US Patent:
20040117084, Jun 17, 2004
Inventors:
Vincent Mercier - Clarkston MI, US
Ronald Stencel - Clarkston MI, US
James Dulgerian - Troy MI, US
Wilhelm Leichtfried - Sterling Heights MI, US
Charles McDowell - Rochester Hills MI, US
Stephen Mezzomo - Shelby MI, US
Eric Strebel - Southfield MI, US
Patrick Ludlow - Oxford MI, US
International Classification:
G06F019/00
Abstract:
A dual haptic system control system in a vehicle includes a first haptic controller disposed on a steering wheel of a vehicle and a second haptic controller disposed on a console separated from the steering wheel. The first haptic controller is a mini-haptic interface that controls a smaller set of functions than the second haptic controller. Redundancies are built in between the first and second haptic controllers so that at least some of the functions of the first haptic controller are also controlled by the second haptic controller. The steering wheel is devoid of stalk switches, with the first and second haptic controllers, in conjunction with switches and menu keys on the steering wheel controlling these functions. The display illustrates the functions that are operable from the present state of the system as buttons that contain both text (of the button function) and graphics (of the button function and any sub-functions available).
