Patent Publication Number: US-2021188092-A1

Title: Vehicular sensing and control system for overhead console

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application claims the filing benefits of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 62/952,777, filed Dec. 23, 2019, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to an accessory system for a vehicle and, more particularly, to an accessory system that utilizes one or more user actuatable inputs for controlling one or more functions of the accessory system. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Use of switches or touch sensors are known to provide a user actuatable human machine interface in a vehicle, such as for controlling one or more devices or systems of the vehicle. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a vehicular sensing and control system for a vehicle including at least one sensor module for controlling at least one function of the vehicle. The sensor module is disposed in a cabin of a vehicle and accessible by a driver of the vehicle and includes (i) a switch face at an outer portion of the sensor module and accessible by the driver of the vehicle, (ii) a force sensing sensor disposed behind the switch face so as to sense force applied at the switch face, (iii) a haptic feedback device operable to provide haptic feedback at the switch face, and (iv) a printed circuit board comprising circuitry including a microcontroller. Responsive to the driver applying a first finger force to the switch face, a first signal generated by the force sensing sensor based on the first finger force applied to the switch face is provided to the microcontroller. Responsive to the microcontroller receiving the first signal, the microcontroller causes the haptic feedback device to generate a first haptic feedback associated with a first function of the vehicle, and the first haptic feedback includes a first predetermined feedback waveform. Responsive to the microcontroller receiving the first signal, the microcontroller also controls the first function of the vehicle (such as via generating an output that actuators or adjusts or controls the first function). Responsive to the driver applying a second finger force to the switch face that is different than the first finger force, a second signal generated by the force sensing sensor based on the second finger force applied to the switch face is provided to the microcontroller. Responsive to the microcontroller receiving the second signal, the microcontroller causes the haptic feedback device to generate a second haptic feedback signal associated with a second function of the vehicle that is different than the first function of the vehicle, and the second haptic feedback signal includes a second predetermined feedback waveform that is different than the first predetermined feedback waveform. Responsive to the microcontroller receiving the second signal, the microcontroller also controls the second function of the vehicle (such as via generating an output that actuators or adjusts or controls the first function). 
     These and other objects, advantages, purposes and features of the present invention will become apparent upon review of the following specification in conjunction with the drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a plan view of a vehicle with a vehicular sensing and control system that includes one or more vehicular sensors in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a sectional view of a vehicular sensor of the vehicular sensing and control system; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the vehicular sensor; 
         FIG. 4  is a plan view of the vehicular sensor; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the vehicular sensor; 
         FIG. 6  is another sectional view of the vehicular sensor; 
         FIG. 7  is another plan view of the vehicular sensor; 
         FIG. 8  is a plan view of a vehicular sensor with three buttons; 
         FIG. 9  is a plan view of a printed circuit board assembly with three sensor electrodes; and 
         FIG. 10  is a graph of signal levels of the three sensor electrodes  40  of  FIG. 9 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     A vehicular proximity sensor or sensing and control system operates to control one or more features of a vehicle. Referring now to the drawings and the illustrative embodiments depicted therein, a vehicle  10  includes a vehicular sensing and control system  12  that includes at least one vehicular switch or sensor. Many automotive overhead consoles incorporate switches for controlling features such as interior lighting and/or the opening and closing of a sunroof or moonroof. These switches typically have a button face that the operator presses or slides to control the desired feature. These operating surfaces often actuate tactile switches or incorporate a capacitive sensor (usually for lighting). 
     Although capacitive touch switches are acceptable for some applications (e.g., lighting), with an overhead console application the user often is not looking at the console when they are using it, but rather locating an intended button by touch while directing their vision to the road while driving. This may result in inadvertent actuation of capacitive sensing switches if the driver touches one or more unintended switches while reaching without looking for the correct switch. It is therefore desirable to allow actuation by pressure in addition to touch. 
     Aspects of the present invention incorporate both capacitive sensing and force sensing in one package, along with a means of providing haptic feedback to the operator. This allows several functions to be incorporated into a single button or group of buttons. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2-7 , a vehicular sensing and control system  12  of a vehicle  10  may determine which user input (e.g., a button) in a group of user inputs ( FIG. 8 ) is being touched by a driver or passenger of the vehicle instead of signaling a touch event directly. A slight pressure on the button may activate the desired function (such as operating a light, operating a sunroof/moonroof, or opening a garage door, etc.), and the haptic feedback provides a tactile way for the user to know the desired function has been activated. This allows one force-sensing element and one haptic feedback element to be used for several switches (to provide control or adjustment of multiple accessories or systems, or multiple functions of an accessory or system), reducing cost and complexity. 
     In accordance with an aspect of the invention, a vehicular switch  20  of the vehicular sensing and control system  12  includes a piezoelectric actuator  24  (“Piezo Actuator”) that provides both pressure sensing and haptic feedback. For example, the actuator  24  may be a TDK POWERHAP™ actuator. The piezoelectric actuator  24  may be controlled with a specialized IC such as a Boreas BOS 1901 . Pressure on a switch face  22 , for example from a user pressing against the switch face  22 , causes a force to be applied to a piezoelectric disk of the piezoelectric actuator  24  and generates a voltage that is detected using an integrated circuit (IC), such as a printed circuit board assembly  28  (“PCBA”). The printed circuit board assembly  28  may contain a microcontroller, a piezoelectric control IC, and/or capacitive sensor electrodes. The microcontroller may be a part of or in communication with an electronic control unit (ECU) of the vehicle and/or may include a microprocessor with circuitry and associated software, a digital signal processor (DSP), and the like. The microcontroller processes the voltage generated by the piezoelectric disk (or other pressure sensor). The switch face  22  is an outer surface of the switch  20  that is touched by the user. The switch face  22  may be transparent or translucent to accommodate backlit icons or other indicia. The sensor  20  may include a light guide  30  for applications with a backlit switch face  22  to provide uniform illumination of icons. The light guide  30  may be edge-lit via, for example, by one or more light emitting diodes (LED) mounted at the printed circuit board assembly  28 . 
