User interface for adjusting parameters for climate control systems in motor vehicles

• US 8,041,460 B2
• Filed: 02/26/2009
• Issued: 10/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yanfeng Visteon Automotive Electronics Company Limited (Visteon Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Incorporated (Visteon Corporation)
• Inventors: Nowak, Martin, Klinger, Franz
• Primary Examiner(s): Gaffin; Jeffrey A
• Assistant Examiner(s): SITIRICHE, LUIS A
• Application Number:
  US12/393,062
• Publication Number:
  US 20090216383A1
• Time in Patent Office: 964 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 700/277
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00985 Control systems or circuits characterised by display or indicating devices, e.g. voice simulators characterised by the input of sound using a voice synthesizer B60H1/00757; B60H1/00978 takes precedence

Abstract

A user interface for adjusting a plurality of parameters of a climate control system of a motor vehicle is disclosed. The user interface includes an input element having a system of coordinates having multiple dimensions, wherein each of the dimensions of the system of coordinates is associated with at least one of the parameters of the climate control system; and a program means to perform at least one of an absolute evaluation of the parameters and an incremental evaluation of changes to the parameters between an adjusted point range and an original point range of the parameters, and transmit a data representing the evaluation to at least one of a control device and a regulation device of the climate control system in order to adjust a value of the parameters.

Claims

1. A user interface for adjusting a plurality of parameters of a climate control system of a motor vehicle, the user interface comprising:

an input element having a system of coordinates having multiple dimensions, wherein each of the dimensions of the system of coordinates is associated with at least one of the parameters of the climate control system, and wherein a selection of a single adjusted point range in the system of coordinates simultaneously selects values for the plurality of parameters of the climate control system; and

program means to perform at least one of an absolute evaluation of the parameters and an incremental evaluation of changes to the parameters between the adjusted point range and an original point range of the parameters, and transmit a data representing the evaluation to at least one of a control device and a regulation device of the climate control system in order to adjust the values of the parameters.

2. The user interface according to claim 1, wherein the input element is at least one of a pressure-sensitive surface and a contact-sensitive surface.

3. The user interface according to claim 2, wherein at least one coordinate of the system of coordinates is pre-determined by at least one of a touch pressure intensity, a touch pressure duration exerted on the input element, a touch contact area, and a touch contacting distance measured between a shift starting point and a shift end point.

4. The user interface according to claim 1, wherein a horizontal coordinate of the input element represents a first one of the dimensions, a vertical coordinate of the input element represents a second one of the dimensions, and a third coordinate of the input element represents a third one of the dimensions orthogonal to the first one of the dimensions and the second one of the dimensions.

5. The user interface according to claim 1, wherein the input element is an encoded contact-sensitive surface, and wherein the adjusted point range corresponds to an adjustment value for at least one of the parameters.

6. The user interface according to claim 1, wherein the input element is an encoded contact-sensitive surface, and wherein the adjusted point range corresponds to at least one of an adjustment value for temperature in an integrated temperature controller, an adjustment value for air flow through air flow valves, and an adjustment value for an associated air volume setting by means of a fan setting in at least one fan unit of the climate control system.

7. The user interface according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the original point range and the adjusted point range is associated with a display marker.

8. The user interface according to claim 1, wherein a first dimension of the input element is assigned to a parameter for temperature, a second dimension of the input element is assigned to a parameter for air flow, and a third dimension of the input element is assigned to a parameter for air volume setting.

9. The user interface according to claim 8, wherein the second one of the dimensions of the input element assigned to the parameter for air flow is configured as a dimension from a foot well, over the vehicle passenger seat level, and to the upper windshield, and wherein a plurality of associated flow valves in the climate control system are adjusted in response to a value of the parameter for air flow, and wherein the adjustment of a temperature is accomplished by controlling at least one of a heat energy and a direction of flow of adjustable air streams in mixing chambers, and wherein the parameter for air volume setting corresponds with a setting of a fan unit of the climate control system.

