Patent ID: 9533577
Date: 2017-01-03
CPC Classifications: B60K,B60R

Claim:
1. A system for alternative operator control of at least one instrument of a vehicle and a mobile electronic apparatus that has a first display device for displaying a first piece of information, the system comprising: a combination instrument having a second display device configured to display a second piece of information; a bracket configured to detachably hold the mobile electronic apparatus; an interface configured to transmit signals to the mobile electronic apparatus and identify whether the mobile electronic apparatus is in the bracket; an operator control device, physically separated from the mobile electronic apparatus, configured to receive an input for alternative operator control of the mobile electronic apparatus and of the combination instrument; and a processing device configured to automatically process operator control inputs to the operator control device for operator control of the combination instrument when no mobile electronic apparatus is in the bracket and for operator control of the mobile electronic apparatus when the mobile electronic apparatus is in the bracket, and when no mobile electronic apparatus is in the bracket and an operator control is input to the operator control device to cause a particular functionality by the mobile electronic apparatus when the mobile electronic apparatus is in the bracket, the processing device is configured to cause the particular functionality to be performed by the combination instrument.