INPUT APPARATUS, REMOTE CONTROLLER AND OPERATING DEVICE FOR VEHICLE

• US 20110205018A1
• Filed: 05/03/2011
• Published: 08/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Oohashi, Hidekazu, Enami, Kazuya
• Application Number:
  US13/099,553
• Publication Number:
  US 20110205018A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.72
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02416 using photoplethysmograph signals, e.g. generated by infrared radiation A61B5/14552 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/163 by tracking eye movement, gaze, or pupil change
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/18 for vehicle drivers or machine operators
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/318 Heart-related electrical modalities, e.g. electrocardiography [ECG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/369 Electroencephalography [EEG] devices for psychotechnics A61B5/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6887 mounted on external non-worn devices, e.g. non-medical devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/149 Instrument input by detecting viewing direction not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/149 Input by detecting viewing direction
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/066 actuating a signalling device B60K28/063 takes precedence
• 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: G08B 21/06 indicating a condition of sleep, e.g. anti-dozing alarms

Abstract

An input apparatus for a vehicle includes: an operation element operable by an occupant of the vehicle; a biological information acquisition element acquiring biological information of the occupant; an unawakened state detection element detecting an unawakened state of the occupant based on the biological information, wherein the unawakened state is defined by a predetermined state different from an awakened state; and an operation disabling element disabling an operation input from the operation element when the unawakened state detection element detects the unawakened state.

Claims

1. A remote controller comprising:

an operation device including an operation element remotely operating an in-vehicle device;

a locking element switching the operation element between a lock mode and an unlock mode, wherein the operation element is operable when the locking element switches to the unlock mode, and the operation element is not operable when the locking element switches to the lock mode;

a load detection element detecting a load applied to the operation element; and

a control element controlling the locking element,

wherein the control element controls the locking element to switch to the lock mode when the load is smaller than a predetermined value, and wherein the control element controls the locking element to switch to the unlock mode when the load is equal to or larger than the predetermined value.

2. The remote controller according to claim 1,wherein the control element controls the locking element to switch to the lock mode when no operation is input into the operation element for a predetermined time interval after the control element controls the locking element to switch to the unlock mode.

3. The remote controller according to claim 1,wherein the operation element includes a palm rest for placing a palm of an operator thereon, and a palm detection element for detecting the palm on the palm rest,

wherein the control element controls the locking element to maintain the unlock mode when the palm detection element detects the palm after the control element controls the locking element to switch to the unlock mode, and

wherein the control element controls the locking element to switch to the lock mode when the palm detection element does not detects the palm after the control element controls the locking element to switch to the unlock mode.