Multi-dimensional trackpad
AssigneesJoyson Safety Systems Acquisition LLC, NextInput, Inc.
InventorsDavid Andrews, Ian Campbell, Ryan Diestelhorst, Jason Carl Lisseman, Don Metzger
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A multi-dimensional track pad is described that acts as human-machine interface (HMI). Inputs to the HMI can be made not only using the tradition two-dimensional (X-Y) inputs of a track pad, but also a third dimension, force, and even a fourth dimension, time. Tactile or audible feedback to the inputs can be provided. Methods of using the HMI to control a system are described as well as a track pad system that utilizes the HMI in communication with a processor.
Claims15
-22. (canceled)
A method of selecting and controlling a system using a track pad, the method comprising:
- providing a track pad integrated into a steering mechanism of a vehicle, said track pad comprising at least a touch interface positioned over an array of force sensors that are arranged to have a width and a length, and wherein said track pad is not associated with a display;
- receiving, by the track pad, a touch force;
- passing at least a portion of said touch force through the touch interface to one or more force sensors of the array of force sensors;
- transmitting, by the one or more force sensors of the array of force sensors, force information to a processor in communication with the array of force sensors;
- determining, by the processor, from the force information one or more force positions along the width and length and corresponding force magnitudes;
- selecting, by the processor, a system from among a plurality of systems, wherein the system is selected based at least in part on the corresponding force magnitudes along the width and the length;
- selecting, by the processor, a control message from among a plurality of control messages to send to the system based on one or more of a time the touch force is applied to the track pad at one of the one or more force positions, a change of the force touch from a first location to a second location on the track pad, a rate of change of the force touch from the first location to the second location on the track pad, a direction of the change of the force touch from the first location to the second location on the track pad, a length from the first location to the second location of the force touch, a change in the corresponding force magnitudes of the touch force, and a rate of change of the corresponding force magnitudes of the touch force;
- and
- sending, by the processor, the selected control message to the selected system.
A system for selecting and controlling a system selected from a plurality of systems using a track pad, the system comprising:
- a track pad integrated into a steering mechanism of a vehicle and comprised of a two-dimensional array of force sensors arranged to have a width and a length and a touch interface positioned over the array, wherein the touch interface passes touch forces through to one or more force sensors of the array of force sensors and said track pad is not associated with a display;
- a processor in communication with the array of force sensors and with a memory, wherein the processor executes computer-readable instructions stored on the memory, said instructions cause the processor to:
- receive force information from the array of force sensors;
- determine one or more force positions along the width and length and corresponding force magnitudes;
- select a system from among the plurality of systems, wherein the system is selected based at least in part on the corresponding force magnitudes along the width and the length;
- select a control message from among a plurality of control messages to send to the selected system based on one or more of a time the touch force is applied to the track pad at one of the one or more force positions, a change of the force touch from a first location to a second location on the track pad, a rate of change of the force touch from the first location to the second location on the track pad, a direction of the change of the force touch from the first location to the second location on the track pad, a length from the first location to the second location of the force touch, a change in the corresponding force magnitudes of the touch force, and a rate of change of the corresponding force magnitudes of the touch force;
- and
- send the selected control message to the selected system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.