Method of operating a vehicle accessory

• US 8,239,087 B2
• Filed: 02/14/2008
• Issued: 08/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust), Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation (Nexteer Automotive Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation (Nexteer Automotive Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Dybalski, Ronald H., Berg, Frederick J., Bennett, Timothy J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dager, Jonathan M
• Application Number:
  US12/031,228
• Publication Number:
  US 20090210110A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,636 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 701/29.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/122 Instrument input devices with reconfigurable control functions, e.g. reconfigurable menus
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/143 Touch sensitive instrument input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1438 Touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/31 Virtual images
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• 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: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network

Abstract

A vehicle includes a controller, a touch screen display in communication with the controller, and a plurality of accessories in communication with the controller. The various accessories are each individually controlled by inputting commands into the touch screen display. The controller transmits the inputted command via a communication system to the selected accessory to motivate the accessory between a first setting and a second setting.

Claims

1. A method of operating an accessory of a vehicle with a controller in communication with the accessory and including a touch screen display, said method comprising the steps of:

displaying a virtual image of the vehicle on the touch screen display in a first position;

reorienting the virtual image of the vehicle on the touch screen display to a second position;

displaying a virtual image of the accessory, which is not displayed with the virtual image of vehicle in the first position, together with the virtual image of the vehicle in the second position;

touching the virtual image of the accessory on the touch screen display to select the accessory;

touching the touch screen display to input a command for the accessory;

transmitting the inputted command to the accessory; and

executing the inputted command.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the controller includes a wireless communication system in communication with the accessory and said step of transmitting the inputted command is further defined as wirelessly transmitting the inputted command to the accessory.

3. A method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising the step of displaying at least one optional command on the touch screen display after selecting the accessory.

4. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the vehicle includes a plurality of accessories and the method further comprises the step of selecting one of the plurality of accessories.

5. A method of operating an accessory of a vehicle, the vehicle having a controller in communication with the accessory and a touch screen display, the method comprising:

displaying a virtual image of the vehicle in first position on the touch screen display;

reorienting the virtual image of the vehicle to a second position on the touch screen display;

displaying a virtual image of the accessory with the virtual image of the vehicle in the second position, the virtual image of the accessory not displayed with the virtual image of the vehicle in the first position;

touching the virtual image of the accessory on the touch screen display to select the accessory;

touching the touch screen display to input a command for the accessory;

transmitting the inputted command to the accessory utilizing a wireless communication system; and

controlling the accessory based on the inputted command.

6. An interface apparatus for use in a vehicle, said interface apparatus comprising:

a controller;

a touch screen display in communication with said controller, the touch screen display configured to display a virtual image of a vehicle in a first position, the touch screen display further configured to reorient the virtual image of the vehicle to a second position such that a virtual image of an accessory is displayed, said virtual image of the accessory not displayed with the virtual image of the vehicle in the first position, the touch screen display further configured to detect a touching of the virtual image of the accessory on the touch screen display to select the accessory, the touch screen display further configured to detect touching of the touch screen display to input a command into said controller;

the accessory configured to have at least a first setting and a second setting;

a communication system configured to interconnect the controller and the accessory, the communication system further configured to transmit the command to the accessory to move the accessory between said first setting and said second setting.

7. The interface apparatus of claim 6, wherein said communication system includes a wireless communication system.

8. The interface apparatus of claim 6, wherein said controller includes a processor.

9. The interface apparatus of claim 8, wherein said controller includes a memory for storing data.

10. The interface apparatus of claim 9, wherein said controller and said touch screen display communicate through said wireless communication system.

11. The interface apparatus of claim 6, wherein said accessory includes an actuator.

12. The interface apparatus of claim 11, wherein said actuator includes an electric motor.

13. A vehicle as set forth in claim 6, wherein said accessory includes one of:

a window actuator, a door actuator, a locking mechanism, an audio entertainment system, a visual entertainment system, a HVAC system, a power adjustment mechanism, a diagnostic mechanism, a sensor system and a lighting system.