CONTROL SYSTEM FOR ONE OR MORE VEHICULAR ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS

• US 20160124623A1
• Filed: 02/02/2015
• Published: 05/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: CHANG, JEN-TSORNG
• Application Number:
  US14/611,907
• Publication Number:
  US 20160124623A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1438 Touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/339 Translucent dashboard skins
• 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 35/60 Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 37/20 Dashboard panels
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0238 Programmable keyboards key guide holders G06F3/0224
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/96 Touch switches specially adapted for electronic time-pieces with no moving parts G04G21/08

Abstract

A steering wheel with touch control for vehicular electronic systems is described. The touch control is on the steering wheel and includes a display portion and a touch sensitive portion, the touch sensitive portion overlying the display portion. An MCU electronically connects the at least one touch control with a plurality of vehicular electronic systems. When a driver touches a first part of the touch sensitive portion, the MCU causes the display portion to display icons relevant to controlling a first electronic system. When a driver touches a second part of the touch sensitive portion, the MCU causes the display portion to display icons relevant to controlling a second electronic system.

Claims

1. A control system for one or more vehicular electronic systems, comprising:

a vehicular control member;

one or more touch controls mounted on the vehicular control member;

a master control unit electronically connected to the one or more touch controls and the one or more vehicular electronic systems; and

a display panel for displaying control data related to one of the one or more vehicular electronic systems;

wherein, the master control unit controls the one or more vehicular electronic systems based on input from the one or more touch controls;

wherein, a first portion of the one or more touch controls which control data is displayed on the display panel; and

wherein, a second portion of the one or more touch controls provides input to the master control unit to control the electronic system with control data displayed on the display panel.

2. The control system for one or more vehicular electronic systems of claim 1, further comprising a touch sensitive portion associated with a display portion that displays menu icons for each available electronic system, whereby a user can directly access control of a vehicular electronic system by touching the menu icon for the desired vehicular electronic system.

3. The control system for one or more vehicular electronic systems of claim 1, wherein at least one of the vehicular electronic systems comprises an audio system.

4. The control system for one or more vehicular electronic systems of claim 1, wherein at least one of the vehicular electronic systems comprises a navigation system.

5. The control system for one or more vehicular electronic systems of claim 1, wherein at least one of the vehicular electronic systems comprises a communication system.

6. The control system for one or more vehicular electronic systems of claim 1, wherein:

the display portion comprises a driver layer and a display layer; and

the touch sensitive portion comprises a touch sensitive film.

7. The control system for one or more vehicular electronic systems of claim 6, wherein:

the driver layer comprises a TFT driver layer and the display layer comprises an EPD layer.

8. The control system for one or more vehicular electronic systems of claim 7, wherein the EPD layer is combined with ITO.

9. The control system for one or more vehicular electronic systems of claim 6, wherein the touch sensitive film comprises a base substrate with projecting rods.

10. The control system for one or more vehicular electronic systems of claim 6, wherein the touch control is wrapped around a portion of the steering wheel.

11. The control system for one or more vehicular electronic systems of claim 1, wherein the touch control is flexible.

12. The control system for one or more vehicular electronic systems of claim 1, wherein the MCU is electronically connected to the touch control and the electronic system by a wired or wireless connection.

13. The control system for one or more vehicular electronic systems of claim 12, wherein the MCU is physically attached to a portion of the steering wheel.

14. A touch control for an electronic system, comprising:

a display portion; and

a touch sensitive portion, the touch sensitive portion overlying the display portion;

an MCU, the MCU electronically connected the at least one touch control with a plurality of vehicular electronic systems;

when a driver touches a first part of the touch sensitive portion, the MCU causes the display portion to display icons relevant to controlling a first electronic system; and

when a driver touches a second part of the touch sensitive portion, the MCU causes the display portion to display icons relevant to controlling a second electronic system.

15. The touch control of claim 14, wherein:

the display portion comprises a driver layer and a display layer; and

the touch sensitive portion comprises a touch sensitive film.

16. The touch control of claim 15, wherein:

the driver layer comprises a TFT driver layer and the display layer comprises an EPD layer.

17. The touch control of claim 16, wherein the EPD layer is combined with ITO.

18. The touch control of claim 15, wherein the touch sensitive film comprises a base substrate with projecting rods.

19. The touch control of claim 15, wherein the touch control is flexible.

20. The touch control of claim 14, wherein the touch control is wrapped around a portion of a steering wheel.