INTEGRATED VEHICLE CONTROL SYSTEM AND APPARATUS
First Claim
1. An integrated motor vehicle equipment component control system for use with a motor vehicle steering wheel having an annular ring and a motor vehicle equipment component having a function, the integrated motor vehicle equipment component control system comprising:
- a left actuator, the left actuator attached to the steering wheel annular ring between the 9 o'"'"'clock and 12 o'"'"'clock positions on the annular ring;
a right actuator, the right actuator attached to the steering wheel annular ring between the 3 o'"'"'clock and 12 o'"'"'clock positions on the annular ring;
a controller, the controller connected to the left and right actuators, the controller further connected to the motor vehicle component;
wherein the left actuator and the right actuator do not overlap;
wherein the controller activates the left actuator and the right actuator when the left and the right actuators are depressed simultaneously and held for a pre-set threshold time, thus providing an activated left actuator and an activated right actuator; and
wherein the function of the motor vehicle equipment component is activated when an actuator is depressed, the actuator selected from the group consisting of the left actuator and the right actuator.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a system which integrates motor vehicle component operation into actuators located in the rim of a motor vehicle steering wheel. The two actuators of the system of the present invention are located in an arc segment of the steering wheel defined by the three o'"'"'clock and 12 o'"'"'clock positions for the right-hand actuator and the nine o'"'"'clock and 12 o'"'"'clock positions for the left-hand actuator. The actuators may operate in parallel with a conventional stalk switch or controls associated with an on board computer and only operate a motor vehicle component when activated and subsequently depressed. The integrated vehicle control system and apparatus of the present invention further provides for vehicle component operation which does not require a driver to remove his or her hands from the steering wheel.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An integrated motor vehicle equipment component control system for use with a motor vehicle steering wheel having an annular ring and a motor vehicle equipment component having a function, the integrated motor vehicle equipment component control system comprising:
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a left actuator, the left actuator attached to the steering wheel annular ring between the 9 o'"'"'clock and 12 o'"'"'clock positions on the annular ring; a right actuator, the right actuator attached to the steering wheel annular ring between the 3 o'"'"'clock and 12 o'"'"'clock positions on the annular ring; a controller, the controller connected to the left and right actuators, the controller further connected to the motor vehicle component; wherein the left actuator and the right actuator do not overlap; wherein the controller activates the left actuator and the right actuator when the left and the right actuators are depressed simultaneously and held for a pre-set threshold time, thus providing an activated left actuator and an activated right actuator; and wherein the function of the motor vehicle equipment component is activated when an actuator is depressed, the actuator selected from the group consisting of the left actuator and the right actuator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An integrated motor vehicle equipment component control system for use with a motor vehicle steering wheel having an annular ring, the annular ring having a skin, and motor vehicle equipment component, the motor vehicle equipment component having a plurality of functions, the integrated motor vehicle equipment component control system comprising:
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a left actuator, the left actuator attached to the steering wheel annular ring between the 9 o'"'"'clock and 12 o'"'"'clock positions on the annular ring, the left actuator covered by the skin; a right actuator, the right actuator attached to the steering wheel annular ring between the 3 o'"'"'clock and 12 o'"'"'clock positions on the annular ring, the right actuator covered by the skin; a controller, the controller connected to the left and right actuators, the controller further connected to a system controller, the system controller adapted to activate at least a first function and a second function; wherein the left actuator and the right actuator do not overlap; wherein the controller activates the left actuator and the right actuator when the left and the right actuators are depressed simultaneously and held for a pre-set threshold time, thus providing an activated left actuator and an activated right actuator; wherein the first function is activated when the activated left actuator is depressed; and wherein the second function is activated when the activated right actuator is depressed. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An integrated motor vehicle thumb shifter system for use with a motor vehicle steering wheel having an annular ring and a motor vehicle transmission, the integrated motor vehicle thumb shifter system comprising:
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a left actuator, the left actuator attached to the steering wheel annular ring between the 9 o'"'"'clock and 12 o'"'"'clock positions on the annular ring; a right actuator, the right actuator attached to the steering wheel annular ring between the 3 o'"'"'clock and 12 o'"'"'clock positions on the annular ring; a controller, the controller connected to the left and right actuators, the controller further connected to a system controller, the system controller adapted to operate the transmission; wherein the left actuator and the right actuator do not overlap; wherein the controller activates the left actuator and the right actuator when the left and the right actuators are depressed simultaneously and held for a pre-set threshold time, thus providing an activated left actuator and an activated right actuator; wherein the system controller is activated when an actuator is depressed, the actuator selected from the group consisting of the left actuator and the right actuator; and wherein the system controller causes the transmission to shift up when one of the right and left actuators is depressed and to shift down when the other of the right and left actuators is depressed. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification