Patent ID: 6407733
Filing Date: 2002-06-18
Classification: B60K

Abstract:
An in-car switch controller for a driver to control electronic devices provided in a car, comprising:a switch panel placed in the vicinity of a driver's seat to be readily actuated by the driver, said switch panel including; a plurality of main switches, and sub-switches paired up with the corresponding main switches, said sub-switch being arranged to designate and enable the function of said main switch; a display section provided in a front panel or in the vicinity thereof which displays an image of said main switch paired up with the corresponding sub-switch and an advice image pertaining to the function of said main switch, when said sub-switch is actuated; an image data storage section for storing image data used for producing the images of said main switches and the corresponding advice images thereto; an image generation control section for generating the display image on the basis of the image data stored in said image data storage section; a display drive section for activating said display section to display a display screen prepared by said image generation control section; image data designation means for reading image data from said image data storage section in accordance with a specification instruction output from said sub-switch; and a control device which, upon receipt of an operation signal from said main switch enabled by said sub-switch, outputs a control signal for effecting the function assigned to the image of the switch displayed in said display section.