Driver information system

• US 8,214,004 B2
• Filed: 11/12/2003
• Issued: 07/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Harman Becker Automotive Systems GmbH (Samsung Group)
• Original Assignee: Harman Becker Automotive Systems GmbH (Samsung Group)
• Inventors: Taxis, Heiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Ajibade Akonai, Olumide T
• Assistant Examiner(s): STEPHEN, EMEM O
• Application Number:
  US10/706,221
• Publication Number:
  US 20040114934A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,156 Days
• Field of Search: 455/66.1, 455/90.3, 4555751-5759, 455/425, 455/550.1, 455/573.3, 455/347, 455/569.2, 455/41.2, 455/456.3, 455/411, 455/414.3, 455/99, 455/100, 455/566, 455/569, 370/378, 701/200, 701/300, 701/207, 701/208, 361/331, 361/679, 361600-632, 361/680, 340988-996, 342450-465, 345/169, 345/168
• US Class Current: 455/575.9
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/33 Illumination features
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor

Abstract

A driver information system comprises an operating device 10 having at least two operational control units 20 and a holding unit 12 for the operational control units 20. A control device 62 for validating control signals delivered by the operational control units 20 is also provided. The operational control units 20 are freely arrangeable within the holding device 12.

Claims

1. Driver information system comprising an operating device having at least two operational control units and a holding unit with a number of operational control slots each adapted to physically receive one of the operational control units, and a control device for validating control signals transmitted by the operational control units, wherein said operational control units are interchangeably arranged in the operational control slots of the holding device, each of said operational control units comprises a transmitting unit for transmitting a control signal that contains identification information identifying the particular operational control unit, and said control device is associated with a receiving unit in order to receive the control signals provided by the transmitting unit.

2. The driver information system of claim 1, wherein the transmitting unit transmits said control signals optically to the receiving unit.

3. The driver information system of claim 1, wherein the receiving unit transmits said control signals via radio frequency to the receiving unit.

4. The driver information, system of claim 3, wherein said transmitting unit and said receiving unit are adapted for transmitting using the Bluetooth protocol.

5. The driver information system of claim 1, wherein each operational unit comprises at least one frame connector which is insertable in an edge-socket-connector provided in each said operational control slot, the control signals being transmitted by wire via said connector-socket.

6. The driver information system of claim 4, wherein said operational control units are supported movably relative to each other by the holding unit.

7. The driver information system of claim 1, wherein each operational control unit comprises a mounting member provided at a operational control unit slot and engaging said mounting member detachably.

8. The driver information system of claim 1, wherein said operation control unit is one of an operating element, volume control element, and a hard-key element.

9. The driver information system of claim 1, wherein operational control units comprise identical cover plates.

13. The driver information system of claim 1, wherein said control signals include identification information identifying each of the operational control units to enable the control device to assign the control signals to the respective transmitting operational control unit.

10. Driver information system comprising an operating device having at least two operational control units and a holding unit with a number of operational control slots each adapted to physically receive one of the operational control units, and a control device for validating control signals delivered by the operational control units, each of said operational control units being interchangeably arranged in any one of the operational control slots of the holding device, wherein each of said operational control units comprises a transmitting unit for transmitting said control signals wirelessly, and said control device is associated with a receiving unit, in order to wirelessly receive the control signals provided by the transmitting unit.

14. The driver information system of claim 10, wherein said control signals include identification information identifying each of the operational control units to enable the control device to assign the control signals to the respective transmitting operational control unit.

18. The driver information system of claim 14, wherein the data connection by which said control signals are transmitted between each operational control unit and said receiving unit is configured the same for each operational control unit.

11. Driver information system comprising an operating device baying at least two operational control units and a holding unit with a number of operational control slots each adapted to physically receive one of the operational control units, and a control device for validating control signals delivered by the operational control units, each of said operational control units being interchangeably arranged in any one of the operational control slots of the holding device, wherein each of said operational control, units comprises a transmitting unit for transmitting said control, signals optically, and said control device is associated with an optical receiving unit, in order to receive the control signals provided by the transmitting unit.

15. The driver information system of claim 11, wherein said control signals include identification information identifying each of the operational control units to enable the control device to assign the control signals to the respective transmitting operational control unit.

19. The driver information system of claim 15, wherein the data connection by which said control signals are transmitted between each operational control unit and said receiving unit is configured the same for each operational control unit.

12. Driver information system comprising an operating device having at least two operational control units and a holding unit with a number of operational control slots each adapted to physically receive one of the operational control units, and a control device for validating control signals delivered by the operational control units, each of said operational control units being interchangeably arranged in any one of the operational control slots of the holding device, wherein each of said operational control units comprises a transmitting unit for transmitting said control signals by radio frequency, and said control device is associated with a radio frequency receiving unit, in order to receive the control signals provided by the transmitting unit.

16. The driver information system of claim 12, wherein said control signals include identification information identifying each of the operational control units to enable the control, device to assign the control signals to the respective transmitting operational control unit.

20. The driver information system of claim 16, wherein the data connection by which said control signals are transmitted between each operational control unit and said receiving unit is configured the same for each operational control unit.

17. A driver information system for enabling the control of various components in a vehicle comprising a plurality of operational control units, a holding unit having a plurality of operational control slots each adapted to physically receive one of said operational control units, and a control device for validating control, signals produced by the operational control units and selectively controlling said vehicle components in accordance with said control signals;

wherein the operational control units are interchangeably arranged in the operational control slots of the holding unit and each of said operational control units comprises a transmitting unit for transmitting a control signal containing identification information that identifies the particular operational control unit, and the control device includes a receiving unit for receiving the control signals produced by each of the transmitting units; and

further wherein the data connection by which said control signals are transmitted between each operational control unit and said receiving unit is configured the same for each operational control unit.