Shape-changing surface

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016185309-A1
Application number	US-201514815766-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 31, 2015
Priority date	Dec 31, 2014
Publication date	Jun 30, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A system for changing the shape of a vehicle component includes one or more actuators coupled to the vehicle component and a processor coupled to the one or more actuators. The processor is configured to determine that a software application has switched from a first mode to a second mode and cause the one or more actuators to transition a surface of the vehicle component from a first shape associated with the first mode to a second shape associated with the second mode.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A system for changing the shape of a vehicle component, the system comprising:
one or more actuators coupled to the vehicle component; a processor coupled to the one or more actuators, the processor configured to:
determine that a software application has switched from a first mode to a second mode; and
cause the one or more actuators to transition a surface of the vehicle component from a first shape associated with the first mode to a second shape associated with the second mode.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to receive, via the surface of the vehicle component, touch input, and, in response, cause the one or more actuators to transition the surface of the vehicle component from the second shape to a third shape.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first mode is associated with a first user interface generated via the processor, and the second mode is associated with a second user interface generated via the processor.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle component comprises an armrest or a knob and the transitioning comprises generating a bump on the surface, wherein the bump is configured to receive input for selecting a parameter associated with the second mode.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more actuators comprise one or more inflatable bladders configured to transition the vehicle component from the first shape to the second shape, wherein the second shape is longer than the first shape.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more actuators comprise one or more hinged rods configured to transition the vehicle component from the first shape to the second shape, wherein the second shape is shorter and wider than the first shape.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to determine that the surface of the vehicle component has transitioned to a third shape, and, in response, switch the software application from the second mode to a third mode that corresponds to the third shape.

8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the third mode is associated with a second software application being executed by the processor.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein causing the surface of the vehicle component to transition from the first shape to the second shape comprises causing the shape of the vehicle component to change in a repeating pattern, wherein the repeating pattern is associated with the second mode.

10 . A method for changing the shape of a surface, the method comprising:
determining that a software application has switched from a first mode associated with a first function to a second mode associated with a second function; and causing one or more actuators to transition the surface from a first shape associated with the first function to a second shape associated with the second function.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the second shape is longer than the first shape, and the second function is implemented in response to touch input along a length of the second shape.

12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the transitioning comprises generating a bump on the surface, wherein the bump is configured to receive input for selecting a parameter associated with the second mode.

13 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the surface is coupled to one or more particle jammers configured to transition the surface from the first shape to the second shape.

14 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising receiving touch input via the surface and, in response, transitioning the surface from the second shape to a third shape.

15 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising, in response to receiving input that transitions the surface to a third shape, switching the software application to a third mode that corresponds to the third shape.

16 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the surface comprises a surface of a vehicle armrest.

17 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the surface forms a knob of a vehicle control system.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein transitioning the surface from the first shape to the second shape comprises changing a shape of the knob.

19 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium including instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to change the shape of a surface, by performing the steps of:
receiving input for selecting a first mode of a software application, wherein the first mode comprises a first function; and causing a surface of a vehicle to transition to a first shape associated with the first function, wherein the first shape comprises a ridge configured to receive input associated with the first function.

20 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 19 , wherein the first function comprises a scrolling function, and the input comprises a scrolling gesture performed along the ridge.

Assignees

• Harman Int Ind

Inventors

• Di Censo Davide
• Marti Stefan
• Nahman Jaime Elliot
• Spasojevic Mirjana

Classifications

• B60R16/037 Primary

  for occupant comfort {, e.g. for automatic adjustment of appliances according to personal settings, e.g. seats, mirrors, steering wheel} · CPC title

• B60R16/005

  Electro-mechanical devices, e.g. switched (electric switches in general H01H) · CPC title

• G06F3/044

  by capacitive means · CPC title

• G06F3/016 Primary

  Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user · CPC title

• G06F3/0414

  using force sensing means to determine a position · CPC title