Controller

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025224757-A1
Application number	US-202418929831-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 29, 2024
Priority date	Jan 5, 2024
Publication date	Jul 10, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

A controller allows an occupant, who is seated in a seat, to conveniently manipulate a traveling function and various convenience functions, which are provided in an internal, by use of a single control unit so that the convenience in using convenience functions, such as autonomous driving functions, manual traveling functions, air conditioning, sound, and internal brightness, may be improved, improving the satisfaction of the occupant.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A controller comprising:
a body provided in an internal space, in which a seat is provided, and configured to be travelable by a drive module; a convenience provision portion movably provided in the internal space and configured to provide convenience functions including an air conditioning function; and a control unit rotatably provided at a position, at which an occupant manipulates the control unit, and including a plurality of manipulation surfaces configured to be exposed to the occupant seated in the seat in accordance with a rotation position of the control unit, the control unit including operators provided on the manipulation surfaces and configured to control traveling or the convenience provision portion.

2 . The controller of claim 1 , wherein the control unit is rotatably provided on an armrest of the seat, on which the occupant's arm is mounted.

3 . The controller of claim 1 , wherein the control unit includes a steering manipulation means configured to control the drive module, and the steering manipulation means is configured as a lever, a dial, or a button and is configured to control a traveling direction of the drive module.

4 . The controller of claim 1 , wherein the control unit includes a steering manipulation means configured to control the drive module, the steering manipulation means includes a lever, and a dial rotatably mounted at an end portion of the lever, the lever controls a traveling direction of the drive module in accordance with a manipulation direction, and the dial is configured to select a gear shifting position in response to operation of the dial.

5 . The controller of claim 4 , wherein the drive module is configured to adjust a vehicle height, the lever of the steering manipulation means is configured to be manipulated in an upward and downward direction, and the vehicle height is adjusted by the manipulation of the lever in the upward and downward direction to control the drive module.

6 . The controller of claim 4 , wherein in response that the occupant controls the steering manipulation means, the drive module switches to a manual traveling mode by control of the steering manipulation means.

7 . The controller of claim 4 , wherein in response that the occupant does not control the steering manipulation means, the drive module switches to an autonomous driving mode.

8 . The controller of claim 4 , wherein, in response that the steering manipulation means is rotated downwards, an autonomous driving mode is implemented.

9 . The controller of claim 4 , wherein, in response that the steering manipulation means is rotated upwards, a manual traveling mode is implemented.

10 . The controller of claim 1 , wherein the control unit includes a mode manipulation means configured to adjust the rotation position of the control unit, and the mode manipulation means is configured to determine a manual traveling mode or an autonomous driving mode based on whether the mode manipulation means is manipulated.

11 . The controller of claim 1 , wherein the convenience provision portion further includes a lighting function and a sound function, the control unit includes a convenience function manipulation means configured to control the convenience provision portion, and the convenience function manipulation means is configured as a button and configured to select the lighting function and the sound function of the convenience provision portion.

12 . The controller of claim 11 , wherein the convenience function manipulation means includes:
a button configured to control a movement position of the convenience provision portion; a button configured to control lighting brightness of the convenience provision portion; a button configured to control sound volume of the convenience provision portion; and a button configured to control the air conditioning function.

13 . The controller of claim 1 , wherein the seat or the control unit includes a position manipulation means configured to fix or release the rotation position of the control unit.

14 . The controller of claim 13 , wherein in response that a locking state is released by manipulation of the position manipulation means, the rotation position of the control unit is automatically changed so that a predetermined manipulation surface among the plurality of manipulation surfaces is exposed to the occupant.

15 . The controller of claim 1 , wherein the seat is configured to adjust positions and angles of a seatback and a seat cushion, and the seat includes a seat manipulation means configured to adjust the positions and the angles of the seatback and the seat cushion.

16 . The controller of claim 1 , wherein the convenience provision portion is formed to extend along an internal peripheral surface of the internal space, and the convenience functions including the air conditioning function are implemented toward the occupant in the internal space.

Assignees

• Hyundai Motor Co Ltd
• Kia Corp

Inventors

• Hwang Yun Jeong

Classifications

• B60Q3/80

  Circuits; Control arrangements (for dashboards B60Q3/16; for mass transit vehicles B60Q3/47) · CPC title

• B60N2/0235

  Joysticks · CPC title

• B62D1/12

  Hand levers · CPC title

• B60R16/005 Primary

  Electro-mechanical devices, e.g. switched (electric switches in general H01H) · CPC title

• B60Y2400/83

  Steering input members · CPC title