     Once the microcontroller/IC  28  determines that a threshold force is satisfied, for example by the user pressing hard enough on the switch face  22  causing the pressure sensor to generate a sufficient amount of voltage, the IC  28  drives the piezoelectric disk with a predetermined feedback waveform (e.g., haptic feedback) that the user can feel at the switch face  22 . Several feedback profiles may be provided to indicate to the user a state of the switch  20 . For example, a first pressure applied on the switch  20  may initiate a first function with a corresponding feedback signal, while additional or second pressure applied on the switch  20  may initiate a second function that is different than the first function with a different corresponding feedback signal. For example, the first pressure or force applied at the switch may cause the microcontroller to generate a first output for controlling a first function, such as tilting open a sunroof, while the second pressure or force applied at the switch may cause the microcontroller to generate a second output for controlling a second function, such as sliding open the sunroof. 
     In another example, pressure on the switch  20  may activate one function initially and then invoke an additional function with a corresponding haptic feedback signal after pressure has been applied to the switch  20  for a predetermined time interval such as, for example, more than two seconds or more than three seconds. In other words, a first function may be actuated in response to an initial pressure applied on the switch  20  by a user and a second function may be actuated in response to continued pressure applied on the switch  20  by a user. In yet another example, pressure for less than a threshold period (e.g., one second) may activate a first function while pressure for greater than the threshold period may activate a second function. For example, the pressure or force applied at the switch for the first period of time may cause the microcontroller to generate a first output for controlling a first function, such as tilting open a sunroof, while the pressure or force applied at the switch for the longer second period of time may cause the microcontroller to generate a second output for controlling a second function, such as sliding open the sunroof. 
     Optionally, the system may include capacitive sensors to determine finger position on the switch face  22 . Several force sensing technologies may be used, such as force-sensing resistors (FSR) or load cells. As an alternative to a piezoelectric actuator  24  and corresponding high voltage drive circuit, other means of haptic feedback may be used such as an eccentric rotating mass actuator (ERM) or a linear resonant actuator (LRA). The capacitive sensors may work in conjunction with the pressure sensor(s). For example, the system may control different vehicle functions based on different amounts of pressure applied and/or for pressure applied for different threshold periods of time at a first location on the switch face  22  while the system may control different vehicle functions based on different amounts of pressure applied and/or pressure applied for different threshold periods of time at a second location on the switch face  22 . The system may include any number of regions or respective areas to detect finger position. For example, the system may include three different regions that the system may detect a finger, and each region may be dedicated to controlling at least one different vehicle function. Each function may be associated with a different feedback profile (i.e., predetermined feedback waveform). For example, one location may provide control of the sunroof (tilt open, slide open, close etc.), while another location may provide interior light control or the like. 
     Optionally, the switch  20  may include a spacer  26  that transmits force from the user pressing the switch face  22  to the piezoelectric actuator  24 . The spacer may also transmit haptic feedback vibrations from the actuator  24  to the switch face  22 . The actuator  24  is spaced a distance from the switch face  22  to avoid interference with capacitive sensors. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , the switch  20  may include a front housing  32  and a rear housing  34  to enclose the components of the switch  20 . The front housing  32  may be secured to the rear housing via, for example, screws  36  and/or adhesive or the like. The switch  20  may include a light mask  38  to mask light emitted by the light guide  30 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 8-10 , the switch  20  may determine finger position using a capacitive and/or proximity sensing mode. For example, the switch  20  may include three separate buttons ( FIG. 8 ). When pressure on the switch face  22  is registered, finger position may be determined by the strongest capacitive signal, which may be measured by sensor electrodes  40  disposed at printed circuit board assembly  28  ( FIG. 9 ).  FIG. 10  illustrates exemplary capacitive signals measured at three different sensor electrodes  40 . In this example, the switch  20  may determine the finger position is over the sensor electrode ‘1’ because the sensor electrode  40  corresponding to position ‘1’ registered the strongest capacitive signal among the three sensor electrodes  40 . 
     The switch may utilize aspects of touch sensitive elements or touch sensors or proximity sensors, such as touch sensitive elements of the types described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,594,222; 6,001,486; 6,310,611; 6,320,282; 6,627,918; 7,224,324; 7,253,723; 9,346,403 and/or 9,598,016, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties, or such as proximity sensors of the types described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,224,324; 7,249,860 and/or 7,446,924, and/or U.S. Publication No. US-2006-0050018, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties, or such as membrane type switches, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,360,932, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, or such as detectors and the like of the types disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,255,541; 6,504,531; 6,501,465; 6,492,980; 6,452,479; 6,437,258 and/or 6,369,804, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. 
     Changes and modifications in the specifically described embodiments can be carried out without departing from the principles of the invention, which is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims, as interpreted according to the principles of patent law including the doctrine of equivalents.