WO2004052674A1 - Connexion sans fil pour module electronique dans une console centrale de vehicule - Google Patents

Connexion sans fil pour module electronique dans une console centrale de vehicule Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2004052674A1
WO2004052674A1 PCT/US2003/038936 US0338936W WO2004052674A1 WO 2004052674 A1 WO2004052674 A1 WO 2004052674A1 US 0338936 W US0338936 W US 0338936W WO 2004052674 A1 WO2004052674 A1 WO 2004052674A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
electronic
vehicle
console
signal
electronic modules
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2003/038936
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Keith A. Riha
Original Assignee
Collins & Aikman Products Co.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Collins & Aikman Products Co. filed Critical Collins & Aikman Products Co.
Priority to AU2003293453A priority Critical patent/AU2003293453A1/en
Publication of WO2004052674A1 publication Critical patent/WO2004052674A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60K—ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
    • B60K35/00—Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60K—ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
    • B60K35/00—Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
    • B60K35/10—Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60K—ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
    • B60K35/00—Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
    • B60K35/50—Instruments characterised by their means of attachment to or integration in the vehicle
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60K—ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
    • B60K37/00—Dashboards
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60K—ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
    • B60K2360/00—Indexing scheme associated with groups B60K35/00 or B60K37/00 relating to details of instruments or dashboards
    • B60K2360/143—Touch sensitive instrument input devices
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60K—ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
    • B60K2360/00—Indexing scheme associated with groups B60K35/00 or B60K37/00 relating to details of instruments or dashboards
    • B60K2360/143—Touch sensitive instrument input devices
    • B60K2360/1438—Touch screens
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60K—ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
    • B60K2360/00—Indexing scheme associated with groups B60K35/00 or B60K37/00 relating to details of instruments or dashboards
    • B60K2360/828—Mounting or fastening exchangeable modules

