Vehicular interface including steering wheel control assembly

• US 8,988,399 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2006
• Issued: 03/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Szczerba, Joseph F., Lenneman, John K., Geisler, Scott P., Neish, Branden G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Eisen, Alexander
• Assistant Examiner(s): LAM, NELSON C
• Application Number:
  US11/426,979
• Publication Number:
  US 20080001931A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,191 Days
• Field of Search: 345/184, 345 76-104, 345156-167, 200 6154- 6157
• US Class Current: 345/184
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/782 on the steering wheel
• 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: 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: 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 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials

Abstract

A user control assembly is provided for use on a vehicle having a processor, a steering wheel, and a plurality of vehicular systems controllable by the processor each having first and second adjustable features. The user control comprises a first button mounted on the steering wheel and coupled to the processor for selecting one of the plurality of vehicular systems, and first and second rotary dials mounted on the steering wheel and coupled to the processor for adjusting the first and second adjustable features associated with the selected system.

Claims

1. A user control system for a vehicle, the user control system comprising:

a controller;

a plurality of vehicular systems controllable by the controller;

a steering wheel having a front surface and a rear surface, the steering wheel including a left spoke portion and a right spoke portion;

a button mounted on the rear surface of the steering wheel and coupled to the controller, the button being depressible to select a selected vehicular system amongst the plurality of vehicular systems by pressing the button;

a head-up display coupled to the controller, wherein the head-up display includes;

an outer left column corresponding to a first adjustable aspect of the selected vehicular system;

an inner left column corresponding to a second adjustable aspect of the selected vehicular system;

an inner right column corresponding to a third adjustable aspect of the selected vehicular system;

an outer right column corresponding to a fourth adjustable aspect of the selected vehicular system; and

a central column indicating the plurality of vehicular systems and indicating the selected vehicular system of the plurality of vehicular systems;

a first rotary dial mounted on the front surface of the left spoke portion, the first rotary dial being coupled to the controller and rotatable to adjust the first adjustable aspect of the selected vehicular system;

a second rotary dial mounted on the front surface of the left spoke portion, the first rotary dial being disposed radially outward from a center portion of the steering wheel relative to the second rotary dial, the second rotary dial being coupled to the controller and rotatable to adjust the second adjustable aspect of the selected vehicular system;

a third rotary dial mounted on the front surface of the right spoke portion, the third rotary dial being coupled to the controller and rotatable to adjust the third adjustable aspect of the selected vehicular system; and

a fourth rotary dial mounted on the front surface of the right spoke portion, the fourth rotary dial being disposed radially outward from the center portion of the steering wheel relative to the third rotary dial, the fourth rotary dial being coupled to the controller and rotatable to adjust the fourth adjustable aspect of the selected vehicular system.

2. The user control system of claim 1, wherein the first rotary dial is configured to:

specify the first adjustable aspect from a plurality of adjustable aspects in response to the first rotary dial being rotated; and

activate the first adjustable aspect in response to the first rotary dial being depressed.

3. The user control system of claim 2, wherein:

the second adjustable aspect is associated with the first adjustable aspect;

the third adjustable aspect is dependent on the second adjustable aspect; and

the fourth adjustable aspect is dependent on the third adjustable aspect.

4. The user control system of claim 3, wherein in response to the second rotary dial being rotated to select a first option associated with the first adjustable aspect, the inner right column displays one or more options associated with the third adjustable aspect corresponding to the first option.

5. The user control system of claim 4, wherein in response to the third rotary dial being rotated to select a second option associated with the third adjustable aspect from the one or more options corresponding to the first option, the outer right column displays one or more options associated with the fourth adjustable aspect corresponding to the second option.

6. The user control system of claim 1, wherein:

the column comprises a plurality of icons, each respective icon representing a respective vehicular system of the plurality of vehicular systems; and

the icon corresponding to the selected vehicular system appears depressed relative to remaining icons of the plurality of icons.

7. The user control system of claim 6, wherein the icon corresponding to the selected vehicular system changes from appearing raised to appearing depressed in response to the button being depressed, thereby indicating the selected vehicular system is selected.