Steering wheel interface module with retained presets
AssigneeMetra Electronics Corporation
InventorsCharles David Daly, William H. Jones, Jr.
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A steering wheel control interface module that can automatically detect the type of vehicle it is installed in and automatically detect the type of aftermarket radio it is sending messages to. In addition, the interface module can retain certain user pre-selects and use those to properly set the state of an aftermarket radio.
Claims20
A method of applying a user pre-select to an aftermarket stereo installed in a vehicle having a digital data bus and a digital data bus communication protocol, comprising:
- (a) providing an aftermarket stereo interface including a memory;
- (b) electrically connecting an input side of said aftermarket stereo interface to said digital data bus of said vehicle;
- (c) electrically connecting an output side of said aftermarket stereo interface to said aftermarket stereo;
- (d) said aftermarket stereo interface automatically detecting said data bus communication protocol of said digital data bus;
- (e) said aftermarket stereo interface automatically detecting a type of said aftermarket stereo;
- (f) said aftermarket stereo interface retrieving from memory an aftermarket stereo command format based on said type of said aftermarket stereo;
- (g) said aftermarket stereo interface retrieving said user pre-select from said memory;
- and
- (h) said aftermarket stereo interface transmitting a command in said aftermarket stereo command format to said aftermarket stereo, said command being based on said user pre-select.
A method of applying a user pre-select to an aftermarket stereo installed in a vehicle having a digital data bus and a digital data bus communication protocol, comprising:
- (a) providing an aftermarket stereo interface including a processor and an associated memory, said processor running software governing its operation;
- (b) connecting an input side of said aftermarket stereo interface to said digital data bus of said vehicle;
- (c) connecting an output side of said aftermarket stereo interface to said aftermarket stereo;
- (d) said aftermarket stereo interface automatically detecting said data bus communication protocol of said digital data bus;
- (e) said aftermarket stereo interface automatically detecting a type of said aftermarket stereo;
- (f) said aftermarket stereo interface retrieving from memory an aftermarket stereo command format based on said type of said aftermarket stereo;
- (g) said aftermarket stereo interface retrieving said user pre-select from said memory;
- and
- (h) said aftermarket stereo interface transmitting a command in said aftermarket stereo command format to said aftermarket stereo, said command being based on said user pre-select.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.