OPERATION EQUIPMENT FOR A VEHICLE

• US 20100106366A1
• Filed: 01/29/2008
• Published: 04/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Schliep, Frank, Lehomme, Francis
• Granted Patent: US 9,283,849 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 2360/143 Touch sensitive instrument input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1438 Touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1526 Dual-view displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• 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 35/22 Display screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/654 the user being the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/656 the user being a passenger
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 37/00 Dashboards as road-vehicle superstructure sub-units B62D25/14

Abstract

Operation equipment for a vehicle comprising a control element (20), an actuator device (30) and an electronic control unit (11), the operation equipment (10) further comprising a distinction sensor (40) for distinguishing the origin of a control action applied to the control element (20), wherein the control element (20) is operated in a contactless manner.

Claims

1. Operation equipment for a vehicle comprising a control element, an actuator device, and an electronic control unit, the operation equipment further comprising a sensor for distinguishing an origin of a control action applied to the control element, wherein the control element is operated in a contactless manner.

2. Operation equipment for a vehicle according to claim 1 wherein the sensor is provided as a sensor using a signal transmission through a human body.

3. Operation equipment for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein origins distinguishable by the sensor comprise at least a driver seat and a passenger seat.

4. Operation equipment for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the actuator device comprises at least one of the following vehicle systems:

a vehicle control system, a vehicle navigation system, a vehicle video system, a vehicle audio system, a vehicle air conditioning system, a vehicle interior light system, a vehicle seat adjustment system.

5. Operation equipment for a vehicle according to claim 4, wherein the vehicle video system comprises at least one display device.

6. Operation equipment for a vehicle according to claim 5, wherein the control element is provided integrated with the at least one display device of the vehicle video system.

7. Operation equipment for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the control element comprises a capacitance sensor.

8. Operation equipment for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises at least one optically sensing element.

9. Operation equipment for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a first optically sensing element and a second optically sensing element comprising a common field of view, the distinction of the origin of the control action applied to the control element being based on a superposition of signals of the first and the second optically sensing elements.

11. The equipment for a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein a first part of the sensors located near the human body.

12. The equipment for a vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the first part of the sensor is a non-powered part.

10. A method for distinguishing an origin of a control action applied to a control element in operation equipment for a vehicle, wherein a first step a first optically sensing element provides a first signal and a second optically sensing element provides a second signal, and the first signal and the second signal are superposed for distinguishing the origin of a control action.