Display system, in-vehicle display system, operation control system, and operator specification method

• US 20080133085A1
• Filed: 11/28/2007
• Published: 06/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Ten Limited (DENSO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Ten Limited (DENSO Corporation)
• Inventors: Ikeda, Masahiro, Fukuda, Takako, Tanaka, Shinya, Harumoto, Satoshi, Nakata, Kenji, Tanaka, Shougo, Lin, Guosheng, Kurose, Hidenori, Makimoto, Yuki
• Granted Patent: US 7,617,030 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/36
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2040/0809 Driver authorisation; Driver identity check
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2040/0881 Seat occupation; Driver or passenger presence
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/08 related to drivers or passengers

Abstract

A seat sensor is arranged for each of a plurality of seats. A pulse-signal supplying unit supplies a pulse signal with a different timing to the seat sensor. An operator identifying unit detects, when a first operator sit on any one of the seats operates an operating unit, the pulse signal supplied to the seat sensor by the pulse-signal supplying unit through the first operator and the operating unit, and identifies the first operator based on a timing of a detected pulse signal. An operation control unit performs a control depending on an operation performed on the operating unit by a detected first operator.

Claims

1. A display system comprising:

an operating unit that includes a touch panel;

a seat sensor arranged for each of a plurality of seats;

a pulse-signal supplying unit that supplies a pulse signal with a different timing to the seat sensor;

an operator identifying unit that detects, when a first operator sit on any one of the seats operates the operating unit, the pulse signal supplied to the seat sensor by the pulse-signal supplying unit through the first operator and the operating unit, and identifies the first operator based on a timing of a detected pulse signal; and

an operation control unit that performs a control depending on an operation performed on the operating unit by a detected first operator.

2. The display system according to claim 1, wherein

the operating unit includes a hardware switch, and

when the first operator operates the hardware switch, the operator identifying unit detects the pulse signal supplied to the seat sensor by the pulse-signal supplying unit through the first operator and the hardware switch.

3. The display system according to claim 1, wherein

the pulse-signal supplying unit detects electrical property of the first operator based on the detected pulse signal, and

the display system further comprises an adjusting unit that adjusts a pulse signal to be supplied to the first operator based on detected electrical property.

4. The display system according to claim 1, wherein the operator identifying unit samples the detected pulse signal for a plurality of times, and identifies the first operator based on a result of sampling.

5. The display system according to claim 1, wherein the operator identifying unit detects electrical property of the first operator based on the detected pulse signal, and changes sensitivity of either one of the operating unit and the operator identifying unit based on detected electrical property.

6. The display system according to claim 1, wherein

the operator identifying unit detects an operation signal supplied from the operating unit in addition to the pulse signal, and

the pulse-signal supplying unit compares a first timing at which the pulse signal is detected by the operator identifying unit with a second timing at which the operation signal is detected by the operator identifying unit, and if the first timing is different from the second timing, adjusts a pulse signal to be supplied to the first operator in such a manner that the first timing matches with the second timing.

7. The display system according to claim 1, wherein the operator identifying unit detects an operation signal supplied from the operating unit in addition to the pulse signal, and adjusts at least one of a detection threshold of the pulse signal and a pulse signal to be supplied to the first operator based on a level of the pulse signal within a timing at which the operation signal is detected.

8. A method of identifying an operator who operates an operating unit including a touch panel, and performing a control depending on an operation performed by an identified operator, the method comprising:

supplying a pulse signal having unique timing to a seat sensor arranged for each of a plurality of seats;

detecting, when a first operator sit on any one of the seats operates the operating unit, the pulse signal supplied at the supplying through the first operator and the operating unit;

identifying the first operator based on a timing of a detected pulse signal; and

performing a control depending on an operation performed on the operating unit by a detected first operator.

9. An in-vehicle display system comprising:

an operating unit that includes a touch panel;

a seat sensor arranged for each of a first seat and a second seat;

a pulse-signal supplying unit that supplies a pulse signal with a different timing to the seat sensor;

an operator identifying unit that detects, when a first operator from among a plurality of operators sit on the first seat and the second seat operates the operating unit, the pulse signal supplied to the seat sensor by the pulse-signal supplying unit through the first operator and the operating unit, and identifies the first operator based on a timing of a detected pulse signal; and

an operation control unit that performs a control depending on an operation performed on the operating unit by a detected first operator.

10. An operation control system comprising:

a seat sensor arranged for each of a first seat and a second seat;

a pulse-signal supplying unit that supplies a pulse signal with a different timing to the seat sensor;

an operating unit that receives an operation from an operator of a vehicle;

an operator identifying unit that detects, when a first operator sit on either one of the first seat and the second seat operates the operating unit, the pulse signal supplied to the seat sensor by the pulse-signal supplying unit through the first operator and the operating unit, and identifies the first operator based on a timing of a detected pulse signal; and

an operation control unit that performs a control depending on an operation performed on the operating unit by a detected first operator.

11. The operation control system according to claim 10, wherein

an operation about driving of the vehicle is performed on the operation control unit, and

when the detected first operator is other than a driver, the operation control unit does not perform the control.

12. The operation control system according to claim 11, wherein the operation about driving of the vehicle is any one of a transmission operation, a parking break operation, a horn operation, a vehicle light operation, a wiper operation, and a defogger operation.

13. The operation control system according to claim 10, wherein

an operation about a central management of vehicle equipments is performed on the operation control unit, and

when the detected first operator is an authorized operator who has an authority for executing the central management of the vehicle equipments, the operation control performs the control.

14. The operation control system according to claim 13, wherein the central control is any one of a central door lock operation for controlling a plurality of door lock mechanisms, a central window control for controlling opening and closing of a plurality of windows, and a lock control operation for prohibiting an opening and closing operation of a predetermined door.

15. The operation control system according to claim 10, wherein

an operation about an individual operation of a vehicle equipment that is individually operable by an operator of each of the first seat and the second seat is performed on the operation control unit, and

the operation control performs a control for the individual operation by the detected first operator.

16. The operation control system according to claim 15, wherein the individual operation is any one of an air conditioning operation in the vehicle, a seat condition changing operation, and a window opening and closing operation.

17. The operation control system according to claim 10, wherein

the operation control unit receives a operation input which is prohibited in driving during a driving of the vehicle, and

when the detected first operator is other than a driver, the operation control unit performs a control for the operation input.