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US 9,539,943 B2Granted
Tone based control of vehicle functions
AssigneeToyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
InventorJames T. Pisz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus and method for using audible tones generated by a vehicle driver's use of a tone actuator in a vehicle. The vehicle generates an audible tone which is capable of being heard by the driver as well as being received by a processor in the vehicle, the processor accessing a memory table correlating each distinct tone with a distinct vehicle control function. The processor outputs a signal to select the vehicle control function corresponding to the generated tone.
Claims17
A method of controlling vehicle functions comprising:
- associating a selector in a vehicle to a vehicle function;
- providing a distinct audible tone associated with the selector;
- when the selector is actuated, generating and sending an electric signal to an audible tone generator coupled to the selector;
- using the audible tone generator, generating the distinct audible tone associated with the selector;
- receiving the distinct audible tone at an audible tone receiver;
- converting, using the audible tone receiver, the distinct audible tone from analog to digital format and generating a tone identifier;
- and
- activating the vehicle function in response to the tone identifier being received.
5 more elements
A vehicle function control apparatus utilizing audible tones, the apparatus comprising:
- at least one tone generator configured for receiving an electric signal and emitting at least one audible tone;
- a selector for a vehicle function, the selector being mountable in a vehicle, coupled to the tone generator, and associated with the at least one audible tone;
- an audible tone receiver, mounted in the vehicle, for receiving the at least one audible tone, converting the audible tone from analog to digital format, and generating a tone identifier;
- a memory storing correlations between the tone identifier and the vehicle function;
- and
- at least one processor executing program instructions in response to receiving the tone identifier, to generate an output selecting the vehicle function associated with the selector.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.