Steering wheel mounted scroll wheel and method
First Claim
1. A motor vehicle control system comprising:
- a rotary scroll wheel coupled to a switch and mounted on a steering wheel rim of a motor vehicle and configured to adjust a function of the motor vehicle;
a control unit electrically coupled to the switch and configured to receive a signal from the switch and to cause adjustment of the function in response to the signal.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus are provided for an intuitive and non-distracting way for a driver of a motor vehicle to access and adjust vehicle system settings. The apparatus comprises a plurality of rotary scroll wheels and a plurality of switches, each of the plurality of switches coupled to and actuable by one of the scroll wheels, and each of the plurality of rotary scroll wheels mounted on a steering wheel rim of the motor vehicle. Preferably, one of the scroll wheels is mounted in an upper right hand quadrant of the steering wheel rim and one is mounted in an upper left hand quadrant. The apparatus further includes a control unit electrically coupled to each of the plurality of switches and configured to cause a motor vehicle function to react to a signal received from at least one of the plurality of switches.
45 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A motor vehicle control system comprising:
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a rotary scroll wheel coupled to a switch and mounted on a steering wheel rim of a motor vehicle and configured to adjust a function of the motor vehicle;
a control unit electrically coupled to the switch and configured to receive a signal from the switch and to cause adjustment of the function in response to the signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A motor vehicle control system comprising:
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a plurality of rotary scroll wheels and a plurality of switches, each of the plurality of switches coupled to and actuable by one of the plurality of rotary scroll wheels, and each of the plurality of rotary scroll wheels mounted on a steering wheel rim of the motor vehicle, at least one of the plurality of rotary scroll wheels mounted in an upper right hand quadrant of the steering wheel rim and at least one of the plurality of rotary scroll wheels located in an upper left hand quadrant of the steering wheel rim; and
a control unit electrically coupled to each of the plurality of switches and configured to cause a motor vehicle function to react to a signal received from at least one of the plurality of switches. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for controlling a motor vehicle function in a motor vehicle having a plurality of rotary scroll wheels mounted on a steering wheel of the motor vehicle, each rotary scroll wheel controlling one of a plurality of rotary switches and one of a plurality of linear switches, each of the plurality of rotary switches and each of the linear switches coupled to a control unit and the control unit coupled to a display, the method comprising the steps of:
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programming the control unit to cause a menu comprising a plurality of motor vehicle functions to be displayed on the display in response to rotation of one of the plurality of rotary switches by rotation of one of the plurality of rotary scroll wheels;
programming the control unit to select one of the plurality of motor vehicle functions in response to activation of one of the linear switches;
programming the control unit to cause a submenu comprising a plurality of options for the selected one of the plurality of motor vehicle functions to be displayed on the display in response to activation of the one of the plurality of linear switches;
programming the control unit to cause one of the plurality of options to be selected in response to further rotation of the one of the plurality of rotary switches by the rotation of the one of the plurality of rotary scroll wheels; and
programming the control unit to cause the one of the plurality of options to be activated in response to further activation of the one of the plurality of linear switches. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A motor vehicle control system comprising:
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a plurality of rotary scroll wheels and a plurality of switches, each of the plurality of switches comprising a rotary switch and a linear switch coupled to and actuable by one of the plurality of rotary scroll wheels, and each of the plurality of rotary scroll wheels mounted on a steering wheel rim of the motor vehicle;
a control unit electrically coupled to each of the plurality of switches; and
a display unit coupled to the control unit;
wherein the control unit is configured to cause a display of a menu of motor vehicle functions on the display unit in response to activation of one of the plurality of switches. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28)
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Specification