# US 2018/0320781 A1 · Vehicle and accessory control system

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- Number: US 2018/0320781 A1
- Document ID: US20180320781A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/037,370
- Filed: 2018-07-17
- Published: 2018-11-08
- Earliest claimed: 2017-01-16
- Assignees: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Hidehiko SHIBATA; Yusuke FUNAYOSE
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180320781A1

## CPC

- F16H 59/0217: {with electric switches or sensors not for gear or range selection, e.g. for controlling auxiliary devices}
- B60K 20/06: mounted on steering column or the like
- B60K 20/08: Dashboard means
- B60K 35/10: Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
- B60Q 1/0076: {Switches therefor (B60Q1/1446, B60Q1/343, B60Q1/40 take precedence)}
- B60Q 1/1469: {controlled by or attached to a single lever, e.g. steering column stalk switches}
- F16H 59/02: Selector apparatus
- F16H 59/044: {consisting of electrical switches or sensors}
- F16H 2059/0247: {with lever or paddle behind steering wheel}
- F16H: GEARING
- 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
- B60Q: ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL

## Abstract

A control system for a vehicle, such as an off-road recreational vehicle, that includes a powertrain and an accessory. The control system includes an actuator, such as a paddle shifter, configured to operate in a powertrain mode to control an aspect of the powertrain, and to operate in an accessory mode to control an aspect of the accessory. The control system also includes a selector configured to switch the actuator between the powertrain mode and the accessory mode.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A vehicle control system comprising:
a powertrain for powering the vehicle;
an accessory for use with the vehicle;
an actuator configured to operate in a powertrain mode to control an aspect of the powertrain, and to operate in an accessory mode to control an aspect of the accessory, the actuator comprising a first lever on one side of a steering wheel, and a second lever on an opposite side of the steering wheel; and
a selector configured to switch the actuator between the powertrain mode and the accessory mode;
wherein when the vehicle is in the accessory mode, actuation of the first lever causes a first operation of the accessory, and actuation of the second lever causes a second operation of the accessory, wherein the first operation and the second operation are different.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The vehicle control system of claim 1, wherein the selector is configured to select from a plurality of accessory modes to allow for control of an aspect of a plurality of accessories.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The vehicle control system of claim 1, wherein the accessory is one of a winch, a light, and an audio device.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The vehicle control system of claim 1, wherein the accessory is an audio device.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The vehicle control system of claim 1, wherein the powertrain comprises a plurality of gears, and the actuator is operable to shift between the plurality of gears in the powertrain mode.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The vehicle control system of claim 1, further comprising a control circuit operably connected to the accessory for allowing operation of the accessory independently of the actuator.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The vehicle control system of claim 1, wherein the powertrain is operable in an automatic transmission mode and a manual transmission mode.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The vehicle control system of claim 1, further comprising a controller for controlling an aspect of the powertrain in the powertrain mode.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The vehicle control system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is an off-road vehicle with a pair of seating surfaces arranged side-by-side, the seating surfaces being encompassed by a rollover protection system;
wherein the accessory is one of a winch having a cable, a light, and an audio device;
wherein the actuator comprises a pair of paddle shifters to enable actuation while one of the vehicle operator's hands grasps the steering wheel;
wherein the powertrain comprises a plurality of gears, and the first lever and the second lever are operable to shift between the plurality of gears in the powertrain mode;
wherein the selector is disposed on a dashboard of the vehicle, wherein the selector comprises a selector circuit having a pair of selector elements that move in unison;
wherein the vehicle further comprises a control circuit for operation of the accessory independently of the first lever and the second lever;
wherein when the vehicle is in the accessory mode and one of the first lever and the second lever is held in a retracted position, an operation of the accessory continues; and
wherein the vehicle further comprises a controller for controlling an aspect of the powertrain in the powertrain mode.

### Claim 10

A control system for use with a vehicle having a steering wheel that is configured to enable vehicle steering, the vehicle including a powertrain and an accessory, the control system comprising:
a paddle shifter configured to be disposed adjacent the steering wheel to enable actuation while one of the vehicle operator's hands grasps the steering wheel, the paddle shifter comprising a first lever on one side of the steering wheel and a second lever on an opposite side of the steering wheel, the paddle shifter being configured to operate in a powertrain mode to control an aspect of the powertrain, and to operate in an accessory mode to control an aspect of the accessory;
a controller operably connected to the powertrain and the paddle shifter for allowing operation of the powertrain with the paddle shifter in the powertrain mode;
a control circuit operably connected to the accessory for allowing operation of the accessory independently of the paddle shifter; and
a selector configured to switch between the powertrain mode and the accessory mode.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The control system of claim 10, wherein the accessory is one of a winch, a light, and an audio device.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The control system of claim 10, wherein when the vehicle is in the accessory mode, actuation of the first lever causes a first operation of the accessory, and actuation of the second lever causes a second operation of the accessory, wherein the first operation and the second operation are different.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The control system of claim 10, wherein the accessory is a winch having a cable, and wherein in the accessory mode, actuation of the first lever is operable to cause the cable to extend, and actuation of the second lever is operable to cause the cable to retract.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

The control system of claim 10, wherein when the vehicle is in the accessory mode and one of the first lever and the second lever is held in a retracted position, an operation of the accessory continues.

### Claim 15 (depends on 10)

The control system of claim 10, wherein the selector is configured to switch between a plurality of accessory modes.

### Claim 16

A vehicle control system comprising:
a powertrain for powering the vehicle;
an accessory for use with the vehicle;
a paddle shifter configured to operate in a powertrain mode to control an aspect of the powertrain, and to operate in an accessory mode to control an aspect of the accessory;
a selector configured to switch the actuator between the powertrain mode and the accessory mode; and
a control circuit operably connected to the accessory for allowing operation of the accessory independently of the paddle shifter.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The vehicle control system of claim 16, wherein the selector is configured to switch between a plurality of accessory modes.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The vehicle control system of claim 16, wherein the accessory is one of a winch, a light, and an audio device.

### Claim 19 (depends on 16)

The vehicle control system of claim 16, wherein when the vehicle is in the accessory mode, actuation of the paddle shifter causes a continuous operation of the accessory.

### Claim 20 (depends on 16)

The vehicle control system of claim 16, wherein the selector comprises a selector circuit having a pair of selector elements that move in unison.