VEHICULAR CONTROL SYSTEM COMPRISING TOUCH PAD AND VEHICLES AND METHODS
First Claim
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1. A vehicular control system comprising:
- a steering control interface;
an actuator coupled with the steering control interface, the actuator being configured to facilitate selection from among a plurality of vehicular functions;
a first touch pad coupled with the steering control interface and configured to receive a first input from an operator, the first touch pad being further configured to facilitate control of a selected one of the vehicular functions according to the first input;
a navigation system; and
a second touch pad coupled with the steering control interface and configured to receive a second input from an operator, the second touch pad being further configured to facilitate control of the navigation system according to the second input.
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Abstract
A vehicular control system is provided and includes a steering control interface, a touch pad, and an actuator. The touch pad is coupled with the steering control interface and is configured to receive an input from an operator. The actuator is coupled with the steering control interface and is configured to facilitate selection by an operator from among a plurality of vehicular functions. Vehicles and methods are also provided.
79 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A vehicular control system comprising:
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a steering control interface; an actuator coupled with the steering control interface, the actuator being configured to facilitate selection from among a plurality of vehicular functions; a first touch pad coupled with the steering control interface and configured to receive a first input from an operator, the first touch pad being further configured to facilitate control of a selected one of the vehicular functions according to the first input; a navigation system; and a second touch pad coupled with the steering control interface and configured to receive a second input from an operator, the second touch pad being further configured to facilitate control of the navigation system according to the second input. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A vehicular control system comprising:
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a steering control interface; an actuator coupled with the steering control interface, the actuator being configured to facilitate selection by an operator from among a plurality of vehicular functions and being further configured to generate a first signal; a touch pad coupled with the steering control interface and configured to receive an input from an operator, the touch pad being further configured to generate a second signal based upon the input; and an electronic control unit in electrical communication with each of the actuator and the touch pad, the electronic control unit being configured to operate in either a first mode or a second mode wherein; when the electronic control unit is in the first mode, the electronic control unit is configured such that a first one of the plurality of vehicular functions is controlled by the second signal; when the electronic control unit is in the second mode, the electronic control unit is configured such that a second one of the plurality of vehicular functions is controlled by the second signal; and upon generation of the first signal, the electronic control unit is configured to switch operation from the first mode to the second mode and to maintain operation in the second mode for a predetermined amount of time, after which predetermined amount of time the electronic control unit is configured to automatically switch operation back to the first mode. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of sequentially controlling respective vehicular functions through use of a touch pad, the method comprising:
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receiving an operator input from a touch pad coupled with a steering control interface; facilitating control of a first vehicular function from among a plurality of vehicular functions according to the operator input; selecting a second vehicular function from among the plurality of vehicular functions; for a predetermined amount of time following the selecting of the second vehicular function, facilitating control of the second vehicular function according to the operator input; and upon completion of the predetermined amount of time, automatically resuming facilitating control of the first vehicular function according to the operator input. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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Specification