Operator control unit for devices in a motor vehicle

• US 8,103,405 B2
• Filed: 11/11/2008
• Issued: 01/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Spingler, Mark René, Tsubaki, Erika
• Primary Examiner(s): Zanelli, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US12/268,625
• Publication Number:
  US 20090125195A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,169 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 701/36
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/777 on or in sun visors
• 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: B60R 11/02 for radio sets, television sets, telephones, or the like; Arrangement of controls thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0028 Ceiling, e.g. roof rails
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0059 using clips, clamps, straps or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 7/04 in driver or passenger space , e.g. using racks B60R7/005, B60R7/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/9625 using a force resistance transducer

Abstract

An operator control unit for devices in a motor vehicle, having a carrier element and at least one operator control element arranged on the carrier element for generating an actuating signal for at least one device in the motor vehicle. The carrier element when in the installed state forms a storage space for holding objects to be stored in the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle.

Claims

1. An operator control unit for devices in a motor vehicle, the control unit embodied as a housing and comprising:

a carrier element for installation in a passenger compartment of the motor vehicle to provide a storage space for holding objects to be stored in the passenger compartment; and

at least one operator control element disposed on the carrier element and operative to generate an actuating signal for at least one device in the motor vehicle, wherein the carrier element forms a removable housing component which in a removed state clears the interior of the housing which serves as a storage space.

2. The operator control unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the carrier element is curved such that the storage space is concave.

3. The operator control unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the operator control unit is mountable on an inner roof lining of the motor vehicle.

4. The operator control unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the carrier element is elongated.

5. The operator control unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein a plurality of operator control elements is formed on the carrier element.

6. The operator control unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one operator control element forms a pressure-sensitive or touch-sensitive surface region on the carrier element.

7. The operator control unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one operator control element is operable in a way which is analogous to at least one of a movement direction and a position of a component to be adjusted.

8. The operator control unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one operator control element is a resistive film pressure sensor.

9. The operator control unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one operator control element is a scroll wheel.