Interface for vehicle function control via a touch screen

• US 20100318266A1
• Filed: 06/15/2009
• Published: 12/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tesla Inc.
• Original Assignee: Tesla Motors Incorporated (Tesla Inc.)
• Inventors: Schaaf, Dennis Timothy, Mehta, Vineet Haresh
• Granted Patent: US 8,095,278 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/49
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/143 Touch sensitive instrument input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1438 Touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/143 Touch sensitive input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/1438 Touch screens
• 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 37/06 of controls, e.g. controls knobs
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0228 Hand-activated mechanical switches B60N2/0229 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0233 Touchscreens
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/689 specially adapted for vehicle windows
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/695 Control circuits therefor
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/42 for multiple openings
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/818 Visual
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/86 by hand

Abstract

A method and apparatus for controlling a particular vehicle function, for example the adjustment of a vehicle seat, using a graphical user interface (GUI) is provided. The GUI is activating by toggling a control, switch intuitively linked to the particular vehicle function. The control switch is separate from, and not proximate to, the GUI. When the GUI is activated by toggling the control switch, a control screen specific to the particular vehicle function is displayed on the GUI.

Claims

1. A vehicle control system, comprising:

a graphical user interface (GUI) configured to control multiple vehicle functions of vehicle operation, wherein said GUI is comprised of a touch screen, and wherein said GUI uses multiple menu and control screens to control said multiple vehicle functions; and

a device control switch separate from said GUI, wherein said device control switch is not proximate to said GUI, wherein said device control switch is intuitively linked to a single vehicle function of said multiple vehicle functions, and wherein toggling said device control switch activates said GUI and causes said GUI to bypass a plurality of menu and control screens and display a GUI control screen specific to said single vehicle function.

2. A method of providing control over a single vehicle function of multiple vehicle functions of vehicle operation, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a device control switch separate from and not proximate to a graphical user interface (GUI), said GUI configured to control said multiple vehicle functions of vehicle operation, wherein said GUI is comprised of a touch screen, and wherein said GUI uses multiple menu and control screens to control said multiple vehicle functions, wherein said device control switch is intuitively linked to said single vehicle function of said multiple vehicle functions;

activating said GUI when said device control switch is toggled;

bypassing a plurality of menu and control screens when said device control switch is toggled; and

displaying a GUI control screen specific to said single vehicle function when said device control switch is toggled.

3. In combination with a vehicle seat, a seat adjustment control system, comprising:

a graphical user interface (GUI) configured to control multiple vehicle functions associated with vehicle operation, wherein said GUI uses multiple menu and control screens to control said multiple vehicle functions; and

a vehicle seat control switch separate from said GUI, wherein said vehicle seat control switch is not proximate to said GUI, wherein said vehicle seat control switch is intuitively linked to the vehicle seat, and wherein toggling said vehicle seat control switch activates said GUI and causes said GUI to display a vehicle seat adjustment screen.

4. The seat adjustment control system of claim 3, wherein toggling said vehicle seat control switch causes said GUI to automatically bypass a plurality of menu and control screens prior to displaying said vehicle seat adjustment screen.

5. The seat adjustment control system of claim 3, wherein said vehicle seat adjustment screen controls a plurality of adjustable regions corresponding to the vehicle seat.

6. The seat adjustment control system of claim 3, wherein said GUI is further comprised of a touch screen.

7. The seat adjustment control system of claim 6, wherein said vehicle seat adjustment screen includes a plurality of touch-sensitive regions corresponding to and controlling a plurality of adjustable regions of the vehicle seat.

8. The seat adjustment control system of claim 7, wherein said plurality of adjustable regions include seat position and backrest tilt.

9. The seat adjustment control system of claim 7, wherein at least a portion of said plurality of touch-sensitive regions are touch-and-drag regions.

10. The seat adjustment control system of claim 3, wherein said vehicle seat control switch is mounted to the vehicle seat.

11. The seat adjustment control system of claim 3, wherein said vehicle seat control switch is mounted to a door adjacent to the vehicle seat.

12. The seat adjustment control system of claim 3, wherein said vehicle seat control switch is mounted to a central vehicle console.

13. The seat adjustment control system of claim 3, wherein toggling said vehicle seat control switch causes said GUI to display a vehicle seat selection screen, wherein said vehicle seat adjustment screen is displayed after the vehicle seat is selected on said vehicle seat selection screen.

14. The seat adjustment control system of claim 3, wherein toggling said vehicle seat control switch causes a sound to be emitted in proximity to said GUI.

15. The seat adjustment control system of claim 3, wherein said vehicle seat control switch is a push-button switch, and wherein depressing said push-button switch toggles said vehicle seat control switch.

16. A method of providing adjustment control over a vehicle seat, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a vehicle seat control switch mounted to the vehicle seat;

activating a GUI when said vehicle seat control switch is toggled, wherein said GUI is comprised of a touch screen, and wherein said GUI uses multiple menu and control screens to control multiple vehicle functions;

bypassing at least one of said multiple menu and control screens when said vehicle seat control switch is toggled; and

displaying a vehicle seat adjustment screen on said GUI when said vehicle seat control switch is toggled.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said displaying step further comprises the step of displaying a plurality of touch-sensitive regions corresponding to and controlling a plurality of adjustable regions of the vehicle seat.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein said displaying step further comprises the step of displaying a plurality of touch-sensitive regions corresponding to and controlling a plurality of adjustable regions of the vehicle seat, wherein at least a portion of said plurality of touch-sensitive regions are touch-and-drag regions.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of emitting a sound proximate to said GUI when said vehicle seat control switch is toggled and said vehicle seat adjustment screen is displayed on said GUI.

20. A method of providing adjustment control over a vehicle seat, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a vehicle seat control switch;

activating a GUI when said vehicle seat control switch is toggled, wherein said vehicle seat control switch is not proximate to said GUI, wherein said GUI is comprised of a touch screen, and wherein said GUI uses multiple menu and control screens to control multiple vehicle functions;

bypassing at least one of said multiple menu and control screens when said vehicle seat control switch is toggled; and

displaying a vehicle seat adjustment screen on said GUI when said vehicle l I seat control switch is toggled, wherein said vehicle seat adjustment screen is comprised of a plurality of touch-sensitive regions corresponding to and controlling a plurality of adjustable regions of the vehicle seat.