Patent Application
20160077588
The present invention relates to interior instrumentation displays, more particularly, to an interior instrumentation display with operator control interface for motor vehicles that alerts the operator that an operator command requesting specific action to be performed by the vehicle has been selected and performs multiple requested functions.
Motor vehicles sometimes employ in-vehicle displays incorporating operator input to perform different functions when desired. There have been various systems which are used to achieve the use of operator input display systems, one of which is to incorporate the use of a straight push actuation. These systems are commonly located in the instrument panel of the vehicle. Typically, these systems incorporate graphical interface with buttons and use response feedback. However, the systems consisting of straight push actuation use a higher cost clicker module to provide response feedback. With existing systems, multiple packages with different configurations (i.e., buttons, foil films, appliques, etc) would be required for different graphical and functional requirements.
Accordingly, there exists a need to provide a lower cost and simpler design for a haptic feedback solution and to allow for the reconfiguration of the desired graphical and functional representation in a single mechanical module.
The present invention is directed to a reconfigurable switch array module utilizing a touch screen and haptics feedback that alerts an operator by providing mechanical feedback. The present invention features a mechanical rocking motion that utilizes a capacitive touch screen arrangement and correlated tactile switches for mechanical feedback. The touch screen is also suitably reconfigurable utilizing module software compatible for selectively providing several different graphical and/or functional configurations contained in a single package. Allowing reconfiguration of the desired graphical and functional representation in a single mechanical module also provides an efficient and cost effective interchangeable interface and haptic feedback solution. In operation the desired function is identified by capacitive touch, then the desired function is executed by a signal sent as the result of the actuation of the tactile switch which also provides a tactile feedback. The present invention is simpler, provides singular mechanical control solution utilizing capacitive touch features, and has a lower mechanical tolerance stack up.
Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.
The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:
The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses.
The present invention generally provides a singular mechanical control solution which utilizes capacitive features in combination with a haptic feedback. In particular, capacitive touch screen system in combination with mechanical feedback. A composite rocker button design solution features a mechanical rocking motion that utilizes capacitive touch screen features and tactile switches for the mechanical feedback. The present invention also allows for a graphical and functional reconfiguration of the touch screen via module software allowing for a single mechanical module. Thus, the switch array control of the present invention includes multiple interchangeable graphic and functional configurations in a single package. The composite rocker button, or rocker button or rocker button actuating assembly used interchangeably herein, selectively performs multiple functions. These functions are determined by the identifying graphics indicating where an operator is to press for requesting a specific function. The function activation is done in a two part sequence. First, the operator touches the desired function's graphic as indicated on the touch screen and a capacitive film identifies the function. Next, the composite rocker button rocks due to the force that is applied by the operator. This results in a tactile switch being actuated and sends a signal to execute the desired function.
Referring to
Referring to
A capacitive sense film 108 is in operational contact with the rocker button 102 and a thin film transistor 110. Generally, the thin film transistor (TFT) 110 is a color TFT display, typically, a color TFT liquid crystal display (LCD), most preferably, a 4.2 inch color TFT LCD. An LCD display retainer 112 is located against the rear of the TFT 110 and is coupled to the rear of the rocker button 102 and/or the TFT 110 using a plurality of fasteners 114, e.g., screws. This holds the front of the TFT 110 against the rear of the capacitive sense film 108 and holds the front of the capacitive sense film 108 in functional engagement with the touch screen 104, e.g., such that each predetermined graphic transmitted by the TFT 110 is viewable within one or more respective plurality of functional nodes 106 of the rocker button 102. When an operator touches the desired function's graphics as indicated on the touch screen 104 the capacitive sense film 108 identifies the function.
