# US 2019/0168612 A1 · Vehicle interior panel with thermal feedback > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0168612 A1 - Document ID: US20190168612A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/833,242 - Filed: 2017-12-06 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2017-12-06 - Assignees: Faurecia Interior Systems, Inc. - Applicants: Faurecia Interior Systems, Inc. - Inventors: Brett SCHNUR - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190168612A1 ## CPC - G06F 1/206: {comprising thermal management} - B60K 35/10: Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor - B60K 35/25: using haptic output - G06F 3/016: {Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user} - G06F 3/03547: {Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface} - G06F 3/041: Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means - G06F 3/0488: using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures - B60K 35/20: Output arrangements, i.e. from vehicle to user, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor - B60K 35/60: Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles (arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10) - B60K 35/80: Arrangements for controlling instruments - B60K 2360/1438: Touch screens - B60K 2360/145: Instrument input by combination of touch screen and hardware input devices - B60K 2360/33: Illumination features - G09G 2380/10: Automotive applications - H10N 10/13: characterised by the heat-exchanging means at the junction - 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) - H10N: ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract Vehicle system information is communicated to a vehicle occupant by thermal haptics. A heat transfer device, such as a Peltier device, is used to locally control the temperature of an interaction area along an outer surface of a vehicle interior panel. A temperature differential between the interaction area and an adjacent area indicates the current status and/or the location of a control for the system. Multiple heat transfer devices can be used to provide a temperature gradient along the outer surface of the panel to provide the occupant with a thermally perceptible indicator of an available range of temperatures and/or a temperature setpoint for the vehicle system. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A panel for use in an interior of a vehicle, the panel comprising: an outer surface that faces the interior of the vehicle when installed in the vehicle, the outer surface having an interaction area; and a heat transfer device in thermal communication with the interaction area, wherein the panel is configured to communicate information about a vehicle system to an occupant of the vehicle when the occupant touches the interaction area via a perceptible temperature differential between the interaction area and an adjacent area of the outer surface, the heat transfer device being operable to provide the temperature differential, wherein the panel is a touch panel configured to change an operating parameter of the vehicle system in response to the occupant touching the outer surface, wherein the heat transfer device operates to change the temperature of the interaction area to communicate the changed operating parameter. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A panel as defined in claim 1, wherein the heat transfer device is a Peltier device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A panel as defined in claim 1, further comprising a metal layer located between the heat transfer device and the outer surface at the interaction area, wherein the metal layer has a thickness that occupies the majority of a distance between the heat transfer device and the outer surface. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A panel as defined in claim 1, further comprising: a decorative layer located between the heat transfer device and the outer surface; and a graphic image formed along the decorative layer at the interaction area, the graphic image being indicative of the vehicle system. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) A panel as defined in claim 4, wherein the decorative layer is a metal layer, and the heat transfer device is attached to a back side of the decorative layer. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) A panel as defined in claim 4, wherein the graphic image is formed from a metal layer extending through the thickness of the decorative layer, the metal layer having an inner side attached to the heat transfer device and an outer side exposed at a front side of the decorative layer. ### Claim 7 (canceled) ### Claim 8 (canceled) ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A panel as defined in claim 1, wherein the panel is a haptic control panel further comprising a vibrational actuator that causes the outer surface to perceptibly vibrate in response to manual input. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A panel as defined in claim 1, wherein the vehicle system includes a component located away from the panel that is heated or cooled when activated, the heat transfer device being operable to provide the temperature differential when the system is activated and to eliminate the temperature differential when the system is not activated. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A panel as defined in claim 1, wherein the heat transfer device is one of a plurality of heat transfer devices configured to provide a temperature gradient along the outer surface of the panel to communicate information about the vehicle system to the occupant, said information including a direction along the outer surface where subsequent touching will increase or decrease an operating parameter of the vehicle system. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A panel as defined in claim 1, wherein the temperature differential is further provided by another heat transfer device in thermal communication with the adjacent area of the outer surface, each heat transfer device being operable to change the temperature of the corresponding areas of the outer surface in opposite directions. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A panel as defined in claim 1, wherein the outer surface is located and oriented so that the interaction area is not visible to the occupant when the panel is installed in the vehicle and when the occupant is seated in a front seat of the vehicle and looking toward the front of the vehicle. ### Claim 14 (canceled) ### Claim 15 (canceled) ### Claim 16 A panel for use in an interior of a vehicle, the panel comprising: an outer surface that faces the interior of the vehicle when installed in the vehicle, the outer surface having an interaction area; and a heat transfer device in thermal communication with the interaction area, wherein the panel is configured to communicate information about a vehicle system to an occupant of the vehicle when the occupant touches the interaction area via a perceptible temperature differential between the interaction area and an adjacent area of the outer surface, the heat transfer device being operable to provide the temperature differential, the panel further comprising a mechanical actuator configured to change an operating parameter of the vehicle system in response to manual application of a force to the actuator, wherein the actuator includes the interaction area and the heat transfer device operates to change the temperature of the interaction area to communicate the changed operating parameter. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) A panel as defined in claim 16, further comprising a metal layer located between the heat transfer device and the outer surface at the interaction area, wherein the metal layer has a thickness that occupies the majority of a distance between the heat transfer device and the outer surface. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) A panel as defined in claim 16, further comprising: a decorative layer located between the heat transfer device and the outer surface; and a graphic image formed along the decorative layer at the interaction area, the graphic image being indicative of the vehicle system. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) A panel as defined in claim 18, wherein the graphic image is formed from a metal layer extending through the thickness of the decorative layer, the metal layer having an inner side attached to the heat transfer device and an outer side exposed at a front side of the decorative layer. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) A panel as defined in claim 16, wherein the panel is a haptic control panel further comprising a vibrational actuator that causes the outer surface to perceptibly vibrate in response to manual input. ### Claim 21 A panel for use in an interior of a vehicle, the panel comprising: an outer surface that faces the interior of the vehicle when installed in the vehicle, the outer surface having an interaction area; a heat transfer device in thermal communication with the interaction area; a decorative layer located between the heat transfer device and the outer surface; and a graphic image formed along the decorative layer at the interaction area, the graphic image being indicative of a vehicle system, wherein the panel is configured to communicate information about the vehicle system to an occupant of the vehicle when the occupant touches the interaction area via a perceptible temperature differential between the interaction area and an adjacent area of the outer surface, the heat transfer device being operable to provide the temperature differential, and wherein the decorative layer is a metal layer, the heat transfer device is attached to a back side of the decorative layer, and the graphic image is on a front side of the decorative layer. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) A panel as defined in claim 21, wherein the panel is a touch panel configured to change an operating parameter of the vehicle system in response to the occupant touching the outer surface, wherein the heat transfer device operates to change the temperature of the interaction area to communicate the changed operating parameter. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) A panel as defined in claim 21, wherein the panel is a haptic control panel further comprising a vibrational actuator that causes the outer surface to perceptibly vibrate in response to manual input. ### Claim 24 (depends on 21) A panel as defined in claim 21, wherein the heat transfer device is one of a plurality of heat transfer devices configured to provide a temperature gradient along the outer surface of the panel to communicate information about the vehicle system to the occupant, said information including a direction along the outer surface where subsequent touching will increase or decrease an operating parameter of the vehicle system.