Multifunction switch device with display function

• US 20010052912A1
• Filed: 05/18/2001
• Published: 12/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Inventors: Ogawa, Masayuki, Ishii, Koji
• Application Number:
  US09/859,473
• Publication Number:
  US 20010052912A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/835
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/11 Instrument graphical user interfaces or menu aspects
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/11 Graphical user interfaces or menu aspects
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor

Abstract

A multifunction switch device with a display function is provided, by which a plurality of functions can be selected with a single switching operation so that a degree of freedom for assigning functions to each switch is increased and the selected function can be easily seen. An icon CR1 of TV is displayed using an animation on a screen of the left side switch MF1a out of a MF switches MF1, while an icon CR2 of CD as an equipment presently selected is displayed using an animation on a screen of the right side switch MF1b, and in addition, a letter “CD” and a letter “MD” are seen at right and left under the icon CR2. If a CD player is an equipment presently selected, a letter “CD” is displayed to be white in a black background, while a letter “MD” indicating a MD player to be selected next is displayed with a normal displaying image.

Claims

1. A multifunction switch device with a display function comprising:

a switch section, for newly selecting an operating object equipment whenever an switching operation is carried out;

a displaying section for displaying a character indicating an operating object equipment to be selected at each operation area on a switch operating part in the switch section;

switching operation detecting means for detecting an operated area out of said each operation area;

operating object detecting means for detecting an operating object equipment; and

image generating means for generating a character indicating an operating object equipment on the basis of a detected result by the operating object detecting means and sending the character to the displaying section, and for renewing a displaying image of the character displayed at the displaying section on the basis of a detected result by the switching operation detecting means,

wherein on the basis of a detected result by the switching operation detecting means, the image generating means makes the displaying section display the character so that a character indicating a different operating object equipment is displayed on each adjacent operation area.

2. The multifunction switch device with a display function according to

claim 1

, wherein the switch section employs a seesaw switch for a switching mechanism thereof and the displaying section displays a character, displayed contents of which increases whenever one operation area is operated and decreases whenever another operation area is operated, extending over both said one and another operation areas.

3. The multifunction switch device with a display function according to

claim 1

, wherein the switch section employs a seesaw switch for a switching mechanism thereof, the displaying section displays a character indicating an operating object equipment at one operation area and displays a character indicating a different operating object equipment presently selected from said operating object equipment together with a character indicating an operating object equipment to be selected next at another operation area, and said another operation area is repeatedly operated, thereby an operating object equipment is switched.