The rocker button 102 is located within an opening 116 provided in a bezel frame 118 that does not move and has class A surfaces. Preferably, the reconfigurable switch array assembly 100 also has at least two accent panels 120, e.g., thinner chrome accents, operably mounted within the opening 116 flush between both ends of the rocker button 102 and the rocker button 102. Preferably, the bezel frame 118 is provided with at least two raised portions 122 each having a respective aperture 124 both sized to receive a portion of a knob 126 therein. The pair of knobs 126 partially extend through the apertures 124 and are in physical and electrical contact with a printed circuit board assembly (PCBA), shown generally at 132, for executing additional functions. The pair of knobs 126 snap onto encoders 130 formed on the PCBA 132.
The pair of knobs 126 are also generally cylindrical and each receive a smaller diameter portion of a respective knob cap 134 therein. The knob caps 134 snap into a pair of openings 128 in encoders 130. A larger diameter outer portion 136 of the knob caps 134, e.g., a generally flat mushroom like portion, having an identical outer diameter as each knob 126 seals off the open end of the cylindrical knobs 126. The knobs 126 are rotatable to allow further operator desired functions, e.g., temperature variations.
The rocker button 102 is mounted with respect to a plurality of tactile switches, generally shown at 146. When the rocker button 102 rocks due to the force that is applied to it by the operator touching the functional node 106 associated with the desired function's graphic, the respective tactile switch 146 is actuated to execute that desired function. There is provided a tappet housing 140 coupled to the rear of the LCD display retainer 112 using a second plurality of fasteners 148, e.g., at least two screws. The tappet housing 140 has a plurality of tappets 142 extending through a plurality of apertures 144 operably spaced in the tappet housing. The plurality of tappets 142 are operably aligned with the plurality of tactile switches 146 that are surface mounted on the PCBA 132. The plurality of tappets 142 extend through the tappet housing 140 for selectively contacting, at contact area shown generally at 138, the plurality of tactile switches 146 as the rocker button 102 rocks in the direction (R or R′) directly associated with the operator selected function. This results in the respective tactile switch 146 being actuated by physical and electrical contact between the particular tappet 142 and tactile switches 146 which allows an electrical signal to execute the desired function.
A rear cover 150 is provided for connecting to the bezel frame 118 to form a housing. The rear cover 150 is aligned with and connected to the bezel frame 118 using a snap fit engagement with a plurality of connection tabs 152 on the bezel frame 118 and a third plurality of fasteners 154, e.g., at least four screws, to connect the rear cover 150 to the bezel frame 118.
Referring more particularly to
In operation, the operator touches the desired function's graphics and a capacitive field created by the capacitive sense film 108 identifies the desired function. The rocker button 102 rocks in a particular direction in response to the force applied to it by the operator. This will actuate the respective tactile switch 146 to execute the desired function. After the rocker button 102 is actuated in either the upward and downward directions the rocker button 102 returns to the neutral position with the force of the tactile switch 146.
The reconfigurable switch array assembly 100 comprises a large composite rocker button 102 that performs a plurality of functions. These functions are determined by the identifying graphics indicating where an operator is to press for the desired function. The function activation is done in a two-part sequence. The operator touches the desired function's graphic as indicated on the touch screen and the capacitive film 108 identifies the function. The composite rocker button 102 rocks due to the force that is applied by the operator touching the touch screen. This results in a tactile switch being actuated and sends a signal to execute the desired function. Thus, the desired function is identified by capacitive touch and the desired function is executed by a signal sent as the result of the actuation of the tactile switch which also provides a tactile feedback. The combination of a capacitive touch system and mechanical feedback, e.g., rotation of the rocker button 102 up and down, is significantly beneficial over conventional assemblies. The reconfigurability of the desired graphical functions of the control is also significantly beneficial. Yet another significant advantage is providing of a more simple, singular mechanical control solution utilizing a capacitive touch system. The switch array assembly 100 with multiple predetermined interchangeable graphic and functional configurations in a single package has significant benefits for vehicle applications such as interior instrumentation displays/HMI (human machine interface) control over conventional assemblies.
The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.
