WO2004052674A1

WO2004052674A1 - Wireless connection for electronic module in vehicle center console

Info

Publication number: WO2004052674A1
Application number: PCT/US2003/038936
Authority: WO
Inventors: Keith A. Riha
Original assignee: Collins & Aikman Products Co.
Priority date: 2002-12-10
Filing date: 2003-12-09
Publication date: 2004-06-24
Also published as: AU2003293453A1

Abstract

A console for a vehicle, wherein the vehicle has an instrument panel and an electrical power system, the console comprising a mounting structure in the instrument panel, one or more electronic modules mounted in the mounting structure, and one or more faceplates located in front of the electronic modules. The faceplate includes control switches for activating the electronic modules. A remote control electronic signal generator unit is mounted to the faceplates, wherein the remote signal generator receives electrical power from the electrical power system. Upon activation of the control switches, a signal is sent from the remote electronic signal generator to one or more electronic modules to activate or deactivate one or more electronic modules.

Description

WIRELESS CONNECTION FOR ELECTRONIC MODULE IN VEHICLE CENTER CONSOLE

Cross-Reference to Related Applications

This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application Serial No. 60/432,364, filed December 10, 2002, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Field of Invention

This invention is directed at the control of electronic modules in a motor vehicle center console area by using infrared signals transmitted from electronics in a trim panel or faceplate which can be used to activate various comfort features in the vehicle. By using a remote IR system, there is no physical contact between switches and modules so that dimensional tolerance stack-up and resultant fit problems with trim panels and faceplates is greatly reduced.

Background of the Invention

With the current demand by consumers for additional comfort features in today's motor vehicles and the proliferation of electronic devices in the vehicle, space in the center console area of the vehicle is at a premium. In addition, the center console area comes under close scrutiny by the vehicle occupants for a pleasing fit of components as well as for ease of access, without confusion, to control the multitude of electronically controlled features.

Today's center console area may include, the controls for the vehicle heating/ventilation/air conditioning (HNAC) system, radio, CD player, global positioning system, telephone; laptop computer, window raising/lowering, door lock/unlock, rear window defogger, rear window wiper, side mirror adjustment, hood release, trunk latch, cassette player, fog lights and numerous other comfort and safety features. To interface the switch controls, faceplate, sockets, connectors and plugs for this myriad of features, the precise location and tolerancing of many molded and assembled subcomponents is required. Since many of these features are dealer options and sold to the consumer as packages, the assembly plant that manufactures the vehicle must schedule and coordinate a large number of variations of trim panels which may include controls for some or all of the various options. Further, substantial assembly time and labor is expended making the hard connections and testing to ensure that the connections are electronically sound. The use of hard connections between the faceplates, control switches and connectors for these features severely restricts the placement of faceplates and switch panels and does not provide for an aesthetically pleasing fit where gaps are uniform and adjoining surfaces are flush with each other. In addition, while remote control of electronic signals is well known, in the sense that they are prevalent in homes to control television sets, NCR's, and the like, the concept and application of their features, in a vehicular environment, has not been prevalent. In part, the reason for this is that such remote control devices are generally used over larger distances (feet) and generally control only one or two audio or video devices. Accordingly, it is a general objective of this invention is to control electronic modules in a motor vehicle by using appropriate wireless signals transmitted in a trim panel or faceplate to activate various features in the vehicle, and reduce the quantity and complexity necessitated by conventional hard-wiring technology.

It is also a more specific objective of the present invention to provide an infrared non- contact control system in the center console area of a motor vehicle which interfaces with various electronic control modules for comfort and safety features in the vehicle.

It is a further object of the present invention to also integrate the non-contact infrared control system for the electronic module of a vehicle into a closeout panel or faceplate located in the center console area of a vehicle. It is also a further object of the present invention to control multiple electronic modules in a vehicle by sending infrared signals at various frequencies through an LED to be received by these modules.

Another further object of the present invention is to use lensing to direct the infrared signals from a face plate or control switch to the receivers for various electronic modules. It is still a further object of the present invention to provide transceivers at both the faceplate or control switch and electronic module to allow control switches to indicate when a feature is activated by lighting an LED or similar device in the control switch or face plate.

