Variable sensitivity input device for vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11550318-B2
Application number	US-202117208993-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 22, 2021
Priority date	Nov 6, 2018
Publication date	Jan 10, 2023
Grant date	Jan 10, 2023

Abstract

A first sensitivity level is used to interpret an input signal received from an input device in a vehicle while the vehicle is in a first region. A second sensitivity level is used to interpret the input signal received from the input device in the vehicle while the vehicle is in a second region, wherein the second sensitivity level is greater than the first sensitivity level.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system, comprising:
a processor; and
a memory coupled with the processor, wherein the memory is configured to provide the processor with instructions which when executed cause the processor to:
use a first sensitivity level to interpret an input signal received from an input device in a vehicle while the vehicle is in a first region; and
use a second sensitivity level to interpret the input signal received from the input device in the vehicle while the vehicle is in a second region, wherein the second sensitivity level is greater than the first sensitivity level, and wherein the first sensitivity level is at a sensitivity level where the input signal received from the input device is ignored and at least some of the time when the input signal received from the input device is ignored, an autonomous process is used to guide the vehicle.

2. The system recited in claim 1 , wherein the memory is further configured to provide the is processor with instructions which when executed cause the processor to receive a signal associated with switching between the first sensitivity level and the second sensitivity level, wherein in response to receiving the signal, a switch between using the first sensitivity level and using the second sensitivity level is performed.

3. The system recited in claim 1 , wherein the memory is further configured to provide the processor with instructions which when executed cause the processor to:
obtain a current location of the vehicle; and
determine whether the vehicle is in the first region or the second region based at least in part on the current location of the vehicle, wherein:
in response to determining that the vehicle is in the first region, the first sensitivity level is used; and
in response to determining that the vehicle is in the second region, the second sensitivity level is used.

4. The system recited in claim 1 , wherein:
the memory is further configured to provide the processor with instructions which when executed cause the processor to receive a signal associated with switching between the first sensitivity level and the second sensitivity level, wherein in response to receiving the signal, a switch between using the first sensitivity level and using the second sensitivity level is performed.

5. The system recited in claim 1 , wherein:
the memory is further configured to provide the processor with instructions which when executed cause the processor to:
obtain a current location of the vehicle; and
determine whether the vehicle is in the first region or the second region based at least in part on the current location of the vehicle, wherein:
in response to determining that the vehicle is in the first region, the first sensitivity level is used; and
in response to determining that the vehicle is in the second region, the second sensitivity level is used.

6. The system recited in claim 1 , wherein:
the input device is not configured to control the altitude of the vehicle and no other input device is provided which controls the altitude of the vehicle; and
the memory is further configured to provide the processor with instructions which when executed cause the processor to control the altitude of the vehicle using a signal other than the input signal from the input device.

7. The system recited in claim 1 , wherein:
the input device is not configured to control the altitude of the vehicle and no other input device is provided which controls the altitude of the vehicle; and
the memory is further configured to provide the processor with instructions which when executed cause the processor to:
receive a signal associated with switching between the first sensitivity level and the second sensitivity level, wherein in response to receiving the signal, a switch between using the first sensitivity level and using the second sensitivity level is performed; and
control the altitude of the vehicle using a signal other than the input signal from the input device, including by, in response to receiving the signal, changing the altitude of the vehicle.

8. The system recited in claim 1 , wherein:
the input device is not configured to control the altitude of the vehicle and no other input device is provided which controls the altitude of the vehicle; and
the memory is further configured to provide the processor with instructions which when executed cause the processor to control the altitude of the vehicle using a signal other than the input signal from the input device, including by changing the altitude of the vehicle using the autonomous process.

9. A method, comprising:
using a first sensitivity level to interpret an input signal received from an input device in a vehicle while the vehicle is in a first region; and
using a second sensitivity level to interpret the input signal received from the input device is in the vehicle while the vehicle is in a second region, wherein the second sensitivity level is greater than the first sensitivity level, and wherein the first sensitivity level is at a sensitivity level where the input signal received from the input device is ignored and at least some of the time when the input signal received from the input device is ignored, an autonomous process is used to guide the vehicle.

10. The method recited in claim 9 further comprising receiving a signal associated with switching between the first sensitivity level and the second sensitivity level, wherein in response to receiving the signal, a switch between using the first sensitivity level and using the second sensitivity level is performed.

11. The method recited in claim 9 further comprising:
obtaining a current location of the vehicle; and
determining whether the vehicle is in the first region or the second region based at least in part on the current location of the vehicle, wherein:
in response to determining that the vehicle is in the first region, the first sensitivity level is used; and
in response to determining that the vehicle is in the second region, the second sensitivity level is used.

12. The method recited in claim 9 , wherein:
the method further includes receiving a signal associated with switching between the first sensitivity level and the second sensitivity level, wherein in response to receiving the signal, a switch between using the first sensitivity level and using the second sensitivity level is performed.

13. The method recited in claim 9 , wherein:
the method further includes:
obtaining a current location of the vehicle; and
determining whether the vehicle is in the first region or the second region based at least in part on the current location of the vehicle, wherein:
in response to determining that the vehicle is in the first region, the first sensitivity level is used; and
in response to determining that the vehicle is in the second region, the second sensitivity level is used.

14. The method recited in claim 9 , wherein:
the input device is not configured to control the altitude of the vehicle and no other input device is provided which controls the altitude of the vehicle; and
the memory is further configured to provide a processor with instructions which when executed cause the processor to control the altitude of the vehicle using a signal other than the input signal from the input device.

15. The method recited in claim 9 , wherein:
the input device is not configured to control the altitude of the vehicle and no other input device is provided which controls the altitude of the vehicle; and
the method further includes:
receiving a signal associated with switching between the first s

Assignees

• Kitty Hawk Corp

Inventors

• Cutler Mark Johnson
• Selwa Alexander David
• Reichert Todd

Classifications

• B64C13/042

  operated by hand · CPC title

• B64C13/16

  actuated automatically, e.g. responsive to gust detectors · CPC title

• B64C13/18

  using automatic pilot · CPC title

• G08G5/006

  Physics · mapped topic

• G05D1/0061 Primary

  for transition from automatic pilot to manual pilot and vice versa · CPC title