CONTROL OF DISPLAY FOR VEHICLE WINDOW

• US 20160236612A1
• Filed: 10/09/2014
• Published: 08/18/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Closures Company Limited (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Closures Company Limited (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: CARON, Stephen James
• Granted Patent: US 10,308,167 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/141 Activation of instrument input devices by approaching fingers or pens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/334 Projection means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/785 on or in relation to the windshield or windows
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/797 at the vehicle exterior
• 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: B60Q 1/268 on windscreens or windows B60Q1/302 takes precedence; lighting devices for vehicle interior on or for windows B60Q3/208
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/381 with several light sources activated in sequence, e.g. to create a sweep effect
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/50 for indicating other intentions or conditions, e.g. request for waiting or overtaking
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/544 for indicating other states or conditions of the vehicle occupants, e.g. for indicating disabled occupants
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/547 for issuing requests to other traffic participants; for confirming to other traffic participants they can proceed, e.g. they can overtake
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/013 Eye tracking input arrangements G06F3/015 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0265 Vehicular advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 19/18 involving the use of optical projection means, e.g. projection of images on clouds projection apparatus per se G03B
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 21/04 by land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 27/005 Signs associated with a sensor

Abstract

A vehicle defining an opening with a closure panel adapted to cover the opening generally includes a window in the closure panel. Furthermore, a rear window defrosting wire is often mounted to the window. A user interface system is disclosed to include a capacitive switch wire having a portion mounted to the window proximate to, and overlapping with, the rear window defrosting wire, and a capacitive switch control unit connected to the capacitive switch wire and adapted to interpret a change a capacitance near the terminus of the capacitive switch wire as a command request. The system includes a projector and a controller adapted to control the projector to project an image onto the window proximate to the terminus of the capacitive switch wire, receive an indication of receipt of the command request and transmit a command to cause a state change in an element of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A display, access and information system comprising:

an image display mechanism adapted to cause images to appear externally on an otherwise transparent portion of a closure for an opening in a body of a vehicle;

a sensor adapted to;

detect a change in state of an element of the vehicle; and

transmit an indication of the change in state; and

a display, access and information module adapted to;

receive the indication of the change in state;

interpret the indication of the change in state to determine an instruction; and

transmit the instruction to the image display mechanism.

2. The display, access and information system of claim 1 wherein:

the sensor is adapted to sense depression of a brake pedal and the particular image is a red rectangle;

the sensor is adapted to sense a change in state of a turn signal arm and the particular image is an arrow;

the sensor is adapted to sense a change in state of a dashboard button and the particular image is an arrow;

the sensor is adapted to sense a change in state of a gear shifter and the particular image is a pair of arrows;

or

the sensor is adapted to sense a change in state of an aspect of the interior environment of the vehicle, the change in state indicative of presence of a vehicle occupant.

3. The display, access and information system of claim 1 wherein the sensor comprises a thermometer.

4. A method of operation for a display, access and information module for a vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving an indication of a state change of an element of the vehicle;

interpreting the indication to determine an instruction;

transmitting the instruction to an image display mechanism;

further interpreting the indication to determine a further instruction and an element to which the further instruction relates; and

transmitting the further instruction to a body control module for forwarding to a module for controlling the element.

5. A user interface system comprising:

a user interface control module;

an image display mechanism adapted to cause a plurality of images to appear on an otherwise transparent portion of a closure for an opening in a body of a vehicle; and

a sensor adapted to;

detect selection of a particular image among the plurality of images; and

transmit, to the user interface control module, an indication of the selection of the particular image.

6. The user interface system of claim 5 wherein the image display mechanism comprises a projector adapted to project the plurality of images onto the portion of the closure or a controller adapted to change light transmission properties of regions of the portion of the closure in a manner that presents the plurality of images.

7. The user interface system of claim 5 wherein the image display mechanism is further adapted to:

cause display of advertising;

cause display of a request for roadside assistance;

cause display of vehicle alarm warnings;

cause display of a map;

or

cause display of a replica of that which is being displayed on a mobile communication device.

8. The user interface system of claim 5 wherein the sensor comprises:

a capacitive switch wire having a switch wire portion mounted to the portion of the closure, the switch wire portion ending at a terminus; and

a capacitive switch control unit connected to the capacitive switch wire and adapted to interpret a change a capacitance near the terminus of the capacitive switch wire as the selection of the particular image, where the particular image is displayed proximate the terminus.

9. The user interface system of claim 5 wherein the sensor comprises an eye tracking camera.

10. The user interface system of claim 5 wherein the sensor comprises an ultrasonic sensor.

11. The user interface system of claim 5 wherein the sensor comprises an infrared receiver paired with an infrared emitter and an infrared receiver control unit.

12. The user interface system of claim 5 wherein the user interface control module is adapted to, responsive to receiving the indication of the selection of the particular image, transmit an instruction to a body control module.

13. The user interface system of claim 12 wherein the instruction relates to:

unlocking vehicle doors;

locking vehicle doors;

opening vehicle windows;

closing vehicle windows;

opening a vehicle power liftgate;

closing a vehicle power liftgate;

opening a vehicle power sliding door;

or

closing a vehicle power sliding door.

14. A method of controlling elements of a vehicle, the method comprising:

controlling, at a user interface control module, an image display mechanism to cause a plurality of images to appear externally on an otherwise transparent portion of a closure for an opening in a body of a vehicle;

detecting, at a sensor, selection of a particular image among the plurality of images; and

transmitting, from the sensor to the user interface control module, an indication of the selection of the particular image.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

receiving, at the user interface control module, the indication of the selection of the particular image; and

responsive to the receiving, transmitting an instruction to a body control module.