# US 11,907,439 B2 · Customizable and reconfigurable virtual instrument panel > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,907,439 B2 - Document ID: US11907439B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/658,423 - Filed: 2022-04-07 - Published: 2022-07-21 - Granted: 2024-02-20 - Earliest claimed: 2009-04-13 - Assignees: Applied Minds, LLC - Applicants: Applied Minds, LLC - Inventors: Bran Ferren; W. Daniel Hillis; Randall Adam Yates; Ira M. Lichtman; Clint Blake Hope - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11907439B2 ## CPC - G06F 3/0227: {Cooperation and interconnection of the input arrangement with other functional units of a computer (G06F3/023 - G06F3/037 take precedence)} - B60K 35/10: Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor - B60K 35/22: Display screens - B60K 35/60: Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles (arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10) - B60K 37/00: Dashboards (as road-vehicle superstructure sub-units B62D25/14) - G06F 3/01: Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer (G06F3/16 takes precedence) - G06F 3/0412: {Digitisers structurally integrated in a display} - G06F 3/04847: Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials - G06F 3/0488: using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures - G06F 3/167: {Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback} - G09G 5/00: Control arrangements or circuits for visual indicators common to cathode-ray tube indicators and other visual indicators (image data processing or generation, in general G06T) - B60K 2360/11: Instrument graphical user interfaces or menu aspects - B60K 2360/1442: Emulation of input devices - B60K 2360/145: Instrument input by combination of touch screen and hardware input devices - B60K 2360/148: Instrument input by voice - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES - G09G: ARRANGEMENTS OR CIRCUITS FOR CONTROL OF INDICATING DEVICES USING STATIC MEANS TO PRESENT VARIABLE INFORMATION (arrangements for transferring data between digital computers and displays G06F3/14; static indicating arrangements comprising an association of a number of separate sources or light control cells G09F9/00; static indicating arrangements comprising integral associations of a number of light sources H01J, H01K, H10H, H05B33/12; scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission, details thereof H04N1/00) ## Abstract The invention provides an instrument control panel that is easily customized and reconfigured, and yet provides the familiar tactile sensation of physical knobs, sliders, and buttons. The instrument control panel comprises one or more interface components that are removably coupled to an interface display wherein the interface components communicate with one or more control components disposed behind the interface display. The present invention lends itself particularly well to an instrument panel. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An instrument panel comprising: a display device configured with a first surface side and a second surface side; one or more tactile interface components configured to be removably and adjustably coupled to the first surface side of the display device; one or more control components configured to be coupled to the second surface side of the display device, wherein the one or more tactile interface components are further configured to be in operable communication with the one or more control components; and a processor operably coupled to each of: the display device, the one or more control components, and one or more instrument panel controlled devices which are controllable with the instrument panel in response to displacement of the one or more tactile interface components. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The instrument panel of claim 1, wherein the one or more control components are further configured to be in operable communication with the one or more instrument panel controlled devices such that the one or more control components produce control signals that control aspects of the instrument panel controlled devices respectively. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The instrument panel of claim 2, wherein the display device is further configured to receive, and display, communicated display information from the processor, on the first surface side of the display device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The instrument panel of claim 3, wherein the communicated display information comprises background image display data, which when displayed on the display device of the instrument panel, further configures the first surface side of the display device to illustrate any of: people, places, logos, and advertisements, as background images. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The instrument panel of claim 3, wherein the communicated display information comprises alphanumeric display data, which when displayed on the display device of the instrument panel, configures the first surface side of the display device to illustrate any of user specified: colors, sizes, and fonts. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The instrument panel of claim 3, wherein the communicated display information comprises instrument interface display data, which when displayed on the display device of the instrument panel, configures the first surface side of the display device to illustrate attributes representing any of: a speedometer, an odometer, a fuel gauge, a temperature gauge, a multimedia device, and a GPS communication system. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The instrument panel of claim 3, wherein the communicated display information comprises control ability assignment data, which when displayed on the display device of the instrument panel, configures the first surface side of the display device to indicate a function control ability related to an instrument panel controlled device to which a particular control component is associated. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) The instrument panel of claim 3, wherein the communicated display information comprises placement location data, which when displayed on the display device of the instrument panel, configures the first surface side of the display device to indicate placement areas for the coupling of the tactile interface components. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The instrument panel of claim 8, wherein the placement location data comprises locations of displayed empty boxes. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The instrument panel of claim 8, further comprising one or more of the tactile interface components coupled to the configured first surface side of the display device at one or more indicated placement areas respectively. ### Claim 11 An instrument panel comprising: a display device configured with a first surface side and a second surface side; one or more tactile interface components configured to be removably and adjustably coupled to the first surface side of the display device; one or more control components configured to be coupled to the second surface side of the display device, wherein the one or more tactile interface components are further configured to be in operable communication with the one or more control components; a processor operably coupled to each of the display device, the one or more control components, and one or more instrument panel controlled devices which are controllable with the instrument panel, in response to displacement of the one or more tactile interface components, wherein the processor is further configured to provide one or more display skins to the display device, and the first surface side of the display device displaying one or more provided display skins. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The instrument panel of claim 11 integrated into a dashboard of a vehicle. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The instrument panel of claim 11 integrated into a center console of a vehicle. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The instrument panel of claim 11 integrated into a headrest of a vehicle. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The instrument panel of claim 11 integrated into a rear-passenger console. ### Claim 16 A media device interface comprising: a display device configured with a first surface side and a second surface side; one or more interface components configured to be removably and adjustably coupled to the first surface side of the display device; one or more control components configured to be coupled to the second surface side of the display device, wherein the one or more interface components are further configured to be in operable communication with the one or more control components; and a processor operably coupled to each of: the display device, the one or more control components, and one or more media devices which are controllably associated with the media device interface. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The media device interface of claim 16, wherein the one or more control components are further configured to be in operable communication with the one or more associated devices such that the one or more control components produce control signals that control aspects of the associated devices respectively. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The media device interface of claim 17, wherein the display device is further configured to receive, and display, communicated display information from the processor, on the first surface side of the display device. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The media device interface of claim 18, wherein the communicated display information comprises display skin data, which when displayed on the display device of the media device interface, configures the first surface side of the display device to illustrate identification and instructive information for the interface components.