EP-4735291-A1 - VEHICLE SWITCH SYSTEM FOR CONNECTING MOBILE DEVICE TO VEHICLE AND METHOD OF USING THE SAME

EP4735291A1EP 4735291 A1EP4735291 A1EP 4735291A1EP-4735291-A1

Abstract

A vehicle switch system for a mobile device that helps connect the mobile device to a vehicle so that certain features of the mobile device, like those pertaining to navigation and entertainment, can be easily accessed through the vehicle. The vehicle switch system is particularly well suited for use with vehicles that lack in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) systems, as users of such vehicles oftentimes cannot access the features of their mobile devices through their vehicle. The vehicle switch system may include a vehicle switch with a switch component and a switch indicator and a docking station, where a "short press" of the switch component enables the docking station to charge the mobile device and a "long press" of the switch component initiates a process to wirelessly connect the mobile device to the vehicle electronics system. The switch indicator displays a connection status of the mobile device.

Inventors

Velusamy, Ashokkumar

Assignees

FCA US LLC

Dates

Publication Date: 20260506
Application Date: 20240624

Claims (18)

1. A vehicle switch system for connecting a mobile device to a vehicle electronics system, comprising: a vehicle switch including a switch housing, a switch component, a switch indicator, and a plurality of switch connections; the switch housing includes an outer switch housing piece that at least partially surrounds the switch component and the switch indicator; the switch component is a switching device; the switch indicator is a visual indicating device and includes an illuminated piece, the illuminated piece is configured to indicate the connectivity 7 status of the mobile device and/or the vehicle electronics system; and the plurality of switch connections includes a first switch connection that is configured for direct or indirect connection to at least one of a vehicle power supply or a docking station, and a second switch connection that is configured for direct or indirect connection to the vehicle electronics system; and wherein the vehicle switch system is configured to facilitate connecting the mobile device to the vehicle electronics system so that one or more feature(s) and/or function(s) of the mobile device can be accessed and utilized through the vehicle electronics system.
2. The vehicle switch system of claim 1, wherein the outer switch housing piece of the switch housing is circular, stationary and completely surrounds the switch component and the switch indicator.
3. The vehicle switch system of claim 1, wherein the switch component is an electro-mechanical switching device and includes an on/off power button that is provided in the form of a momentary, normally open, push-button switch.
4. The vehicle switch system of claim 1, wherein the switch component includes an actuator piece that is configured for engagement by a user, the actuator piece includes a front face with indicia that indicates its functionality.
5. The vehicle switch system of claim 1, wherein the switch indicator includes a non-illuminated piece and the illuminated piece, the non-illuminated piece has a cutout that is sized to accommodate the illuminated piece, the illuminated piece has a light emitting diode (LED) that is configured to change its illumination color and/or pattern in order to indicate the connectivity status of the mobile device and/or the vehicle electronics system.
6. The vehicle switch system of claim 1 , wherein the switch component has a semicircular shape with one portion of its periphery being arcuate and another portion of its periphery being flat or linear, the switch indicator also has a semi-circular shape with one portion of its periphery being arcuate and another portion of its periphery being flat or linear, and the semi-circular shapes of the switch component and switch indicator are complimentary such that a combined shape of the switch component and the switch indicator forms a full circular shape.
7. The vehicle switch system of claim 1, wherein the first switch connection is configured for direct or indirect connection to at least one of the vehicle power supply or the docking station so that, when the switch component is engaged by a user, power is provided from the vehicle power supply to the docking station in order to charge the mobile device.
8. The vehicle switch system of claim 1, wherein the second switch connection is configured for direct or indirect connection to the vehicle electronics system via a vehicle communications network so that, when the switch component is engaged by a user, system signals are provided from the vehicle switch to the vehicle electronics system in order to facilitate a wireless connection between the mobile device and the vehicle electronics system.
9. The vehicle switch system of claim 1, further comprising a docking station including a station frame, one or more station retaining piece(s), and a station charging feature, wherein the station retaining feature(s) are configured to retain or hold the mobile device in place and the station charging feature is configured to charge the mobile device.
10. The vehicle switch system of claim 9, wherein the docking station is directly or indirectly connected to the first switch connection of the vehicle switch, and the docking station is configured to charge the mobile device with power from the vehicle power supply in response to engagement of the switch component by a user.
11. The vehicle switch system of claim 9, wherein the vehicle switch and the docking station are connected to one another and are mounted to a dashboard within a vehicle interior.
12. The vehicle switch system of claim 1, further comprising switch circuitry that includes an electronic control unit that is connected to the switch component for receiving user selection signals, to the switch indicator for sending indicator command signals, and to the vehicle electronics system for sending and/or receiving system signals.
13. The vehicle switch system of claim 12, wherein the switch circuitry further includes a computer-readable storage medium that comprises instructions that, when executed by the electronic control unit, cause the electronic control unit to: determine a user selection of the switch component based on a duration or amount of time with which the user engages the switch component; and when a short press is determined, enable a docking station to charge the mobile device and display a first color and/or pattern with the switch indicator to indicate that the mobile device is not connected to the vehicle electronics system; and when a long press is determined, enable a docking station to charge the mobile device, initiate a process to connect the mobile device to the vehicle electronics system, and display a second color and/or pattern with the switch indicator to indicate that the mobile device is connected to the vehicle electronics system or is in the process of being connected to the vehicle electronics system.
14. The vehicle switch system of claim 13, when the short press is determined and the mobile device is already connected to the vehicle electronics system, then the electronic control unit initiates a process to disconnect the mobile device from the vehicle electronics system.
15. The vehicle switch system of claim 13, w hen the long press is determined, then the electronic control unit initiates either an automatic connection process or a manual connection process, the automatic connection process is initiated when the mobile device has previously been paired with the vehicle electronics system, whereas the manual connection process is initiated when the mobile device has not previously been paired with the vehicle electronics system.
16. The vehicle switch system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle switch system is configured to facilitate connecting the mobile device to the vehicle electronics system without the use of an in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) system so that one or more features and/or functions of the mobile device can be accessed and utilized through the vehicle electronics system, without the need for an IVI system.
17. The vehicle switch system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle switch system is configured to receive a plurality’ of different user selections with the use of a single switch component and actuator piece.
18. A method of using a vehicle switch system that includes a vehicle switch having a switch component and a switch indicator, the switch component is a switching device and includes an actuator piece configured for engagement by a user, the switch indicator is a visual indicating device and includes an illuminated piece configured to indicate the connectivity status of a mobile device and/or a vehicle electronics system, the method comprising the steps of: detecting when a user engages the switch component; determining a user selection based on a duration or amount of time with which the user engages the switch component; when a short press is determined, enabling a docking station to charge the mobile device and displaying a first color and/or pattern with the switch indicator to indicate that the mobile device is not connected to the vehicle electronics system; and when a long press is determined, enabling a docking station to charge the mobile device, initiating a process to connect the mobile device to the vehicle electronics system, and displaying a second color and/or pattern with the switch indicator to indicate that the mobile device is connected to the vehicle electronics system or is in the process of being connected to the vehicle electronics system.

