VEHICLE DOOR WITH CONTROL PANEL

• US 20160129851A1
• Filed: 11/09/2015
• Published: 05/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: WERNER, Matthias
• Application Number:
  US14/935,858
• Publication Number:
  US 20160129851A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1442 Emulation of input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/1442 Emulation of input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/1537 Displays on a manual operation element
• 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 37/06 of controls, e.g. controls knobs
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0228 Hand-activated mechanical switches B60N2/0229 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0235 of flat type, e.g. LCD
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0241 for telephones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0264 for control means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/0243 Doors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0021 Doors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0045 with visible part, e.g. flush mounted
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0075 using a containment or docking space
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2013/0287 integrating other functions or accessories
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

A control panel realized in the form of a touchscreen is arranged on an inner side of a vehicle door. The control panel can be switched over between at least two display modes. The touchscreen displays a first control element for controlling a first actuator of the vehicle in the first control mode and a second control element for controlling a second actuator, which is dissimilar from the first actuator, in the second control mode. The control panel may include a touchscreen of a smartphone device operably positioned in a recess formed in qn interior trim panel of the vehicle door.

Claims

1-12. -12. (canceled)

13. A vehicle door comprising a control panel arranged on an inner side of the vehicle door, the control panel having a touchscreen configured to switch between a first control mode wherein the touchscreen displays at least one first control element for controlling a first actuator in the first control mode and a second control mode wherein the touchscreen displays at least one second control element for controlling a second actuator, which is dissimilar from the first actuator, in the second control mode.

14. The vehicle door according to claim 13, wherein the control panel can be switched into a selection mode, wherein the touchscreen displays at least one selection control element for selecting between the first and the second control modes.

15. The vehicle door according to claim 13, wherein the first and second actuators are selected from the group of actuators which control an exterior rearview mirror, a seat, a side window, a door, a door locking mechanism, a hood, a hood locking mechanism, a trunk lid, a trunk lid locking mechanism, a fuel door or a fuel door locking mechanism.

16. The vehicle door according to claim 13, wherein the touchscreen is configured to display a symbol specific to each of the first and second control modes and operable to switch there between.

17. The vehicle door according to claim 13, wherein the touchscreen displays a selection control element at least in the first control mode by means of which the first of a plurality of actuators can be selected.

18. The vehicle door according to claim 13, further comprising a mobile device removably accommodated in a mount of the vehicle door, wherein the touchscreen forms part of the mobile device.

19. The vehicle door according to claim 18, wherein the mount comprises an exchangeable adapter for accommodating one of a plurality of mobile devices in a form-fitting fashion.

20. The vehicle door according to claim 18, wherein the mount comprises a charging socket by means of which a rechargeable battery of the mobile device can be charged.

21. The vehicle door according to one of claim 18, wherein the mobile device comprises a mobile telephone which when positioned in the mount is connected to a hands-free speakerphone.

22. The vehicle door according to one of claims 18, wherein the mobile device is configured to detect when the mobile device is accommodated in the mount.

23. The vehicle door according to claim 22, wherein the mobile device is configured to switch the touchscreen into one of the display modes when the mobile device is detecting as being accommodated in the mount.

24. The vehicle door according to claim 13, wherein at least one of the first an second control modes is disabled in accordance with a state of motion of the vehicle.