Programmable foot switch useable in a communications user interface in a vehicle

• US 7,245,898 B2
• Filed: 04/05/2004
• Issued: 07/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Motorola Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Van Bosch, James A., Newell, Michael A., Davis, Scott B., D'Avello, Robert Faust, Grivas, Nick B.
• Primary Examiner(s): BEAMER, TEMICA M
• Application Number:
  US10/818,076
• Publication Number:
  US 20050219062A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,198 Days
• Field of Search: 455/344, 455/345, 340/825.72
• US Class Current: 455/345
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2300/04 Programmable interface between a set of switches and a set of functions, e.g. for reconfiguration of a control panel
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/14 adapted for operation by a part of the human body other than the hand, e.g. by foot
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6075 adapted for handsfree use in a vehicle H04M1/6058 takes precedence; arrangements for holding telephones in a vehicle B60R11/0241

Abstract

A communications system for a vehicle having a foot pedal useable to control communications at a user interface in the vehicle. By controlling the user interface at least in part through activation of the foot pedal, communications in the vehicle are made more convenient and less dangerous as the user need not use his hands to operate the communications user interface. The foot pedal may perform a dedicated communications control function, or may be programmable to perform a communications control function of a user'"'"'s choosing. Several foot pedals may be used, either in conjunction with a single seat, or each associated with a particular seat in the vehicle. Foot pedal communication settings may also be stored within the communications user interface for easy retrieval, and may be retrievable through entry of a user ID, such as may come from a key fob.

Claims

1. A user interface for a wireless communications system in a vehicle, the user interface comprising:

an in-vehicle communications controller for controlling at least one wireless communication function within the vehicle; and

at least one foot pedal for providing input to the controller to control the at least one wireless communication function within the vehicle, wherein the at least one foot pedal is programmable by a user of the vehicle.

2. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the foot pedal is programmable to perform different communication functions at different points in time.

3. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the foot pedal performs a wireless communication control function that is prescribed through entry of a user ID into the user interface.

4. The user interface of claim 3, wherein the user ID is entered into the user interface using a key fob.

5. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the user interface comprises a plurality of foot pedals associated with a single vehicle seat.

6. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the user interface comprises a plurality of foot pedals, wherein each foot pedal is associated with a unique seat in the vehicle.

7. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the foot pedal includes a main body portion, a rocker, a first switch and a second switch, the main body portion having a first end region, a second end region and a center region, wherein the center region of the main body portion is positioned adjacent to the rocker, the first end region of the main body portion is positioned adjacent to the first switch, and the second end region of the main body portion is positioned adjacent to the second switch.

8. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the foot pedal includes a main body portion and an actuator, the main body portion being attached to the actuator, the actuator being sensitive to an angular rotational force and a depression force.

9. The user interface of claim 8, wherein the main body portion of the pedal is configured to receive a foot of the user of the vehicle.

10. The user interface of claim 9, wherein the user of the vehicle may use the foot pedal to perform at least a first control operation and a second control operation, the first control operation being responsive to a first angular rotational force on the foot pedal and the second control operation being responsive to a second angular rotational force on the foot pedal.

11. The user interface of claim 10, wherein the first control operation and the second control operation are further responsive, in addition to the first angular rotational force and the second angular force, to a depression force applied by the operator on the foot pedal.

12. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the foot pedal includes a switch that has at least a first position, a second position, a third position and a fourth position.

13. A user interface for a vehicle, the user interface comprising:

a controller for controlling a plurality of operations of the vehicle, wherein the controller is configured to communicate with a wireless communication network; and

at least one user programmable foot pedal for providing input to the controller to control at least one of the plurality of operations of the vehicle.

14. The user interface of claim 13, wherein the foot pedal is programmable to perform at least one operation associated with communicating with the wireless communication network.

15. The user interface of claim 14, wherein the foot pedal is programmable to initiate a communication with the wireless communication network.

18. The user interface of claim 13, wherein the user interface comprises a plurality of programmable foot pedals associated with a single vehicle seat.

