Methods and systems for providing accessory steering wheel controls

• US 8,285,446 B2
• Filed: 08/09/2011
• Issued: 10/09/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Circuit Works, Inc., Metra Electronics
• Original Assignee: Circuit Works, Inc., Metra Electronics
• Inventors: Daly, Charles David, Jones, William H. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Cuong H
• Application Number:
  US13/205,673
• Publication Number:
  US 20110295463A1
• Time in Patent Office: 427 Days
• Field of Search: 701/36, 375/240, 375/339, 375/340, 340/579, 370253-254
• US Class Current: 701/36
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/082 to be used in vehicles H04B1/086 takes precedence; holding or mounting accessories B60R11/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/202 by remote control

Abstract

An aftermarket steering wheel control includes a housing that includes a user-operable switch and a control module. The control module is configured to determine whether the user-operable switch has been operated, generate a data frame corresponding to a control signal for operating a vehicle component, and transmit the data frame to a receiver of a control signal interface. Another aftermarket steering wheel control includes a housing with a user-operable switch and a circuit with an output line. The output line is connected to the switch and further connected to a control signal interface. Operation of the user-operable switch changes a resistance on the at least one output line, and the control signal interface is configured to convert the resistance to a control signal for operating a vehicle component.

Claims

1. A system for providing control signals to a vehicle component, the system comprising:

an aftermarket steering wheel control mounted to a steering wheel of a vehicle, and including at least one user-operable switch; and

a control signal interface, including;

an input unit configured to receive control signals from the aftermarket steering wheel control,

an output unit electrically connectable to at least one channel of a vehicle component, the vehicle component including an aftermarket entertainment component, and

a signal processing unit adapted to auto-detect a control signal configuration of the vehicle component, by;

(i) performing a measurement on the at least one channel of the vehicle component, and

(ii) identifying the control signal configuration of the vehicle component based on the measurement,

wherein the output unit is adapted to transmit control signals to the vehicle component based on the control signals received by the input unit and in accordance with the auto-detected control signal configuration of the vehicle component.

2. A system according to claim 1,

wherein the control signal interface is further configured to configure itself based on the control signal configuration of the vehicle component.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein the control signal interface includes a wireless reception unit communicatively coupled to the input unit of the control signal interface,

wherein the aftermarket steering wheel control further includes:

(i) an antenna, and

(ii) a control module configured to determine whether the at least one user-operable switch has been operated, generate a data frame corresponding to a control signal, and wirelessly transmit the data frame through the antenna, and

wherein the aftermarket steering wheel control is communicatively coupled to the input unit through the wireless reception unit.

4. A system according to claim 3, wherein the control module wirelessly transmits the data frame to the wireless reception unit by modulating a carrier wave.

5. A system for providing control signals to a vehicle component, the system comprising:

an aftermarket steering wheel control mounted to a steering column of a vehicle, and including at least one user-operable switch; and

a control signal interface, including;

an input unit configured to receive control signals from the aftermarket steering wheel control,

an output unit electrically connectable to at least one channel of a vehicle component, the vehicle component including an aftermarket entertainment component, and

a signal processing unit adapted to auto-detect a control signal configuration of the vehicle component, by;

(i) performing a measurement on the at least one channel of the vehicle component, and

(ii) identifying the control signal configuration of the vehicle component based on the measurement,

wherein the output unit is adapted to transmit control signals to the vehicle component based on the control signals received by the input unit and in accordance with the auto-detected control signal configuration of the vehicle component.

6. A system according to claim 5,

wherein the control signal interface is further configured to configure itself based on the control signal configuration of the vehicle component.

7. A system according to claim 5, wherein the aftermarket steering wheel control further includes a circuit with at least one output line,

wherein the output line is electrically connected to the input unit of the control signal interface,

wherein operation of the at least one user-operable switch changes a resistance on the at least one output line, and

wherein the control signal interface is configured to convert the resistance to a control signal.

8. A system for providing control signals to a vehicle component, the system comprising:

an aftermarket control disposed in a vehicle, the aftermarket control including at least one user-operable input; and

a control signal interface, including;

an input unit configured to receive control signals from the aftermarket control,

an output unit electrically connectable to at least one channel of a vehicle component, the vehicle component including an aftermarket entertainment component, and

a signal processing unit adapted to auto-detect a control signal configuration of the vehicle component, by;

(i) performing a measurement on the at least one channel of the vehicle component, and

(ii) identifying the control signal configuration of the vehicle component based on the measurement,

wherein the output unit is adapted to transmit control signals to the vehicle component based on control signals received by the input unit and in accordance with the auto-detected control signal configuration of the vehicle component.

9. A system according to claim 8, wherein the aftermarket steering wheel control includes a housing that is removably mountable to a steering wheel of the vehicle.

10. A system according to claim 8, wherein the aftermarket steering wheel control further includes a housing and a wireless transmission unit, and

wherein the user-operable input and the wireless transmission unit are integrated into the housing.

11. A system according to claim 8, wherein the aftermarket steering wheel control further includes a wireless transmission unit, and

wherein the wireless transmission unit is disposed in a different area of the vehicle from the user-operable input.