Switch apparatus for a driver information interface

• US 6,907,328 B2
• Filed: 06/10/2003
• Issued: 06/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Fehr, Walton, Stanevich, Kenneth W., Pflug, Jeffrey C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Camby, Richard M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): To, Tuan C
• Application Number:
  US10/458,295
• Publication Number:
  US 20050004724A1
• Time in Patent Office: 735 Days
• Field of Search: 200/61.54, 200/61.57, 200/61.55, 200/6.R, 200/315, 200/339, 180/333, 180/78, 307/10.2, 280/731, 280/728.3, 280/728.2, 745/52, 745/585, 701/29, 702/29, 702/30, 702/33, 702/34, 702/43, 702/31, 702/35, 702/101, 340/825.54, 340/825.52, 340/426, 340/438
• US Class Current: 701/29
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/143 Touch sensitive instrument input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1438 Touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/782 on the steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/143 Touch sensitive input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/1438 Touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/782 on the steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/81 Fastening of instruments, e.g. to dashboard
• 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 35/50 Instruments characterised by their means of attachment to or integration in the vehicle B60K35/231 takes precedence
• 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 1/0082 mounted on the steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/70 having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboard mounting together a plurality of independent switches H02B
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 21/24 biased to return to normal position upon removal of operating force
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2217/024 Profile on actuator
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/016 Lever; Rocker
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/088 actuable from different directions
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2231/026 Car
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20834 Hand wheels

Abstract

An interface includes a base with locking flanges for securing the base to a second structure within a vehicle. A plurality of switch caps are pivotably supported on the base and extend through apertures formed in the base. Each switch cap has a first surface and a second surface such that pressure applied to one of the first surface and the second surface causes limited rocking motion of the switch cap and actuation of a corresponding momentary contact switch.

Claims

1. An interface for managing information within a vehicle comprising:

a vehicle steering wheel having a hub, a rim and a plurality of spokes, the hub, rim and a portion of the spokes defining an opening facilitating viewing of an instrument cluster disposed within the vehicle by the driver;

a base including locking flanges for securing the base to at least one of the hub, the rim and the spokes, the base formed to include a plurality of apertures for receiving a switch cap, a hinge pivot adjacent the aperture and a cavity for receiving a printed circuit board;

a switch cap extending through each of the plurality of apertures, each switch cap formed to include an aperture for engaging a corresponding hinge pivot and pivotably supporting the switch cap within the housing with a surface of the switch cap extending outwardly from the base, the switch cap further formed with a dowel structure arranged to engage a momentary contact switch disposed on the printed circuit board;

each switch cap surface having a first surface and a second surface such that pressure applied to one of the first surface and the second surface causes limited rocking motion of the switch cap and corresponding engagement of the dowel with a corresponding momentary contact switch for closing the momentary contact switch and hence actuating the momentary contract switch;

each switch cap having an information indicator associated therewith, the information indicator being associated with a source of information;

each information indicator having a plurality of states, wherein each state of the information indicator is indicative of a presence of information from the associated source of information and a characteristic of the information;

wherein actuation of each momentary contact switch is operable to cause a dissemination of the information from the source of information associated with the indicator depicted on the corresponding switch cap and wherein the information indicators extend into the opening.

2. The interface of claim 1, wherein the base is secured to the hub on an upper surface of the hub and such that the information indicators extend into a lower portion of the opening.

3. The interface of claim 1, wherein each information indicator is formed on a corresponding one the first surface and the second surface of the switch caps.

4. The interface of claim 1, wherein each switch cap is accessible by the driver while grasping the steering wheel.

5. The interface of claim 1, wherein the information indicators are substantially in the driver'"'"'s line of sight while operating the vehicle.

6. The interface of claim 1, wherein each switch cap is located substantially adjacent to at least one other switch cap.

7. The interface of claim 6, wherein each information indicator comprises a visual indicator having at least three states.

8. The interface of claim 7, wherein the at least three states comprise:

inactive, steadily indicated and flashed.

9. The interface of claim 6, wherein the source of information comprises at least one source of information form the group comprising:

wireless communication information, navigation information, vehicle operation information.

10. The interface of claim 6, wherein the interface is disposed within a vehicle, and wherein the source of information is operably coupled from the vehicle to the interface.

11. The interface of claim 6, wherein the interface comprises one of:

a cellular telephone, a pager and a personal digital assistant.

12. The interface of claim 6, wherein each of the switch caps are disposed in proximity to each other.

13. The interface of claim 6, an icon disposed on one of the first vertical surface and the second surface of each switch cap.

14. The interface of claim 13, each switch cap being formed to permit back illumination of the icon.

15. The interface of claim 6, wherein at least one of the first surface and the second surface being formed with a contour to provide haptic feedback that the user has engaged the switch cap.

16. Within a vehicle having a steering wheel with a hub, a rim and a plurality of spokes, the hub, rim and a portion of the plurality of spokes defining an opening facilitating viewing of an instrument cluster disposed within the vehicle by the driver and a plurality of sources of information to be communicated to the driver, an interface for managing communication of information from the plurality of sources to the driver, the interface comprising:

a base including locking flanges for securing the base to one of the hub, the rim and the portion of the plurality of spokes and within the driver'"'"'s primary line of sight while operating the vehicle, the base formed to include a plurality of apertures for receiving a switch cap, a hinge pivot adjacent the aperture and a cavity for receiving a printed circuit board;

a switch cap extending through each of the plurality of apertures, each switch cap formed to include an aperture for engaging a corresponding hinge pivot and pivotably supporting the switch cap within the housing with a surface of the switch cap extending outwardly from the base, the switch cap further formed with a dowel structure arranged to engage a momentary contact switch disposed on the printed circuit board;

each switch cap surface having a first surface and a second surface such that pressure applied to one of the first surface and the second surface causes limited rocking motion of the switch cap and corresponding engagement of the dowel with a corresponding momentary contact switch for closing the momentary contact switch and hence actuating the momentary contract switch;

each switch cap having an status indicator associated therewith, the status indicator being associated with a source of information;

each status indicator having a plurality of states, wherein each state of the status indicator is indicative of a presence of information from the source of information and a characteristic of the information; and

wherein actuation of a momentary contact switch causes dissemination of the information from the associated source of information.

17. The interface of claim 16, wherein the interface is located within the opening of the steering wheel on a surface of the hub defining the opening.

18. The interface of claim 17, wherein the surface of the hub is a top surface of the hub relative to the driver.

19. The interface of claim 16, wherein each indicator comprises a visual indicator having at least three states.

20. The interface of claim 16, wherein the source of information comprises at least one source of information form the group comprising:

wireless communication information, navigation information, vehicle operation information.