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Reconfigurable vehicle accessory control panel

a control panel and accessory technology, applied in the direction of electric controllers, identification means, instruments, etc., can solve the problems of cumbersome use, large number of switches, and aesthetically disconcerting for users, and achieve the effect of reducing the number of switches and reducing the number of users

Inactive Publication Date: 2006-02-16
LEAR CORP
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008] The present invention has the advantage of utilizing reconfigurable switches for activating and controlling vehicle accessories, wherein reconfigurable switches may be configured to provide at least two sets of switch functions dependent upon the selected accessory enabled. The present invention has the further advantage of implementing a wakeup protocol which includes a sequential illumination learning mode scheme for visually identifying the controllable accessories and their respective switches functions.

Problems solved by technology

A large number of switches is often aesthetically displeasing and confusing to a user.
However, complicated menu structures are cumbersome to use because the user is required to transition through several menu screens in order to get to the desired function.

Method used

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  • Reconfigurable vehicle accessory control panel
  • Reconfigurable vehicle accessory control panel
  • Reconfigurable vehicle accessory control panel

Examples

Experimental program
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Embodiment Construction

[0016] There is shown in FIG. 1 a perspective view of a prior art center console stack 20 within the interior of a vehicle for controlling a plurality of vehicle accessories. The center console stack 20 includes a plurality of segregated accessory controls. The center console stack 20 comprises a multimedia control unit 21 and a heating, ventilation, and cooling (HVAC) control unit 22. The multimedia control unit 21 includes a multimedia display, a CD player and a plurality of multimedia contact control switches. Control switches may include CD, radio, fast forward, reverse, seek up, seek down, tune, search, band, or preset memory.

[0017] The HVAC unit 22 includes a temperature display and a plurality of contact switches for making selections to control operation of the HVAC system. Typical switches required for controlling HVAC system functionality include temperature increase / decrease, defrost, A / C, heated seating, blower motor, and blower motor output porting.

[0018] The pluralit...

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PUM

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Abstract

A vehicle accessory control panel is provided for controlling at least two vehicle accessory systems. A plurality of switches is reconfigurable for providing at least two sets of switch functions. A plurality of graphics is provided for identifying the switch functions. A plurality of illumination elements is provided for illuminating the plurality of graphics. The respective set of illumination elements is activated for illuminating a respective set of graphics identifiable with a selected set of accessory switch functions. A first set of graphics identifies a first set of accessory switch functions in response to enabling the first set of accessory switch functions. A second set of graphics identifies a second set of accessory switch functions in response to enabling the second set of accessory switch functions. A wakeup protocol includes a sequential illumination learning mode scheme for visually identifying each respective set of accessory switch functions.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] Not Applicable. STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH [0002] Not Applicable. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] 1. Field of the Invention [0004] The present invention relates in general to a vehicle accessory switch control panel for activating vehicle accessories, and more particularly, to a reconfigurable vehicle accessory switch control panel. [0005] 2. Description of the Related Art [0006] Vehicle accessory input controls typically consist of a plurality of buttons, knobs, or menu driven display screens located on an instrument panel within the passenger compartment of a vehicle for controlling accessories such as multimedia, navigation, and climate control systems. Often the center console area of the instrument panel is cluttered with a large number single push button switches to control as many of the vehicle accessory functions as possible. A large number of switches is often aesthetically displeasing and confusing to...

Claims

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Application Information

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IPC IPC(8): G05B11/01G05B15/00H01H13/70G09G5/00B60Q1/00G08B3/00
CPCB60K35/00B60K37/06B60K2350/1016B60K2350/1024B60K2350/1028H01H2239/05H01H2219/012H01H2219/016H01H2219/02H01H2219/024H01H2219/037H01H13/83B60K35/10B60K2360/122B60K2360/143B60K2360/1438
Inventor BANTER, CHARLES B.SCHMIDT, ROBERT M.
Owner LEAR CORP
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