# US 11,110,798 B2 · Multi-function vehicle input apparatuses with operational buttons for vehicle systems control and methods incorporating the same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,110,798 B2 - Document ID: US11110798B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/264,054 - Filed: 2019-01-31 - Published: 2020-08-06 - Granted: 2021-09-07 - Earliest claimed: 2019-01-31 - Assignees: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc. - Applicants: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc. - Inventors: John Charles Rafferty; Lou M. Pope; Clinton J. Williams - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11110798B2 ## CPC - B62D 1/046: {Adaptations on rotatable parts of the steering wheel for accommodation of switches} - B60K 35/10: Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor - B60K 35/22: Display screens - B60K 35/60: Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles (arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10) - G06F 3/03547: {Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface} - B60K 35/25: using haptic output - B60K 35/26: using acoustic output - B60K 35/80: Arrangements for controlling instruments - B60K 35/81: for controlling displays - B60K 2360/1434: Touch panels - B60K 2360/1446: Touch switches - B60K 2360/782: on the steering wheel - G02B 27/0149: {characterised by mechanical features (G02B27/0176 takes precedence)} - G06F 3/0202: {Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device} - G06F 3/04847: Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials - G09G 2380/10: Automotive applications - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) - 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 - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - G09G: ARRANGEMENTS OR CIRCUITS FOR CONTROL OF INDICATING DEVICES USING STATIC MEANS TO PRESENT VARIABLE INFORMATION (arrangements for transferring data between digital computers and displays G06F3/14; static indicating arrangements comprising an association of a number of separate sources or light control cells G09F9/00; static indicating arrangements comprising integral associations of a number of light sources H01J, H01K, H10H, H05B33/12; scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission, details thereof H04N1/00) ## Abstract A multi-function input apparatus of a steering wheel that includes a plurality of outer buttons that correspond to a plurality of vehicle systems, such that actuation of at least one of the plurality of outer buttons selects a corresponding vehicle system from the plurality of vehicle systems. The apparatus includes a touch pad having a capacitive touch surface that is positioned adjacent the plurality of outer buttons. In response to actuation of the capacitive surface the touch pad is configured to navigate through and select a setting of a plurality of settings of the selected vehicle system. The apparatus further includes a confirmation button positioned adjacent to the touch pad that corresponds to a confirmation input such that actuation of the confirmation button actuates the selected setting of the selected vehicle system. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A multi-function input apparatus of a steering wheel, the multi-function input apparatus comprising: a plurality of outer buttons, the plurality of outer buttons correspond to a plurality of vehicle systems such that actuation of at least one of the plurality of outer buttons selects a corresponding vehicle system from the plurality of vehicle systems; a touch pad having a capacitive touch surface, the touch pad is position adjacent the plurality of outer buttons such that the plurality of outer buttons border a first edge of the touch pad, in response to actuation of the capacitive surface the touch pad is configured to navigate through and select a setting of a plurality of settings of the selected vehicle system; and a confirmation button positioned to border a second edge of the touch pad, the second edge being adjacent to and different from the first edge of the touch pad, the confirmation button corresponds to a confirmation input such that actuation of the confirmation button actuates the selected setting of the selected vehicle system. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The multi-function input apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of outer buttons and the confirmation button are elevated relative to the capacitive surface of the touch pad. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The multi-function input apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of outer buttons generates a tactile feedback in response to actuation of the plurality of outer buttons. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The multi-function input apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of outer buttons generates an audible feedback in response to actuation of the plurality of outer buttons. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The multi-function input apparatus of claim 1, wherein selected vehicle system is unselected in response to actuation of at least one of the plurality of outer buttons. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The multi-function input apparatus of claim 1, wherein the touch pad is selectively depressible and is configured to actuate the selected setting of the plurality of settings in response to a depression of the touch pad. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The multi-function input apparatus of claim 6, wherein the actuation of the confirmation button is configured to actuate the selected setting of the plurality of settings. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The multi-function input apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of outer buttons are resiliently biased to inhibit a depression of plurality of the outer buttons. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The multi-function input apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a display device, wherein the touch pad is communicatively coupled to the display device such that actuation of the capacitive surface of the touch pad displays the plurality of vehicle systems on the display device. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The multi-function input apparatus of claim 9, wherein actuation of the touch pad displays on the display device the plurality of settings of the selected vehicle system. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The multi-function input apparatus of claim 1, wherein the touch pad, the plurality outer buttons and the confirmation button are positioned on a center hub of the steering wheel adjacent to an outer rim of the steering wheel. ### Claim 12 A steering wheel of a vehicle, the steering wheel comprising: an outer rim; a center hub disposed within the outer rim; and an input apparatus positioned on the center hub, the input apparatus includes a plurality of outer buttons, a touch pad, and a confirmation button, the touch pad is positioned adjacent to the plurality of outer buttons and the confirmation button, the touch pad includes a capacitive surface; wherein the plurality of outer buttons correspond to a plurality of vehicle systems such that actuation of at least one of the plurality of outer buttons selects a corresponding vehicle system, wherein a plurality of settings of the selected vehicle system are navigable in response to actuation of capacitive surface of the touch pad and at least one of the plurality of settings is selectable in response to actuation of the confirmation button, wherein, in response to actuating at least one of the plurality of outer buttons, an operability of other outer buttons of the plurality of outer buttons is deactivated. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The steering wheel of claim 12, wherein the corresponding vehicle system comprises a Global Positioning System, an HVAC system, or a communications module. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The steering wheel of claim 12 further comprising a display device, wherein the plurality of outer buttons are communicatively coupled to the display device such that the display device displays data indicative of the selected vehicle system corresponding to the actuated outer button. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The steering wheel of claim 14, wherein the touch pad is communicatively coupled to the display device such that the display device displays data indicative of the plurality of settings of the selected vehicle system in response to conductive contact with the capacitive surface. ### Claim 16 A multi-function input apparatus of a vehicle having a steering wheel, the multi-function input apparatus comprising: a touch pad positioned on the steering wheel of the vehicle, the touch pad including a capacitive surface that is selectively actuated in response to conductive contact with the capacitive surface; a plurality of outer buttons positioned so as to partially border the touch pad; a confirmation button positioned so as to partially border the touch pad; a processor; and non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-readable instructions that, when executed, causes the processor to: select a vehicle system in response to at least one of the plurality of outer buttons being actuated; navigate a plurality of settings of the selected vehicle system in response to actuation of the capacitive surface; actuating at least one of the plurality of settings in response to the confirmation button being actuated; and in response to actuating at least one of the plurality of outer buttons, deactivating an operability of other outer buttons of the plurality of outer buttons. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The multi-function input apparatus of claim 16, wherein the non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-readable instructions, when executed, causes the processor to adjust the at least one of the plurality of settings of the selected vehicle system in response to the actuation of the capacitive surface. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The multi-function input apparatus of claim 16, wherein the non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-readable instructions, when executed, causes the processor to display the plurality of settings of the selected vehicle system on a display device.