ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE INTERFACE SYSTEM FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE

• US 20120092244A1
• Filed: 10/13/2010
• Published: 04/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Motor Corporation
• Original Assignee: Toyota Motor Corporation
• Inventors: Lota, Charan S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,451,218 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/141 Activation of instrument input devices by approaching fingers or pens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1446 Touch switches
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/55 Remote control arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/782 on the steering wheel
• 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 35/60 Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/80 Arrangements for controlling instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/81 for controlling displays
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/94036 Multiple detection, i.e. where different switching signals are generated after operation of the user is detected at different time instants at different locations during the actuation movement by two or more sensors of the same or different kinds

Abstract

An electronic control module interface system may include a sensing surface having a symbol representative of a function of a motor vehicle, a sensing device coupled to the sensing surface, configured to sense a proximity between a physical pointer and the sensing surface and to generate a browsing signal when the proximity is less than a predefined proximity threshold value, and configured to generate a selection signal when the physical pointer contacts or depresses the sensing surface, and an output device coupled to the sensing device, and configured to produce an output representative of the function of the motor vehicle upon receiving the browsing signal.

Claims

1. An electronic control module interface system, comprising:

a sensing surface having a symbol representative of a function of a motor vehicle;

a sensing device coupled to the sensing surface, and configured to sense a proximity between a physical pointer and the sensing surface and to generate a browsing signal when the proximity is less than a predefined proximity threshold value; and

an output device coupled to the sensing device, and configured to produce an output representative of the function of the motor vehicle upon receiving the browsing signal.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensing device is configured to generate a selection signal when the physical pointer contacts or depresses the sensing surface, and the selection signal is configured to activate an electronic control module (ECM) for executing the function of the motor vehicle.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the output device includes a display device, such that the output is a visual image of the symbol being enlarged or a text describing the function.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the output device includes an audio device, such that the output is a voice output announcing the function.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the output device includes a display device and an audio device, such that the output includes a visual image of the symbol being enlarged and a voice announcing the function.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensing device is a device selected from a group consisting of a capacitive touch sensor, a proximity sensor, a mechanical sensor, a push stroke sensor and combinations thereof.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the proximity is defined by a perpendicular distance between the physical pointer and the sensing surface.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the predefined threshold value ranges from about 0 cm to about 1 cm.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the symbol describes the function of the motor vehicle.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the function is selected from a group consisting of air conditioning control, front windshield defrost, back windshield defrost, automatic temperature control, fan speed control, air ventilation control, dual climate control, volume control, stereo system control, and combinations thereof.

11. An electronic control module interface system, comprising:

a sensing surface having a symbol representative of a function of a motor vehicle;

a first sensor coupled to the sensing surface, and configured to sense a perpendicular distance between a physical pointer and the sensing surface and to generate a browsing signal when the perpendicular distance is less than a predefined threshold value;

a display device coupled to the first sensor, and configured to receive the browsing signal and to momentarily produce a visual output representative of the function of the motor vehicle upon receiving the browsing signal;

a second sensor coupled to the sensing surface, and configured to generate a selection signal when the physical pointer contacts or depresses the sensing surface; and

an electronic control module (ECM) coupled to the second sensor, and configured to be activated by the selection signal and to subsequently execute the function of the motor vehicle.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the visual output includes an image of the symbol being enlarged.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the visual output includes a text describing the function.

14. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

an audio device coupled to the first sensor, and configured to receive the browsing signal and to momentarily produce an audio output descriptive of the function of the motor vehicle upon receiving the browsing signal.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein:

the first sensor is a device selected from a group consisting of a capacitive touch sensor, a proximity sensor, and combinations thereof, and

the second sensor is a device selected from a group consisting of a capacitive touch sensor, a mechanical sensor, and combinations thereof.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the predefined threshold value ranges from about 0 cm to about 1 cm.

17. An electronic control module interface system, comprising:

a sensing surface having a symbol representative of a function of a motor vehicle;

a first sensor coupled to the sensing surface, and configured to sense a perpendicular distance between a physical pointer and the sensing surface and to generate a browsing signal when the perpendicular distance is less than a predefined threshold value;

a display device coupled to the first sensor, and configured to receive the browsing signal and to momentarily produce a visual output upon receiving the browsing signal, the visual output enlarging the symbol and describing the function of the motor vehicle;

an audio device coupled to the first sensor, and configured to receive the browsing signal and to momentarily produce an audio output descriptive of the function of the motor vehicle upon receiving the browsing signal;

a second sensor coupled to the sensing surface, and configured to generate a selection signal when the physical pointer contacts or depresses the sensing surface; and

an electronic control module (ECM) coupled to the second sensor, and configured to be activated by the selection signal and to subsequently execute the function of the motor vehicle.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the first sensor is a device selected from a group consisting of a capacitive touch sensor, a proximity sensor, and combinations thereof.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the second sensor is a device selected from a group consisting of a capacitive touch sensor, a mechanical sensor, and combinations thereof.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the predefined threshold value ranges from about 0 cm to about 1 cm.