In-car switch controller

• US 6,407,733 B1
• Filed: 03/31/2000
• Issued: 06/18/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Clarion Co., Ltd. (Faurecia SA)
• Original Assignee: Clarion Co., Ltd. (Faurecia SA)
• Inventors: Kawakami, Kazuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Shalwala, Bipin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kovalick, Vincent E.
• Application Number:
  US09/539,896
• Time in Patent Office: 809 Days
• Field of Search: 345/204, 345/205, 345/700, 345/716, 345/722, 345/764, 345/840, 345/855, 381/86
• US Class Current: 345/204
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor

Abstract

There is described an in-car switch controller which enables a driver to control electronic devices provided in a car. The controller includes a switch panel which can be placed in the vicinity of a driver'"'"'s seat such that the driver can readily actuate the switch panel and which comprises a plurality of main switches and sub-switches paired up with the corresponding main switches, the sub-switch being arranged so as to designate and enable the function of the main switch; a display section which can be provided in the front panel or in the vicinity thereof and which displays an image of the main switch paired up with the corresponding sub-switch and an advice image pertaining to the function of the main switch, when the sub-switch is actuated; an image data storage section for storing image data used for producing the images of the main switches and their corresponding advice images; an image generation control section for generating the display image on the basis of the image data stored in the image data storage section; a display drive section for activating the display section so as to display the display screen prepared by the image generation control section; image data designation means for reading image data from the image data storage section in accordance with a specification instruction output from the sub-switch; and a control device which, upon receipt of an operation signal from the main switch enabled by the sub-switch, outputs a control signal for effecting the function assigned to the image of the switch displayed in the display section.

Claims

1. An in-car switch controller for a driver to control electronic devices provided in a car, comprising:

a switch panel placed in the vicinity of a driver'"'"'s seat to be readily actuated by the driver,

said switch panel including;

a plurality of main switches, and

sub-switches paired up with the corresponding main switches,

said sub-switch being arranged to designate and enable the function of said main switch;

a display section provided in a front panel or in the vicinity thereof which displays an image of said main switch paired up with the corresponding sub-switch and an advice image pertaining to the function of said main switch, when said sub-switch is actuated;

an image data storage section for storing image data used for producing the images of said main switches and the corresponding advice images thereto;

an image generation control section for generating the display image on the basis of the image data stored in said image data storage section;

a display drive section for activating said display section to display a display screen prepared by said image generation control section;

image data designation means for reading image data from said image data storage section in accordance with a specification instruction output from said sub-switch; and

a control device which, upon receipt of an operation signal from said main switch enabled by said sub-switch, outputs a control signal for effecting the function assigned to the image of the switch displayed in said display section.

2. The in-car switch controller as defined in claim 1, wherein

said main switches paired up with the corresponding sub-switches thereto are adjacent to each other or combined together, and

when the sub-switch is actuated by means of touching or corresponding action, an operation section of the corresponding main switch is moved to activate said main switch.

3. An in-car switch controller for a driver to control electronic devices provided in a car, comprising:

a switch array placed in the vicinity of a driver'"'"'s seat to be readily actuated by the driver,

said switch array including a plurality of switches;

a camera disposed in the vicinity of the driver'"'"'s seat which successively photographs the operating action of said switch array and the switching action of the driver;

an indication image data storage section which stores indication image data used for indicating functions assigned to said respective switches corresponding to the images photographed by said camera, in the areas surrounding said respective switches;

an image synthesis section for merging the image data pertaining to the photographed image and the indication image data stored in the indication image data storage section into a single image;

a display section placed on the front panel or in the vicinity thereof and displays the synthesized image; and

a control section which receives an operation signal output from said switch and outputs a control signal for effecting the function assigned to the image of said switch displayed in said display section.

4. The in-car switch controller as defined in claim 3, wherein

said image data storage section stores a plurality of sets of indication image data corresponding to an image of the switch array;

said switch has the function of designating a set of indication image data for each type of device to be controlled, so as to correspond to the indication of the switch'"'"'s image; and

said control section includes indication image data designation means which receives an operation signal from the switch to instruct said indication image data storage section to read image data in order to update the set of indication image data to the specific indication image set.

5. An in-car switch controller for a driver to control electronic devices provided in a car, comprising:

a switch panel placed in the vicinity of a driver'"'"'s seat to be readily actuated by the driver;

said switch panel comprising;

a plurality of switches, and

an operation section of each of said switches being arranged to be selectively switched between a protruding state in which said operation section renders an operation effective, and a depressed state in which said operation section renders an operation disabled;

a display section provided in a front panel or in the vicinity thereof to display images of said switches remaining in a protruding state and indication images for indicating the functions of said switches;

an image data storage section which stores image data used for producing the images of said switches and the indication images;

a display drive section which controls said display section on the basis of the image data stored in said image data storage section;

a switch-status control section which performs a control operation for bringing said switches into a protruding state or a depressed state, on the basis of the image data stored in said image data storage section;

a switch layout control section which reads image data from said image data storage section in accordance with preset switch-status designation conditions or switch-status designation conditions which are set appropriately to impart the image data to said display drive section and said switch-status control section; and

a control device which receives an operation signal from a switch and outputs a control signal for effecting the function assigned to the image of said switch displayed in said display section.

6. The in-car switch controller as defined in claim 5, wherein

said image data storage section stores a plurality of sets of image data consisting of images of said switches remaining in a protruding state and indication images for indicating the functions of said switches;

said switch has the function of designating a set of indication image data for each type of a device to be controlled, so as to correspond to the indication of said switch'"'"'s image; and

said control device includes switch layout designation means which receives an operation signal from said switch to specify an image data set, and instructs said image data storage section to read image data in order to update the specified image data set.