# US 12,015,400 B2 · Rotary switch device for vehicle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,015,400 B2 - Document ID: US12015400B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/480,544 - Filed: 2021-09-21 - Published: 2022-06-30 - Granted: 2024-06-18 - Earliest claimed: 2020-12-30 - Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company; Kia Corporation - Applicants: Hyundai Motor Company; Kia Corporation - Inventors: Sang Hoon Shin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12015400B2 ## CPC - H03K 17/97: using a magnetic movable element - B60K 35/10: Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor - B60K 35/212: {displaying on manual operation elements, e.g. on a knob} - B60K 35/25: using haptic output - H01H 19/025: {Light-emitting indicators} - H01H 19/14: Operating parts, e.g. turn knob - H01H 36/00: Switches actuated by change of magnetic field or of electric field, e.g. by change of relative position of magnet and switch, by shielding - B60K 2360/126: Rotatable input devices for instruments - H01H 2231/026: Car - H03K 2217/94057: Rotary switches - H03K 2217/94068: with magnetic detection - H03K 2217/96023: Details of electro-mechanic connections between different elements, e.g.: sensing plate and integrated circuit containing electronics - H03K: PULSE TECHNIQUE (measuring pulse characteristics G01R; modulating sinusoidal oscillations with pulses H03C; transmission of digital information H04L; discriminator circuits detecting phase difference between two signals by counting or integrating cycles of oscillation H03D3/04; automatic control, starting, synchronisation or stabilisation of generators of electronic oscillations or pulses where the type of generator is irrelevant or unspecified H03L; coding, decoding or code conversion, in general H03M) - 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 - H01H: ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES (contact cables H01B7/10; electrolytic self-interrupters H01G9/18; emergency protective circuit arrangements H02H; switching by electronic means without contact-making H03K17/00) ## Abstract A rotary switch device for a vehicle includes a rotary dial module including a plurality of sensors, a material configured to react to a magnetic force, and a base module that generates a magnetic force greater than or equal to a threshold value to enable the rotary dial module to be attached to the base module and transmits detection results from the plurality of sensors included in the rotary dial module to an electronic device inside the vehicle when the rotary dial module is attached to the base module. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A rotary switch device for a vehicle, the rotary switch device comprising: a rotary dial module including a plurality of sensors and a material configured to react to a magnetic force; and a base module configured to generate a magnetic force greater than or equal to a threshold value to enable the rotary dial module to be attached to the base module and transmit detection results from the plurality of sensors included in the rotary dial module to an electronic device inside the vehicle when the rotary dial module is attached to the base module; wherein the base module comprises a magnetic coil configured to generate the magnetic force according to a received current; and wherein the rotary dial module is detached from the base module when the magnetic force generated by the magnetic coil is less than the threshold value. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The rotary switch device of claim 1, wherein the rotary dial module includes a display disposed in an upper portion of the rotary dial module and a magnetic substance in a lower portion of the rotary dial module. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The rotary switch device of claim 1, wherein the rotary dial module further includes a battery that is wirelessly charged according to a magnetic field generated by the base module when attached to the base module. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The rotary switch device of claim 1, wherein the rotary dial module further includes: a lighting module configured to turn on a light indicator in a specific portion, and a communication module configured to communicate with the base module. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The rotary switch device of claim 1, wherein the rotary dial module further includes a haptic module configured to generate a vibration pattern corresponding to a function selected by the plurality of sensors. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The rotary switch device of claim 1, wherein the base module further comprises: a magnetic force control driver configured to control the current provided to the magnetic coil; a communication module configured to communicate with the rotary dial module; a lighting module configured to turn on a light indicator in a portion to which the rotary dial module is to be attached; a CAN communication module configured to communicate with the electronic device inside the vehicle, and a functional switch configured to transmit an operational input of an occupant. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The rotary switch device of claim 1, wherein the base module includes: a first magnetic force generating region in which the magnetic force for attachment of the rotary dial module is generated, and a second magnetic force generating region in which a magnetic force is additionally generated to provide operational feeing when the rotary dial module is rotated. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The rotary switch device of claim 7, wherein the second magnetic force generating region is a region in which a magnetic force is additionally generated in the form of a pulse in which a magnitude of the magnetic force repeatedly increases and decreases. ### Claim 9 A method for operating a rotary switch device for a vehicle, the method comprising: an attachment force setting step of generating and maintaining a magnetic force greater than or equal to a threshold value, by providing a current to a magnetic coil, when a rotary dial module is attached to an upper portion of a base module; an attachment maintenance determination step of determining whether the vehicle is in an autonomous driving mode or a detachment condition is satisfied; a sensor activation step of activating sensors included in the rotary dial module and receiving detection results of the activated sensors, when it is determined in the attachment maintenance determination step that the vehicle is in an autonomous driving mode or the detachment condition is satisfied; a detachment situation determination step of determining a detachment situation based on the detection results in the sensor activation step; and a first attachment force change step of changing the magnetic force to be less than the threshold value, by controlling the current to the magnetic coil of the base module, when the detachment situation is determined in the detachment situation determination step. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the detachment condition includes entrance to a detachment mode through an input from a functional switch of the base module or the sensors of the rotary dial module. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the detachment situation includes a situation in which a pressure greater than or equal to a preset pressure is detected based on the detection results provided from the sensors of the rotary dial module, a situation in which a change of position of the rotary dial module is detected, or a situation in which a touch input is determined as a detachment input. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising: a sensor detection step of activating the plurality of sensors included in the rotary dial module and receiving the detection results provided from the plurality of sensors when it is determined in the attachment maintenance step that the vehicle is not in an autonomous driving mode or the detachment condition is not satisfied, a function and mode selection step of selecting a function or mode corresponding to the detection results received in the sensor detection step, and a second attachment force change step of additionally generating a magnetic force whose magnitude is repeatedly increased or decreased.