Method, programming interface and mechanism for changing vehicle personalization settings/features

• US 7,112,894 B2
• Filed: 04/09/2003
• Issued: 09/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Paluch, John E., Mc Cullough, Scott A., Osinski, David A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sircus, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): CAVALLARI, DANIEL J
• Application Number:
  US10/410,574
• Publication Number:
  US 20040201284A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,266 Days
• Field of Search: 307/10.1, 701/36
• US Class Current: 307/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0231 Circuits relating to the driving or the functioning of the vehicle monitoring tyres B60C23/00; indicating overspeed B60K31/00; for dash boards B60K37/00, B60Q3/10; for indicating emergencies B60Q1/52; brake control systems B60T; registering or indicating the working of vehicles G07C5/00; measuring distance G01C, e.g. combinations of speed and distance G01C23/00; engine indicators G01L; measuring speed or acceleration G01P

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are provided for changing vehicle personalization features. The apparatus comprises a multifunction switch coupled to a multifunction display. The display includes a main menu display configured to display, in response to signals from the switch, in sequence, first numeric codes that are representative of a sequence of settable features and a second numeric code identifying the current selected mode of a given feature. The display also includes a sub-menu display that is configured to display, in response to additional signals from the switch, a first numeric code defining the feature selected to be changed and to display, in sequence, second numeric codes representative of selectable modes of the settable feature. The multifunctional switch is also coupled to an electronic module that is configured to set a selected mode of a settable feature in response to yet a further signal from the switch.

Claims

1. A programming interface for charging vehicle personalization features comprising:

a single multifunctional switch configured, in a feature personalization mode, to first select a personalization feature and to second select a desired mode of that personalization feature; and

a multifunctional display, the display, in a feature personalization mode, comprising;

a first display element configured to display a field indicative of a selected personalization feature; and

a second display element configured to display a second field indicative of selectable modes of the personalization feature;

each of the first and second display elements operative in response to a control signal from, the single multifunctional switch;

wherein the multifunctional switch comprises an odometer trip reset switch.

2. The programming interface of claim 1 wherein the multifunctional display comprises an odometer display.

3. A programming interface for changing vehicle personalization features comprising:

a single multifunctional switch configured, in a feature personalization mode, to first select a personalization feature and to second select a desired mode of that personalization feature; and

a multifunctional display, the display, in a feature personalization mode, comprising;

a first display element configured to display a field indicative of a selected personalization feature; and

a second display element configured to display a second field indicative of selectable modes of the personalization feature;

each of the first and second display elements operative in response to a control signal from the single multifunctional switch;

wherein the multifunctional display comprises an odometer display.

4. A programming interface for changing vehicle personalization features comprising:

a single multifunctional switch configured, in a feature personalization mode, to first select a personalization feature and to second select a desired mode of that personalization feature; and

a multifunctional display, the display, in a feature personalization mode, comprising;

a first display element configured to display a field indicative of a selected personalization feature; and

a second display element configured to display a second field indicative of selectable modes of the personalization feature;

each of the first and second display elements operative in response to a control signal from the single multifunctional switch;

wherein the first display element comprises a first numeric display configured to display a first numeric code corresponding to one of a plurality of settable features and wherein the second display element comprises a second numeric display configured to display a second numeric code corresponding to one of a plurality of modes of the one of a plurality of sortable features.

5. The programming interface of claim 4 wherein the first numeric display comprises a display configured to sequentially display a plurality of first numeric codes in response to multiple sequential signals from the multifunctional switch.

6. The programming interface of claim 5 wherein the second numeric display comprises a display initially configured to indicate a currently selected mode of a settable feature for which the first numeric display displays a numeric code.

7. The programming interface of claim 6 wherein the second numeric display comprises a display configured to sequentially display, in response to additional multiple sequential signals from the multifunctional switch, additional numeric codes corresponding to additional modes of the feature for which the first numeric display displays a numeric code.

8. A mechanism for changing vehicle personalization features comprising:

a single multifunctional switch configured to generate, in a feature selecting mode, a first signal to display a plurality of personalization features, a second signal to display a plurality of modes of one of the plurality of personalization features, and a third signal to select a desired one of the plurality of modes of the one of the plurality of personalization features;

an electronic module coupled to receive the third signal generated by the multifunctional switch and configured to implement the selected one of the plurality of modes of the one of the plurality of personalization features; and

a multifunctional display coupled to the multifunctional switch comprising a first display element and a second display element and configured to display, in a feature selecting mode, an indication of one of the plurality of personalization features in the first display element in response to the first signal and to display an indication of a mode of the one of the plurality of personalization features in the second display in response to the second signal;

wherein the multifunctional switch comprises an odometer trip reset switch.

9. The mechanism of claim 8 wherein the multifunctional display comprises an odometer display.

10. A mechanism for changing vehicle personalization features comprising:

a single multifunctional switch;

a multifunctional display coupled to the switch, the display configured to display, in response to a first setting of the switch, a first numeric code representative of a first vehicle personalization feature and a second numeric code representative of a current setting of a mode of the first vehicle personalization feature, and configured to display a plurality of additional first numeric codes representative of a plurality of additional vehicle personalization features, individual ones of the additional first numeric codes displayed in response to a second setting of the switch, the multifunctional display further configured to display a sequence of second numeric codes representative of a sequence of modes of the displayed one of the first vehicle personalization feature or the plurality of additional vehicle personalization features in response to a second application of the first setting of the switch, each of individual ones of the sequence of second numeric codes displayed in response to sequential applications of the second setting of the switch; and

an electronic module coupled to the switch and configured to set a selected mode in response to a third application of the first setting of the switch.