Summary of the Invention A non-contact control apparatus for electronic modules located, e.g. in the center console or stack area of a motor vehicle instrument panel. The non-contact control apparatus is integrated into a closeout panel or faceplate containing switches for various safety and comfort features in the Vehicle and communicates with the electronic modules remotely through infrared or like signals. Multiple modules can be controlled by a single faceplate using multiple IR signal frequencies, one for each device, or by using lensing to direct the signal to the appropriate electronic module receiver. The various control switches may comprise transceivers that both emit signals to activate or control the electronic module and to receive a signal from the module and indicate through an LED or other lighting system integrated into the, switch that the device is operating.

Brief Description of the Drawings

For a further understanding of the nature and objects of the present invention, i reference should be made to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like elements are given the same or analogous reference numbers and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an instrument panel for a motor vehicle according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the instrument panel of FIG. 1 taken through the center console area looking in the direction of arrow A.

Description of the Preferred Embodiments

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is illustrated an instrument panel 10 for a motor vehicle comprising an instfument cluster 12, air vents 14, a glove box 16 and a center console or stack area 18. The center console generally comprises a plurality of control switches mounted on faceplates which activate electronic modules stored in the center console/stack area of the instrument panel of the vehicle. These may include, but are not limited to, HNAC controls, radio and CD player controls, GPS controls, a touch screen, etc. FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken through the center console area of the instrument panel of FIG. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows A. The instrument panel upper surface is indicated at 10A and the center console area of the instrument panel is indicated at 18A. A faceplate or closeout panel is shown at 20 that covers the electronic modules 22 installed in the center stack area 18A. The faceplate 20 may be a single panel covering the entire front of the console area 18A or may be a series of faceplates for each feature or multiple features that adjoin one another to aesthetically close out the front of the console area 18A. The faceplate

20 may include electronics (circuit board, flex circuit, etc.) which are powered through a connection 28 from the power system in the vehicle and may further comprise a variety of control switches, knobs, buttons, touch screen, etc. that when accessed by the vehicle occupant will initiate an infrared signal to be sent to the respective electronic module for activating the feature chosen.

In the present invention, the faceplate 20 contains electronics which allow it to act as a remote control device by sending the preferred infrared signals to the various electronic modules installed preferably behind the faceplate 20 to activate those modules 22 at the urging of a vehicle occupant. In some cases, the faceplate electronics will receive a signal back from a module 22 indicating activation and displaying a light such as a LED on or near the control switch on the face plate. In FIG. 2 a preferred transceiver or signal emitter of IR or other similar electronic signal is indicated at 24 and a receiver or transceiver for receiving the signal at the electronic module is shown at 26. The faceplate or closeout panel 20 of the present invention preferably comprises an injection molded plastic panel which has the control circuitry for controlling the remote control transmitter and the various functions of remote control disposed on or near its rear surface. This all may be preferably accomplished by attaching control circuitry in the form of a PC board, flex circuitry or other devices to the rear of the faceplate or closeout panel and allowing switches to project through the front of the faceplate or closeout panel. The control circuitry may then include remote control circuitry and remote control transmitters. The control circuitry preferably controls an infrared LED 24 and causes infrared LED 24 to transmit predetermined infrared signals in response to activation of one or a plurality of control switches. LED 24 is preferably positioned to direct infrared light in the direction of one or a plurality of receivers 26. The switches may be momentary contact switches, membrane switches, a touch screen or like means of activating the control signal.

Various signals can be sent from one or more emitting devices in the faceplate to the various electronic modules by varying the frequency of the signal such that only a specific module recognizes the signal or by using lensing and physical blockers to direct the signal to the appropriate module and prevent any cross talk. In addition, although the invention herein is preferably configured with the faceplate containing the associated control circuitry, it can be appreciated that the wireless advantages of this invention can be used anywhere in the vehicle. In addition, the .transmitter or transceiver .24 may be an entirely portable device allowing the user to activate any electrical or electro-mechanical device in the vehicle from any location within or around the vehicle.

