Steering wheel interface for vehicles

• US 6,418,362 B1
• Filed: 10/27/2000
• Issued: 07/09/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Oracle America, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Koch, Mark J., St. Pierre, Robert P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Beaulieu, Yonel
• Application Number:
  US09/697,857
• Time in Patent Office: 620 Days
• Field of Search: 701/35, 701/36, 744/84.R, D12/175, 280/778
• US Class Current: 701/36
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/113 Scrolling through menu items
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/117 Cursors
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/782 on the steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/113 Scrolling through menu items
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/117 Cursors
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/782 on the steering wheel
• 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: G06F 3/033 Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user , e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor digitisers characterised by the transducing means G06F3/041
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0338 with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03549 Trackballs G06F3/03541 takes precedence

Abstract

A method and apparatus for enabling a user/driver of a vehicle to interact with and manipulate a pointer on a display screen of a computer is presented. The interface device is generally mounted in a steering wheel of the vehicle. The device typically includes at least one user input mechanism in the form of a thumb input pad positioned on a modified grip portion of the steering wheel, and at least one input button positioned on a back side of the steering wheel grip. The thumb input pad is reachable by a thumb of a vehicle driver, and the at least one input button is reachable by a finger of the vehicle driver when the driver has positioned his or her hand in a common driving position. The pointer that is being controlled by the various forms of interface device, scrolls across the particular display screen provided in the particular vehicle, and is utilized in making selections and carrying out computer functions.

Claims

1. An interface device for electronic manipulation of a pointer on a display screen in a vehicle, comprising;

at least one user input mechanism mounted on a steering wheel of said vehicle; and

a control device in communication with said at least one user input mechanism and said display screen, wherein said control device translates user input to said input mechanism into actions of said pointer on said display screen.

2. The interface device according to claim 1, wherein said user input mechanism by one of a thumb and a finger of a user when said user has positioned a hand on a grip of said steering wheel in approximately a common driving position.

3. The interface device according to claim 1, wherein said user input mechanism is at least one of a disc shaped actuator, a joystick, a track ball, a touch pad, and a button.

4. The interface device according to claim 3, wherein said user input mechanism includes a plurality of buttons, and each button is of a different shape.

5. The interface device according to claim 3, wherein said user input mechanism includes a plurality of buttons, and each button has a differentiating surface.

6. The interface device according to claim 1, wherein said control device is a microprocessor.

7. The interface device according to claim 6, further comprising a signal transmitter for transmitting RF signals, said transmitter being in electronic communication with said microprocessor and said at least one user input mechanism.

8. The interface device according to claim 7, further comprising a signal receiver for receiving RF signals, said receiver being in electronic communication with said display screen.

9. The interface device according to claim 6, further comprising a signal transmitter for transmitting infrared signals, said transmitter being in electronic communication with said microprocessor, and said at least one user input mechanism.

10. The interface device according to claim 9, further comprising a signal receiver for receiving infrared signals, said receiver being in electronic communication with said display screen.

11. The interface device according to claim 1, wherein said display screen is one of an LCD screen positioned in a dashboard of said vehicle, an interior surface of a windshield of said vehicle upon which a desired image is projected, and a plasma screen positioned in said dashboard of said vehicle.

21. The interface device according to claim 1, wherein said display screen is one of an LCD screen positioned on a dashboard of said vehicle, an interior surface of a windshield of said vehicle upon which a desired image is projected, and a plasma screen positioned on said dashboard of said vehicle.

12. A user interface device for electronic manipulation of a pointer on a display screen of at least one computer in a vehicle, said interface device mounted in a steering wheel of said vehicle and comprising:

at least one thumb input pad positioned on a grip of said steering wheel; and

at least one input button positioned on a backside of said grip.

13. The interface device according to claim 12, wherein said at least one thumb input pad is reachable by a thumb of said user when said user has positioned a hand on said grip of said steering wheel in approximately a common driving position.

14. The interface device according to claim 12, wherein said at least one input button is reachable by a finger of said user when said user has positioned a hand on said grip of said steering wheel in approximately a common driving position.

15. The interface device according to claim 12, wherein said thumb input pad is one of a disc-shaped actuator, a joystick, a track ball, and a touch pad.

16. The interface device according to claim 12, wherein said device includes a plurality of input buttons, and each button of said plurality is of a different identifying shape.

17. The interface device according to claim 12, wherein said device includes a plurality of input buttons, and each button of said plurality has a different identifying surface.

18. The interface device according to claim 12, further comprising a microprocessor.

19. The interface device according to claim 12, further comprising a signal transmitter for transmitting one of RF signals and infrared signals, said transmitter being in electronic communication with said microprocessor, said thumb input pad, and said at least one input button.

20. The interface device according to claim 16, further comprising a signal receiver for receiving one of RF signals and infrared signals, said receiver being in electronic communication with said display screen.

22. A user interface system for electronic manipulation of a pointer on a display screen of at least one computer in a vehicle, said interface system mounted in a steering wheel of said vehicle and comprising:

at least one thumb input pad positioned along a grip of said steering wheel;

at least one input button positioned along a backside of said grip relative to a driver of said vehicle;

a microprocessor;

a signal transmitter positioned on said steering wheel and electronically coupled with said microprocessor, said thumb input pad, and said at least one input button; and

a signal receiver mounted on a vehicle dashboard panel relatively in front of said driver of said vehicle, said signal receiver in electronic communication with said display screen.

23. The interface system according to claim 22, wherein said signal transmitter has a physical electronic connection with said signal receiver.

24. The interface system according to claim 22, wherein said signal transmitter utilizes one of RF frequencies and infrared signals to communicate with said signal receiver.

25. A method of manipulation by a user of a pointer on a display screen of at least one computer in a vehicle, comprising the steps of:

moving said pointer to desired locations on said display screen by direction of a user'"'"'s thumb on a thumb input pad, said thumb input pad positioned on a steering wheel grip; and

carrying out desired functions on said display by depression of at least one input button by a user'"'"'s finger, said at least one input button positioned on a back side of said steering wheel grip relative to said user.