Patent ID: 6972665

Claim:
A haptic reconfigurable dashboard system for controlling and monitoring one or more subsystems in a vehicle, said reconfigurable dashboard system comprising: (a) a computer for controlling said haptic reconfigurable dashboard system; (b) a virtual device panel for displaying a virtual control device or indicator, said virtual control device or indicator corresponding to one of said subsystems to be controlled or monitored; (c) a haptic device for manipulating said virtual control device or indicator displayed on the virtual device panel; and (d) a haptic feedback mechanism for providing a force effect to said haptic device when it manipulates said virtual control device or indicator; whereby, in response to virtual controls carried out in said dashboard system, said subsystems can be controlled or monitored through an interface between said dashboard system and said subsystems, and whereby a user can feel a sense of touching or force through said haptic device while controlling or monitoring the subsystems of the vehicle.