Method and apparatus for controlling an adjustable device

A method for controlling adjustment devices operable to adjust an object, each of the adjustment devices adjusting an adjustable aspect of the object, said method comprising:

• providing a touch pad means which has an array of manually touchable areas and which provides signals indicative of manual touches to the areas;
• providing a guide adjacent the touch pad means which has surface means that define a representation of the object which corresponds to a shape of the object, the areas of the touch pad means within the representation of the object corresponding to adjustable aspects of the object;
• providing a control means for receiving the signals provided by the touch pad means;
• guiding manual movement by the surface means of the guide relative to the touch pad means;
• and
• generating control signals for controlling operation of the adjustment devices responsive to manual touches to the areas of the touch pad means.

A method for controlling adjustment devices operable to adjust a seat, each of the adjustment devices adjusting an adjustable aspect of the seat, said method comprising:

• providing a touch pad means which has an array of manually touchable areas and which provides signals indicative of manual touches to the areas;
• providing a guide adjacent the touch pad means which has surface means that define a representation of the seat, the areas of the touch pad means within the representation of the seat corresponding to adjustable aspects of the seat;
• providing a control means for receiving the signals provided by the touch pad means;
• guiding manual movement by the surface means of the guide relative to the touch pad means;
• and
• generating control signals for controlling operation of the adjustment devices responsive to manual touches to the areas of the touch pad means.

An apparatus for controlling adjustment devices operable to adjust a seat, each of the adjustment devices adjusting an adjustable aspect of the seat, said apparatus comprising:

• touch pad means having an array of manually touchable areas for providing signals indicative of manual touches to said areas;
• a guide adjacent said touch pad means and having surface means defining a representation of the seat for guiding manual movement relative to said touch pad means, said areas of said touch pad means within the representation of the seat corresponding to adjustable aspects of the seat, said guide overlaying said touch pad means, a portion of said touch pad means being covered by said guide, said surface means of said guide defining at least one aperture for permitting manual touch to said areas of said touch pad means within the representation defined by said surface means, said guide having two apertures, one aperture of said guide defining a seat back portion of the representation of the seat and the second aperture of said guide defining a seat bottom portion of the representation of the seat;
• and
• control means for receiving the signals provided by said touch pad means and for generating control signals for controlling operation of the adjustment devices responsive to the manual touches to said touch pad means.

An apparatus for controlling adjustment devices operable to adjust a seat, each of the adjustment devices adjusting an adjustable aspect of the seat, said apparatus comprising:

• touch pad means having an array of manually touchable areas for providing signals indicative of manual touches to said areas;
• a guide adjacent said touch pad means and having surface means defining a representation of the seat for guiding manual movement relative to said touch pad means, said areas of said touch pad means within the representation of the seat corresponding to adjustable aspects of the seat, said areas of said touch pad means being grouped together in zones of touchable areas, each zone of touchable areas corresponding to an adjustable aspect of the seat;
• and
• control means for receiving the signals provided by said touch pad means and for generating control signals for controlling operation of the adjustment devices responsive to the manual touches to said touch pad means, said control means including means for providing control signals controlling operation of certain adjustment devices in response to non-swiping touches to said touchable areas of certain zones and controlling operation of certain adjustment devices in response to swiping manual touches along said touchable areas of certain zones.

An apparatus for controlling adjustment devices operable to adjust an object, each of the adjustment devices adjusting an adjustable aspect of the object, said apparatus comprising:

• a touch pad having a continuous field of touchable areas, each touchable area being immediately adjacent to at least one other touchable area, said touch pad including circuitry extending through said touchable areas that is responsive to applied pressure and that convey at least one signal indicative of the touchable area to which the pressure is applied;
• a bezel overlaying the touch pad and having at least one opening defined by a surface in a shape that represents the object, at least some of the touchable areas of the touch pad being accessible through said opening and the touchable areas that are accessible correspond to adjustable aspects of the object, said surface defining said opening guiding manual movement to a desired touchable area;
• and
• a controller operatively connected to said circuitry of said touch pad for receiving the signal from said touch pad, said controller includes means for processing the signal from said touch pad and for generating at least one control signal that controls operation of the adjustment devices.