In-vehicle function control apparatus using detachable knob and method of controlling the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11084379-B2
Application number	US-201916689635-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 20, 2019
Priority date	Dec 13, 2018
Publication date	Aug 10, 2021
Grant date	Aug 10, 2021

Abstract

A user interface capable of controlling various functions of a vehicle is disclosed. More particularly, an in-vehicle function control apparatus using a detachable knob and a method of controlling the same are disclosed. A method of controlling a vehicle function using a detachable knob includes an integrated operation unit detecting an attachment position of the detachable knob among a plurality of attachment positions in a vehicle, transmitting information on a result of the operation from the detachable knob to the integrated operation unit when an operation unit provided in the detachable knob is operated, and the integrated operation unit controlling a controlled function corresponding to the attachment position of the detachable knob based on the information on the result. The detachable knob is fixed at any one of the plurality of attachment positions using magnetic force.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of controlling a vehicle function using a detachable knob, the method comprising:
an integrated operation unit detecting an attachment position of the detachable knob among a plurality of attachment positions in a vehicle;
when an operation unit provided in the detachable knob is operated, transmitting information on a result of the operation from the detachable knob to the integrated operation unit; and
the integrated operation unit controlling a controlled function corresponding to the attachment position of the detachable knob based on the information on the result,
wherein the detachable knob is fixed at any one of the plurality of attachment positions using magnetic force;
wherein the integrated operation unit includes a display having a plurality of display regions respectively corresponding to a plurality of controlled functions;
wherein the plurality of attachment positions have an alignment form corresponding to a shape of the display; and
wherein the plurality of attachment positions are spaced apart from the display.

2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the integrated operation unit enlarging a display region, in which a controlled function corresponding to the detected attachment position is displayed, among the plurality of display regions.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein a light emission unit for emitting light in a first pattern is disposed in each of the plurality of attachment positions,
wherein the method further includes:
a light emitting unit corresponding to the detected attachment position emitting light in a second pattern; and
a light emitting unit corresponding to the detected attachment position emitting light in a third pattern when deviation of the detachable knob from the detected attachment position is detected.

4. The method according to claim 1 ,
wherein the detachable knob has a cylindrical appearance, and
wherein the operation unit includes at least one of a key button disposed on an upper surface of the detachable knob, a touch pad or a ring-shaped dial surrounding the upper surface.

5. The method according to claim 1 ,
wherein the detachable knob includes a plurality of magnetic materials arranged in a specific pattern, and
wherein the integrated operation unit includes a plurality of electromagnets disposed in a grid at the plurality of arrangement positions.

6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein activation of the plurality of electromagnets is determined in a basic activation unit corresponding to the specific pattern.

7. The method according to claim 6 ,
wherein the plurality of magnetic materials has a first polarity,
wherein electromagnets activated in the basic activation unit among the plurality of electromagnets are activated with a second polarity opposite to the first polarity, and
wherein electromagnets corresponding to outer edges in the grid are activated with the first polarity.

8. A computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for executing the method according to claim 1 .

9. An in-vehicle function control apparatus using a detachable knob, the in-vehicle function control apparatus comprising:
the detachable knob including an operation unit; and
an integrated operation unit configured to detect an attachment position of the detachable knob among a plurality of attachment positions in a vehicle,
wherein, when the operation unit is operated, the detachable knob transmits information on a result of the operation to the integrated operation unit,
wherein the integrated operation unit controls a controlled function corresponding to the attachment position of the detachable knob based on the information on the result,
wherein the detachable knob is fixed at any one of the plurality of attachment positions using magnetic force;
wherein the integrated operation unit includes a display having a plurality of display regions respectively corresponding to a plurality of controlled functions;
wherein the plurality of attachment positions has an alignment form corresponding to a shape of the display; and
wherein the plurality of attachment positions are spaced apart from the display.

10. The in-vehicle function control apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the integrated operation unit enlarges a display region in which a controlled function corresponding to the detected attachment position is displayed among the plurality of display regions.

11. The in-vehicle function control apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein a light emission unit for emitting light in a first pattern is disposed in each of the plurality of attachment positions,
wherein a light emitting unit corresponding to the detected attachment position emits light in a second pattern; and
wherein, when deviation of the detachable knob from the detected attachment position is detected, a light emitting unit corresponding to the detected attachment position emits light in a third pattern.

12. The in-vehicle function control apparatus according to claim 9 ,
wherein the detachable knob has a cylindrical appearance, and
wherein the operation unit includes at least one of a key button disposed on an upper surface of the detachable knob, a touch pad or a ring-shaped dial surrounding the upper surface.

13. The in-vehicle function control apparatus according to claim 9 ,
wherein the detachable knob includes a plurality of magnetic materials arranged in a specific pattern, and
wherein the integrated operation unit includes a plurality of electromagnets disposed in a grid at the plurality of arrangement positions.

14. The in-vehicle function control apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein activation of the plurality of electromagnets is determined in a basic activation unit corresponding to the specific pattern.

15. The in-vehicle function control apparatus according to claim 14 ,
wherein the plurality of magnetic materials has a first polarity,
wherein electromagnets activated in the basic activation unit among the plurality of electromagnets are activated with a second polarity opposite to the first polarity, and
wherein electromagnets corresponding to outer edges in the grid are activated with the first polarity.

Assignees

• Hyundai Motor Co Ltd
• Kia Motors Corp

Inventors

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

Classifications

• H01F7/20 Primary

  without armatures (cores H01F3/00; coils H01F5/00 {; shaping metal by applying magnetic forces B21D26/14; electromagnets specially adapted for NMR applications G01R33/381}) · CPC title

• B60K35/60

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

• B60K35/53

  Movable instruments, e.g. slidable · CPC title

• B60K35/80

  Arrangements for controlling instruments · CPC title

• B60K35/22

  Display screens · CPC title