According to one embodiment, the electronic systems used herein, as noted in the various preferred embodiments, relies upon IR signals. However, it can be appreciated that in the broad context of the present invention, any suitable wireless type signal may be employed. This includes, but is not limited to wireless signals of the radiofrequency type (FM or AM), microwave, optical, laser, etc. In addition, as noted herein, the invention is preferably directed to a non-contact control apparatus for electronic modules located, e.g., in the center console or stack area of a motor vehicle instrument panel. In that context, it can be appreciated that the center console that is referenced herein refers to an area near the center of the vehicle where numerous controls for vehicle electronic features are typically clustered. This area may encompass, e.g., a roof console as part^' of the vehicle headliner that extends from the windshield rearward along the center line of the vehicle. Alternatively, this area may encompass a console which is placed between the front bucket seats of the vehicle and extends from the instrument panel rearward into the rear seating area. However, the primary location for a center console containing electronic controls for features in the vehicle is in the center of the instrument panel. In that context, it should be noted that in coupe style vehicles, this console is often integrated into the instrument panel in the form of unitary construction while in sedan type vehicles and trucks the console is frequently a separate molded structure fastened to the instrument panel

Since certain changes may therefore be made in the above without departing from the scope of the invention herein, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description p or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not limiting of the basic invention.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A console for a vehicle, said vehicle having an instrument panel and an electrical power system, said console comprising;

(i) a mounting structure in the instrument panel, (ii) one or more electronic modules mounted in said mounting structure,

(iii) one or more faceplates located in front of said one or more electronic modules, wherein said one or more faceplates contain control switches for activating said one or more electronic modules, and

(iv) a remote control electronic signal generator unit mounted to said one or more faceplates, wherein said remote signal generator receives electrical power from said electrical power system, wherein upon activation of said control switches, a signal is sent from said remote electronic signal generator to said one or more electronic modules to activate or deactivate said one or more electronic modules.

2. The console of claim 1 wherein said remote control signal generator and said one or more electronic modules comprise transceivers for sending and receiving signals.

3. The console of claim 1 wherein said one or more electronic modules activate one or more of said vehicles' HNAC system, radio, CD player, windows, window locks, mirrors, global positioning system, telephone, rear window wiper, rear window defogger, hood release, trunk latch, cassette player, fog lights, interior, lights, head lights, and combinations thereof.

4. The console of claim 1 wherein said control switches comprise contact switches which protrude through said faceplates.

5. The console of claim 1 wherein said control switches comprise a touch screen.

6. The console of claim 1 wherein said electronic signal generator unit transmits and receives infrared signals, radiofrequency signals, microwave signals, and/or optical signals.

A remote control system in a vehicle to control the operation of one or a plurality of electronic modules all positioned such that they can all be activated by a transmitter from a single location comprising: a console having one or more faceplates containing control switches for activation of said one or more electronic modules, said faceplates further comprises an electronic signal generator wherein upon activation of said control switches, a signal is sent from said generator to said one or more electronic modules to activate its operation.

8. An apparatus for transmitting control signals to an electronic module in a vehicle console having a faceplate for operating an electrical or electro-mechanical device in the vehicle, comprising:

(i) a remote electronic signal generator for generating said signals, wherein said generator is located in said faceplate,

(ii) a transmitter coupled to the electronic signal generator, and

(iii) a receiver located on said electronic module, wherein said electronic module is activated upon receiving said signal from said transmitter.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said signal is an infrared signal.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the vehicle console¹ is located in one or more of an instrument panel, headliner, or between the seats of a vehicle.

11. A remote control method for performing a remote control operation of an electrical or electro-mechanical device in a vehicle by using a remote controller attached to the vehicle, comprising one or a plurality of switches, said method comprising the steps of: selecting an electrical or electro-mechanical device in the vehicle to be activated, supplying an electronic module associated with said electrical or electro-mechanical device, wherein said electrical or electro-mechanical device is activated by said electronic module; activating said one or plurality of switches by touch or voice command and generating a signal from said remote controller; receiving said signal at said electronic module and activating said electrical or electro-mechanical device.