Haptic feedback technology: car touch screen control is coming soon

Author: Texas Instruments (TI) company engineer Mark Toth

Every day, we use a touch screen or touchpad on a cell phone, tablet, laptop or even a microwave oven, and you might think this is a matter of course. If you have been keeping up with the developments in the automotive industry (even if it doesn't matter), you may have seen a variety of advertisements and articles that promise you that the car's information and entertainment system will become more like a multimedia. Tablet PC—Runs applications, wirelessly transmits data and multimedia content, and has touch controls. This sounds great, isn't it?

Figure 1 The touch control device lets you control navigation and infotainment with your fingers just like you would with a tablet.

Figure 1 The touch control device lets you control navigation and infotainment with your fingers just like you would with a tablet.

We can think of a lot of scenarios using mobile devices - you may be stranded at the airport, waiting to meet friends, or during business breaks. You'll pick up a short email from your smartphone or tablet, read the latest online news, or sneak a TV show that you like. In any case, you will be able to see your mobile device with your eyes open (and possibly with both your ears and hands). Use your finger to swipe, pinch, scroll, and tap the menu to easily see what you want.

Now let's get back to the topic of the car. The future car driving experience is as easy as using a tablet computer today. Yes, you have to concentrate on the road ahead while driving, and at least one hand must hold the steering wheel and always pay attention to other vehicles on the road as you enter the lane to prepare for a turn. This doesn't look like the experience of using a tablet computer, isn't it right?

However, there is a way to combine mobile applications, media resources and network access experiences similar to tablet computers with user interfaces to overcome many of the special challenges in cars.

Figure 2 Example of touching the main screen

Figure 2 Example of touching the main screen

Tactile feedback techniques allow tactile feedback to be provided by a touch screen or other touch device using vibrations generated by specialized ICs such as the DRV2605 and DRV2667 and ERM or piezoelectric actuators. Let's look at an example. Figure 2 shows an example of a rough appearance of the "master" screen of the touch-sensitive central control panel.

The specific feedback or effect will be different, it will change dynamically depending on whether the button or knob is touched. With these haptic effects, the driver can control and navigate the in-vehicle infotainment system by touch, while minimizing the time to look down at the screen.

Figure 3 haptic effect mapped to the touch screen panel

Figure 3 haptic effect mapped to the touch screen panel

Figure 3 shows an effect diagram of the screen, depicting the process of mapping different haptic effects ("microseismic", "short shock", "strong earthquake", etc.) to different areas of the touch screen. Instead of looking at the display, you can find the right control area on your screen with your fingers—touching each area triggers a “find confirmation” feedback. When you find the correct control area, you can select it by clicking or increasing the pressure on the screen, triggering a “select” haptic effect to confirm the input. In the process, your eyes are not leaving the road in front of the car. In addition, each system's "sub-functions" (audio, navigation, car control) have their own dynamic tactile profiles.

Imagine it, it brings us unlimited possibilities! In the automotive industry, the innovation of user interface design elites will lead the development of the touch screen center console. So, next time, if you want to learn about the "tablet-like" driving experience, go directly to the local car dealers to experience it for yourself.

——This article is selected from the electronic enthusiast network October “Touch Technology Special Issue” “Perspective New Design Column”, please indicate the source, please do it!

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