Vehicle user interface systems and methods

• US 8,447,598 B2
• Filed: 01/14/2011
• Issued: 05/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Chutorash, Richard J., Anderson, Elisabet, Eich, Rodger W., Golden, Jeffrey, Vanderwall, Philip J., Sims, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Neway, Samuel G
• Application Number:
  US13/007,447
• Publication Number:
  US 20110257973A1
• Time in Patent Office: 858 Days
• Field of Search: 704231-257, 455/563
• US Class Current: 704/231
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0373 Voice control in general G10L
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3661 Guidance output on an external device, e.g. car radio
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3688 Systems comprising multiple parts or multiple output devices (not client-server), e.g. detachable faceplates, key fobs or multiple output screens
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1454 involving copying of the display data of a local workstation or window to a remote workstation or window so that an actual copy of the data is displayed simultaneously on two or more displays, e.g. teledisplay
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/04 Changes in size, position or resolution of an image
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/045 Zooming at least part of an image, i.e. enlarging it or shrinking it
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/14 Solving problems related to the presentation of information to be displayed
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2354/00 Aspects of interface with display user
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/10 Use of a protocol of communication by packets in interfaces along the display data pipeline
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2380/10 Automotive applications
• 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 control system for mounting in a vehicle and for providing information to a portable electronic device for processing by the portable electronic device is shown and described. The control system includes a first interface for communicating with the portable electronic device and a memory device. The control system also includes a processing circuit communicably coupled to the first interface and the memory device, the processing circuit configured to extract information from the memory device and to provide the information to the first interface so that the first interface communicates the information to the portable electronic device. The processing circuit is further configured to determine the capabilities of the portable electronic device based on data received from the portable electronic device via the first interface and to determine whether or not to communicate the information to the portable electronic device based on the determined capabilities.

Claims

1. A control system for mounting in a vehicle and for providing information to a portable electronic device for processing by the portable electronic device, the control system comprising:

a first interface for communicating with the portable electronic device;

a second interface for coupling to an audio input device mounted to the vehicle interior and for receiving voice information from a user;

a third interface for providing display information to an electronic display device mounted to the vehicle interior;

a memory device;

a processing circuit communicably coupled to the first interface and the memory device, wherein the processing circuit comprises a speech recognition module configured to convert the voice information received at the second interface into text characters, wherein the processing circuit configured to;

determine the capabilities of the portable electronic device based on data received from the portable electronic device via the first interface;

determine whether to communicate the information to the portable electronic device based on the determined capabilities;

extract information from the memory device and to provide the information to the first interface so that the first interface communicates the information to the portable electronic device, wherein the information communicated to the portable electronic device comprises the text characters from the speech recognition module;

enter a voice-typing mode of operation, wherein, during the voice-typing mode of operation, the processing circuit is configured to cause the electronic display device to display the text characters from the speech recognition module; and

magnify a recently converted text character relative to previously converted text characters on the electronic display device.

2. The control system of claim 1, wherein the processing circuit is further configured to communicate the text characters to the portable electronic device in a format that causes the text characters to be entered into a text field displayed on the portable electronic device.

3. The control system of claim 1, wherein the processing circuit is further configured to communicate the text characters to the portable electronic device in a format that causes the portable electronic device to provide the text characters to an application running on the portable electronic device, wherein the application is at least one of:

a text-messaging application, a calendaring application, a mobile commerce application, a web-browsing application, a gaming application, a navigation application, an e-mail application, a media application, and a notes application.