# US 2008/0186282 A1 · Method for attributing equipment operation to a specific operator > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2008/0186282 A1 - Document ID: US20080186282A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 11/700,776 - Filed: 2007-02-01 - Published: 2008-08-07 - Earliest claimed: 2007-02-01 - Assignees: Hella Electronics Corporation - Inventors: Axel Nix; Marc Rosenmayr; Brigitte Dorothea Nitsche; Thomas Patrick Harvey - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20080186282A1 ## CPC - B60R 11/02: for radio sets, television sets, telephones, or the like; Arrangement of controls thereof - B60K 35/10: Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor - B60K 35/22: Display screens - B60R 21/01532: {using electric or capacitive field sensors} - G06F 3/0416: {Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers} - B60K 35/654: {the user being the driver} - B60K 35/656: {the user being a passenger} - B60K 2360/141: Activation of instrument input devices by approaching fingers or pens - B60R 11/0264: {for control means} - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - 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) ## Abstract A system, apparatus, and method are provided for controlling equipment operable by a plurality of operators. A control state evaluation device is configured to evaluate a control state of an equipment control. A signal detection device is configured to detect if a signal associated with an operator of the equipment control is present. A process controller is configured to activate a first equipment function if the signal from the equipment control is present, and is configured to activate a second equipment function if the signal is not present. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for controlling vehicle equipment, comprising: a signal generator; a conductive surface operatively connected to the signal generator; and a touch screen apparatus, wherein the touch screen apparatus includes a touch screen; a control state evaluator operatively connected to the touch screen; a signal detector operatively connected to the touch screen; and a process controller configured to detect an output from the signal detector and an output of the control state evaluator, wherein the controller is configured to activate a first function based upon a detected signal from the signal generator, and is configured to activate a second function if the signal from the signal generator is not detected. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, wherein the conductive surface is provided within a passenger's seat within a vehicle. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system according to claim 2, wherein the seat is a driver's seat. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The system according to claim 2, wherein the seat is a seat adjacent to a driver's seat within a vehicle. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, wherein the process controller is configured to associate a first system user, based upon the detected signal, with the output of the control state evaluator. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The system according to claim 5, wherein the process controller is configured to associate another system user, if the signal from the signal generator is not detected by the signal detector, with the output of the control state evaluator. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, further comprising a seat operatively coupled with the signal generator, wherein the signal detector is configured to detect a signal passing from the signal generator, through the conductive surface and a user to the touch screen. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The system according to claim 7, wherein the signal detector is configured to detect the signal passing through an operator seated within the seat. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, wherein the signal generator is a keyless go device, and the process controller is configured to identify a user based upon the signal from the keyless go device. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, wherein the touch screen apparatus is a dual view touch screen device, capable of simultaneously presenting different displays to different users. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, wherein the conductive surface is a seat heating matt within a vehicle seat, and the signal generator is capacitively, resistively, or electrostatically coupled with the seat heating matt. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system according to claim 11, further comprising a common mode rejection choke operatively connected between the seat heating matt and a vehicle power supply and ground. ### Claim 13 A method for controlling equipment, the method comprising: evaluating a control state of an equipment control; detecting if a signal associated with an operator of the equipment control is present; and based upon the evaluated control state: activating a first equipment function if the signal from the equipment control is present; or activating a second equipment function if the signal is not present. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, wherein the equipment control is a touch screen for a touch screen apparatus. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, wherein the equipment control is a touch screen for a dual view touch screen apparatus, simultaneously presenting different displays to different users. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, wherein the equipment control is operatively connected to equipment within a vehicle. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, further comprising: associating the evaluated control state with a first operator of the equipment if the signal is present and associating the evaluated control state with a second operator of the equipment control if the signal is not present. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, further comprising: transmitting a signal from a signal generator, via an operator, to a conductive surface of the equipment control, wherein the signal is a capacitively, resistively, or electrostatically coupled signal generated by the signal generator. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, wherein evaluating the control state comprises determining a position of an input to the equipment control. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method according to claim 19, further comprising: associating the input to the equipment control, if the signal is present, to a first passenger of a vehicle; and associating the input to the equipment control, if the signal is not present, to a second passenger of a vehicle. ### Claim 21 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, further comprising: attributing equipment operation to a specific operator from among a plurality of operators based on detecting the signal. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The method according to claim 21, wherein the operators comprise a driver and a front passenger in a motor vehicle, and the signal is operatively coupled with a front passenger seat of the motor vehicle. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The method according to claim 21, further comprising indicating, with an occupant detection sensor, if a driver or a front passenger is occupying a front seat of a motor vehicle. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The method according to claim 23, wherein the signal is operatively coupled with the front passenger seat of the motor vehicle if the occupant detection sensor indicates that the front passenger seat is occupied and the signal is not coupled with the front passenger seat if the occupant detection sensor indicates that the front passenger seat is not occupied. ### Claim 25 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, further comprising: displaying a button on a dual view touch screen in a vehicle visible from a passenger view; and displaying a button on the dual view touch screen in the vehicle visible from a driver view. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The method according to claim 25, wherein activating the first equipment function comprises activating a function associated with a passenger in the vehicle if the touch screen is touched at a position corresponding to the button visible from the passenger view and the signal is present, and activating the second equipment function comprises activating a function associated with a driver in the vehicle if the touch screen is touched at a position corresponding to the button visible from the driver view and the signal is not present. ### Claim 27 (depends on 25) The method according to claim 25, further comprising rendering the second function equipment function inactive if the signal is not present and the vehicle is moving. ### Claim 28 An apparatus for controlling equipment operable by a plurality of operators, comprising: a control state evaluation device configured to evaluate a control state of an equipment control; a signal detection device configured to detect if a signal associated with an operator of the equipment control is present; and a process controller configured to activate a first equipment function if the signal from the equipment control is present, and configured to activate a second equipment function if the signal is not present. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the signal detection device is configured to detect if a second signal associated with another operator of the equipment control is present. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The apparatus according to claim 29, further comprising a signal generator for generating each of the signals associated with the operators. ### Claim 31 (depends on 29) The apparatus according to claim 29, further comprising a plurality of signal generators for generating the respective signals associated with each of the operators. ### Claim 32 A system for controlling vehicle equipment via a touch screen apparatus, comprising: a first conductive surface operatively connected to a first signal generator; a second conductive surface operatively connected to the first signal generator or a second signal generator; and the touch screen apparatus, the touch screen apparatus comprising: a dual view touch screen; a control state evaluator operatively connected to the touch screen; a signal detector operatively connected to the touch screen; and a process controller configured to detect an output from the signal detector and an output of the control state evaluator, wherein the process controller is configured to activate a first function based upon a detected signal from the first conductive surface, and to activate a second function based upon a detected signal from the second conductive surface. ### Claim 33 A touch screen apparatus comprising: a dual view touch screen, the dual view touch screen enabling control of vehicle equipment though a first operator and at least a second operator upon touching a screen of the dual view touch screen; and a process controller for activating a first function based upon a first signal associated with the first operator and for activating a second function based upon a second signal associated with the second operator, the first signal being provided to the process controller when the first operator touches the screen and the second signal being provided to the process controller when the second operator touches the screen, wherein the first signal and the second signal are generated by at least one signal generator, and wherein the first function and the second function each control functions of the vehicle equipment and are each associated with the first operator and the second operator, respectively. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) The touch screen apparatus according to claim 33, wherein the first signal and the second signal are provided from the at least one signal generator to the process controller via conductive surfaces that are respectively associated with the first operator and the second operator. ### Claim 35 (depends on 33) The touch screen apparatus according to claim 33, wherein the at least one signal generator comprises a first signal generator and a second signal generator.