21. The user interface of claim 13, wherein the programmable foot pedal includes a main body portion and an actuator, the main body portion being attached to the actuator, the actuator being sensitive to an angular rotational force and a depression force.

22. The user interface of claim 21, wherein the main body portion of the programmable foot pedal is configured to receive a foot of an operator of the vehicle.

25. The user interface of claim 13, wherein the programmable foot pedal includes a switch that has at least a first position, a second position, a third position and a fourth position.

16. A user interface for a vehicle, the user interface comprising:

a controller for controlling a plurality of operations of the vehicle; and

at least one user programmable foot pedal for providing input to the controller to control at least one of the plurality of operations of the vehicle, wherein the programmable foot pedal performs a communication control operation that is prescribed through entry of a user ID into the user interface.

17. The user interface of claim 16, wherein the user ID is entered into the user interface using a key fob.

19. A user interface for a vehicle, the user interface comprising:

a controller for controlling a plurality of operations of the vehicle; and

at least one user programmable foot pedal for providing input to the controller to control at least one of the plurality of operations of the vehicle, wherein the user interface comprises a plurality of programmable foot pedals, wherein each programmable foot pedal is associated with a unique seat in the vehicle.

20. A user interface for a vehicle, the user interface comprising:

a controller for controlling a plurality of operations of the vehicle; and

at least one user programmable foot pedal for providing input to the controller to control at least one of the plurality of operations of the vehicle, wherein the programmable foot pedal includes a main body portion, a rocker, a first switch and a second switch, the main body portion having a first end region, a second end region and a center region, wherein the center region of the main body portion is positioned adjacent to the rocker, the first end region of the main body portion is positioned adjacent to the first switch, and the second end region of the main body portion is positioned adjacent to the second switch.

23. A The user interface for a vehicle, the user interface comprising:

a controller for controlling a plurality of operations of the vehicle; and

at least one user programmable foot pedal for providing input to the controller to control at least one of the plurality of operations of the vehicle,

wherein the programmable foot pedal includes a main body portion and an actuator, the main body portion being attached to the actuator, the actuator being sensitive to an angular rotational force and a depression force, and wherein the operator of the vehicle may use the foot pedal to perform at least a first control operation and a second control operation, the first control operation being responsive to a first angular rotational force on the foot pedal and the second control operation being responsive to a second angular rotational force on the foot pedal.

24. The user interface of claim 23, wherein the first control operation and the second control operation are further responsive, in addition to the first angular rotational force and the second angular force, to a depression force applied by the operator on the foot pedal.

26. A communication system in a vehicle comprising:

a user programmable foot switch;

a controller that is capable of receiving an input from the user programmable foot switch; and

a wireless network device that is capable of establishing a wireless communication link in response to the input received by the controller from the user programmable foot switch.

27. The communication system of claim 26, wherein the communication system further comprises a head unit, a Telematics control unit, and a vehicle bus that communication information between the head unit and the Telematics control unit, the controller being a component in the head unit and the wireless network device being a component of the wireless network device.

28. The communication system of claim 26, wherein the communication system further comprises a memory for storing information associated with the operation of the programmable foot switch, the information including at least information for establishing a wireless communication link.

29. The communication system of claim 26, wherein the communication system further comprises a user interface that allows a user in the vehicle to program an operation of the programmable foot switch.

30. A communication system in a vehicle for establishing a wireless communication channel, the communication system comprising:

a controller;

a user interface connected to the controller, the user interface having a foot switch, a microphone, a speaker, and a means for allowing a user in the vehicle to select from a plurality of wireless communication channels; and

a Telematics control unit in wireless communication with a remote server;

wherein the controller is configured to only allow audio from the microphone to be transmitted through the Telematics control unit to the remote server when the user presses the foot switch and is configured to only allow audio received from the remote server to be heard by the user when the user is not pressing the foot switch.

31. The communication system of claim 30, wherein the communication system further comprises a memory for storing information associated with the operation of the foot switch, the information including at least information for establishing the wireless communication channel.

32. The communication system of claim 30, wherein the user interface further includes a means to allow a user in the vehicle to program an operation of the foot switch.