Method and apparatus for detecting and differentiating users of a device

• US 20080004769A1
• Filed: 06/27/2007
• Published: 01/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Szczerba, Joseph F., Lenneman, John K., Aase, Jan H., Seder, Thomas A., Mathieu, Roy J., Baum, Alan M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,957,864 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/36
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/141 Activation of instrument input devices by approaching fingers or pens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/654 the user being the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/656 the user being a passenger

Abstract

The invention provides an apparatus for operator control of an in-vehicle system. This comprises an interface device for receiving inputs for control of the in-vehicle system from the operator. There is a sensing system operative to determine a location of the operator seeking to provide the inputs to the interface device, the location consisting of one of a passenger and a driver. A controller adapts the control of the in-vehicle system based upon the location of the operator providing the inputs.

Claims

1. Apparatus for operator control of an in-vehicle system, comprising:

an interface device for receiving inputs for control of the in-vehicle system from the operator;

a sensing system operative to determine a location of the operator providing the inputs to the interface device; and

,

a controller operative to adapt the control of the in-vehicle system based upon the location of the operator providing the inputs.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensing system operative to determine a location of the operator providing the inputs to the interface device comprises an optical proximity sensor.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the optical proximity sensor comprises an infrared light source and a plurality of light receivers.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein light emitted from the infrared light source is reflected to one of the light receivers by a hand approaching from a driver location.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein light emitted from the infrared light source is reflected to one of the light receivers by a hand approaching from a passenger location.

6. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein light emitted from the infrared light source is detected by a first one of the light receivers when reflected by a hand approaching from a driver location, and, light emitted from the infrared light source is detected by a second one of the light receivers when reflected by a hand approaching from a passenger location.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the light emitted from the infrared light source detected by the first one of the light receivers is mutually exclusive from the light emitted from the infrared light source detected by the second one of the light receivers.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the in-vehicle system comprises a navigation system, and the controller is operative to disable control of the navigation system when the operator providing inputs to the interface device is in a driver location.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the controller is operative to enable control of the navigation system when the operator providing inputs to the interface device is in passenger location.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the in-vehicle system comprises an entertainment system;

the interface device for receiving inputs for control of the entertainment system from the operator consists of a single interface device; and

,

the controller is operative to provide operator-specific entertainment control based upon the location of the operator providing the inputs.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an audio-speaker system controlled by the controller operative to provide audio feedback to the operator comprising the specific interface device receiving the control input and the specific setting for the interface device.

10. The apparatus of claim it wherein:

the in-vehicle system comprises a location-specific climate control system;

the interface device for receiving inputs for control of the climate control system from the operator consists of a single interface device; and

,

the controller is operative to provide location-specific climate control for the operator based upon the location of the operator providing the inputs.

13. Apparatus for operator control of an in-vehicle system, comprising:

an interface device for receiving inputs for control of the in-vehicle system from the operator;

a sensing system, operative to determine a location of the operator providing the inputs to the interface device, the location consisting of one of a passenger and a driver, and, operative to determine an input from the operator for control of the in-vehicle system; and

,

a controller operative to adapt the control of the in-vehicle system based upon the location of the operator providing the inputs, and, operative to control the in-vehicle system based upon the operator inputs.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the sensing system comprises a a pair of optical proximity sensors adjacent to the interface device.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein each of the optical proximity sensors comprises a light source emitting infrared light and a plurality of light receivers signally individually connected to the controller.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the interface device for receiving inputs for control of the in-vehicle system from the operator comprises one or more of visual display screen devices, operator-adjustable knobs, and operator-selectable buttons.

17. Apparatus for operator control of a plurality of in-vehicle systems, comprising:

an interface device for receiving inputs for control of each of the in-vehicle systems from the operator;

a sensing system, operative to determine a location of the operator providing the inputs to the interface device, and, operative to determine an input from the operator to select a specific one of the in-vehicle systems; and

,

a controller operative to adapt the control of the selected in-vehicle system based upon the location of the operator providing the input, and, operative to control the selected in-vehicle system based upon operator inputs to the interface device and the sensing system.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the sensing system comprises a a pair of optical proximity sensors, each optical proximity sensor comprising a light source emitting infrared light and a plurality of light receivers signally individually connected to the controller.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the in-vehicle systems comprise a climate control system, a navigation system, and an entertainment system.