Vehicle interior control system having knobs with plurality of display representations

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10078381-B2
Application number	US-201615273035-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 22, 2016
Priority date	Dec 21, 2015
Publication date	Sep 18, 2018
Grant date	Sep 18, 2018

Abstract

System for controlling the interior of a vehicle including a center button for selecting a mode, an inner knob for selecting a function, and an outer knob for adjusting that function. The system may include an outer display for graphically displaying different options for adjusting the selected function. The system may also include a processor which may generate instructions to effectuate the function adjustment upon the user actuating the knobs and/or the center button. A display on the center button may display modes, and an inner display located behind the inner knob may display functions.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle interior control comprising:
a button for selecting a mode from a plurality of modes provided by the vehicle interior control, the plurality of modes including a first mode, wherein the first button is configured to be actuated;
a first knob, disposed behind the button, for selecting a function from a plurality of functions provided by the vehicle interior control, the plurality of functions including a first function, wherein the first knob is configured to rotate into a first set of rotational positions including a first rotational position;
a second knob, disposed behind the first knob, for selecting a parameter value from a plurality of parameter values, the plurality of parameter values including a first parameter value, wherein the second knob is configured to rotate into a second set of rotational positions including a second rotational position; and
a processor configured to generate instructions to effectuate the vehicle interior control such that in response to the selection of the first mode via the button, the first function via the first knob, and the first parameter value via the second knob, an instruction is generated to effectuate a control based on the first mode, the first function, and the first parameter value,
wherein the button, the first knob, and the second knob are capable of collapsing and creating a substantially planar surface that is substantially flush with an outer surface.

2. The vehicle interior control of claim 1 , wherein the button and the first knob are physically fastened together such that by pressing the button, the first knob is also pressed, and by rotating the first knob, the button is also rotated.

3. The vehicle interior control of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle is an electric vehicle.

4. The vehicle interior control of claim 1 , wherein the button, the first knob, and the second knob are of circular shapes.

5. The vehicle interior control of claim 1 , further comprising:
a button display, disposed on a surface of the button, configured to display representations of the plurality of modes.

6. The vehicle interior control of claim 5 , wherein the button display only displays the first mode of the plurality of modes.

7. The vehicle interior control of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of modes includes a driver mode.

8. The vehicle interior control of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of modes includes a passenger mode.

9. The vehicle interior control of claim 1 , further comprising:
an inner display, disposed behind the first knob, configured to display representations of the plurality of functions.

10. The vehicle interior control of claim 9 , wherein the inner display only displays the first function of the plurality of functions.

11. The vehicle interior control of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of functions includes air temperature, wind magnitude, and wind direction.

12. The vehicle interior control of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of functions includes seat adjustment and seat temperature.

13. The vehicle interior control of claim 1 , wherein the outer surface is an outer display.

14. The vehicle interior control of claim 1 , wherein the first knob and the second knob are configured to rotate into a discrete set of rotational positions.

15. The vehicle interior control of claim 1 , wherein the first knob and the second knob are configured to rotate into a continuous set of rotational positions.

Assignees

• Thunder Power New Energy Vehicle Development Co Ltd

Inventors

• Ding jia-wei

Classifications

• B60K2350/102

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• G05G1/08 Primary

  Controlling members for hand actuation by rotary movement, e.g. hand wheels · CPC title

• G05G1/087

  retractable; Flush control knobs · CPC title

• B60K2350/1024

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• G06F3/04847

  Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials · CPC title