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US 10,705,666 B2Granted
Vehicle interior component with user interface
AssigneeShanghai Yangfeng Jinqiao Automotive Trim Systems Co. Ltd.
InventorsChristopher Kring, Mario J. Enriques Ortiz, Tyler J. Newkirk, Ankit Singh
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A user interface system for a vehicle interior includes a contact surface, a sensor grid and a controller. The sensor grid is configured for variable electrical resistance in response to applied pressure and the controller is configured to detect the electrical resistance of the sensor grid by monitoring a voltage. The controller detects the location of an input from a vehicle occupant, the intensity of the input, and the duration of the input.
Claims21
A vehicle interior component providing a user interface for an occupant of a vehicle at a non-translucent surface on a pressure-compressible material comprising:
- a base;
- a cover configured to provide a contact surface providing the user interface;
- a sensor grid between the cover and the base and configured to provide an electrical signal in response to input from the user interface at the contact surface;
- a controller;
- and
- a compressible layer comprising a deformable material between the cover and the base;
- wherein the user interface for the occupant of the vehicle is presented at the contact surface of the cover and integrated with the deformable material of the compressible layer and the sensor grid;
- wherein the sensor grid is configured so that input from the user interface comprises a variable electrical signal provided by applied pressure at the contact surface of the cover comprising at least one of (a) contact to the sensor grid at the contact surface by compressing the compressible layer;
- (b) contact to the sensor grid at the contact surface by deformation of the deformable material of the compressible layer;
- wherein the controller is configured for calibration and use of the variable electrical signal at the sensor grid as input at the user interface;
- wherein the deformable material of the compressible layer integrated with the user interface comprises a foam material;
- wherein the foam material comprising the deformable material of the compressible layer between the cover and the base comprises a deformable polyurethane foam material formed as a compressible polyurethane foam panel;
- wherein the cover comprises a non-translucent material providing the contact surface;
- wherein the non-translucent material of the cover comprises a flexible cover layer of at least one of (a) leather;
- (b) vinyl;
- (c) plastic;
- (d) wood;
- (e) textile fabric;
- wherein the deformable material of the compressible layer is configured to provide electrical properties detectable at the sensor grid and calibrated for operation of the user interface;
- wherein the electrical properties of the deformable material of the compressible layer comprise variation of electrical properties detectable at the sensor grid as a detected signal upon interaction at the deformable material of the compressible layer;
- wherein the user interface is configured to be operable upon interaction at the deformable material of the compressible layer by detection of variation of electrical properties by the detected signal at the sensor grid;
- wherein interaction at the deformable material comprises applied pressure at the contact surface of the cover;
- wherein the detected signal comprises the variable electrical signal;
- so that the user interface is presented across the deformable polyurethane foam material of the compressible layer and through the non-translucent material providing the contact surface of the cover.
21 more elements
A vehicle interior component providing a user interface comprising:
- (a) a base;
- (b) a cover configured to cover the base and comprising an exterior surface;
- and
- (c) an intermediate layer between the cover and the base;
- (d) a sensor grid at the intermediate layer;
- wherein the intermediate layer comprises at least one compressible layer comprising a deformable material;
- wherein the interface is provided at the exterior surface of the cover and integrated with the intermediate layer with at least one compressible layer comprising the deformable material and the sensor grid;
- and
- wherein the deformable material of the intermediate layer comprises a polyurethane foam;
- wherein the cover comprises a non-translucent flexible material;
- wherein the non-translucent flexible material of the cover comprises a cover layer of at least one of (a) leather;
- (b) vinyl;
- (c) plastic;
- (d) wood;
- (e) textile fabric;
- wherein the interface comprises a user interface presented across the polyurethane foam of the intermediate layer and through the non-translucent flexible material of the cover;
- wherein the deformable material of the compressible layer is configured to provide electrical properties detectable at the sensor grid and calibrated for operation of the user interface;
- wherein the electrical properties of the deformable material of the compressible layer comprise variation of electrical properties detectable at the sensor grid as a detected signal upon interaction at the deformable material of the compressible layer;
- wherein the user interface is configured to be operable upon interaction at the deformable material of the compressible layer by detection of variation of electrical properties by the detected signal at the sensor grid;
- wherein interaction at the deformable material comprises at least one of surface contact at the deformable material or deformation of the deformable material;
- wherein the sensor grid is configured to provide the detectable signal in response to deformation of the deformable material of the intermediate layer integrated with the user interface
- so that the user interface is provided at a non-translucent surface comprising the non-translucent material of the cover on a pressure-compressible material comprising the deformable material of the compressible layer.
19 more elements
A vehicle interior component comprising a user interface at a non-translucent surface on a pressure-deformable material configured for interaction with a vehicle occupant in a vehicle providing at least one vehicle system comprising:
- (a) a base;
- (b) a cover assembly comprising a cover comprising an exterior surface;
- (c) a compressible layer comprising a panel between the cover and the base;
- and
- (d) a sensor grid between the cover and the base;
- wherein the panel of the compressible layer comprises a deformable foam material;
- wherein the cover comprises a non-translucent flexible material covering the panel of the compressible layer comprising the deformable foam material;
- wherein the panel comprising the compressible layer comprises a deformable polyurethane foam panel;
- wherein the non-translucent flexible material of the cover comprises a cover layer of at least one of (a) leather;
- (b) vinyl;
- (c) plastic;
- (d) wood;
- (e) textile fabric;
- wherein the sensor grid is configured to provide a signal for at least one vehicle system in response to deformation of the deformable material of the compressible layer;
- wherein the user interface configured for interaction with the vehicle occupant is presented at the exterior surface of the cover through the non-translucent flexible material of the cover and across the panel of the compressible layer and integrated with the deformable material of the compressible layer and the sensor grid;
- wherein the deformable material of the compressible layer is configured to provide electrical properties detectable at the sensor grid and calibrated for operation of the user interface;
- wherein the electrical properties of the deformable material of the compressible layer comprise variation of electrical properties detectable at the sensor grid as a detected signal upon interaction at the deformable material of the compressible layer;
- wherein the user interface is configured to be operable upon interaction at the deformable material of the compressible layer by detection of variation of electrical properties by the detected signal at the sensor grid;
- wherein interaction at the deformable material comprises at least one of surface contact at the deformable material or compression of the deformable material;
- wherein the detected signal comprises the signal in response to deformation of the deformable material of the compressible layer;
- wherein the sensor grid for the user interface is configured to be calibrated for control of at least one vehicle system by the signal provided in response to deformation of the deformable material integrated with the user interface;
- so that the user interface is configured for control of at least one vehicle system by a vehicle occupant at the exterior surface of the cover through the signal provided at the sensor grid in response to deformation of the deformable material of the compressible layer integrated with the user interface.
19 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.