Switch control device and switch control method

• US 8,032,280 B2
• Filed: 01/17/2008
• Issued: 10/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Aisin AW Company Limited (Aisin Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Aisin AW Company Limited (Aisin Corp.)
• Inventors: Shibata, Yumi, Ogawa, Fumiharu, Miyajima, Takayuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Black; Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Olsen; Lin B
• Application Number:
  US12/007,916
• Publication Number:
  US 20080177440A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,356 Days
• Field of Search: 701/36, 345/184
• US Class Current: 701/36
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/705 characterised by construction, mounting or arrangement of operating parts, e.g. push-buttons or keys
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2215/044 Light
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2217/032 Feedback about selected symbol, e.g. display
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2217/04 Mimics of controlled apparatus or symbol
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2300/008 Application power seats

Abstract

A control system controls a hardware switch which receives a usage command for utilizing an auxiliary function of a vehicle and a software switch displayed with an information portion indicating the auxiliary function and a command portion for input of the usage command through a screen. When either of the hardware switch or the software switch is operated, information is provided for identifying the other switch that corresponds to the auxiliary function commanded by the operated switch.

Claims

1. A switch control system for controlling operation of a movable portion of auxiliary equipment in a vehicle, comprising:

a hardware switch including a switch operator which is manually operable to generate a usage command for operating the movable portion of the auxiliary equipment;

a software switch, displayed on a screen, the display of the software switch including an information portion indicating the movable portion of the auxiliary equipment and a command portion for manual input of a usage command through the screen; and

switch-identifying information provision means for, responsive to operation of the hardware switch, providing information identifying the software switch that corresponds to the movable portion of the auxiliary equipment to be operated responsive to the usage command generated by operation of the hardware switch, and for, responsive to operation of the software switch, providing information identifying the hardware switch that corresponds to the movable portion of the auxiliary equipment to be operated responsive to the usage command generated by operation of the software switch; and

wherein the switch identifying information provision means, responsive to operation of the hardware switch, displays on the screen (1) an image indicating the movable portion of the auxiliary equipment to be operated in accordance with the usage command generated by operation of the hardware switch, (2) an arrow image indicating operation of the movable portion of the auxiliary equipment to be operated by the hardware switch, and (3) the command portion of the software switch for operation of the movable portion of the auxiliary equipment to be operated in accordance with the usage command generated by operation of the hardware switch; and

wherein the switch-identifying information provision means, responsive to operation of the hardware switch, highlights the command portion of the software switch corresponding to the operation of the movable portion of the auxiliary equipment to be operated in accordance with the usage command generated by operation of the hardware switch.

2. The switch control system according to claim 1, wherein

the hardware switch includes a light associated with the switch operator, and

the switch-identifying information provision means turns on the light responsive to operation of the software switch.

3. A switch control method for controlling a hardware switch and a software switch, both of which are operable to generate usage commands for operation of the same movable portion of auxiliary equipment in a vehicle, the switch control method comprising:

displaying, on a screen, the software switch, the display of the software switch including an information portion indicating the movable portion of the auxiliary equipment and a command portion for manual input of a usage command through the screen;

responsive to operation of the hardware switch,

outputting a usage command for operation of the movable portion of the auxiliary equipment; and

displaying (1) an image indicating the movable portion of the auxiliary equipment to be operated in accordance with the usage command generated by operation of the hardware switch, (2) an arrow image indicating operation of the movable portion of the auxiliary equipment to be operated by the hardware switch, and (3) the command portion of the software switch for operation of the movable portion of the auxiliary equipment to be operated in accordance with the usage command generated by operation of the hardware switch; and

highlighting the command portion of the software switch corresponding to the operation of the movable portion of the auxiliary equipment to be operated in accordance with the usage command generated by operation of the hardware switch; and

responsive to operation of the software switch,

outputting a usage command for operation of the movable portion; and

providing information identifying the hardware switch corresponding to the movable portion to be operated in accordance with the usage command generated by operation of the software switch.

4. The switch control method according to claim 3 further comprising:

responsive to operation of the software switch, turning on a light associated with a switch operator of the hardware switch, thereby providing information identifying a location of the hardware switch.

5. A computer-readable medium having, encoded thereon, a switch control program for controlling a hardware switch and a software switch, both of which are operable to generate usage commands for operation of the same movable portion of auxiliary equipment in a vehicle, the switch control program comprising:

displaying the software switch, on a screen, the display of the software switch including an information portion indicating the movable portion and a command portion for manual input of a usage command through the screen;

responsive to operation of the hardware switch,

outputting a usage command for operation of the movable portion of the auxiliary equipment; and

displaying (1) an image indicating the movable portion of the auxiliary equipment to be operated in accordance with the usage command generated by operation of the hardware switch, (2) an arrow image indicating operation of the movable portion of the auxiliary equipment to be operated by the hardware switch, and (3) the command portion of the software switch for operation of the movable portion of the auxiliary equipment to be operated in accordance with the usage command generated by operation of the hardware switch; and

highlighting the command portion of the software switch corresponding to the operation of the movable portion of the auxiliary equipment to be operated in accordance with the usage command generated by operation of the hardware switch; and

responsive to operation of the software switch,

outputting a usage command for operation of the movable portion; and

providing information identifying the hardware switch corresponding to the movable portion to be operated in accordance with the usage command generated by operation of the software switch.

6. A computer-readable medium according to claim 5, wherein the encoded switch control program further comprises:

responsive to operation of the software switch, activating a light associated with a switch operator of the hardware switch, thereby providing information identifying the location of the hardware switch.