Multi-functional manipulation apparatus and control method thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12508903-B2
Application number	US-202217983194-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 8, 2022
Priority date	Jul 13, 2022
Publication date	Dec 30, 2025
Grant date	Dec 30, 2025

Abstract

A multi-functional manipulation apparatus and method include a switch that operates by an external force from a neutral position and returns to the neutral position when the external force is removed, a vibrator coupled to the switch to vibrate depending on an operation of the switch, and a controller that controls a vehicle accessory device corresponding to the vibrator and the switch, in response to the operation of the switch.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A multi-functional manipulation apparatus, comprising:
a switch configured to operate by an external force from a neutral position and return to the neutral position when the external force is removed; a knob configured having the self-return scheme, the knob being coupled to an end of the switch to change an operation mode of headlamps or wipers; a vibrator coupled to the switch and configured to vibrate depending on an operation of the switch; a display configured to display an operation state of a vehicle accessory device depending on the operation of the switch; and a controller configured to: control the vehicle accessory device corresponding to the vibrator and the switch, in response to the operation of the switch; and differently set an order in which the operation mode of the headlamps is changed or an order in which the operation mode of the wipers is changed, the order being displayed on the display, depending on a rotation direction of the knob.

2 . The multi-functional manipulation apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to:
control the vibrator in a first vibration mode, based on that the switch operates in a first direction, and control the vibrator in a second vibration mode, based on that the switch operates in a second direction.

3 . The multi-functional manipulation apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the controller is configured to adjust vibration magnitudes of the first vibration mode and the second vibration mode to be different.

4 . The multi-functional manipulation apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the controller is configured to adjust vibration patterns of the first vibration mode and the second vibration mode to be different.

5 . The multi-functional manipulation apparatus of claim 1 ,
wherein the controller is configured to generate image data for notifying a driver of a vehicle of the operation state of the vehicle accessory device, in response to the operation of the switch.

6 . The multi-functional manipulation apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the switch is a lever configured having a self-return scheme,
wherein the lever is coupled to one side of a steering wheel of the vehicle to control an operation of the headlamps or the wipers, and wherein the controller is configured to differently set an order in which an operation mode of the wipers is changed, the order being displayed on the display, in response to an operation of the lever.

7 . The multi-functional manipulation apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the knob is coupled to an end of the lever to change the operation mode of the headlamps or an operation mode of a rear wiper.

8 . The multi-functional manipulation apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to set a vibration mode of the vibrator differently, depending on the order in which the operation mode of the headlamps is changed or the order in which the operation mode of the wipers is changed, the order being displayed on the display.

9 . The multi-functional manipulation apparatus of claim 6 , further comprising a protrusion switch configured having the self-return scheme, the protrusion switch protruding from the lever to control an operation of fog lamps or intermittent wipers,
wherein the controller is configured to differently display an order in which an operation mode of the fog lamps is changed or an order in which an operation mode of the intermittent wipers is changed, the order being displayed on the display, depending on an operation direction of the protrusion switch.

10 . The multi-functional manipulation apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the controller is configured to set a vibration mode of the vibrator differently, depending on the order in which the operation mode of the fog lamps is changed or the order in which the operation mode of the intermittent wipers is changed, the order being displayed on the display.

11 . A control method of a multi-functional manipulation apparatus, the control method comprising:
determining, by a controller, an operation of a switch coupled to a steering wheel of a vehicle; controlling, by the controller, a vehicle accessory device corresponding to the switch, in response to the operation of the switch; and controlling, by the controller, a vibrator coupled to the switch, under control of the vehicle accessory device, wherein the controlling of the vibrator coupled to the switch includes: setting a vibration mode of the vibrator differently, depending on an order in which an operation mode of headlamps is changed or an order in which an operation mode of wipers is changed, the order being displayed on a display of the multi-functional manipulation apparatus.

12 . The control method of claim 11 , wherein the controlling of the vibrator coupled to the switch includes:
controlling the vibrator in a first vibration mode, when the switch is operated in a first direction; and controlling the vibrator in a second vibration mode, when the switch is operated in a second direction.

13 . The control method of claim 12 , wherein the controlling of the vibrator coupled to the switch includes:
adjusting vibration magnitudes of the first vibration mode and the second vibration mode to be different.

14 . The control method of claim 12 , wherein the controlling of the vibrator coupled to the switch includes:
adjusting vibration patterns of the first vibration mode and the second vibration mode to be different.

15 . The control method of claim 11 , further comprising:
generating image data for notifying a driver of the vehicle of an operation state of the vehicle accessory device, in response to the operation of the switch; and displaying the operation state of the vehicle accessory device on the display of the multi-functional manipulation apparatus, based on the image data.

16 . The control method of claim 15 , wherein the displaying of the operation state of the vehicle accessory device on the display includes:
setting an order in which the operation mode of the wipers is changed, based on an operation of a lever coupled to one side of the steering wheel.

17 . The control method of claim 16 , wherein the displaying of the operation state of the vehicle accessory device on the display further includes:
setting the order in which the operation mode of the headlamps is changed or the order in which the operation mode of the wipers is changed, the order being displayed on the display, based on an operation of a knob coupled to an end of the lever.

18 . The control method of claim 16 , wherein the displaying of the operation state of the vehicle accessory device on the display includes:
differently displaying an order in which an operation mode of fog lamps is changed or an order in which an operation mode of intermittent wipers is changed, the order being displayed on the display, based on an operation of a protrusion switch coupled to the lever.

19 . The control method of claim 18 , wherein the controlling of the vibrator coupled to the switch includes:
differently setting the vibration mode of the vibrator, depending on the order in which the operation mode of the fog lamps is changed or the order in which the operation mode of the intermittent wipers is changed, the order being displayed on the display.

Assignees

• Hyundai Motor Co Ltd
• Kia Corp
• Ls Automotive Tech Co Ltd

Inventors

• Koh Jin Young
• Lee Jun Hwan

Classifications

• B60K35/212

  displaying on manual operation elements, e.g. on a knob · 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

• B60K2360/131

  Pivotable input devices for instruments · CPC title

• B60K2360/126

  Rotatable input devices for instruments · CPC title

• B60K35/25

  using haptic output · CPC title