Multifunctional switch system for autonomous vehicle and operating method thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11945304-B2
Application number	US-202117190273-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 2, 2021
Priority date	Aug 26, 2020
Publication date	Apr 2, 2024
Grant date	Apr 2, 2024

Abstract

A multifunctional switch system for an autonomous vehicle may include a plurality of docking stations in the interior of the autonomous vehicle, sets an operation mode of a mobile operation device for each of positions of the plurality of docking stations, and operates in an operation mode corresponding to the position of the docking station as the mobile operation device is docked to the docking station to enable a driver in the autonomous vehicle to conveniently operate various convenience devices regardless of the driver's location, and an operating method thereof.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A mobile operation device for a vehicle, the mobile operation device comprising:
a magnetic force generator configured to generate a magnetic force for docking to a plurality of docking stations provided in an interior of the vehicle;
a touch screen configured to display a plurality of operation buttons; and
a controller configured to control the touch screen to display an operation button corresponding to a position of a docking station among the plurality of operation buttons when the mobile operation device is docked to one of the plurality of docking stations, and process a user's input through the displayed operation button.

2. The mobile operation device of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to control the touch screen to display at least one of a door operation button, a mirror operation button, and a seat operation button among the plurality of operation buttons when the mobile operation device is docked to a docking station provided in a door trim in the vehicle.

3. The mobile operation device of claim 2 , wherein the controller is configured to determine priorities among the door operation button, the mirror operation button and the seat operation button according to state information related to the vehicle.

4. The mobile operation device of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to control the touch screen to display one of a seat heating-wire operation button, a seat ventilation operation button, and a steering wheel heating-wire operation button according to state information related to the vehicle among the plurality of operation buttons when the mobile operation device is docked to a docking station provided in a console base in the vehicle among the plurality of docking stations.

5. The mobile operation device of claim 4 , wherein the controller is configured to select the seat heating-wire operation button when an outdoor temperature is less than a first reference value, and select the seat ventilation operation button when the outdoor temperature is greater than a second reference value which is greater than the first reference value.

6. The mobile operation device of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to control the touch screen to display one of an air conditioning operation button and an indoor light operation button according to state information related to the vehicle among the plurality of operation buttons when the mobile operation device is docked to a docking station provided in a rear seat in the vehicle among the plurality of docking stations.

7. The mobile operation device of claim 6 , wherein the controller is configured to select the air conditioning operation button when a difference between an outdoor temperature and an indoor temperature of the vehicle is greater than a reference value.

8. The mobile operation device of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to control the touch screen to display one of a window operation button and a seat operation button among the plurality of operation buttons, and vehicle state notification information according to state information related to the vehicle when the mobile operation device is inside the vehicle while not being docked to any of the plurality of docking stations.

9. The mobile operation device of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to control the touch screen to display a door operation button when the mobile operation device is outside the vehicle among the plurality of operation buttons while not being docked to any of the plurality of docking stations.

10. An operating method of a mobile operation device for a vehicle, the method comprising:
detecting, by a controller, a docking to a docking station among a plurality of docking stations provided in an interior of the vehicle;
determining, by the controller, an operation button corresponding to the docking station;
displaying, by a touch screen, the determined operation button; and
processing, by the controller, an input of a user through the determined operation button.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the determining of the operation button includes selecting at least one of a door operation button, a mirror operation button, and a seat operation button when being docked to a docking station provided in a door trim in the vehicle among the plurality of docking stations.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the selecting of at least one of the door operation button, the mirror operation button, and the seat operation button includes determining priorities among the door operation button, the mirror operation button and the seat operation button according to state information related to the vehicle.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the determining of the operation button includes selecting one of a seat heating-wire operation button, a seat ventilation operation button, and a steering wheel heating-wire operation button according to state information related to the vehicle when being docked to a docking station provided in a console base in the vehicle among the plurality of docking stations.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the selecting of one of the seat heating-wire operation button, the seat ventilation operation button, and the steering wheel heating-wire operation button includes:
selecting the seat heating-wire operation button when an outdoor temperature is less than a first reference value; and
selecting the seat ventilation operation button when the outdoor temperature is greater than a second reference value which is greater than the first reference value.

15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the determining of the operation button includes selecting one of an air conditioning operation button and an indoor light operation button according to state information related to the vehicle when being docked to a docking station provided in a rear seat in the vehicle among the plurality of docking stations.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the selecting of one of the air conditioning operation button and the indoor light operation button includes selecting the air conditioning operation button when a difference between an outdoor temperature and an indoor temperature of the vehicle is greater than a reference value.

17. The method of claim 10 , wherein the determining of the operation button includes selecting one of a window operation button, a seat operation button, and vehicle state notification information according to state information related to the vehicle when the mobile operation device is inside the vehicle while not being docked to any of the plurality of docking stations.

18. The method of claim 10 , wherein the determining of the operation button includes selecting a door operation button when the mobile operation device is outside the vehicle while not being docked to any of the plurality of docking stations.

19. A multifunctional switch system for a vehicle, the multifunctional switch system comprising:
a plurality of docking stations provided in an interior of the vehicle to communicate with a plurality of convenience devices provided in the vehicle; and
a mobile operation device configured to make a docking to a docking station among the plurality of docking stations through a magnetic force, determine an operation button corresponding to a position of the docking station, display the determined operation button and process a user's input through the displayed operation button.

20. The multifunctional switch system of claim 19 , wherein the docking station guides the user to

Assignees

• Hyundai Motor Co Ltd
• Kia Motors Corp

Inventors

• Shin Sang Hoon

Classifications

• B60N2/5678 Primary

  characterised by electrical systems · CPC title

• B60K2360/573

  Mobile devices controlling vehicle functions · CPC title

• B60K2360/1446

  Touch switches · CPC title

• B60K2360/137

  Jog-dials · CPC title

• B60N2/0235

  Joysticks · CPC title