Evan J Small

US Patent:

20110040455, Feb 17, 2011

Filed:

Sep 23, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/889003

Inventors:

William Brian Lathrop - San Jose CA, US
Evan Small - Palo Alto CA, US
Brian Michael Finn - East Palo Alto CA, US
Deborah Garcia - Freemont CA, US

International Classification:

G06F 19/00

US Classification:

701 48, 701 1

Abstract:

The present invention relates to a motor vehicle having a steering wheel, the motor vehicle including a first display, integrated into the steering wheel, for the variable representation of information; a first touchscreen, situated over the first display, for the input of commands; a second display, integrated into the steering wheel and separated spatially from the first display, for the variable representation of information; and a second touchscreen, situated over the second display, for the input of commands.

US Patent:

20110043468, Feb 24, 2011

Filed:

Aug 2, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/848657

Inventors:

William Brian LATHROP - San Jose CA, US
Evan SMALL - Palo Alto CA, US
Enrique RODRIGUEZ - Mountain View CA, US

International Classification:

G06F 3/041

US Classification:

345173

Abstract:

A motor vehicle includes a steering wheel, a first touchpad integrated into the steering wheel adapted to input commands, a second touchpad integrated into the steering wheel and spatially separated from the first touchpad adapted to input commands, and a coordination module adapted to generate a command to operate a function of the motor vehicle as a function of a touch motion over the first touchpad and a simultaneously-occurring touch motion over the second touchpad.

US Patent:

20110082615, Apr 7, 2011

Filed:

Feb 19, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/708547

Inventors:

Evan Small - Palo Alto CA, US
Brian Finn - Palo Alto CA, US
Dan Adams - Palo Alto CA, US

Assignee:

Tesla Motors, Inc. - San Carlos CA

International Classification:

B60W 50/08
G01C 21/26
B60W 10/26
B60W 10/30
G06F 7/00
G06F 3/048
G06F 15/16
G06F 3/033

US Classification:

701 29, 701 48, 715799, 715765, 709219, 715863, 715800, 715840

Abstract:

A method for configuring and personalizing a vehicle user interface is provided, the user interface utilizing a touch screen display mounted within the vehicle. User configurable aspects of the user interface include the number of zones within the touch screen display, the size of each zone, the subsystem interface assigned to each zone, the style and information contained within each subsystem interface, display brightness levels for the overall display or per zone, and the assignment and location of persistent soft buttons.

US Patent:

20110082616, Apr 7, 2011

Filed:

Feb 19, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/708572

Inventors:

Evan Small - Palo Alto CA, US
Brian Finn - Palo Alto CA, US
Dan Adams - Palo Alto CA, US

Assignee:

Tesla Motors, Inc. - San Carlos CA

International Classification:

B60W 50/08
G06F 7/00
B60W 10/26
G01C 21/26
B60W 10/30
G06F 3/01

US Classification:

701 29, 701 36, 715744

Abstract:

A method for using a vehicle user interface is provided, the user interface utilizing a touch screen display mounted within the vehicle. A proximity detection system provides a means for switching the touch screen display from the sleep mode to the normal use mode without the user having to touch the screen, thus expediting user interaction with the touch screen. The proximity detection system may be configured to distinguish the user's presence per touch screen zone, thereby allowing the system controller to switch only a zone of the touch screen from the sleep mode to the normal use mode.

US Patent:

20110082618, Apr 7, 2011

Filed:

Aug 25, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/868486

Inventors:

Evan Small - Palo Alto CA, US
Michael Fairman - Santa Cruz CA, US

Assignee:

TESLA MOTORS, INC. - Palo Alto CA

International Classification:

G06F 3/01
G06F 7/00
B60Q 1/00
G06F 3/041

US Classification:

701 29, 340441, 715702, 345173

Abstract:

A system and a method are provided for adapting a vehicle user interface to generate audible feedback cues when the user interacts with the vehicle interface via touch-sensitive soft buttons and the vehicle speed exceeds a preset speed. When the vehicle speed does not exceed the preset speed, either no audible feedback cues are provided to the user during interaction via the touch-sensitive soft buttons, or the volume level of the audible feedback cues is less than that used when the vehicle speed exceeds the preset speed. The system and method may further utilize a sensor for monitoring the sound level with the vehicle cabin. The sound level of the vehicle cabin may be used to set the volume level of the audible feedback cue, thus insuring for example that the feedback cues may be heard over cabin noise.

US Patent:

20110082619, Apr 7, 2011

Filed:

Aug 25, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/868515

Inventors:

Evan Small - Palo Alto CA, US
Michael Fairman - Santa Cruz CA, US

Assignee:

TESLA MOTORS, INC. - Palo Alto CA

International Classification:

G06F 7/00
B62D 15/02

US Classification:

701 29

Abstract:

A system and a method are provided for configuring the touch-sensitive area and/or the tap duration associated with a plurality of touch-sensitive soft buttons of a vehicle user interface in response to varying vehicle conditions. In particular, as a monitored vehicle condition deteriorates, the system controller coupled to the vehicle user interface expands the touch-sensitive region and/or increases the tap duration of the touch-sensitive soft buttons, thereby improving the user's ability to successfully interact with the interface. Vehicle conditions that may be monitored and used to configure the touch-sensitive area and/or tap duration include passenger cabin vibration levels, vehicle speed, turn radius, lateral force levels, precipitation levels and external ambient temperature.

US Patent:

20110082620, Apr 7, 2011

Filed:

Aug 25, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/868551

Inventors:

Evan Small - Palo Alto CA, US
Michael Fairman - Santa Cruz CA, US

Assignee:

TESLA MOTORS, INC. - Palo Alto CA

International Classification:

G06F 7/00
G01S 19/51

US Classification:

701 29

Abstract:

A method is provided for configuring a vehicle interface in response to a monitored vehicle condition. For example, the vehicle condition sensor may be a precipitation sensor, in which case the set of vehicle subsystem touch-sensitive soft buttons correspond to windshield wiper controls when the precipitation sensor indicates a non-zero precipitation level. Alternately, the vehicle condition sensor may be a GPS sensor, in which case the set of vehicle subsystem touch-sensitive soft buttons correspond to activation controls an external system such as a garage door controller, a home lighting controller, or a home security controller. Alternately, the vehicle condition sensor may sense driving style, for example by monitoring vehicle speed, acceleration, lateral force or the output of a performance mode selector, in which case the set of vehicle subsystem information graphics correspond to essential vehicle operating controls.

US Patent:

20110082627, Apr 7, 2011

Filed:

Mar 16, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/725391

Inventors:

Evan Small - Palo Alto CA, US
Vincent George Johnston - Half Moon Bay CA, US

Assignee:

TESLA MOTORS, INC. - Palo Alto CA

International Classification:

B60W 50/08
B60W 10/30
G06F 3/048
G06F 3/041

US Classification:

701 48, 715800, 715765, 345173

Abstract:

A method for operating a vehicle user interface is provided, the user interface utilizing a touch-screen display mounted within the vehicle. In one aspect, the visual or visual/interactive properties of the interface change after the user initiates interface interaction. In another aspect, the interface allows a user to utilize any of a variety of different control interaction techniques, all to achieve the same function.