11. The mechanism of claim 10 wherein the multifunctional switch comprises an odometer trip reset switch.

12. The mechanism of claim 11 wherein the multifunctional display comprises an odometer display.

13. The mechanism of claim 12 wherein the first setting of the switch comprises a closing of the switch for a first predetermined length of time and the second setting of the switch comprises the closing of the switch for a second predetermined length of time less than the first predetermined length of time.

14. The mechanism of claim 12 wherein the multifunctional display comprises a display of a first numeric code and a second numeric code in which each of the individual ones of the first numeric codes is highlighted unless selected and one of the sequence of second numeric codes is highlighted if the one of the sequence of second numeric codes represents a currently selected mode.

15. A mechanism for changing vehicle personalization features comprising:

a multifunctional switch;

a multifunctional display coupled to the switch, the display comprising a first main menu display and a second sub-menu display, the first main menu display configured to display a sequence of numeric codes representative of a sequence of settable vehicle personalization features in response to signals from the switch, and the second sub-menu display configured to display a sequence of second numeric codes representative of a sequence of selectable modes of the settable vehicle personalization features in response to additional signals from the switch; and

an electronic module coupled to the switch and configured to set a selected mode of a settable vehicle personalization feature in response to a further signal from the switch.

16. The mechanism of claim 15 wherein the multifunctional switch comprises an odometer trip reset switch and the multifunctional display comprises an odometer display.

17. A method for programming personalization features of a motor vehicle comprising the steps of:

pressing and holding a single multifunctional switch for a first predetermined length of time to cause a multifunctional display to display a first numeric code representative of a first settable personalization feature and a second numeric code representative of a presently set mode of the displayed personalization feature;

tapping the single multifunctional switch multiple times to change the multifunctional display to sequentially display first numeric codes of a sequence of additional settable personalization features and a second numeric code representative of a presently set mode of each of the displayed personalization features;

pressing and holding the single multifunctional switch for a second predetermined length of time when the first numeric code of a personalization feature to be changed is displayed and then tapping the single multifunctional switch multiple times to change the multifunctional display to sequentially display second numeric codes representative of a sequence of modes of the displayed personalization feature; and

pressing and holding the single multifunctional switch for a third predetermined length of time when the second numeric code representing a desired mode of the displayed personalization feature is displayed to select that desired mode.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the step of pressing and holding a single multifunctional switch for a first predetermined length of time comprises the step of pressing and holding an odometer trip reset switch to cause an odometer display to display a highlighted first numeric code and a second numeric code.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the step of tapping the single multifunctional switch multiple times comprises the step of tapping the odometer trip reset switch multiple times to change the odometer display to sequentially display first numeric codes of a sequence of additional settable features, the display being highlighted to indicate the additional personalization features are selectable, and a second numeric code representative of a presently set mode of each of the displayed personalization features.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the step of pressing and holding the single multifunctional switch for a second predetermined length of time comprises the step of pressing and holding the odometer trip reset switch for a second predetermined length of time when the highlighted first numeric code of a personalization feature to be changed is displayed and then tapping the odometer trip reset switch multiple times to change the odometer display to sequentially display highlighted second numeric codes representative of a sequence of modes of the displayed personalization feature.

21. The method of claim 18 wherein the step of pressing and holding a single multifunctional switch for a second predetermined length of time comprises the step of pressing and holding the odometer trip reset switch to cause the odometer display to display a first numeric code indicative of a currently selectable personalization feature and a highlighted second numeric code.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the step tapping the single multifunctional switch multiple times comprises the step of tapping the odometer trip reset switch multiple times to display in sequence highlighted second numeric codes representative of selectable modes for the currently selected personalization feature.

23. A method for programming personalization features of a motor vehicle comprising the steps of:

pressing and holding an odometer trip reset switch for a first predetermined length of time to cause an odometer display to display a first numeric code that is highlighted and a second numeric code;

tapping the odometer trip reset switch multiple times to change the odometer display to sequentially display first numeric codes of a sequence of additional settable features and a second numeric code representative of a presently set mode of each of the displayed features;

pressing and holding the odometer trip reset switch for a second predetermined length of time, when the first numeric code of a feature to be changed is displayed and then tapping the odometer trip reset switch to display in sequence second numeric codes that are highlighted representative of selectable modes for a currently selected feature; and

pressing and holding the odometer trip reset switch for a third predetermined length of time, when the first numeric code and a second numeric code that is highlighted is displayed, to select the mode represented by the second numeric code as the desired mode.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the step of pressing and holding the odometer trip reset switch for a third predetermined length of time comprises the step of pressing and holding the odometer trip reset switch for a third predetermined length of time to cause the odometer display to display a highlighted first numeric code and a second numeric code representative of the currently selected mode of the selectable personalization feature.