INPUT DEVICE DISPOSED IN HANDLE AND VEHICLE INCLUDING THE SAME

• US 20150145790A1
• Filed: 09/11/2014
• Published: 05/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: KIM, Hyongguk, KIM, Youngchan
• Granted Patent: US 9,696,542 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1446 Touch switches
• 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 35/212 displaying on manual operation elements, e.g. on a knob
• 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: G02B 2027/014 comprising information/image processing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0187 slaved to motion of at least a part of the body of the user, e.g. head, eye
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/01 Head-up displays

Abstract

An input device including: an input unit having a plurality of buttons disposed in a handle of a vehicle; an interface unit configured to receive data concerning the vehicle or to transmit an input signal received via the input unit to an external device; a processor configured to change a function of at least one of the plurality of buttons to a set function based on a manipulation signal from the input unit; and a display configured to display an image corresponding to the set function of the at least one of the plurality of buttons.

Claims

1. An input device comprising:

an input unit having a plurality of buttons disposed in a handle of a vehicle;

an interface unit configured to receive data concerning the vehicle or to transmit an input signal received via the input unit to an external device;

a processor configured to change a function of at least one of the plurality of buttons to a set function based on a manipulation signal from the input unit; and

a display configured to display an image corresponding to the set function of the at least one of the plurality of buttons.

2. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the display includes a projection module configured to project the image on a windshield of the vehicle.

3. The input device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a touchscreen on the at least one of the plurality of buttons,

wherein the processor can change the function of the at least one of the plurality of buttons based on at least one of tap input, drag input or flicking input to the touchscreen, and wherein the touchscreen can display the image corresponding to the set function.

4. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one of the plurality of buttons is one of a touchscreen and a four-direction mechanical button.

5. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the processor can change the function of the at least one of the plurality of buttons based on one of press input strength, number of presses and duration of press.

6. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the processor can set one of a home function, a menu function and a vehicle inner setting function on to a button based on the manipulation signal of the input unit from the at least one of the plurality of buttons.

7. The input device according to claim 1,

wherein the processor can generate a vehicle inner setting signal based on the manipulation signal for a second button among the plurality of buttons when the at least one of the plurality of buttons is set to a vehicle inner setting function, and wherein the interface unit can output the vehicle inner setting signal to an external device of the vehicle.

8. The input device according to claim 7, wherein the vehicle inner setting function includes one of vehicle interior window control, vehicle interior audio output control, vehicle interior air-conditioning control, vehicle interior lamp control, vehicle exterior lamp control and sunroof control.

9. The input device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a communication unit configured to exchange data with a mobile terminal,

wherein the processor can control setting of any one of the plurality of buttons to one of a telephone function, a messenger function, a memo function, a schedule function, a social networking service (SNS) function, a web connection function and a content playback function upon connection to the mobile terminal

10. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the processor can change a function of one of the plurality of buttons based on external environment information, and wherein the external environment information includes at least one of call reception information, global positioning system (GPS) information, weather information, time information and location information.

11. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the interface unit can exchange data with a navigation device disposed in the vehicle, and wherein the processor can change a function of one of the plurality of buttons based on global positioning system (GPS) information from the navigation device.

12. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the processor can change a function of one of the plurality of buttons based on vehicle state information, and wherein the vehicle state information includes at least one of battery information, fuel information, vehicle speed information, tire information, steering information, vehicle lamp information, vehicle interior temperature information, vehicle exterior temperature information and vehicle interior humidity information.

13. The input device according to claim 1, wherein when the handle of the vehicle is in a state of being rotated by a predetermined angle or more, the processor will not respond to a manipulation signal from the plurality of buttons.

14. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the processor can change a function of one of the plurality of buttons on a per user basis.

15. The input device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a communication unit configured to exchange data with a mobile terminal,

wherein the processor performs pairing with the mobile terminal via the communication unit, identifies a user of the mobile terminal based on one of user information and device information of the mobile terminal received through pairing, and can set a function corresponding to the user of the mobile terminal on one of the plurality of buttons.

16. The input device according to claim 1, wherein when a user manipulation for changing a function is received in a state in which a function of a first button among the plurality of buttons is set to a first function, the processor can change the function of the first button to a second function based on one of external environment information and vehicle state information.

17. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the processor can change a function of at least one of the plurality of buttons based on one of external environment information and vehicle state information in addition to a manipulation information from the input unit and can assign priority to the manipulation signal when the manipulation signal, the external environment information and the vehicle state information are all received within a predetermined time period.

18. A vehicle comprising:

wheels that can be rotated by a power source;

a handle configured to steer;

a plurality of buttons disposed in the handle of the vehicle;

a processor connected to the plurality of buttons and configured to change a function of at least one of the plurality of buttons to a set function based on a manipulation signal;

an interface unit configured to receive data concerning the vehicle and to transmit an input signal received to an external device; and

a display configured to display an image corresponding to the set function of the at least one of the plurality of buttons.

19. The vehicle according to claim 18, further comprising a communication unit configured to exchange data with a mobile terminal, wherein the processor can controls setting of any one of the plurality of buttons to a telephone function, a messenger function, a memo function, a schedule function, a social networking service (SNS) function, a web connection function and a content playback function.

20. The vehicle according to claim 18, wherein when a user manipulation for changing a function is received in a state in which a function of a first button among the plurality of buttons is set to a first function, the processor changes the first function of the first button to a second function based on one of external environment information and vehicle state information.