INTEGRATED VEHICLE CONTROL INTERFACE AND MODULE

• US 20080143686A1
• Filed: 09/24/2007
• Published: 06/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Elan Microelectronics Corporation
• Original Assignee: Elan Microelectronics Corporation
• Inventors: Lii, Jia-Yih, Yeh, I-Hau
• Application Number:
  US11/902,527
• Publication Number:
  US 20080143686A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/143 Touch sensitive instrument input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/782 on the steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/143 Touch sensitive input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/782 on the steering wheel
• 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 35/60 Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 37/06 of controls, e.g. controls knobs
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/0275 comprising removable or hinged parts for accessing storage compartments B60R7/04; for airbag deployment B60R21/215
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/001 Vehicle control means, e.g. steering-wheel or column
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/046 Adaptations on rotatable parts of the steering wheel for accommodation of switches

Abstract

An integrated vehicle control interface and module are provided for being disposed onto a direction control device of a vehicle. The integrated vehicle control module comprises a touch-control input/output component and a sense-and-control module. The touch-control input/output component is used for a driver to perform a touch-control input, and the sense-and-control module is used to sense and calculate a coordinate corresponding to the touch-control input and execute a corresponding functional mode with the coordinate.

Claims

1. An integrated vehicle control interface for being disposed onto a direction control device of a vehicle, comprising a touch-control input/output component for receiving and transmitting a driver'"'"'s service request.

2. The integrated vehicle control interface of claim 1, wherein the integrated vehicle control interface is used to simulate a keyboard interface, a handwriting input interface and a first display device, and the service request includes input/output of alphanumeric characters and graphical symbols.

3. The integrated vehicle control interface of claim 2, wherein the keyboard interface includes a physical keyboard and a software for simulating graphic keyboard interface.

4. The integrated vehicle control interface of claim 3, wherein the keyboard interface has a numeral input/output area and the service request includes making phone calls.

5. The integrated vehicle control interface of claim 2, further comprising:

a pointing component for being disposed onto the direction control device, wherein the integrated vehicle control interface is used to simulate a hardware/software mouse interface and a remote control device, and the service request further includes service menu selecting, address book selecting, navigation map operating, scrolling and cursor controlling

6. The integrated vehicle control interface of claim 2, wherein the integrated vehicle control interface is used to simulate the handwriting input interface, and the service request is inputable by means of a pen-like input component or one of users'"'"' fingers.

7. The integrated vehicle control interface of claim 2, wherein the integrated vehicle control interface displays a graphic auxiliary operation interface as demanded by the service request and an operation status of the integrated vehicle control interface when the integrated vehicle control interface is used to simulate the first display device.

8. The integrated vehicle control interface of claim 1, wherein the integrated vehicle control interface is electrically connected to a control module which is used to analyze the service request and provide relevant service as demanded by the service request.

9. The integrated vehicle control interface of claim 8, further comprising a wireless transceiver module electrically connected to the control module for receiving and transmitting the service request by wireless communications.

10. The integrated vehicle control interface of claim 8, wherein the integrated vehicle control interface is electrically connected to a second display device which is used to display a graphic auxiliary operation interface the service request demands and an operation status of the integrated vehicle control interface.

11. The integrated vehicle control interface of claim 1, wherein the touch-control input/output component is of digital type or analog type.

12. An integrated vehicle control module for being disposed onto a direction control device of a vehicle, comprising:

a touch-control input/output component for a driver to perform a touch-control input; and

a sense-and-control module for sensing a control signal generated from the touch-control input, calculating a coordinate corresponding to the touch-control input, and executing a corresponding functional mode with the coordinate.

13. The integrated vehicle control module of claim 12, wherein the touch-control input/output component is used to simulate and display a keyboard interface and a handwriting input interface.

14. The integrated vehicle control module of claim 12, further comprising:

a pointing component for being disposed onto the direction control device, in association with the touch-control input/output component to simulate a hardware/software mouse interface and a remote control device, wherein the functional mode includes service menu selecting, address book selecting, navigation map operating, scrolling and cursor controlling.

15. The integrated vehicle control module of claim 12, wherein the touch-control input/output component is of digital type or analog type.

16. The integrated vehicle control module of claim 12, wherein the touch-control input/output component is further used to display a graphic auxiliary operation interface corresponding to the functional mode and an operation status.

17. The integrated vehicle control module of claim 12, further comprising:

a display device electrically connected to the sense-and-control module to display a graphic auxiliary operation interface corresponding to the functional mode and an operation status.