# US 12,111,972 B2 · Automotive operating system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,111,972 B2 - Document ID: US12111972B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/413,505 - Filed: 2019-11-29 - Published: 2022-02-17 - Granted: 2024-10-08 - Earliest claimed: 2018-12-13 - Assignees: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft - Applicants: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft - Inventors: Wojciech Huwer - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12111972B2 ## CPC - G06F 3/017: {Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures (interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883)} - B60K 35/29: Instruments characterised by the way in which information is handled, e.g. showing information on plural displays or prioritising information according to driving conditions - G06F 3/03547: {Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface} - G06F 3/0393: {Accessories for touch pads or touch screens, e.g. mechanical guides added to touch screens for drawing straight lines, hard keys overlaying touch screens or touch pads} - G06F 3/04842: Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements (G06F3/0482 takes precedence) - G06F 3/0488: using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures - B60K 35/10: Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor - B60K 2360/115: Selection of menu items - B60K 2360/139: Clusters of instrument input devices - B60K 2360/141: Activation of instrument input devices by approaching fingers or pens - B60K 2360/1434: Touch panels - B60K 2360/1442: Emulation of input devices - B60K 2360/197: Blocking or enabling of input functions - B60K 2360/199: for avoiding maloperation - 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 ## Abstract System including one or more touch-sensitive control surfaces on which control elements, which are arranged next to each other, are displayed. Using a control device with controller software, the control elements can determine amongst themselves via the controller software, when a respective control element should be active or deactivated when touched. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for a vehicle, comprising: a control unit; and a touch-sensitive user interface, wherein the control unit is configured to control a display of a plurality of operating elements on the user interface, register a user selection of an operating element on the user interface, in a region of the plurality of operating elements, the registration of the user selection comprises determining a signal level; determine a signal level strength from a plurality of different signal level strengths corresponding to different press force intensities, including transitional signal levels, of the user selection, wherein a dynamic control sequence for controlling and blocking vehicle functions is determined based on the determined signal level strength corresponding to the press force intensity; and control a function assigned to the selected operating element based on the determined signal level strength and the dynamic control sequence corresponding to the press force intensity, wherein the control unit is configured to block at least one function assigned to at least one of the other plurality of operating elements according to the control sequence determined based on the press force intensity. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to block all of the functions assigned to the other plurality of operating elements when a user has selected the at least one operating element. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the control unit is configured to unblock at least one blocked function assigned to the at least one other operating element after completion of the user selection of the operating element according to the control sequence. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the control unit is configured to control the functions of the other operating elements according to the control sequence, when another user selection is registered on another operating element, the function of which was previously blocked. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The system of claim 4, wherein the control unit is configured to block at least a function of a previously selected operating element during the selection of the another operating element according to the control sequence. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the control sequence comprises, in response to detecting a signal level strength corresponding to press force intensity: adjusting sensitivity of other touch fields, initiating vehicle functions, or blocking and unblocking functions based on user selection initiation and ending. ### Claim 7 A method of controlling an operating system of a vehicle, comprising: generating a display on a touch-sensitive user interface, the display comprising a plurality of operating elements on the user interface; registering a user selection of an operating element of the plurality of operating elements on the user interface, in a region of the plurality of operating elements, the registering of the user selection comprises determining a signal level; determining a signal level strength from a plurality of different signal level strengths corresponding to different press force intensities, including transitional signal levels, of the user selection, wherein a dynamic control sequence for controlling and blocking vehicle functions is determined based on the determined signal level strength corresponding to the press force intensity; and controlling, via a control unit, a function assigned to the selected operating element based on the determined signal level strength and the dynamic control sequence corresponding to the press force intensity; and blocking, via the control unit, at least one function assigned to at least one of the other plurality of operating elements according to the dynamic control sequence determined based on the press force intensity. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, further comprising blocking all of the functions assigned to the other plurality of operating elements when a user has selected the at least one operating element. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising unblocking at least one blocked function assigned to the at least one other operating element after completion of the user selection of the operating element according to the control sequence. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising controlling the functions of the other operating elements according to the control sequence, when another user selection is registered on another operating element, the function of which was previously blocked. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising blocking at least a function of a previously selected operating element during the selection of the another operating element according to the control sequence. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the dynamic control sequence comprises, in response to detecting a signal level strength corresponding to press force intensity: adjusting sensitivity of other touch fields, initiating vehicle functions, or blocking and unblocking functions based on user selection initiation and ending. ### Claim 13 A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored therein instructions executable by one or more processors of a vehicle to: generate a display on a touch-sensitive user interface, the display comprising a plurality of operating elements on the user interface; register a user selection of an operating element of the plurality of operating elements on the user interface, in a region of the plurality of operating elements, the registration of the user selection comprising determining a signal level; determine a signal level strength from a plurality of different signal level strengths corresponding to different press force intensities, including transitional signal levels, of the user selection, wherein a dynamic control sequence for controlling and blocking vehicle functions is determined based on the determined signal level strength corresponding to the press force intensity; and control, via a control unit, a function assigned to the selected operating element based on the determined signal level strength and the dynamic control sequence corresponding to the press force intensity; and block, via the control unit, at least one function assigned to at least one of the other plurality of operating elements according to the dynamic control sequence determined based on the press force intensity. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the non-transitory computer-readable medium is further configured to block all of the functions assigned to the other plurality of operating elements when a user has selected the at least one operating element. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the non-transitory computer-readable medium is further configured to unblock at least one blocked function assigned to the at least one other operating element after completion of the user selection of the operating element according to the control sequence. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the non-transitory computer-readable medium is further configured to control the functions of the other operating elements according to the control sequence, when another user selection is registered on another operating element, the function of which was previously blocked. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the non-transitory computer-readable medium is further configured to block at least a function of a previously selected operating element during the selection of the another operating element according to the control sequence. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the dynamic control sequence comprises, in response to detecting a signal level strength corresponding to press force intensity: adjusting sensitivity of other touch fields, initiating vehicle functions, or blocking and unblocking functions based on user selection initiation and ending.