Vehicular component control using wireless switch assemblies

• US 7,889,096 B2
• Filed: 02/22/2007
• Issued: 02/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: American Vehicular Sciences LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Automotive Technologies International Incorporated
• Inventors: Breed, David S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown; Vernal U
• Application Number:
  US11/677,858
• Publication Number:
  US 20070139216A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,454 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.72, 340/10.1, 340/5.64, 307/10.1, 701/29, 701/36
• US Class Current: 340/12.51
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/00 Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/168 making use of an electromagnetic wave communication

Abstract

Control system for controlling adjustable components in a vehicle using wireless switch assemblies or other input devices which provide input to the control system to enable the control system to control the components based on the input. The control system includes an interrogator arranged to transmit RF signals having identification data associated with the input devices such that upon transmission of each RF signal, the input devices with matching identification data can provide responsive signals. Various types of input devices are envisioned and one type is a manually activated RFID switch assembly which provides output based on pressure applied by the occupant of the vehicle to an exposed surface and includes an RF transmission component arranged to wirelessly transmit an indication of the application of pressure to the exposed surface.

Claims

1. A vehicle, comprising:

a plurality of adjustable components;

a control system for controlling said components; and

a plurality of input devices for providing input to said control system to enable said control system to control said components based on said input;

said control system including an interrogator arranged to transmit RF signals having identification data associated with said input devices such that upon transmission of each RF signal, said input devices with matching identification data can provide responsive signals,

at least a first one of said input devices being a manually activated RFID switch assembly which provides output based on pressure applied by the occupant of the vehicle to an exposed surface and includes an RF transmission component arranged to wirelessly transmit an indication of the application of pressure to said exposed surface.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said RFID switch assembly further comprises a substrate, and a material sheet defining said exposed surface, said material sheet being any sheet having an outer surface exposed to the passenger compartment of the vehicle and an inner surface facing said substrate.

3. The vehicle of claim 2, wherein said RFID switch assembly further comprises a projection arranged on or between said material sheet and a space on said substrate such that pressure on said exposed surface of said material sheet is transferred by said projection to said substrate and the indication of the application of pressure is wirelessly transmitted by said at least one wireless transmission component to be used to control said component.

4. The vehicle of claim 3, wherein said at least one wireless transmission component includes an interdigital transducer arranged on said substrate and a reflector arranged on said substrate spaced from said interdigital transducer, said space on said substrate being situated between said interdigital transducer and said reflector.

5. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said RFID switch assembly is a passive switch assembly in that power for said at least one wireless transmission component is provided through radio frequency transmission.

6. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said RFID switch assembly is an active switch assembly in that power for said at least one wireless transmission component is provided through a wire leading from a source of power mounted on the vehicle.

7. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said RFID switch assembly further comprises a substrate underlying said exposed surface, said at least one wireless transmission component including an interdigital transducer arranged on said substrate, and a reflector arranged on said substrate spaced from said interdigital transducer, said RFID switch assembly further comprising a switch arranged across said interdigital transducer or said reflector and arranged relative to said exposed surface such that pressure applied to said exposed surface alters said switch between a fully closed position and a fully open position, whereby when said switch is in the open position, said at least one wireless transmission component is unable to transmit.

8. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said RFID switch assembly further comprises a substrate underlying said exposed surface, said at least one wireless transmission component including at least one reflector arranged on said substrate, said RFID switch assembly further comprising a variable impedance arranged across one of said at least one reflector and arranged relative to said exposed surface such that pressure applied to said exposed surface alters said variable impedance, whereby the condition of said variable impedance determines the wireless transmission via said at least one wireless transmission component.

9. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said at least one wireless transmission component is a part of a radio-frequency identification device (RFID), said RFID switch assembly further comprising an antenna coupled to said RFID and a switch or variable impedance connecting an output from and an input to said antenna and arranged relative to said exposed surface such that pressure applied to said exposed surface alters said switch or said variable impedance and thereby causes variation of a responsive signal provided by said RFID.

10. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein at least a second one of said input devices is an RFID assembly including a sensor and an RFID switch, said RFID switch being arranged to receive an RF signal from said interrogator and upon receipt of a signal containing its identification, enable transmission of a signal from said sensor from which a property being monitored by said sensor is determinable.

11. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein said sensor is arranged to provide a determination, detection or measurement of or is based on use of a chemical, vapor, pressure, liquid level, strain, stress, weight, switch pattern, presence of an object, temperature, acceleration, angular motion, a biological substance, pollution, shock, noise, light, radiation, environmental property, motion, heartbeat, passive infrared, electromagnetic energy, or ultrasonic waves.

12. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein said RFID assembly includes a mechanism for generating energy during movement of the vehicle and supplying the generated energy to said sensor.

13. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein at least a second one of said input devices is an RFID assembly including a sensor and an RFID switch, said RFID switch being arranged to receive an RF signal from said interrogator and upon receipt of a signal not containing its identification, disable transmission of an RF signal from said interrogator to said sensor for its excitation, from which sensor a property being monitored by said sensor is determinable.

14. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said RFID switch assembly further comprises a switch arranged relative to said exposed surface such that pressure applied to said exposed surface alters said switch between a fully closed position and a fully open position, whereby when said switch is in the open position, said at least one wireless transmission component is unable to transmit, power for said at least one wireless transmission component being provided only upon actuation of said switch.

15. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said RFID switch assembly further comprises a switch actuated upon application of pressure to said exposed surface, said switch comprising a plurality of sheets of a piezoelectric material arranged to generate power upon application of pressure to said exposed surface with the generated power being usable to power said at least one wireless transmission component.

16. A method for controlling adjustable components of a vehicle, comprising:

arranging input devices to control the components based on the input;

positioning the input devices in positions accessible to an occupant of the vehicle;

arranging an interrogator on the vehicle;

transmitting from the interrogator, RF signals having identification data associated with the input devices such that upon transmission of each RF signal, input devices with matching identification data can provide responsive signals; and

processing the responsive signals to determine the control of the components,

at least a first one of the input devices being a manually activated RFID switch assembly which provides output based on pressure applied by the occupant of the vehicle to an exposed surface and includes an RF transmission component arranged to wirelessly transmit an indication of the application of pressure to the exposed surface.

17. A vehicle, comprising:

at least one adjustable component;

a control system for controlling said at least one component; and

at least one input device for providing input to said control system to enable said control system to control said at least one component based on said input;

said control system including an interrogator arranged to transmit RF signals having identification data associated with said at least one input devices such that upon transmission of each RF signal, any of said at least one input device with matching identification data can provide responsive signals,

at least a first one of said input devices being a manually activated switch assembly which provides output based on pressure applied by the occupant of the vehicle to an exposed surface, said switch assembly comprising a plurality of sheets of a piezoelectric material arranged to generate power upon application of pressure to said exposed surface and a wireless transmission component powered by said sheets of piezoelectric material and arranged to cause generation of a signal to said control system indicative of the application of pressure to said exposed surface.

18. The vehicle of claim 17, wherein said piezoelectric material is PVDF.

19. The vehicle of claim 17, wherein said wireless transmission component is a radio-frequency identification device which provides an identification signal and a signal indicative of the application of pressure to said exposed surface.

20. The vehicle of claim 17, further comprising a headrest, said switch being arranged in said headrest and thus providing an indication of the application of pressure to said headrest.