Input system for vehicle

• US 8,306,693 B2
• Filed: 02/03/2010
• Issued: 11/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Tanaka, Tsuyoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Trammell, James
• Assistant Examiner(s): Marc, McDieunel
• Application Number:
  US12/699,306
• Publication Number:
  US 20100204884A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,007 Days
• Field of Search: 701/29, 701/30, 701/34, 701/35, 701/36, 701/42, 701/65, 701/103, 701/104, 701/419, 345/104, 345/173, 345/179, 345/443, 358/518, 382/167, 715/203, 715/255, 715/856, 386/27, 386/37, 386/340, 386/569, 600/15
• US Class Current: 701/36
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0264 for control means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0338 with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0362 with detection of 1D translations or rotations of an operating part of the device, e.g. scroll wheels, sliders, knobs, rollers or belts
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials

Abstract

An input system for vehicle includes an actuator operable by an operator, a controller outputting a display signal in response to an operation on the actuator, and a display to display an image based on the display signals. The controller outputs a control signal to a target device that performs one or more functions. The image includes a graphic object indicating the actuator, one or more arrows located around the graphic object, and one or more function indicators located in one or more directions indicated by the one or more arrows, respectively. The one or more function indicators indicate the one or more functions, respectively. The controller is operable to, upon the operator operating the actuator in the direction corresponding to an arrow out of the one or more arrows, select a function indicator out of the one or more function indicators located in a direction indicated by the arrow, and to control the target device to perform a function out of the one or more functions indicated by the selected function indicator. The operator can operate the input system reliably.

Claims

1. An input system for a vehicle, comprising:

an actuator operable by an operator;

a controller outputting a display signal in response to an operation on the actuator, and outputting a control signal to a target device that performs one or more functions; and

a display having a screen to display an image based on the display signals, wherein

the image including

a graphic object indicating the actuator,

one or more arrows and one or more function indicators located around the graphic object,

each of the one or more arrows pointing away from the graphic object and pointing directly toward a respective one of the function indicators,

each of the function indicators indicating a respective one of the functions, and

the controller operable to

upon the operator operating the actuator in the direction corresponding to one of the one or more arrows, select one of the one or more function indicators located in a direction indicated by one of the one or more arrows, and

control the target device to perform a function out of the one or more functions indicated by the selected one or more function indicators.

2. The input system for the vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

the input system is adapted to be installed in the vehicle, and

the actuator is located at a position operable by the operator sitting on a driver seat of the vehicle.

3. An input system for a vehicle, comprising:

an actuator operable by an operator;

a controller outputting a display signal in response to an operation on the actuator, and outputting a control signal to a target device that performs a plurality of functions; and

a display having a screen to display an image based on the display signals, wherein

the image including

a graphic object indicating the actuator,

a plurality of arrows and a plurality of function indicators located around the graphic object,

each of the plurality of arrows pointing away from the graphic object and pointing directly toward a respective one of the plurality of function indicators,

each of the plurality of function indicators indicating a respective one of the plurality of functions, and

the controller operable to

upon the operator operating the actuator in the direction corresponding to one of the plurality of arrows, select one of the plurality of function indicators located in a direction indicated by one of the plurality of arrows, and

control the target device to perform a function out of the plurality of functions indicated by the selected plurality of function indicators.

4. The input system for the vehicle according to claim 3, wherein

the input system is adapted to be installed in the vehicle, and

the actuator is located at a position operable by the operator sitting on a driver seat of the vehicle.