Patent ID: 7295904
Filing Date: 2007-11-13
Classification: B60K,G06F

Abstract:
1. Apparatus for selectively controlling one or more systems included with a motor vehicle driven by a vehicle operator, said apparatus comprising: one or more touch pad devices respectively mounted to receive a specified touch gesture pattern from said operator while said vehicle is being driven, said touch pad devices responsive to said received touch gesture pattern to generate a corresponding pattern of touch pad signals; an interpretation module adapted to recognize that said corresponding pattern of touch pad signals is associated with a pre-specified command for selectively operating a particular one of said systems; an execution module disposed to receive said pre-specified command from said interpretation module, and to operate said particular system in accordance with said pre-specified command; and means for detecting occurrences of an extreme situation and for causing said execution module to disregard any commands until said apparatus is positively informed that said extreme situation has ended.