# US 2014/0156107 A1 · Control apparatus and method for controlling operation target device in vehicle, and steering wheel

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- Number: US 2014/0156107 A1
- Document ID: US20140156107A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/176,626
- Filed: 2014-02-10
- Published: 2014-06-05
- Earliest claimed: 2012-04-09
- Assignees: JVC KENWOOD Corporation
- Applicants: JVC KENWOOD Corporation
- Inventors: Manabu KARASAWA; Koichi NAKAJIMA; Ryo KONDO; Toru DOIGAKI; Shunsuke FUKUDA; Ryo IDEGAMI
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140156107A1

## CPC

- G01C 21/3664: {Details of the user input interface, e.g. buttons, knobs or sliders, including those provided on a touch screen; remote controllers; input using gestures}
- B60K 35/10: Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
- B60K 35/60: Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles (arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10)
- B60K 35/80: Arrangements for controlling instruments
- B60R 16/023: for transmission of signals between vehicle parts or subsystems
- B60K 20/06: mounted on steering column or the like
- B60K 35/50: Instruments characterised by their means of attachment to or integration in the vehicle (B60K35/231 takes precedence)
- B60K 2360/143: Touch sensitive instrument input devices
- B60K 2360/782: on the steering wheel
- B60Q 1/00: Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor (for lighting vehicle interior B60Q3/00)
- B60Q 1/48: for parking purposes
- B60Q 9/006: {using a distance sensor}
- B62D 1/046: {Adaptations on rotatable parts of the steering wheel for accommodation of switches}
- B62D 6/00: Arrangements for automatically controlling steering depending on driving conditions sensed and responded to, e.g. control circuits (means for initiating a change in direction B62D1/00; steering valves B62D5/06; combined with means for inclining the vehicle body or wheels on bends B62D9/00)
- G06F 1/16: Constructional details or arrangements
- G06F 3/023: Arrangements for converting discrete items of information into a coded form, e.g. arrangements for interpreting keyboard generated codes as alphanumeric codes, operand codes or instruction codes
- G06F 17/00: Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific functions (information retrieval, database structures or file system structures therefor G06F16/00)
- G01C: MEASURING DISTANCES, LEVELS OR BEARINGS; SURVEYING; NAVIGATION; GYROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS; PHOTOGRAMMETRY OR VIDEOGRAMMETRY (measuring liquid level G01F; radio navigation, determining distance or velocity by use of propagation effects, e.g. Doppler effects, propagation time, of radio waves, analogous arrangements using other waves G01S)
- 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
- B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60Q: ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- 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)
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)

## Abstract

A first detector is configured to detect a state where a first area in a touch sensor mounted on a grip portion that a driver grips on a steering wheel is touched. A second detector is configured to detect a state where a particular input operation is performed on a second area located on the upper side of the first area in the touch sensor. A controller is configured to control an operation target device to be operated with the touch sensor according to the particular input operation when the first detector detects the state where the first area is touched and the second detector detects the state where the particular input operation is performed.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A control apparatus for controlling an operation target device in a vehicle, comprising:
a first detector configured to detect a state where a first area in a touch sensor mounted on a grip portion that a driver grips on a steering wheel is touched;
a second detector configured to detect a state where a particular input operation is performed on a second area located on an upper side of the first area in the touch sensor; and
a controller configured to control an operation target device to be operated with the touch sensor according to the particular input operation when the first detector detects the state where the first area is touched and the second detector detects the state where the particular input operation is performed.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The control apparatus for controlling an operation target device in a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the first detector determines that the first area is touched when the first detector detects a predetermined area or greater of the first area being touched.

### Claim 3

A method for controlling an operation target device in a vehicle, comprising:
detecting a state where a first area in a touch sensor mounted on a grip portion that a driver grips on a steering wheel is touched;
detecting a particular input operation being performed on a second area located on an upper side of the first area in the touch sensor in the state where the first area is touched; and
controlling an operation target device to be operated with the touch sensor according to the particular input operation when detecting the particular input operation being performed.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method for controlling an operation target device in a vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the state where the first area is touched is detected when detecting a predetermined area or greater of the first area being touched.