VEHICLE CONSOLE CONTROL SYSTEM

• US 20110246026A1
• Filed: 04/04/2011
• Published: 10/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Gary S. Shuster
• Original Assignee: Gary S. Shuster
• Inventors: Shuster, Gary Stephen
• Application Number:
  US13/079,667
• Publication Number:
  US 20110246026A1
• 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 2360/146 Instrument input by gesture
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/195 Blocking or enabling display functions
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/141 Activation by approaching fingers or pens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/146 Input by gesture
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/195 Blocking or enabling display functions
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/736 the user being the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/739 the user being the passenger
• 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 35/29 Instruments characterised by the way in which information is handled, e.g. showing information on plural displays or prioritising information according to driving conditions
• 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 37/06 of controls, e.g. controls knobs

Abstract

A control system for an interactive vehicle console disables certain interactive functions in response to a signal indicating that the vehicle is in motion, and in addition, permits a passenger to bypass the disablement feature using one or more input devices. An input device may include a transmitter/receiver system that transmits a signal from the passenger seat via the passenger'"'"'s body to an input device on the vehicle console. A low-frequency electrical signal may be transmitted from a transmitter in the seat cushion to a touchscreen or button on the console, when the passenger touches the screen or button. In response to detecting the low-frequency signal, the console control may enable a feature of the console that it has disabled because of vehicle motion. In other embodiments, the input device may comprise a vision system that determines the source of command input from camera input taken of the driver and passenger.

Claims

1. A method for controlling an electronic device in a vehicle console, comprising:

receiving input at an electronic device in a vehicle console from a user located inside the vehicle;

determining a position of the user in the vehicle, using an electrical circuit in communication with the electronic device; and

altering an operation of the electronic device in response to the position of the user as determined using the electrical circuit.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining the position of the user by capturing an image of the user, and analyzing the image.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining the position of the user by sensing a direction of an audible command from the user.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining the position of the user by detecting a signal from a signal generator.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising transmitting the signal to a detector coupled to a user interface for the electrical device.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising transmitting the signal through at least a portion of the user'"'"'s body.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising transmitting the signal through a portion of a vehicle seat configured to couple electrically to the user'"'"'s body.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising encoding data in the signal.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising detecting the signal using the detector comprising a thin conductive membrane over the user interface.

10. A system for controlling an electronic device in a vehicle console, comprising:

a user interface device in a vehicle console;

an electrical circuit in communication with the user interface device, configured for determining a position of a user inside a vehicle; and

an electronic device coupled to receive input from the user interface device, and configured for altering operation of the electronic device in response to a signal from the electrical circuit indicating the position of the user inside the vehicle.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the electrical circuit further comprises a camera.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the electrical circuit further comprises a processor configured to analyze at least one image of the user taken by the camera to determine the position of the user.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the electrical circuit further comprises a signal generator.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the signal generator is coupled to a vehicle seat for the user, for transmitting a signal through a user'"'"'s body.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising a coupler incorporated in a material of the vehicle seat, for coupling the signal generator to the user'"'"'s body.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the coupler comprises a conductive material incorporated into a seat cover.

17. The system of claim 13, further comprising a sensor coupled to the user interface for detecting a signal from the signal generator.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the sensor comprises a thin transparent conductive membrane disposed over the user interface.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the sensor comprises a conductive key cover disposed over the user interface.

20. The system of claim 13, wherein the signal generator is coupled to transmit the signal from a vehicle seat through a body of the user.

21. The system of claim 20, further comprising a decoder for decoding information from the signal indicating a position of the user.