Method and apparatus for detecting and differentiating users of a device

• US 7,957,864 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2007
• Issued: 06/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Mathieu, Roy J., Baum, Alan M., Szczerba, Joseph F., Lenneman, John K., Aase, Jan H., Seder, Thomas A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Keith; Jack
• Assistant Examiner(s): Khatib; Rami
• Application Number:
  US11/768,986
• Publication Number:
  US 20080004769A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,441 Days
• Field of Search: 701/36, 340/425.5, 700/86, 382/104, 382/181
• US Class Current: 701/36
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/141 Activation of instrument input devices by approaching fingers or pens
• 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 35/654 the user being the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/656 the user being a passenger

Abstract

The invention provides an apparatus for operator control of an in-vehicle system. This comprises an interface device for receiving inputs for control of the in-vehicle system from the operator. There is a sensing system operative to determine a location of the operator seeking to provide the inputs to the interface device, the location consisting of one of a passenger and a driver. A controller adapts the control of the in-vehicle system based upon the location of the operator providing the inputs.

Claims

1. Apparatus for operator control of an in-vehicle system, comprising:

an interface device for receiving inputs for control of the in-vehicle system from an operator hand, said interface device comprising a control panel including a visual display screen;

a sensing system adjacent the interface device comprising a first optical proximity sensor including a first infrared light source and a first plurality of directionally sensitive light receivers for detecting a first reflected infrared light from the first infrared light source that is reflected by the operator hand only when the operator hand approaches the first optical proximity sensor near the interface device from a driver side of the vehicle, and a second optical proximity sensor including a second infrared light source and a second plurality of directionally sensitive light receivers for detecting a second reflected infrared light from the second infrared light source that is reflected by the operator hand only when the hand approaches the second optical proximity sensor near the interface device from a passenger side of the vehicle; and

a controller generating a user-specific menu on the visual display screen based upon the first and second plurality of directionally sensitive light receivers detecting respective first and second reflected infrared light from the respective first and second infrared light sources.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the in-vehicle system comprises a navigation system, and the controller is operative to disable control of the navigation system when the first plurality of directionally sensitive light receivers detects the first reflected infrared light.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the in-vehicle system comprises a navigation system, and the controller is operative to enable control of the navigation system when the second plurality of directionally sensitive light receivers detects the second reflected infrared light.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the in-vehicle system comprises a location-specific climate control system;

the interface device for receiving inputs for control of the climate control system from the operator hand consists of a single interface device; and

the controller is operative to provide location-specific climate control for the operator to one of the passenger side of the vehicle and the driver side of the vehicle based upon the one of the first and second plurality of directionally sensitive light receivers detecting respective first and second reflected infrared light from the light source.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the in-vehicle system comprises an entertainment system;

the interface device for receiving inputs for control of the entertainment system from the operator hand consists of a single interface device; and

the controller is operative to provide operator-specific entertainment control based upon the one of the first and second plurality of directionally sensitive light receivers detecting respective first and second reflected infrared light from the light source.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an audio-speaker system controlled by the controller operative to provide audio feedback to the operator comprising the specific interface device receiving the control input and the specific setting for the interface device.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the interface device for receiving inputs for control of the in-vehicle system from the operator comprises one or more of visual display screen devices, operator-adjustable knobs, and operator-selectable buttons.