Method to operate a portable input device that controls a motor vehicle

• US 10,338,579 B2
• Filed: 10/26/2017
• Issued: 07/02/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Wolter, Stefan, Golm, Florian, Wesemann, Juergen
• Primary Examiner(s): Antonucci, Anne M
• Application Number:
  US15/794,089
• Publication Number:
  US 20180120830A1
• Time in Patent Office: 614 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00264 Transportable devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00657 Remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0016 characterised by the operator's input device input arrangements for computing systems in general G06F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 13/02 Details
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/00 Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a method for operating a portable input device to control a motor vehicle. The input device has a pressure-sensitive touchscreen. The input device generates control signals to control the motor vehicle, and transmit said signals to the motor vehicle. The control signal has at least one determinable parameter. The input device is designed to capture a pressure value of an actuating force of the touchscreen, and determine the parameter according to the captured pressure value.

Claims

1. A method for operating a portable input device to control a motor vehicle comprising:

generating an actuating force on a pressure-sensitive touchscreen of an input device to provide control signals that control the vehicle, wherein a pressure value of the actuating force is captured by the touchscreen; and

transmitting the control signals to the motor vehicle to control the vehicle, the control signals including a parameter having a value representative of a magnitude of the pressure value, the parameter being assigned to control a speed of the vehicle according to the magnitude of the pressure value.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising reassigning the parameter to control an interior temperature of the vehicle according to the magnitude of the pressure value.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2 wherein the reassigning of the parameter is accomplished using a menu presented on the touchscreen.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the input device is a handheld device.

5. A control system comprising:

an input device, having a pressure-sensitive touchscreen configured to capture a magnitude of a pressure value of an actuating force on the touchscreen, and to provide control signals including a parameter assigned according to a preset assignment and having a value representative of a the magnitude of the pressure value; and

a vehicle configured to receive the control signals, and to operate at a speed according to the value of the parameter.

6. The control system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the input device is further configured to permit an operator to change the preset assignment of the parameter to control an interior temperature of the vehicle according to the magnitude of the pressure value.

7. The control system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the input device is a smartphone.

8. The control system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the input device is a tablet.

9. A system comprising:

a portable input device having a pressure-sensitive touchscreen configured to capture a pressure value of an actuating force on the touchscreen, and to provide control signals; and

a vehicle configured to receive the control signals, and to assign control of a speed of the vehicle to the pressure value such that, in response to the actuating force, the speed adjusts to the pressure value.

10. The input device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the portable input device is a smartphone.

11. The input device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the portable input device is a tablet.