Vehicle Touch Interface With Haptic Feedback and Multi-Level Input
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle user input devices, such as buttons, are limited in providing multiple input levels and are not flexible in function assignment, leading to user experience issues and safety concerns.
Innovation Solution
An interaction element with a touch surface that integrates input and output areas, allowing for multiple levels of input (e.g., single tap, multiple taps, finger rest, long touch, swipe) and providing tactile feedback through electrostatic or ultrasonic haptics, eliminating the need for mechanical movement and enabling flexible function assignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional mechanical buttons are used to provide multiple input levels, then multiple input functions can be achieved, but mechanical movement is required which increases wear and reduces reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical buttons with a touch-sensitive display that detects touch events and gestures through capacitive sensing. The display controller processes touch coordinates, contact area, and gesture patterns to provide multiple input levels without any mechanical movement, thereby eliminating wear and improving reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The touch-sensitive display serves multiple functions: it acts as both the display interface and the input device. By detecting different touch patterns (single touch, multi-touch, gestures, contact area variations), a single component provides multiple input levels that previously required separate mechanical buttons.
2Adaptability or versatility
If dedicated buttons are used for specific functions, then clear input control is achieved, but flexibility in function assignment is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic function assignment where the same touch input area can be configured for different functions based on software settings. The display controller can be programmed to interpret touch events differently for different regions or under different conditions, allowing flexible reconfiguration without physical changes to the interface.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the touch-sensitive display can be assigned different functions or sensitivities. The display controller can process touch events from specific coordinate areas with different interpretations, allowing localized functional differentiation while maintaining overall flexibility in the system.
3Productivity
If multiple mechanical buttons are used to provide multiple input levels, then comprehensive control is achieved, but the number of components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple button functions into a single touch-sensitive display. By detecting variations in touch events (single touch vs. multi-touch, gesture type, contact area size, touch duration), the system provides multiple input levels from one integrated component, significantly reducing the total number of physical elements required.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds dimensional parameters to the touch input detection beyond simple press/release. By measuring contact area size, touch duration, gesture trajectory, and finger spacing in multi-touch scenarios, the system creates multiple input levels across different measurement dimensions, allowing comprehensive control without additional components.
4Ease of operation
If touch-sensitive displays are used without tactile feedback, then component count is reduced, but user experience and operability are degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a vibration actuator that generates tactile feedback by vibrating the display surface. This mechanical vibration provides confirmatory feedback to the user when touch events are detected or when specific actions are triggered, enhancing operability without requiring complex feedback mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The vibration actuator serves as an intermediary between the touch input and the user's sensory perception. It translates digital touch events into physical tactile sensations that the user can feel, bridging the gap between the electronic display and human sensory systems.
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
Enhances user input capabilities, improves safety by reducing the need for mechanical movement, and allows for intuitive operation with multiple input methods using the same touch surface area, increasing flexibility and reducing the number of dedicated buttons.
Implementation Method 1
The output area element (405, 407) is designed as one with the input area element (303, 307) and/or with the touch surface element (401). The output area element (405, 407) may, for example, represent a haptic output area element which provides a tactile feedback output to a finger (19) when interacting with at least one part of at least one surface (403) of the output area element (405, 407) and/or of the touch surface element (401), especially by means of an electrostatic force when applying a voltage to the output area element (405, 407).
Implementation Method 2
The output area element (405, 407) may, for example, represent a haptic output area element which provides a tactile feedback output to a finger (19) when interacting with at least one part of at least one surface (403) of the output area element (405, 407) and/or of the touch surface element (401), especially by means of ultrasonic vibration when activating the output area element (405, 407).
Data Source
AI summary
An interaction element is configured to receive touch or gesture inputs or provide tactile feedback outputs. A control element is configured to control the operation of at least one function of at least one device including at least one or more such interaction elements. A motor vehicle includes at least one or more such interaction elements or at least one or more such control elements.