US6819990B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Touch panel input for automotive devices
Assignee: Panasonic Holdings Corp
•
Filing: 2002-12-23
•
Granted: 2004-11-16
•
Expires: 2022-12-23
Abstract
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.
Inventors
- 👤 Toshihiko Ichinose
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 08:30
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60K; B60K35/00; B60K35/10; B60K35/20; B60K35/21; B60K35/213; B60K35/22; B60K35/25; B60K35/28; B60K35/29; B60K35/60; B60K2360/00; B60K2360/11; B60K2360/143
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
126 words
An integrated tactile visual interface for device control within a vehicle comprising: a touch pad that generates an input signal in response to input from a user; a display having at least one display region and a user focus; a software module that receives the input signal and communicates an output signal indicative of the input signal to the display, wherein the display adjusts the display region and the user focus according to the output signal, and the software module generates a feedback signal if the user focus traverses a boundary of the display region; and a feedback device integrated with the touch pad that receives the feedback signal and provides tangible feedback to the user through the touch pad in response to the feedback signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
126 words
An integrated tactile visual interface for device control within a vehicle comprising: a touch pad that generates an input signal in response to input from a user; a display having at least one display region and a user focus; a software module that receives the input signal and communicates an output signal indicative of the input signal to the display, wherein the display adjusts the display region and the user focus according to the output signal, and the software module generates a feedback signal if the user focus traverses a boundary of the display region; and a feedback device integrated with the touch pad that receives the feedback signal and provides tangible feedback to the user through the touch pad in response to the feedback signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The interface of claim 1 wherein the software module generates a command signal indicative of the input signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The interface of claim 2 further comprising: at least one controllable device responsive to the command signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The interface of claim 1 wherein the touch pad is located on a steering wheel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
The interface of claim 1 wherein the user focus is a cursor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The interface of claim 1 wherein the user focus is a highlighted display region.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The interface of claim 1 wherein the display region is dynamically presented according to the output signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The interface of claim 3 wherein the display region represents features of the controllable device.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The interface of claim 8 wherein the features include selectable functions of the controllable device.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The interface of claim 9 further comprising: a plurality of controllable devices; and a plurality of display regions representative of the controllable devices.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
12 words
The interface of claim 9 wherein the selectable functions are display sub-regions.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The interface of claim 11 wherein the software module generates a feedback signal if the user focus traverses a boundary of the display sub-regions.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The interface of claim 11 wherein the display dynamically adjusts size, position, or arrangement of the display regions and sub-regions in response to the output signal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
12 words
The interface of claim 11 wherein the display includes a primary window.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
The interface of claim 14 wherein the primary window corresponds to a selected controllable device.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
The interface of claim 14 further comprising at least one secondary window, wherein the at least one secondary window corresponds to an unselected controllable device.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
120 words
A method for device control within a vehicle comprising: generating an input signal at a touch pad in response to input from a user; displaying at least one display region and a user focus on a visual output device; receiving the input signal at a software module and communicating an output signal indicative of the input signal to the visual output device; adjusting the display region and the user focus according to the output signal; generating a feedback signal if the user focus traverses a boundary of the display region; receiving the feedback signal at a feedback device integrated with the touch pad; and providing tangible feedback to the user at the feedback device in response to the feedback signal.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
120 words
A method for device control within a vehicle comprising: generating an input signal at a touch pad in response to input from a user; displaying at least one display region and a user focus on a visual output device; receiving the input signal at a software module and communicating an output signal indicative of the input signal to the visual output device; adjusting the display region and the user focus according to the output signal; generating a feedback signal if the user focus traverses a boundary of the display region; receiving the feedback signal at a feedback device integrated with the touch pad; and providing tangible feedback to the user at the feedback device in response to the feedback signal.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 17 further comprising: generating a command signal at the software module in response to the input signal; and receiving the command signal at a controllable device.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US6373472B1
Cited
US5963890A
Cited
US5903229A
Cited
US5864105A
Cited
US6438465B2
Cited
US5808374A
Cited
US6157372A
Cited
US6198992B1
Cited
US6429846B2
Cited
US6434450B1
Cited
US6337678B1
Cited
US6418362B1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2007-11-16 | 2008-05-17 | 2008-11-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-11-16 | 2012-05-17 | 2012-11-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-11-16 | 2016-05-17 | 2016-11-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |