Device with a human-machine interface
AssigneeU.S. Philips Corporation
InventorsLeonardus G. M. Beuk, Albart J. Kip
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A device with a human-machine interface for use as a user control interface, particularly in an automotive environment, which temporarily makes an indication of the function of a control organ perceptible, when the user begins to actuate it, but has not yet definitively actuated it. The device with a human-machine interface helps the user to find the right control organ, or warns about dangerous control organs. Moreover, ways of finding groups of control organs and verifying the setting of groups of control organs are made possible.
Claims21
A device with a human-machine interface, the device comprising:
- an actuable control organ for selectably controlling a function of the device;
- and
- means for detecting
- a first stage of physically impending actuation of a user of the control organ, for
- a second stage of actual actuation of the control organ by the user, the second stage succeeding the first stage;
- means in response to said detecting, temporarily disclosing via output means to the user an indication of the control organ only if and when the second stage is not detected within a predetermined period of time.
A device with a human-machine interface the device comprising:
- an actuable control organ for selectably controlling a function of the device,
- means for detecting a user action, which action is representative of physically impending actuation of the control organ,
- means for, upon said detecting, temporarily disclosing via output means an indication of the control organ, to the user,
- further comprising means for disclosing a further indication of the function when actuation of the control organ is not detected within a predetermined period of time after detecting said user action.
A human-machine interface comprising:
- a plurality of actuable control organs for selectably controlling respective functions of a system, said control organs define at least one functional group;
- means for detecting
- a first stage of physically impending actuation of any one of the control organs of said one functional group;
- and
- a second stage of physically impending actuation of a particular one of the control organs, the second stage succeeding the first stage;
- means, responsive to the detecting means, for temporarily disclosing via output means
- a first indication of said one functional group of control organs as a whole in response to detection of the first stage;
- and
- a second indication of the particular control organ in response to detection of the second stage.
A method for providing useful indications to a user of a human-machine interface comprising:
- a plurality of actuable control organs for selectably controlling respective functions of the machine,
- means for detecting
- a first stage of physically impending actuation of a particular one of the control organs;
- and
- a second stage of actual actuation of the particular one of the control organs, the second stage succeeding the first stage;
- means, responsive to the detecting means, for temporarily disclosing via output means an indication of the particular control organ,
- comprising the steps:
- (a) detecting the first stage and detecting the second stage and the lapsed time between the detection of the first and second stages,
- (b) actuating the means for temporarily disclosing via output means an indication of the control organ only if and when the lapsed time exceeds a predetermined period of time.
A car radio comprising a radio having a plurality of actuable control organs for selectably controlling respective functions of the radio, said control organs define at least one functional group;
- said car radio further comprising:
- means for detecting
- a first stage of physically impending actuation of any one of the control organs of said one functional group;
- and
- a second stage of physically impending actuation of a particular one of the control organs, the second stage succeeding the first stage;
- means, responsive to the detecting means, for temporarily disclosing via output means
- a first indication of said one functional group of control organs as a whole in response to detection of the first stage;
- and
- a second indication of the particular control organ in response to detection of the second stage.
A car telephone comprising a telephone having a plurality of actuable control organs for selectably controlling respective functions of the telephone, said control organs define at least one functional group;
- said car telephone further comprising:
- means for detecting
- a first stage of physically impending acutation of any one of the control organs of said one functional group;
- and
- a second stage of physically impending acutation of a partucular one of the control organs, the second stage succeeding the first stage;
- means, responsive to the detecting means, for temporarily disclosing via output means
- a first indication of said one functional group of control organs as a whole in response to detection of the first stage;
- and
- a second indication of the particular control organ in response to detection of the second stage.
A human-machine interface device, comprising:
- a plurality of actuatable control organs organized into at least two separate groups each including at least two of said control organs;
- and,
- disclosure means for producing a first user-perceptible indication of the identity and/or function of a particular one of said groups in response to detection of an impending actuation of any one of said control organs which is part of said particular one of said groups, and for producing a second user-perceptible indication of the identity and/or function of a specific one of said control organs which is part of said particular one of said groups in response to detection of an impending actuation of said specific one of said control organs.
A human-machine interface device, comprising:
- a plurality of actuatable control organs;
- means for detecting first and second user actions relative to said control organs;
- and,
- means for producing a first user-perceptible indication in response to detection of a first user action, and for producing a second user-perceptible indication in response to detection of a second user action wherein:
- said first user action comprises movement of any of the user's fingers to within a first distance from any of said control organs;
- said second user action comprises movement of any of the user's fingers to within a second distance from any of said control organs;
- and,
- said second distance is a non-zero distance less than said first distance.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.