VEHICLE CONTROL SYSTEM

• US 20130054048A1
• Filed: 08/23/2011
• Published: 02/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Seymour, Shafer, Gee, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 9,073,433 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/11 Instrument graphical user interfaces or menu aspects
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/122 Instrument input devices with reconfigurable control functions, e.g. reconfigurable menus
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/141 Activation of instrument input devices by approaching fingers or pens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/143 Touch sensitive instrument input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1438 Touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1442 Emulation of input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/145 Instrument input by combination of touch screen and hardware input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/146 Instrument input by gesture
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/148 Instrument input by voice
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/161 Explanation of functions, e.g. instructions
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/21 using cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/31 Virtual images
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/11 Graphical user interfaces or menu aspects
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/122 with reconfigurable control functions, e.g. reconfigurable menus
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/141 Activation by approaching fingers or pens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/143 Touch sensitive input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/1438 Touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/1442 Emulation of input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/145 Input by combination of touch screen and hardware input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/146 Input by gesture
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/148 : Input by voice
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/155 : Virtual instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/161 : Explanation of functions, e.g. instructions
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/21 : using cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/31 : Virtual images
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/52 : Control of displays
• 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 35/213 : Virtual instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/28 : characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/81 : for controlling displays
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/00 : Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific functions information retrieval, database structures or file system structures therefor G06F16/00

Abstract

A vehicle control system comprising a control device having a plurality of positions, a processing device, and a display device. The control device is configured to transmit data regarding a position of the control device when an object is proximate to the control device. The processing device is configured to receive the data from the control device, identify the control device transmitting the data, and transmit data regarding the first position and identity of the control device. The display device is configured to receive the data from the processing device, visually display a virtual control having a plurality of positions, and allow adjustment of the plurality of positions of the virtual control to at least a second position of the virtual control, wherein the second position is different from the first position.

Claims

1. A vehicle control system for a vehicle, the system comprising:

a control device having a plurality of positions, wherein the control device is configured to transmit at least data regarding a first position of the control device when an object is proximate to the control device;

a processing device, wherein the processing device is configured to;

receive at least the data regarding the first position from the control device;

identify the control device transmitting the data; and

transmit at least the data regarding the first position of the control device and identity of the control device; and

a display device, wherein the display device is configured to;

receive at least the data regarding the first position and identity of the control device from the processing device;

visually display a virtual control having a plurality of positions corresponding to the plurality of positions of the control device, showing at least the first position and identity of the control device; and

allow adjustment of the virtual control to at least a second position of the virtual control, wherein the second position of the virtual control is different from the first position of the virtual control.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first position of the control device is the active position of the control device.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the control device is configured to be operably connected to a vehicle device having a plurality of modes, wherein a position of the plurality of positions of the control device is related to a mode of the plurality of modes of the vehicle device, and wherein the display device is operably connected to the vehicle device, wherein a position of the plurality of positions of the virtual control is related to the mode of the plurality of modes of the vehicle device.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the display device visually displays an explanation of a function of the vehicle device which is related to the control device that transmitted the data.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the processing device is configured to set a mode from the plurality of modes of the vehicle device based on the most recent data regarding the position of the control device or the virtual control.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the control device is further configured to transmit data regarding a second position of the control device after the control device is adjusted to the second position, wherein the second position of the control device is different from the first position of the control device;

the processing device is further configured to receive data regarding the second position of the control device, generate output regarding a corresponding second position for the virtual control, and transmit output regarding the second position of the virtual control; and

the display device is further configured to receive output regarding the second position of the virtual control and visually display the virtual control showing the second position.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the control device includes a capacitive proximity switch configured for detecting when the object is proximate the control device.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the control device includes an infrared proximity switch configured for detecting when the object is proximate the control device.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the control device includes an analog switch having a plurality of positions related to a plurality of modes of a vehicle device.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the control device includes a digital switch having a plurality of positions related to a plurality of modes of a vehicle device.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the display device is a touch screen device.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the adjustment of the position of the virtual control of the display device is performed by touching a predefined portion of the touch screen.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the display device is further configured to display instructions for adjusting the plurality of positions of the control device.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the display device is further configured to transmit data regarding the second position of the virtual control after the virtual control has been adjusted from the first position to the second position and wherein the processing device is further configured to receive the data regarding the second position from the display device and adjust a vehicle device, having a plurality of modes and operably connected to the control device, from a first mode to a second mode.

15. A vehicle control system for a vehicle, the system comprising:

a control device having a plurality of positions, wherein the control device is configured to transmit at least data regarding a first position of the control device when an object is proximate to the control device;

an audio-capture device, wherein the audio-capture device is configured to capture audio commands and transmit data containing the audio commands; and

a processing device, wherein the processing device is configured to;

receive at least the data regarding the first position of the control device;

identify the control device transmitting the data;

receive the data containing the audio commands from the audio-capture device;

match the audio command to a predefined command from a set of predefined commands specified for the control device transmitting the data; and

transmit a signal to a vehicle device having a plurality of modes, wherein the signal sets a mode of the vehicle device based on the predefined command corresponding to the audio command.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the audio-capture device is configured to only capture audio commands during a period when the object is proximate to the control device.

17. The system of claim 15, further comprising a display device, wherein the display device is configured to:

receive at least the data regarding the first position and identity of the control device from the processing device;

visually display a virtual control having a plurality of positions corresponding to the plurality of positions of the control device, showing at least the first position and identity of the control device; and

wherein the processing device is configured to generate output regarding a second position for the virtual control based on the predefined command corresponding to the audio command, and transmit output regarding the second position of the virtual control, and wherein the display device is configured to receive output regarding the second position of the virtual control and visually display the virtual control showing the second position.

updating the visual display of the virtual control to show a second position of the virtual control that matches the current mode of the vehicle device based on the audio command when matched with the predefined command.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the display device is further configured to display at least one available audio command from the set of predefined commands specified for the control device transmitting the data.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the processing device is further configured to transmit a data signal having an audio output which describes at least the identity and function of the control device.

20. A vehicle control system for a vehicle, the system comprising:

a control device having a plurality of positions, wherein the control device is configured to transmit at least data regarding a first position of the control device;

a camera, wherein the camera is configured to capture an image including at least the control device and transmit the image data;

a processing device, wherein the processing device is configured to;

receive at least the data regarding the first position from the control device;

identify the control device transmitting the data;

receive the image data from the camera and determine whether an object is proximate to the control device; and

transmit at least the data regarding the first position of the control device and identity of the control device when the object is proximate to the control device; and

a display device, wherein the display device is configured to;

receive at least the data regarding the first position and identity of the control device from the processing device;

visually display a virtual control having a plurality of positions corresponding to the plurality of positions of the control device, wherein the virtual control shows at least the first position and identity of the control device; and

allow adjustment of the plurality of positions of the virtual control to at least a second position of the virtual control, wherein the second position of the virtual control is different from the first position of the virtual control.