METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR PROVIDING ACCESSORY STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS

• US 20110046816A1
• Filed: 09/10/2010
• Published: 02/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Circuit Works, Inc., Metra Electronics
• Original Assignee: Circuit Works, Inc., Metra Electronics
• Inventors: Daly, Charles David, Jones, William H. JR.
• Granted Patent: US 8,014,920 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/2
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/082 to be used in vehicles H04B1/086 takes precedence; holding or mounting accessories B60R11/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/202 by remote control

Abstract

An aftermarket steering wheel control includes a housing that includes a user-operable switch and a control module. The control module is configured to determine whether the user-operable switch has been operated, generate a data frame corresponding to a control signal for operating a vehicle component, and transmit the data frame to a receiver of a control signal interface. Another aftermarket steering wheel control includes a housing with a user-operable switch and a circuit with an output line. The output line is connected to the switch and further connected to a control signal interface. Operation of the user-operable switch changes a resistance on the at least one output line, and the control signal interface is configured to convert the resistance to a control signal for operating a vehicle component.

Claims

1. A method for automatically detecting a configuration of a vehicle component, the method comprising:

connecting a control signal interface to at least one channel of a first vehicle component;

connecting the control signal interface to at least one channel of a second vehicle component;

performing a first measurement on the at least one channel of the first vehicle component;

performing a second measurement on the at least one channel of the second vehicle component;

identifying a control signal configuration of the first vehicle component based on the first measurement;

identifying a control signal configuration of the second vehicle component based on the second measurement;

configuring the control signal interface based on at least one of the control signal configuration of the first vehicle component and the control signal configuration of the second vehicle component.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein performing the first measurement includes

(i) receiving a signal output by the first vehicle component at the control signal interface, and

(ii) determining one of an electrical configuration of the first vehicle component and a frame rate of the signal output by the first vehicle component.

3. A method for transmitting control signals to a vehicle component, the method comprising:

a method according to claim 1;

receiving a control signal from the first vehicle component at the control signal interface;

determining a control command according to the control signal; and

transmitting a signal from the control signal interface to the second vehicle component,

wherein the signal transmitted from the control signal interface includes the control command.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein the first vehicle component is a steering wheel control component and the second vehicle component is an aftermarket entertainment component.

5. A method according to claim 4,

wherein the steering wheel control component is factory-installed and includes at least one user-operable switch,

wherein the at least one user-operable switch corresponds to an audio control,

wherein the at least one factory-installed audio control includes a user-operable switch, and

wherein identifying the control signal configuration of the steering wheel control component includes identifying the audio control corresponding to the at least one user-operable switch.

6. A method according to claim 4,

wherein the aftermarket entertainment component includes an audio component,

wherein a feature of the audio component corresponds to a predetermined control command,

wherein identifying the control signal configuration of the aftermarket entertainment component includes identifying the predetermined control command corresponding to the feature of the audio component.

7. A control signal interface comprising:

an input unit electrically connectable to at least one channel of a first vehicle component, the input unit being configured to

(i) perform a measurement on the at least one channel of the first vehicle component, and

(ii) receive control signals from the first vehicle component;

a signal processing unit configured to determine control commands based on control signals received by the input unit;

an output unit electrically connectable to at least one channel of a second vehicle component, the output unit being configured to

(i) perform a measurement on the at least one channel of the second vehicle component, and

(ii) transmit signals to the second vehicle component,

wherein signals transmitted to the second vehicle component include control commands determined by the signal processing unit.

8. A control signal interface according to claim 7, wherein the first vehicle component is a steering wheel component and the second vehicle component is an aftermarket entertainment component.

9. A control signal interface according to claim 7,

wherein the input unit provides first component information to the signal processing unit, the first component information allowing the signal processing unit to determine control commands based on control signals received by the input unit,

wherein the signal processing unit provides control information to the output unit, the control information allowing signals transmitted to the second vehicle component to be based on control commands determined by the signal processing unit, and

wherein the output unit provides second component information to the signal processing unit, the second component information allowing signals transmitted to the second vehicle component to be recognized by the second vehicle component.

10. A system for providing control signals to a vehicle component, the system comprising:

a control signal interface including

(i) an input unit configured to receive control signals,

(ii) a signal processing unit configured to determine control commands based on control signals received by the input unit, and

(iii) an output unit configured to transmit signals containing control commands; and

an aftermarket control including a fixed housing with at least one user-operable switch,

wherein the aftermarket control is communicatively coupled to the input unit of the control signal interface.

11. A system according to claim 10, the system further comprising an aftermarket entertainment component communicatively coupled to the output unit of the control signal interface.

12. A system according to claim 10,

wherein the aftermarket control is electrically connected to the input unit of the control signal interface, and

wherein the aftermarket control further includes a control module configured to determine whether the at least one user-operable switch has been operated, generate a data frame corresponding to a control signal, and transmit the data frame to the input unit of the control signal interface.

13. A system according to claim 10,

wherein the aftermarket control further includes a circuit with at least one output line,

wherein the output line is electrically connected to the input unit of the control signal interface,

wherein operation of the at least one user-operable switch changes a resistance on the at least one output line, and

wherein the control signal interface is configured to convert the resistance to a control signal.

14. A system according to claim 10, wherein the fixed housing is mounted to one of a steering column of a vehicle and a steering wheel of the vehicle.

15. A system according to claim 10, the system further comprising a wireless reception unit communicatively coupled to the input unit of the control signal interface,

wherein the aftermarket control further includes

(i) an antenna, and

(ii) a control module configured to determine whether the at least one user-operable switch has been operated, generate a data frame corresponding to a control signal, and wirelessly transmit the data frame through the antenna, and

wherein the aftermarket control is communicatively coupled to the input unit through the wireless reception unit.

16. A system according to claim 15, wherein the control module wirelessly transmits the data frame by modulating a carrier wave.

17. A system according to claim 15, wherein the fixed housing is mounted to a steering wheel of a vehicle.

18. A system according claim 15, the system further comprising an aftermarket entertainment component communicatively coupled to the output unit of the control signal interface.

19. (canceled)

20. (canceled)