In-vehicle control apparatus using smart key provided with display and method of controlling the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10850708-B2
Application number	US-201916690393-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 21, 2019
Priority date	Dec 13, 2018
Publication date	Dec 1, 2020
Grant date	Dec 1, 2020

Abstract

A user interface capable of controlling various functions in a vehicle is disclosed. The vehicle control method using a smart key includes an integrated operation unit detecting attachment of the smart key through a smart key detector disposed in a predetermined attachment area inside a vehicle, the integrated operation unit transmitting information on a controlled function corresponding to a vehicle state to the smart key, outputting a first user interface corresponding to the information on the controlled function on a first display of the smart key, transmitting information on a result of operation from the smart key to the integrated operation unit when an operation unit provided in the smart key is operated, and the integrated operation unit controlling the controlled function based on the information on the result. The smart key is fixed in the attachment area using magnetic force.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle control method using a smart key, the vehicle control method comprising:
an integrated operation unit detecting attachment of the smart key through a smart key detector disposed in a predetermined attachment area inside a vehicle;
the integrated operation unit transmitting information on a controlled function corresponding to a vehicle state to the smart key;
outputting a first user interface corresponding to the information on the controlled function on a first display of the smart key;
transmitting information on a result of operation from the smart key to the integrated operation unit when an operation unit provided in the smart key is operated; and
the integrated operation unit controlling the controlled function based on the information on the result,
wherein the smart key is fixed in the attachment area using magnetic force.

2. The vehicle control method according to claim 1 ,
wherein the smart key has a cylindrical appearance, and
wherein the first display is disposed at a center of the smart key in a circular shape.

3. The vehicle control method according to claim 2 , wherein the operation unit includes a ring-shaped dial surrounding the first display.

4. The vehicle control method according to claim 3 ,
wherein the dial includes one or more coils at the inside or the back surface thereof, and
wherein the smart key further includes:
one or more permanent magnets disposed in a predetermined shape; and
a battery charged with power generated by an electromagnetic induction phenomenon by the permanent magnets in the one or more coils when the dial rotates.

5. The vehicle control method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
determining a slope through a detector for detecting a direction in which the smart key is disposed; and
aligning a first user interface to correspond to the determined slope in the smart key.

6. The vehicle control method according to claim 5 , wherein the aligning includes:
rotating the first user interface based on the determined slope until the detected slope satisfies a predetermined stabilization condition; and
fixing the slope of the first user interface when the stabilization condition is satisfied.

7. The vehicle control method according to claim 1 ,
wherein the smart key recognizer includes an electromagnet,
wherein the method further includes:
an integrated controller detecting whether the smart key has entered the vehicle; and
the integrated controller activating the electromagnet as the smart key has entered the vehicle.

8. The vehicle control method according to claim 1 ,
wherein the integrated operation unit further includes a second display disposed around the smart key detector, and
wherein the method further includes outputting a second user interface corresponding to the information on the controlled function through the second display.

9. The vehicle control method according to claim 8 , wherein the first user interface and the second user interface integrally configure a user interface corresponding to the controlled function.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for executing the vehicle control method using the smart key according to claim 1 .

11. An in-vehicle operation system comprising:
an integrated operation unit including a smart key detector disposed in a predetermined attachment area in a vehicle, a first display disposed around the smart key detector to display a first user interface for a controlled function corresponding to a vehicle state and a controller configured to perform control to transmit information on the controlled function to the smart key when attachment of the smart key in the attachment area is detected through the smart key detector,
wherein the integrated operation unit receives information on a result of operation through an operation unit provided in the smart key from the smart key and controls the controlled function based on the information on the result, and
wherein the smart key detector includes an electromagnet for fixing the smart key in the attachment area at the rear surface of the first display.

12. The in-vehicle operation system according to claim 11 , further comprising a smart key including a second display for displaying a second user interface corresponding to the information on the controlled function and the operation unit,
wherein the smart key has a cylindrical appearance, and
wherein the second display is disposed at a center of the smart key in a circular shape.

13. The in-vehicle operation system according to claim 12 , wherein the operation unit includes a ring-shaped dial surrounding the second display.

14. The in-vehicle operation system according to claim 13 ,
wherein the dial includes one or more coils at the inside or the back surface thereof, and
wherein the smart key further includes:
one or more permanent magnets disposed in a predetermined shape; and
a battery charged with power generated by an electromagnetic induction phenomenon by the permanent magnets in the one or more coils when the dial rotates.

15. The in-vehicle operation system according to claim 11 , wherein the smart key:
determines a slope through a detector for detecting a direction in which the smart key is disposed; and
aligns a second user interface to correspond to the determined slope.

16. The in-vehicle operation system according to claim 15 , wherein the smart key rotates the second user interface based on the determined slope until the detected slope satisfies a predetermined stabilization condition and fixes the slope of the second user interface when the stabilization condition is satisfied.

17. The in-vehicle operation system according to claim 11 , wherein an integrated controller activates the electromagnet as the smart key has entered the vehicle.

18. The in-vehicle operation system according to claim 11 , wherein the integrated operation unit outputs a first user interface corresponding to the information on the controlled function through the first display.

19. The in-vehicle operation system according to claim 18 , wherein the first user interface and a second user interface integrally configure a user interface corresponding to the controlled function.

20. The in-vehicle operation system according to claim 11 , wherein the integrated operation unit gradually increases magnetic force of the electromagnet when the smart key approaches within a predetermined distance.

Assignees

• Hyundai Motor Co Ltd
• Kia Motors Corp

Inventors

• Chung Jae Hoon
• Kim Sung Un
• Sung Si Hoon

Classifications

• B60K35/60

  Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles (arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10) · CPC title

• B60K35/29

  Instruments characterised by the way in which information is handled, e.g. showing information on plural displays or prioritising information according to driving conditions · CPC title

• B60K35/80

  Arrangements for controlling instruments · CPC title

• B60K35/10

  Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor · CPC title

• B60K35/53

  Movable instruments, e.g. slidable · CPC title