Pressure-Sensitive Steering Wheel Controls
First Claim
1. A vehicle control apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of sensing locations adapted to receive input from an operator of the vehicle, each sensing location comprising a set of sensing elements placed throughout the sensing location;
a set of components adapted to evaluate signals produced by the sensing locations; and
a set of components adapted to generate at least one output signal that controls operation of a particular functionality of the vehicle.
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Abstract
A vehicle control apparatus, method and system are described. The vehicle control apparatus includes multiple sensing locations adapted to receive input from an operator of the vehicle, each sensing location has a set of sensing elements placed throughout the sensing location, a set of components adapted to evaluate signals produced by the sensing locations, and a set of components adapted to generate at least one output signal that controls operation of a vehicle functionality. The method receives an input signal from a pressure-sensing location, determines whether the input signal matches some criteria, and generates a control output when they match. The system includes an operator input module that receives a control signal based at least partly on pressure applied to locations along a steering control, a verification module that determines whether the received control signal matches some criteria, and an output module that activates at least one vehicle functionality.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A vehicle control apparatus comprising:
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a plurality of sensing locations adapted to receive input from an operator of the vehicle, each sensing location comprising a set of sensing elements placed throughout the sensing location; a set of components adapted to evaluate signals produced by the sensing locations; and a set of components adapted to generate at least one output signal that controls operation of a particular functionality of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of controlling various vehicle functionalities using a vehicle control apparatus having pressure-sensing locations, the method comprising:
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receiving an input signal from at least one of the pressure-sensing locations; determining whether the input signal matches a particular evaluation criteria; and generating a vehicle functionality control output when the input signal matches the particular evaluation criteria. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A system adapted to control vehicle functionalities, the system comprising:
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an operator input module adapted to receive a control signal based at least partly on pressure applied to locations along a steering wheel of the vehicle; a verification module adapted to determine whether the received control signal matches an evaluation criteria; and an output module adapted to generate signals capable of activating at least one vehicle functionality when the received control signal matches the evaluation criteria. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification