Method and apparatus for accessing vehicle systems
First Claim
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1. A method for activating and providing inputs to a plurality of control systems in a vehicle, comprising:
- providing a plurality of discrete selector switches for selecting a discrete control algorithm of a system of the vehicle, said plurality of discrete selector switches being disposed on a surface of a steering wheel within an area wherein each of said plurality of discrete selector switches may be manipulated by a user gripping the steering wheel with at least one hand at a first gripping configuration wherein the at least one hand does not have to be repositioned to be able to manipulate each of said plurality of discrete selector switches;
providing a visual display, said visual display indicating which control algorithm has been selected by one of said plurality of discrete selectors switches; and
providing a scroll switch on a surface of the steering wheel wherein rotation of the scroll switch provides an input into the control algorithm selected by one of said plurality of discrete selector switches, said input modifying an operational status of a device controlled by the selected control algorithm, said scroll switch being located so that said scroll switch may be manipulated by the at least one hand from said first gripping configuration.
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Abstract
A control interface for accessing a plurality of systems of a vehicle, comprising: a first control interface disposed on a surface of a steering wheel; a second control interface disposed on a surface of a steering wheel, the second control interface being positioned remote from the first control interface; a visual display disposed within the vehicle, wherein the first control interface provides access to a vehicle system and the second control interface provides a means for modifying the state of the vehicle system access by the first control interface.
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Citations
44 Claims
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1. A method for activating and providing inputs to a plurality of control systems in a vehicle, comprising:
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providing a plurality of discrete selector switches for selecting a discrete control algorithm of a system of the vehicle, said plurality of discrete selector switches being disposed on a surface of a steering wheel within an area wherein each of said plurality of discrete selector switches may be manipulated by a user gripping the steering wheel with at least one hand at a first gripping configuration wherein the at least one hand does not have to be repositioned to be able to manipulate each of said plurality of discrete selector switches;
providing a visual display, said visual display indicating which control algorithm has been selected by one of said plurality of discrete selectors switches; and
providing a scroll switch on a surface of the steering wheel wherein rotation of the scroll switch provides an input into the control algorithm selected by one of said plurality of discrete selector switches, said input modifying an operational status of a device controlled by the selected control algorithm, said scroll switch being located so that said scroll switch may be manipulated by the at least one hand from said first gripping configuration. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A multiple input control interface for accessing and modifying a plurality of systems of a vehicle, comprising:
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a first control interface disposed on a surface of a steering wheel;
a second control interface disposed on a surface of said steering wheel, said second control interface being positioned remote from said first control interface;
a visual display disposed within a rim portion of said steering wheel, wherein said first control interface provides access to a vehicle system and said second control interface provides a means for modifying the state of the vehicle system accessed by said first control interface and said visual display indicates which vehicle system has been accessed and modified; and
a remote control, said remote control comprising a first remote control interface disposed on a surface of said remote control;
a second remote control interface disposed on a surface of said remote control, wherein said first remote control interface provides access to a vehicle system and said second remote control interface provides a means for modifying the state of the vehicle system accessed by said first remote control interface and said visual display indicates which vehicle system has been accessed. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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12. A control interface for accessing a plurality of systems of a vehicle, comprising:
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a first control interface disposed on a surface of a steering wheel;
a second control interface disposed on a surface of said steering wheel, said second control interface being positioned remote from said first control interface; and
a visual display disposed within a rim portion of said steering wheel, wherein said first control interface provides access to a vehicle system and said second control interface provides a means for modifying the state of the vehicle system accessed by said first control interface and said visual display indicates which vehicle system has been accessed and modified. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A steering wheel for a vehicle, comprising:
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a first control interface for accessing a plurality of vehicle subsystems;
a second control interface for modifying one of said plurality of vehicle subsystems after they are accessed by said first control interface; and
a visual display for indicating which one of said plurality of vehicle subsystems has been accessed by said first control interface, wherein said visual display is located within a rim of a steering wheel.
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25. A method for activating and providing inputs to a plurality of control systems in a vehicle, comprising:
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providing a plurality of discrete selector switches for selecting a discrete control algorithm of a system of the vehicle, said plurality of discrete selector switches being disposed on a surface of a steering wheel;
providing a visual display in a portion of a rim of the steering wheel of the vehicle, said visual display indicating which control algorithm has been selected by one of said plurality of discrete selectors switches; and
providing a means on a surface of the steering wheel for providing an input into the control algorithm selected by one of said plurality of discrete selector switches, said input modifying an operational status of a device controlled by the selected control algorithm. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method for providing a user interface between a plurality of vehicle systems of a vehicle, each of said plurality of vehicle systems having a plurality of operational states, the method comprising:
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providing a first control interface disposed on a surface of a steering wheel, said first control interface having a plurality of discrete selector switches for selecting a discrete control algorithm of one of the plurality of vehicle systems, said plurality of discrete selector switches being disposed on a surface of the steering wheel;
providing a second control interface on a surface of the steering wheel, said second control interface providing an input into the control algorithm selected by one of said plurality of discrete selector switches, said input modifying an operational status of a device controlled by the selected control algorithm; and
providing a visual display in a portion of a rim of the steering wheel of the vehicle, said visual display indicating which control algorithm has been selected by one of said plurality of discrete selectors switches. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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Specification