VEHICLE CONTROLLING APPARATUS INSTALLED ON STEERING WHEEL

• US 20150066245A1
• Filed: 12/03/2013
• Published: 03/05/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Inventors: LEE, Hui Sung, PARK, Sung Min, SAH, Sung Jin, OH, Kwang Myung
• Application Number:
  US14/095,535
• Publication Number:
  US 20150066245A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/2
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/113 Scrolling through menu items
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1468 Touch gesture
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/48 Sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/782 on the steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/113 Scrolling through menu items
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/1468 Touch gesture
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/48 Sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/782 on the steering wheel
• 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: B60W 50/10 Interpretation of driver requests or demands
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/046 Adaptations on rotatable parts of the steering wheel for accommodation of switches

Abstract

A vehicle controlling apparatus installed on a steering wheel includes an acoustic wave sensor disposed on the steering wheel of a vehicle, the sensor converting an acoustic wave signal generated by an input from the outside into an electrical signal. A controller is configured to analyze the electrical signal received from the acoustic wave sensor to recognize a pattern depending on the input from the outside and perform an operation depending on the recognized pattern.

Claims

1. A vehicle controlling apparatus installed on a steering wheel comprising:

an acoustic wave sensor disposed on the steering wheel of a vehicle, the sensor converting an acoustic wave signal generated by an input from outside the sensor into an electrical signal; and

a controller configured to analyze the electrical signal received from the acoustic wave sensor to recognize a pattern depending on the input from the outside and perform an operation depending on the recognized pattern.

2. The vehicle controlling apparatus installed on a steering wheel according to claim 1, wherein the acoustic wave sensor is mounted on any one of front and rear surfaces of the steering wheel.

3. The vehicle controlling apparatus installed on a steering wheel according to claim 2, wherein the controller recognizes the pattern from the electrical signal converted from a dragging signal, which is an acoustic wave signal generated by a horizontal or vertical input, and a tapping signal, which is an acoustic wave signal generated by tapping.

4. The vehicle controlling apparatus installed on a steering wheel according to claim 1, further comprising a touch pad connected to the acoustic wave sensor to generate a vibration signal by the input from the outside.

5. The vehicle controlling apparatus installed on a steering wheel according to claim 4, wherein the touch pad mounted on a front surface of the steering wheel includes at least two touch pads having different tactile feelings.

6. The vehicle controlling apparatus installed on a steering wheel according to claim 4, wherein the touch pad includes a dragging pad mounted on a front surface of the steering wheel and a tapping pad is mounted on a rear surface of the steering wheel.

7. The vehicle controlling apparatus installed on a steering wheel according to claim 6, wherein the controller recognizes the pattern from a horizontal or vertical drag signal input to the dragging pad and a tapping signal input to the tapping pad.

8. The vehicle controlling apparatus installed on a steering wheel according to claim 1, wherein the controller controls cluster information of the vehicle, an AVN (Audio, Video, and Navigation) screen, vehicle internal lighting, a wiper, cooling and heating, a sunroof, an audio device, an air conditioner, and various convenience devices based on the recognized pattern.