Vehicle display system with drive enforcement control
First Claim
1. A vehicular display system, comprising:
- display means provided within an interior of a vehicle;
operating means which allows data to be input via the display means;
control means for controlling what is displayed on the display means based on the input data, and for disabling the operating means as a driver drives the vehicle by initiating a drive enforcement state, said control means being configured to release the drive enforcement state when the driver ceases to drive the vehicle; and
drive enforcement release switching means positioned proximate a driver'"'"'s location for operational access by said driver, wherein said drive enforcement release switching means is operable by the driver from the driver'"'"'s location in the vehicle to deactivate the drive enforcement state while the vehicle is being driven;
the control means enabling a passenger other than the driver to input the input data while the vehicle is being driven if the drive enforcement release switching means is being actuated by the driver.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle display system which keeps a driver from inputting data into the system while driving a vehicle, but which permits a person in the front passenger seat to perform the data input operations. A main ECU inhibits data input operations, such as map retrieval, destination setting, and telephone number input operations, when it determines that the driver is driving the vehicle, i.e., when the vehicle is moving. However, when the driver grips the steering wheel and thereby depresses drive enforcement releasing switches located on the vehicle steering wheel, the main ECU releases the drive enforcement state, thereby enabling passengers other than the driver to perform data input operations.
123 Citations
24 Claims
-
1. A vehicular display system, comprising:
-
display means provided within an interior of a vehicle;
operating means which allows data to be input via the display means;
control means for controlling what is displayed on the display means based on the input data, and for disabling the operating means as a driver drives the vehicle by initiating a drive enforcement state, said control means being configured to release the drive enforcement state when the driver ceases to drive the vehicle; and
drive enforcement release switching means positioned proximate a driver'"'"'s location for operational access by said driver, wherein said drive enforcement release switching means is operable by the driver from the driver'"'"'s location in the vehicle to deactivate the drive enforcement state while the vehicle is being driven;
the control means enabling a passenger other than the driver to input the input data while the vehicle is being driven if the drive enforcement release switching means is being actuated by the driver. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A vehicle information system, comprising:
-
a display located inside a vehicle;
a data input station provided in proximity to the display and which allows data input operations to be performed based on information on the display;
a controller for controlling the information on the display based on the performed data input operations, and for disabling the data input operations by activating a drive enforcement state while the driver drives the vehicle; and
a drive enforcement release switch that, when manipulated by the driver, causes the controller to release the drive enforcement state so that a passenger other than the driver can input data through the data input station while the vehicle is being driven, said drive enforcement release switch being positioned at a location where said driver places at least one hand during normal operation of said vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
-
-
22. A method of controlling a vehicle data system, comprising the steps of:
-
determining whether a vehicle is being driven;
if the vehicle is not being driven, releasing a vehicle drive enforcement state to permit a vehicle driver or any other passenger of the vehicle to input data into the data system;
if the vehicle is being driven, determining whether a drive enforcement switch located for access from a vehicle driver position in a vehicle, is being actuated by a vehicle driver;
if the drive enforcement switch is being actuated by the vehicle driver while the vehicle is being driven, releasing said vehicle drive enforcement state so that a passenger other than the driver is permitted to input data into the data system; and
if the drive enforcement switch is not being actuated by the vehicle driver while the vehicle is being driven, engaging said vehicle drive enforcement state to thereby inhibit the vehicle driver from inputting data into the data system. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
-
Specification