10. A user interface for adjusting a plurality of parameters in a climate control system of a motor vehicle, the user interface comprising:

an input element including at least one of a pressure-sensitive and a contact-sensitive surface having a system of coordinates with multiple dimensions, wherein a horizontal coordinate of the input element represents a first one of the dimensions, a vertical coordinate of the input element represents a second one of the dimensions, and a third coordinate of the input element represents a third one of the dimensions orthogonal to the first one of the dimensions and the second one of the dimensions, and wherein a selection of a single adjusted point range in the system of coordinates simultaneously selects values for the plurality of parameters of the climate control system; and

program means to perform at least one of an absolute evaluation of the parameters and an incremental evaluation of changes to the parameters between the adjusted point range and an original point range of the parameters, and transmit a data representing the evaluation to at least one of a control device and a regulation device of the climate control system in order to adjust a value of the parameters.

11. The user interface according to claim 10, wherein the third coordinate is pre-determined by at least one of a touch pressure intensity, a touch pressure duration exerted on the input element, a touch contact area, and a touch contacting distance measured between a shift starting point and a shift end point.

12. The user interface according to claim 10, wherein the input element includes an encoded contact-sensitive surface, and wherein the adjusted point range corresponds to at least one of an adjustment value for temperature in an integrated temperature controller, an adjustment value for air flow through air flow valves, and an adjustment value for an associated air volume setting by means of a fan setting in at least one fan unit of the climate control system.

13. The user interface according to claim 10, wherein at least one of the original point range and the adjusted point range is associated with a display marker.

14. The user interface according to claim 10, wherein the first one of the dimensions of the input element is assigned to a parameter for temperature, the second one of the dimensions of the input element is assigned to a parameter for air flow, and the third one of the dimensions of the input element is assigned to a parameter for air volume setting.

15. The user interface according to claim 14, wherein the second one of the dimensions of the input element assigned to the parameter for air flow is configured as a dimension from a foot well, over the vehicle passenger seat level, and to the upper windshield, and wherein a plurality of associated flow valves in the climate control system are adjusted in response to a value of the parameter for air flow, and wherein the adjustment of a temperature is accomplished by controlling at least one of a heat energy and a direction of flow of adjustable air streams in mixing chambers, and wherein the parameter for air volume setting corresponds with a setting of a fan unit of the climate control system.

16. A user interface for adjusting a plurality of parameters in a climate control system of a motor vehicle, the user interface comprising:

an input element including a roller ball located within a contact base, wherein a plurality of contacts with the roller ball, located in the contact base, is assigned a system of coordinates having multiple dimensions, and wherein a selection of a single adjusted point range in the system of coordinates simultaneously selects values for the plurality of parameters of the climate control system; and

program means to perform at least one of an absolute evaluation of the parameters and an incremental evaluation of changes to the parameters between the adjusted point range and an original point range of the parameters, and transmit a data representing the evaluation to at least one of a control device and a regulation device of the climate control system in order to adjust a value of the parameters.

17. The user interface according to claim 16, wherein each of the original point range and the adjusted point range is associated to a position of the roller ball, and wherein each of the original point range and the adjusted point range corresponds to an adjustment value for at least one of the parameters.

18. The user interface according to claim 16, wherein each of the original point range and the adjusted point range is associated to a position of the roller ball, and wherein each of the original point range and the adjusted point range corresponds to at least one of an adjustment value for temperature in an integrated temperature controller, an adjustment value for air flow through air flow valves, and an adjustment value for an associated air volume setting by means of a fan setting in at least one fan unit of the climate control system.

19. The user interface according to claim 16, wherein the associated contact base has a window, through which the roller ball can be actuated by a user, and wherein a parameter assigned to an adjusted area of the roller ball can be identified through the window.

20. The user interface according to claim 16, wherein a touch contacting of the input element can be implemented using at least one of a finger or an accessory means.