . . , 122p may sequentially output light and the light reception unit 124 and, more particularly, the plurality of light receiving units 124a, . . . , 124h may sequentially receive light.
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