Definitions

  • This invention is directed at the control of electronic modules in a motor vehicle center console area by using infrared signals transmitted from electronics in a trim panel or faceplate which can be used to activate various comfort features in the vehicle.
  • infrared signals transmitted from electronics in a trim panel or faceplate which can be used to activate various comfort features in the vehicle.
  • center console area of the vehicle With the current demand by consumers for additional comfort features in today's motor vehicles and the proliferation of electronic devices in the vehicle, space in the center console area of the vehicle is at a premium. In addition, the center console area comes under close scrutiny by the vehicle occupants for a pleasing fit of components as well as for ease of access, without confusion, to control the multitude of electronically controlled features.
  • Today's center console area may include, the controls for the vehicle heating/ventilation/air conditioning (HNAC) system, radio, CD player, global positioning system, telephone; laptop computer, window raising/lowering, door lock/unlock, rear window defogger, rear window wiper, side mirror adjustment, hood release, trunk latch, cassette player, fog lights and numerous other comfort and safety features.
  • HNAC vehicle heating/ventilation/air conditioning
  • it is a general objective of this invention is to control electronic modules in a motor vehicle by using appropriate wireless signals transmitted in a trim panel or faceplate to activate various features in the vehicle, and reduce the quantity and complexity necessitated by conventional hard-wiring technology.
  • Another further object of the present invention is to use lensing to direct the infrared signals from a face plate or control switch to the receivers for various electronic modules. It is still a further object of the present invention to provide transceivers at both the faceplate or control switch and electronic module to allow control switches to indicate when a feature is activated by lighting an LED or similar device in the control switch or face plate.
  • the non-contact control apparatus is integrated into a closeout panel or faceplate containing switches for various safety and comfort features in the Vehicle and communicates with the electronic modules remotely through infrared or like signals.
  • Multiple modules can be controlled by a single faceplate using multiple IR signal frequencies, one for each device, or by using lensing to direct the signal to the appropriate electronic module receiver.
  • the various control switches may comprise transceivers that both emit signals to activate or control the electronic module and to receive a signal from the module and indicate through an LED or other lighting system integrated into the, switch that the device is operating.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an instrument panel for a motor vehicle according to the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the instrument panel of FIG. 1 taken through the center console area looking in the direction of arrow A.
  • FIG. 1 there is illustrated an instrument panel 10 for a motor vehicle comprising an instfument cluster 12, air vents 14, a glove box 16 and a center console or stack area 18.
  • the center console generally comprises a plurality of control switches mounted on faceplates which activate electronic modules stored in the center console/stack area of the instrument panel of the vehicle. These may include, but are not limited to, HNAC controls, radio and CD player controls, GPS controls, a touch screen, etc.
  • FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken through the center console area of the instrument panel of FIG. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows A.
  • the instrument panel upper surface is indicated at 10A and the center console area of the instrument panel is indicated at 18A.
  • a faceplate or closeout panel is shown at 20 that covers the electronic modules 22 installed in the center stack area 18A.
  • the faceplate 20 may be a single panel covering the entire front of the console area 18A or may be a series of faceplates for each feature or multiple features that adjoin one another to aesthetically close out the front of the console area 18A.
  • the 20 may include electronics (circuit board, flex circuit, etc.) which are powered through a connection 28 from the power system in the vehicle and may further comprise a variety of control switches, knobs, buttons, touch screen, etc. that when accessed by the vehicle occupant will initiate an infrared signal to be sent to the respective electronic module for activating the feature chosen.
  • electronics circuit board, flex circuit, etc.
  • the faceplate 20 contains electronics which allow it to act as a remote control device by sending the preferred infrared signals to the various electronic modules installed preferably behind the faceplate 20 to activate those modules 22 at the urging of a vehicle occupant.
  • the faceplate electronics will receive a signal back from a module 22 indicating activation and displaying a light such as a LED on or near the control switch on the face plate.
  • a preferred transceiver or signal emitter of IR or other similar electronic signal is indicated at 24 and a receiver or transceiver for receiving the signal at the electronic module is shown at 26.
  • the faceplate or closeout panel 20 of the present invention preferably comprises an injection molded plastic panel which has the control circuitry for controlling the remote control transmitter and the various functions of remote control disposed on or near its rear surface. This all may be preferably accomplished by attaching control circuitry in the form of a PC board, flex circuitry or other devices to the rear of the faceplate or closeout panel and allowing switches to project through the front of the faceplate or closeout panel.
  • the control circuitry may then include remote control circuitry and remote control transmitters.
  • the control circuitry preferably controls an infrared LED 24 and causes infrared LED 24 to transmit predetermined infrared signals in response to activation of one or a plurality of control switches. LED 24 is preferably positioned to direct infrared light in the direction of one or a plurality of receivers 26.
  • the switches may be momentary contact switches, membrane switches, a touch screen or like means of activating the control signal.
  • Various signals can be sent from one or more emitting devices in the faceplate to the various electronic modules by varying the frequency of the signal such that only a specific module recognizes the signal or by using lensing and physical blockers to direct the signal to the appropriate module and prevent any cross talk.
  • the invention herein is preferably configured with the faceplate containing the associated control circuitry, it can be appreciated that the wireless advantages of this invention can be used anywhere in the vehicle.
  • the .transmitter or transceiver .24 may be an entirely portable device allowing the user to activate any electrical or electro-mechanical device in the vehicle from any location within or around the vehicle.
  • the electronic systems used herein relies upon IR signals.
  • any suitable wireless type signal may be employed. This includes, but is not limited to wireless signals of the radiofrequency type (FM or AM), microwave, optical, laser, etc.
  • the invention is preferably directed to a non-contact control apparatus for electronic modules located, e.g., in the center console or stack area of a motor vehicle instrument panel.
  • the center console that is referenced herein refers to an area near the center of the vehicle where numerous controls for vehicle electronic features are typically clustered.
  • This area may encompass, e.g., a roof console as part ' of the vehicle headliner that extends from the windshield rearward along the center line of the vehicle.
  • this area may encompass a console which is placed between the front bucket seats of the vehicle and extends from the instrument panel rearward into the rear seating area.
  • the primary location for a center console containing electronic controls for features in the vehicle is in the center of the instrument panel.
  • this console is often integrated into the instrument panel in the form of unitary construction while in sedan type vehicles and trucks the console is frequently a separate molded structure fastened to the instrument panel

