Vehicle control system
First Claim
1. A vehicle control system for a vehicle, the system comprising:
- a control device attached to an instrument panel of the vehicle and having a plurality of user-selectable positions, the control device configured to transmit data regarding a first position of the control device when a hand is proximate to the control device, the control device being additionally configured to control the operation of a corresponding vehicle device by a user'"'"'s selection of at least one position;
a vehicle device, configured to be controlled by a person'"'"'s manipulation of the control device;
a camera configured to capture an image that includes the control device and a user'"'"'s hand proximate to the control device, the camera being additionally configured to transmit captured image data, the captured image data comprising image data of the control device and image data of the user'"'"'s hand proximate to the control device;
a processing device coupled to the control device, the camera, a plurality of other user-operable control devices attached to a plurality of other interior portions, and coupled to the vehicle device, wherein the processing device is configured to;
receive a first signal from the control device;
receive the captured image data from the camera and determine from said captured image data whether the user'"'"'s hand is proximate to the control device; and
transmit signals regarding the first position of the control device to both the vehicle device and to a display device; and
a touch-sensitive display device coupled to the processing device, wherein the display device is configured to;
receive from the processing device, signals regarding the first position and identity of the control device;
visually display an illustration of the control device attached to the instrument panel, the illustration of the control device being a virtual control for the vehicle device and a functional replication of the control device attached to the instrument panel, the virtual control having a plurality of user-selectable virtual positions corresponding to the plurality of positions of the control device attached to the instrument panel and showing at least the first position and identity of the control device attached to the instrument panel; and
allow adjustment of the virtual control using the touch-sensitive display to at least a second position of the virtual control, wherein the second position of the virtual control is different from the first position of the virtual control, wherein adjustment of the virtual control to the second position causes a corresponding change in the operation of the vehicle device.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle control system comprising a control device having a plurality of positions, a processing device, and a display device. The control device is configured to transmit data regarding a position of the control device when an object is proximate to the control device. The processing device is configured to receive the data from the control device, identify the control device transmitting the data, and transmit data regarding the first position and identity of the control device. The display device is configured to receive the data from the processing device, visually display a virtual control having a plurality of positions, and allow adjustment of the plurality of positions of the virtual control to at least a second position of the virtual control, wherein the second position is different from the first position.
10 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A vehicle control system for a vehicle, the system comprising:
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a control device attached to an instrument panel of the vehicle and having a plurality of user-selectable positions, the control device configured to transmit data regarding a first position of the control device when a hand is proximate to the control device, the control device being additionally configured to control the operation of a corresponding vehicle device by a user'"'"'s selection of at least one position; a vehicle device, configured to be controlled by a person'"'"'s manipulation of the control device; a camera configured to capture an image that includes the control device and a user'"'"'s hand proximate to the control device, the camera being additionally configured to transmit captured image data, the captured image data comprising image data of the control device and image data of the user'"'"'s hand proximate to the control device; a processing device coupled to the control device, the camera, a plurality of other user-operable control devices attached to a plurality of other interior portions, and coupled to the vehicle device, wherein the processing device is configured to; receive a first signal from the control device; receive the captured image data from the camera and determine from said captured image data whether the user'"'"'s hand is proximate to the control device; and transmit signals regarding the first position of the control device to both the vehicle device and to a display device; and a touch-sensitive display device coupled to the processing device, wherein the display device is configured to; receive from the processing device, signals regarding the first position and identity of the control device; visually display an illustration of the control device attached to the instrument panel, the illustration of the control device being a virtual control for the vehicle device and a functional replication of the control device attached to the instrument panel, the virtual control having a plurality of user-selectable virtual positions corresponding to the plurality of positions of the control device attached to the instrument panel and showing at least the first position and identity of the control device attached to the instrument panel; and allow adjustment of the virtual control using the touch-sensitive display to at least a second position of the virtual control, wherein the second position of the virtual control is different from the first position of the virtual control, wherein adjustment of the virtual control to the second position causes a corresponding change in the operation of the vehicle device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A vehicle control system for a vehicle, the system comprising:
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a plurality of control devices, each control device having a plurality of positions, wherein each control device is configured to transmit data regarding a first position of the control device when a hand is proximate to the control device; a plurality of vehicle devices, each vehicle device being configured to be controlled by manipulation of a corresponding control device; an audio-capture device, wherein the audio-capture device is configured to capture audio commands and transmit data containing the audio commands; a camera configured to capture an image of a control device, capture an image of a hand proximate to the control device and configured to transmit captured image data, the captured image data representing a captured image of the control device and a captured image of a hand proximate to the control device; and a processing device coupled to the plurality of control devices, the camera, the plurality of vehicle devices and the audio-capture device, wherein the processing device is configured to; receive from the audio-capture device at least the data regarding the first position of a control device; receive the captured image data from the camera and determine from said captured image data whether a hand is proximate to the control device from said captured image data; identify the control device transmitting the data using the captured image data; receive the data containing the audio commands from the audio-capture device; match the audio command to a predefined command from a set of predefined commands specified for the control device transmitting the data; and transmit a signal to a corresponding vehicle device controlled by the control device transmitting the data, wherein the signal sets a mode of the vehicle device based on the predefined command corresponding to the audio command. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A vehicle control system for a vehicle, the system comprising:
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a control device attached to an instrument panel of the vehicle, said control device having a plurality of positions, wherein the control device is configured to transmit at least data regarding a first position of the control device; a vehicle device, configured to be controlled by manipulation of the control device; a camera, wherein the camera is configured to capture an image including at least the control device, a hand proximate to the control device and transmit image data representing a captured image of said control device and the hand; a processing device coupled to the control device, the vehicle device and the camera, wherein the processing device is configured to; receive at least the data regarding the first position from the control device; identify the control device transmitting the data; receive the image data from the camera and determine from said image data whether the hand is proximate to the control device; and transmit at least the data regarding the first position of the control device and identity of the control device when the hand is proximate to the control device; and a display device coupled to the processing device, wherein the display device is configured to; receive at least the data regarding the first position and identity of the control device from the processing device; visually display an illustration of the control device that is proximate the hand, the illustration of the control device being a virtual control for the vehicle device and having a plurality of virtual positions corresponding to the plurality of positions of the control device, wherein the virtual control shows at least the first position and identity of the control device; and allow adjustment of the plurality of virtual positions of the virtual control to at least a second virtual position of the virtual control, wherein the second virtual position of the virtual control is different from the first position of the virtual control and causes a corresponding change in the operation of the vehicle device.
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Specification