Virtual electronic switch system
First Claim
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1. A non-contact vehicle switch system comprising:
- a switch assembly havinga front end including a plate mountable in the vehicle and customizable first and second user accessible features mounted thereon, anda back end including first and second actuator members coupled to the first and second user accessible features, respectively, wherein the first and second actuator members provide a switch assembly interface;
a switch interface coupled to the vehicle and configured to engage the switch assembly interface, the switch interface including first and second non-contact sensor units configured to detect a pre-defined movement pattern of the first and second actuator members, respectively; and
a computer coupled to the switch interface, wherein the computer is configured receive information from the first and second non-contact sensor units, and to manipulate at least one function of an electrical system using the received information, wherein the manipulated function is selected from a plurality of available functions and assigned to one of the first and second sensor units based on instructions provided to the computer.
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Abstract
A virtual electronic switch system for a vehicle is provided. In one example, the system includes a switch assembly, a switch interface, and a computer. The switch assembly provides actuators that interface with non-contact sensors in the switch interface. The computer is coupled to the switch interface and assigns functions to each of the actuators. The non-contact sensors detect movement of the actuators and signal the computer, which manipulates an electrical system in the vehicle based on the assigned function.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A non-contact vehicle switch system comprising:
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a switch assembly having a front end including a plate mountable in the vehicle and customizable first and second user accessible features mounted thereon, and a back end including first and second actuator members coupled to the first and second user accessible features, respectively, wherein the first and second actuator members provide a switch assembly interface; a switch interface coupled to the vehicle and configured to engage the switch assembly interface, the switch interface including first and second non-contact sensor units configured to detect a pre-defined movement pattern of the first and second actuator members, respectively; and a computer coupled to the switch interface, wherein the computer is configured receive information from the first and second non-contact sensor units, and to manipulate at least one function of an electrical system using the received information, wherein the manipulated function is selected from a plurality of available functions and assigned to one of the first and second sensor units based on instructions provided to the computer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A virtual electronic switch system comprising:
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a first switch assembly having a plurality of first actuators coupled to a first support structure, wherein each of the plurality of first actuators includes a first user manipulatable portion accessible from a first external faceplate and a first actuator portion that extends through the first external faceplate; a switch interface having a plurality of non-contact sensors configured to mate with the first actuator portions of the plurality of first actuators, wherein each of the plurality of non-contact sensors is configured to detect movement within a defined movement range for each of the corresponding first actuator portions; and a computer coupled to the switch interface and configured to receive information about the first switch assembly, wherein the information includes a position and a function assigned to each of the plurality of first actuators and associated non-contact sensors, wherein the function assigned to a particular one of the plurality of first actuators and non-contact switches is selected from a plurality of available functions, and wherein the computer is configured to receive a signal from one of the plurality of non-contact sensors indicating a detected movement of the corresponding first actuator portion and to execute the function included in the information in response to the received signal. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification