Method and system for indicating the status of a push button switch and the function it controls

Abstract

The application discloses a method for indicating the state of a button switch and a function controlled by the button switch, wherein an indicating lamp is arranged on the button switch, and the method comprises the following steps: detecting whether the button switch can normally work and whether the function controlled by the button switch is triggered; in the case that the button switch can normally work and the function controlled by the button switch is not triggered, controlling the indicating lamp to be in a first state; in the case that the button switch can normally work and the function controlled by the button switch is triggered, controlling the indicating lamp to be in a second state; and in the case that the button switch cannot normally work, controlling the indicating lamp to be in a third state. Through the method, it can be indicated in an intuitive way whether the button switch can normally work and whether the function controlled by the button switch, i.e. an emergency call function, is successfully triggered.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the field of automotive electronics, and in particular, to a method and system for indicating the state of a button switch and a function controlled thereby. BACKGROUND

[0002] With the development of automotive electronics and the increasing demand for driving safety, more and more vehicles start to support an emergency call function (e.g. ECALL function). After an accident or breakdown of a vehicle, the driver and passengers of the vehicle can trigger the emergency call function by pressing a button switch (e.g. ECALL button) for triggering the emergency call function, so as to send a distress signal and report the location of the vehicle. Alternatively, the emergency call function of the vehicle can also be triggered in other ways, for example, by the signal of a collision sensor or a temperature sensor provided on the vehicle, so that even when the driver and passengers lose consciousness and cannot seek help, the vehicle can automatically send a distress signal and report the location of the accident vehicle.

[0003] In a real environment, since the button switch (e.g. ECALL button) for triggering the emergency call function is almost never used, it is impossible to determine whether the button switch for triggering the emergency call function is working properly. In addition, after pressing the button switch, it is also impossible to intuitively determine whether the emergency call function of the vehicle has been successfully triggered. Therefore, it is necessary to provide an intuitive way to indicate whether the button switch for triggering the emergency call function is working properly and whether the emergency call function is successfully triggered. SUMMARY

[0004] The present application is directed to providing a method and system for indicating the state of a button switch and a function controlled thereby, thereby solving the above-mentioned problems in the prior art.

[0005] An embodiment of the present application provides a method for indicating the state of a button switch and a function controlled thereby, the button switch being provided with an indicator light, the method comprising:

[0006] detecting whether the button switch is working properly and whether the function controlled by the button switch is triggered,

[0007] controlling the indicator light to be in a first state when the button switch is working properly and the function controlled by the button switch is not triggered,

[0008] controlling the indicator light to be in a second state when the button switch is working properly and the function controlled by the button switch is triggered,

[0009] In the case that the button switch cannot work normally, the indicator light is controlled to be in a third state.

[0010] Optionally, the first state is a constant-on state, the second state is a flashing state, and the third state is a constant-off state.

[0011] Optionally, in the case that the button switch cannot work normally, an alarm light of an airbag controller is controlled to be in a constant-on state.

[0012] Optionally, a diagnostic circuit composed of a first resistor and a second resistor in series is arranged in the button switch, the triggering of the function controlled by the button switch can cause the second resistor to be short-circuited, the resistance value of the first resistor is R1, and the resistance value of the second resistor is R2.

[0013] Detecting whether the button switch can work normally and detecting whether the function controlled by the button switch is triggered specifically comprises:

[0014] Detecting the total resistance value of the diagnostic circuit.

[0015] If it is detected that the total resistance value of the diagnostic circuit is R1+R2, it is considered that the button switch can work normally and the function controlled by the button switch is not triggered.

[0016] If it is detected that the total resistance value of the diagnostic circuit is R1, it is considered that the button switch can work normally and the function controlled by the button switch is triggered.

[0017] If it is detected that the total resistance value of the diagnostic circuit is infinite, it is considered that the button switch cannot work normally.

[0018] Optionally, the function controlled by the button switch is an emergency call function of a vehicle.

[0019] Embodiments of the present application also provide a system for indicating the state of a button switch and the function controlled by the button switch, the system comprising a control device and an indicator light arranged on the button switch.

[0020] The control device is used for:

[0021] Detecting whether the button switch can work normally and detecting whether the function controlled by the button switch is triggered.

[0022] In the case that the button switch can work normally and the function controlled by the button switch is not triggered, the indicator light is controlled to be in a first state.

[0023] in a case where the button switch can normally work and the function controlled by the button switch is triggered, controlling the indicator lamp to be in a second state,

[0024] in a case where the button switch cannot normally work, controlling the indicator lamp to be in a third state.

[0025] Optionally, the first state is a constant-on state, the second state is a flashing state, and the third state is a constant-off state.

[0026] Optionally, the control device is further configured to, in a case where the button switch cannot normally work, control an alarm lamp of an airbag controller to be in a constant-on state.

[0027] Optionally, the button switch is provided with a diagnostic circuit composed of a first resistor and a second resistor in series, triggering of the function controlled by the button switch can cause the second resistor to be short-circuited, the first resistor has a resistance value of R1, and the second resistor has a resistance value of R2.

[0028] The control device is specifically configured to:

[0029] detect a total resistance value of the diagnostic circuit,

[0030] if the total resistance value of the diagnostic circuit is detected as R1+R2, it is considered that the button switch can normally work and the function controlled by the button switch is not triggered,

[0031] if the total resistance value of the diagnostic circuit is detected as R1, it is considered that the button switch can normally work and the function controlled by the button switch is triggered,

[0032] if the total resistance value of the diagnostic circuit is detected as infinite, it is considered that the button switch cannot normally work.

[0033] Optionally, the function controlled by the button switch is an emergency call function of a vehicle.

[0034] Optionally, the control device is an airbag controller of a vehicle.

[0035] The method and system for indicating the state of a button switch and the function controlled by the button switch of the embodiments of the present application have at least the following advantages:

[0036] In the present application, an indicator lamp is arranged on the button switch, and the state of the indicator lamp is controlled according to whether the button switch can normally work and whether the function controlled by the button switch is triggered, so that whether the button switch can normally work and whether the emergency call function controlled by the button switch is successfully triggered can be indicated in an intuitive manner. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0037] Other details and advantages of the present application will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the following drawings, which are not to scale, are merely schematic and are not intended to limit the present application from what could be claimed, and the detailed description will be made with reference thereto, wherein:

[0038] Figure 1 A method flowchart for indicating the status of a push button switch and the function it controls according to one embodiment of the present application is shown.

[0039] Figures 2A-2C A system for indicating the status of a push button switch and the function it controls according to another embodiment of the present application is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0040] Embodiments of the present application are described herein with reference to the drawings. In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present application. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that the present application can be practiced without some or all of these specific details. In other instances, well known process steps have not been described in detail in order not to unnecessarily obscure the present application. In addition, it will be understood that the present application is not limited in its application to the particular implementation described herein. Rather, the application carried out using any arrangement of the features and elements described below, whether they are related to different embodiments or not. Accordingly, the following aspects, features, embodiments and advantages are merely illustrative and are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the application, unless expressly recited in the claims.

[0041] Reference is now made to Figure 1 , a method flowchart for indicating the status of a push button switch and the function it controls according to one embodiment of the present application is shown. As shown in Figure 1 , the method comprises:

[0042] Step S101, detecting whether the push button switch is working properly and detecting whether the function controlled by the push button switch is triggered.

[0043] The detection of whether the push button switch is working properly and whether the function controlled by the push button switch is triggered can be realized by any suitable way. In a simple implementation, a diagnostic circuit composed of a first resistor and a second resistor in series can be arranged in the push button switch, and the triggering of the function controlled by the push button switch can cause the second resistor to be short-circuited, the resistance value of the first resistor is R1, and the resistance value of the second resistor is R2. In this implementation, the total resistance value of the diagnostic circuit can be detected, if the total resistance value of the diagnostic circuit is detected as R1+R2, it is considered that the push button switch is working properly and the function controlled by the push button switch is not triggered; if the total resistance value of the diagnostic circuit is detected as R1, it is considered that the push button switch is working properly and the function controlled by the push button switch is triggered; if the total resistance value of the diagnostic circuit is detected as infinite, it is considered that the push button switch is not working properly.

[0044] In step S102, in the case that the push button switch is working properly and the function controlled by the push button switch is not triggered, the indicator light is controlled to be in the first state; in the case that the push button switch is working properly and the function controlled by the push button switch is triggered, the indicator light is controlled to be in the second state; in the case that the push button switch is not working properly, the indicator light is controlled to be in the third state.

[0045] The function controlled by the push button switch can be triggered by pressing the push button switch, or can be triggered by any other suitable way, for example, the signal of a collision sensor or a temperature sensor arranged on the vehicle.

[0046] The specific forms of the first state, the second state and the third state can be set according to actual needs. For example, the first state can be a constant-on state, the second state can be a flashing state, and the third state can be a constant-off state.

[0047] In the case that the push button switch is not working properly, the warning light of the airbag controller can also be controlled to be in a constant-on state to further prompt that the push button switch is not working properly.

[0048] The function controlled by the push button switch can be any suitable vehicle function. For example, the emergency call function (for example, the ECALL function) of the vehicle.

[0049] The above-mentioned method for indicating the state of the push button switch and the function controlled thereby according to the specific embodiments of the present application can be realized by any suitable vehicle-mounted control device, for example, the ACU (Airbag Control Unit, airbag controller) of the vehicle.

[0050] Figures 2A-2C A system for indicating the state of a push button switch and a function controlled thereby according to another specific embodiment of the present application is shown. In this system,Figure 2A The state that the button switch can work normally and the function controlled by the button switch is not triggered is shown. Figure 2B The state that the button switch can work normally and the function controlled by the button switch is triggered is shown. Figure 2C The state that the button switch cannot work normally is shown.

[0051] As shown in Figures 2A-2C , the system for indicating the state of the button switch and the function controlled by the button switch comprises a control device and an indicating lamp arranged on the button switch. The control device is used for detecting whether the button switch can work normally and detecting whether the function controlled by the button switch is triggered. In the case that the button switch can work normally and the function controlled by the button switch is not triggered, the control device controls the indicating lamp to be in a first state; in the case that the button switch can work normally and the function controlled by the button switch is triggered, the control device controls the indicating lamp to be in a second state; in the case that the button switch cannot work normally, the control device controls the indicating lamp to be in a third state.

[0052] The function controlled by the button switch can be triggered by pressing the button switch, or can be triggered by any other suitable manner, for example, the signal of a collision sensor or a temperature sensor arranged on the vehicle.

[0053] The specific forms of the first state, the second state and the third state can be set according to actual needs. For example, the first state can be a constant-on state, the second state can be a flashing state, and the third state can be a constant-off state.

[0054] The control device can also be used for controlling the alarm lamp of the airbag controller to be in a constant-on state in the case that the button switch cannot work normally, so as to further prompt that the button switch cannot work normally.

[0055] Further as shown in Figures 2A-2C , a diagnostic circuit composed of a first resistor and a second resistor in series is arranged in the button switch, the triggering of the function controlled by the button switch can make the second resistor short-circuit, the resistance value of the first resistor is R1, and the resistance value of the second resistor is R2. The control device can detect the total resistance value of the diagnostic circuit. If it is detected that the total resistance value of the diagnostic circuit is R1+R2, it is considered that the button switch can work normally and the function controlled by the button switch is not triggered Figure 2A ; if it is detected that the total resistance value of the diagnostic circuit is R1, it is considered that the button switch can work normally and the function controlled by the button switch is triggered Figure 2B ; and if it is detected that the total resistance value of the diagnostic circuit is infinite, it is considered that the button switch cannot work normally Figure 2C .

[0056] The function controlled by the push button switch can be any suitable vehicle function. For example, an emergency call function (e.g. an ECALL function) of the vehicle.

[0057] The control device can be any suitable on-board control device of the vehicle, for example the ACU of the vehicle.

[0058] Compared with the prior art, the method and system for indicating the state of the push button switch and the function controlled thereby of embodiments of the present application have at least the following advantages:

[0059] In the present application, an indicator light is provided on the push button switch, and the state of the indicator light is controlled according to whether the push button switch can work normally and whether the function controlled thereby is triggered, so that it can be indicated in an intuitive manner whether the push button switch can work normally and whether the emergency call function controlled thereby is successfully triggered.

[0060] It should be noted that the above description is only an example, and is not a limitation on the present application. In other embodiments of the present application, the method can have more, fewer or different steps, and the relationship between the steps such as order, inclusion and function can be different from that described and illustrated. For example, usually multiple steps can be combined into a single step, and a single step can also be split into multiple steps. For those skilled in the art, the order of the steps can be changed without creative effort, and it is within the protection scope of the present application.

[0061] The technical solutions of the present application or the part that essentially contributes to the prior art or the whole or part of the technical solutions can be embodied in the form of a software product, which is stored in a storage medium and includes instructions for causing a computer device (which can be a personal computer, a server, or a network device, etc.) or a processor or a microcontroller to execute all or part of the steps of the method described in the various embodiments of the present application.

[0062] Those skilled in the art can understand that the whole or part of the steps of the above-mentioned method embodiments can be completed by program instruction-related hardware. The aforementioned program can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. When the program is executed, the steps of the above-mentioned method embodiments are executed; and the aforementioned storage medium includes ROM, RAM, magnetic disc or optical disc and various storage media that can store program codes.

[0063] Although the present application has been disclosed with reference to the preferred embodiments, the present application is not limited to this. Any modifications and changes made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present application shall fall within the protection scope of the present application, and therefore the protection scope of the present application shall be limited by the scope defined in the claims.

Claims

1. A method for indicating the state of a push button switch and the function it controls, said push button switch being provided with an indicator light, characterized in that, The method comprises: detecting whether the button switch can work normally and detecting whether the function controlled by the button switch is triggered, controlling the indicator light to be in a first state when the button switch can work normally and the function controlled by the button switch is not triggered, controlling the indicator light to be in a second state when the button switch can work normally and the function controlled by the button switch is triggered, controlling the indicator light to be in a third state when the button switch cannot work normally, wherein a diagnostic circuit composed of a first resistor and a second resistor in series is arranged in the button switch, triggering of the function controlled by the button switch can cause the second resistor to be short-circuited, the resistance value of the first resistor is R1, and the resistance value of the second resistor is R2, detecting whether the button switch can work normally and detecting whether the function controlled by the button switch is triggered specifically comprises: detecting the total resistance value of the diagnostic circuit, if it is detected that the total resistance value of the diagnostic circuit is R1+R2, it is considered that the button switch can work normally and the function controlled by the button switch is not triggered, if it is detected that the total resistance value of the diagnostic circuit is R1, it is considered that the button switch can work normally and the function controlled by the button switch is triggered, if it is detected that the total resistance value of the diagnostic circuit is infinite, it is considered that the button switch cannot work normally.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, The first state is a constant-on state, the second state is a flickering state, and the third state is a constant-off state.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein, In the case that the button switch cannot work normally, the warning light of the airbag controller is controlled to be in a constant-on state.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein, The function controlled by the button switch is an emergency call function of a vehicle.

5. A system for indicating the status of a push button switch and the function it controls, characterized by, The system comprises a control device and an indicator light arranged on the button switch, wherein the control device is used for: detecting whether the button switch can work normally and detecting whether the function controlled by the button switch is triggered, controlling the indicator light to be in a first state when the button switch can work normally and the function controlled by the button switch is not triggered, controlling the indicator light to be in a second state when the button switch can work normally and the function controlled by the button switch is triggered, controlling the indicator light to be in a third state when the button switch cannot work normally, wherein a diagnostic circuit composed of a first resistor and a second resistor in series is arranged in the button switch, triggering of the function controlled by the button switch can cause the second resistor to be short-circuited, the resistance value of the first resistor is R1, and the resistance value of the second resistor is R2, the control device is specifically used for: detecting the total resistance value of the diagnostic circuit, if it is detected that the total resistance value of the diagnostic circuit is R1+R2, it is considered that the button switch can work normally and the function controlled by the button switch is not triggered, if the total resistance value of the diagnostic circuit is detected as R1, it is considered that the button switch can work normally and a function controlled by the button switch is triggered, if the total resistance value of the diagnostic circuit is detected as infinite, it is considered that the button switch cannot work normally.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein, The first state is a constant-on state, the second state is a flickering state, and the third state is a constant-off state.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein, The control device is further configured to control the warning light of the airbag controller to be in a constant-on state when the button switch cannot work normally.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein, The function controlled by the button switch is an emergency call function of the vehicle.

9. The system of claim 5, wherein, The control device is an airbag controller of the vehicle.

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