System and method for controlling a vehicle display in a moving vehicle
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method for controlling one or more functions associated with a vehicle display in a vehicle while the vehicle is moving, comprising:
- providing a steering wheel having a plurality of sensors configured to sense contact on the steering wheel, the steering wheel having a left zone and a right zone;
determining a left contact value based on one or more signals received from at least one of the plurality of sensors, wherein the left contact value indicates contact with the steering wheel within the left zone and is based on an amount of pressure applied to the steering wheel within the left zone;
determining a right contact value based on the one or more signals received from the at least one of the plurality of sensors, wherein the right contact value indicates contact with the steering wheel within the right zone and is based on an amount of pressure applied to the steering wheel within the right zone;
determining a left pressure threshold being applied within a left contact surface area of the steering wheel within the left zone, wherein the left pressure threshold varies based on the location of the left contact surface area on the steering wheel;
comparing the left contact value to a left contact threshold, wherein the left contact threshold is determined based on the left pressure threshold and a left surface area threshold;
determining a right pressure threshold being applied within a right contact surface area of the steering wheel within the right zone, wherein the right pressure threshold varies based on the location of the right contact surface area on the steering wheel;
comparing the right contact value to a right contact threshold, wherein the right contact threshold is determined based on the right pressure threshold and a right surface area threshold; and
upon determining a non-driving passenger is present in the vehicle based on vehicle data received from vehicle sensors of the vehicle, the left contact value satisfying the left contact threshold, and the right contact value satisfying the right contact threshold, controlling the vehicle display by setting a system status of the one or more functions associated with the vehicle display to enabled or disabled.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for controlling one or more functions associated with a vehicle display includes providing a steering wheel having a left zone and a right zone. The method includes determining a left contact value and a right contact value based on at least one of a plurality of sensors of the steering wheel. Further, the method includes comparing the left contact value to a left contact threshold that maximizes contact of a left hand with the steering wheel within the left zone and comparing the right contact value to a right contact threshold that maximizes contact of a right hand with the steering wheel within the right zone. Upon determining a non-driving passenger is present in the vehicle, the one or more functions associated with the vehicle display are enabled or disabled.
47 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method for controlling one or more functions associated with a vehicle display in a vehicle while the vehicle is moving, comprising:
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providing a steering wheel having a plurality of sensors configured to sense contact on the steering wheel, the steering wheel having a left zone and a right zone; determining a left contact value based on one or more signals received from at least one of the plurality of sensors, wherein the left contact value indicates contact with the steering wheel within the left zone and is based on an amount of pressure applied to the steering wheel within the left zone; determining a right contact value based on the one or more signals received from the at least one of the plurality of sensors, wherein the right contact value indicates contact with the steering wheel within the right zone and is based on an amount of pressure applied to the steering wheel within the right zone; determining a left pressure threshold being applied within a left contact surface area of the steering wheel within the left zone, wherein the left pressure threshold varies based on the location of the left contact surface area on the steering wheel; comparing the left contact value to a left contact threshold, wherein the left contact threshold is determined based on the left pressure threshold and a left surface area threshold; determining a right pressure threshold being applied within a right contact surface area of the steering wheel within the right zone, wherein the right pressure threshold varies based on the location of the right contact surface area on the steering wheel; comparing the right contact value to a right contact threshold, wherein the right contact threshold is determined based on the right pressure threshold and a right surface area threshold; and upon determining a non-driving passenger is present in the vehicle based on vehicle data received from vehicle sensors of the vehicle, the left contact value satisfying the left contact threshold, and the right contact value satisfying the right contact threshold, controlling the vehicle display by setting a system status of the one or more functions associated with the vehicle display to enabled or disabled. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system for controlling one or more functions associated with a vehicle display in a vehicle while the vehicle is moving, comprising:
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a steering wheel having a plurality of sensors configured to sense contact on the steering wheel, the steering wheel having a left zone and a right zone; and the vehicle display is operably connected for computer communication to the steering wheel and the vehicle, the vehicle display including a processor, wherein the processor receives one or more signals from at least one of the plurality of sensors and determines a left contact value based on the one or more signals, the left contact value indicating contact with the steering wheel within the left zone and is based on an amount of pressure applied to the steering wheel within the left zone, and the processor determines a right contact value based on the one or more signals, the right contact value indicating contact with the steering wheel within the right zone and is based on an amount of pressure applied to the steering wheel within the right zone, wherein the processor determines a left pressure threshold being applied within a left contact surface area of the steering wheel within the left zone, wherein the left pressure threshold varies based on the location of the left contact surface area on the steering wheel; wherein the processor compares the left contact value to a left contact threshold, wherein the left contact threshold is determined based on the left pressure threshold and a left surface area threshold; wherein the processor determines a right pressure threshold being applied within a right contact surface area of the steering wheel within the right zone, wherein the right pressure threshold varies based on the location of the right contact surface area on the steering wheel; wherein the processor compares the right contact value to a right contact threshold, wherein the right contact threshold is determined based on the right pressure threshold and a right surface area threshold; and wherein the processor receives vehicle data from vehicle sensors of the vehicle and upon determining a non-driving passenger is present in the vehicle based on the vehicle data, the processor sets a system status of the one or more functions associated with the vehicle display to enabled or disabled based on comparing the left contact value to the left contact threshold and comparing the right contact value to the right contact threshold. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A non-transitory computer readable medium with instructions for controlling one or more functions associated with a vehicle display in a vehicle while the vehicle is moving, the instructions for execution by a processor, comprising:
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receiving one or more signals from at least one of a plurality of sensors integrated with a steering wheel, wherein the steering wheel includes a left zone and a right zone; determining a left contact value based on the one or more signals, wherein the left contact value indicates contact with the steering wheel within the left zone and is proportional to an amount of pressure applied to the steering wheel within the left zone; determining a right contact value based on the one or more signals, wherein the right contact value indicates contact with the steering wheel within the right zone and is proportional to an amount of pressure applied to the steering wheel within the right zone; determining a left pressure threshold being applied within a left contact surface area of the steering wheel within the left zone, wherein the left pressure threshold varies based on the location of the left contact surface area on the steering wheel; comparing the left contact value to a left contact threshold, wherein the left contact threshold is determined based on the left pressure threshold and a left surface area threshold; determining a right pressure threshold being applied within a right contact surface area of the steering wheel within the right zone, wherein the right pressure threshold varies based on the location of the right contact surface area on the steering wheel; comparing the right contact value to a right contact threshold, wherein the right contact threshold is determined based on the right pressure threshold and a right surface area threshold; and receiving vehicle data received from vehicle sensors of the vehicle and upon determining a non-driving passenger is present in the vehicle based on the vehicle data, setting a system status of the one or more functions associated with the vehicle display to enabled or disabled based on comparing the left contact value to the left contact threshold and comparing the right contact value to the right contact threshold. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification