Vehicle Touch Interface with Local Elevations for Haptic Guidance

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing input devices for motor vehicles, such as rotary or sliding knobs, lack haptic guidance, and fixed touch-sensitive surfaces do not provide the same tactile feedback, leading to potential errors and discomfort during information input.

Innovation Solution

An input/output device with a base area and local elevations that include touch-sensitive surfaces, replicating the feel of mechanical controls through capacitive, inductive, thermal, or optical detection, and providing haptic feedback, allowing for intuitive input of control element actuating information.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If fixed touch-sensitive surfaces are used for input, then device complexity is reduced, but haptic guidance is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol mechanism complexityVSAvoidhaptic guidance

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical control elements with a touch-sensitive surface that detects manual touches capacitively, inductively, thermally, or optically. This substitution eliminates complex mechanical mechanisms while maintaining control functionality through electronic detection methods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The touch-sensitive surface is designed to replicate the functionality and user interaction experience of mechanical control elements. By copying the operational characteristics of mechanical knobs or switches through tactile feedback and intuitive touch zones, the system provides haptic guidance without physical movement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Ease of operation

If mechanical control elements are used, then haptic guidance is provided, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehaptic guidanceVSAvoidmechanical mechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical control elements with a touch-sensitive surface that detects manual touches capacitively, inductively, thermally, or optically. This substitution eliminates complex mechanical mechanisms while maintaining control functionality through electronic detection methods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of manufacture

If smooth fixed surfaces are used for touching, then manufacturing is simplified, but user feedback is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurface fabricationVSAvoidtactile feedback

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The touch-sensitive surface incorporates local elevations that create distinct tactile zones with different heights or textures. These local quality variations provide haptic guidance and tactile feedback to the user while maintaining an overall smooth surface structure that is relatively simple to manufacture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution provides effective haptic guidance and intuitive input of control information, reducing errors and enhancing user experience by mimicking mechanical controls without complex mechanisms.

Implementation Method 1

Inputting information by touching (e.g., manually sliding) the base area and/or the fixed touch-sensitive surface of the local elevations is effected in a capacitive, inductive, thermal or optical manner

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapacitive detection: Capacitance

Implementation Method 2

Inputting information by touching (e.g., manually sliding) the base area and/or the fixed touch-sensitive surface of the local elevations is effected in a capacitive, inductive, thermal or optical manner

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInductive detection: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 3

Inputting information by touching (e.g., manually sliding) the base area and/or the fixed touch-sensitive surface of the local elevations is effected in a capacitive, inductive, thermal or optical manner

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal detection: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS10088928B2Method vehicle input/output device and method

Publication Date: 2018.10.02 GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

AI summary

An input/output device for a motor vehicle includes a base area and at least one local elevation adjoining the same. The base area is preferably enclosed by and/or integrally formed with the local elevation(s). The local elevation(s) includes a touch-sensitive surface for inputting control element actuating information for the motor vehicle by touching, (e.g., manually sliding) the fixed surface.