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Fittings On The Vehicle Exterior For Carrying Loads, And Devices For Holding Or Mounting Articles (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne une console destinée à un véhicule, ce véhicule comprenant un tableau de bord et un système électrique, la console comportant une structure de montage située dans le tableau de bord, un ou plusieurs modules électroniques montés dans cette structure de montage, et une ou plusieurs plaques frontale situées devant les modules électroniques. Chaque plaque frontale comprend des commutateurs de commande destinés à activer les modules électroniques. Un générateur de signal électronique de commande distant est monté sur les plaques frontales, ce générateur de signal distant recevant de l'énergie électrique en provenance du système électrique. Lors de l'activation des commutateurs de commande, un signal est envoyé à partir du générateur de signal électronique distant vers un ou plusieurs modules électroniques en vue d'activer ou de désactiver un ou plusieurs modules électroniques.
PCT/US2003/038936 2002-12-10 2003-12-09 Connexion sans fil pour module electronique dans une console centrale de vehicule WO2004052674A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU2003293453A AU2003293453A1 (en) 2002-12-10 2003-12-09 Wireless connection for electronic module in vehicle center console

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US43236402P 2002-12-10 2002-12-10
US60/432,364 2002-12-10

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2004052674A1 true WO2004052674A1 (fr) 2004-06-24

Family

ID=32507910

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US2003/038936 WO2004052674A1 (fr) 2002-12-10 2003-12-09 Connexion sans fil pour module electronique dans une console centrale de vehicule

Country Status (2)

Country Link
AU (1) AU2003293453A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO2004052674A1 (fr)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1833698A2 (fr) * 2004-08-12 2007-09-19 Collins & Aikman Products Co. Plaque frontale integree pour modules electroniques d'une console centrale de vehicule conçue autour de fentes destinees au passage d'un support d'informations
WO2014139637A1 (fr) * 2013-03-13 2014-09-18 Dr. Ing. H.C. F. Porsche Agencement de console centrale pour véhicule automobile
US9840858B2 (en) 2014-05-29 2017-12-12 Ford Global Technologies, Llc Deployable hood release handle
US10584521B2 (en) 2016-09-07 2020-03-10 Ford Global Technologies, Llc Mechanism to open hood
US10808436B2 (en) 2016-09-13 2020-10-20 Ford Global Technologies, Llc Remote secondary hood latch release

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0491095A1 (fr) * 1990-12-17 1992-06-24 UNITED TECHNOLOGIES AUTOMOTIVE, Inc. Système de multiplexage pour automobile, à conducteur unique, utilisant des ondes infrarouges à réflexion aléatoire
EP0869036A2 (fr) * 1997-03-31 1998-10-07 Mazda Motor Corporation Appareil pour équipement électronique
US5940007A (en) * 1996-02-24 1999-08-17 Mercedes-Benz Ag Remote control system for motor vehicle related devices
US6028537A (en) * 1996-06-14 2000-02-22 Prince Corporation Vehicle communication and remote control system

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0491095A1 (fr) * 1990-12-17 1992-06-24 UNITED TECHNOLOGIES AUTOMOTIVE, Inc. Système de multiplexage pour automobile, à conducteur unique, utilisant des ondes infrarouges à réflexion aléatoire
US5940007A (en) * 1996-02-24 1999-08-17 Mercedes-Benz Ag Remote control system for motor vehicle related devices
US6028537A (en) * 1996-06-14 2000-02-22 Prince Corporation Vehicle communication and remote control system
EP0869036A2 (fr) * 1997-03-31 1998-10-07 Mazda Motor Corporation Appareil pour équipement électronique

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1833698A2 (fr) * 2004-08-12 2007-09-19 Collins & Aikman Products Co. Plaque frontale integree pour modules electroniques d'une console centrale de vehicule conçue autour de fentes destinees au passage d'un support d'informations
EP1833698A4 (fr) * 2004-08-12 2010-03-31 Collins & Aikman Prod Co Plaque frontale integree pour modules electroniques d'une console centrale de vehicule conçue autour de fentes destinees au passage d'un support d'informations
WO2014139637A1 (fr) * 2013-03-13 2014-09-18 Dr. Ing. H.C. F. Porsche Agencement de console centrale pour véhicule automobile
US9840858B2 (en) 2014-05-29 2017-12-12 Ford Global Technologies, Llc Deployable hood release handle
US10584521B2 (en) 2016-09-07 2020-03-10 Ford Global Technologies, Llc Mechanism to open hood
US10808436B2 (en) 2016-09-13 2020-10-20 Ford Global Technologies, Llc Remote secondary hood latch release

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Publication number Publication date
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