Description

VEHICLE SWITCH SYSTEM FOR CONNECTING MOBILE DEVICE TO VEHICLE AND METHOD OF USING THE SAME REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims the benefit of U.S. Application Serial No. 18/342,107 filed June 27. 2023 the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. FIELD The present disclosure relates to a vehicle switch system and, more particularly, to a vehicle switch system that helps connect a mobile device, such as a smart device, to the vehicle so that certain features of the mobile device can be accessed through the vehicle. BACKGROUND The presence and use of mobile devices has proliferated in recent years and will likely continue for years to come. Accordingly, a wide variety of mobile devices are regularly being brought by users into the vehicles in which they are riding. Many of the features now available through mobile devices, like those pertaining to navigation and entertainment, are applicable to vehicles and would be beneficial to vehicle users if made available through vehicle. Modem in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) systems are typically designed to access and interact with mobile devices, but they can be rather expensive to add to a vehicle. Thus, many vehicles, particularly those in certain markets, do not come equipped with IVI systems as standard equipment. For the users of these vehicles that lack an IVI system, there may be a desire to access the navigation, entertainment and/or other features of the mobile device through the vehicle, thereby enhancing their driving experience. SUMMARY In at least some implementations, there is provided a vehicle switch system for connecting a mobile device to a vehicle electronics system, comprising: a vehicle switch including a switch housing, a switch component, a switch indicator, and a plurality of switch connections; the switch housing includes an outer switch housing piece that at least partially surrounds the switch component and the switch indicator; the switch component is a switching device; the switch indicator is a visual indicating device and includes an illuminated piece, the illuminated piece is configured to indicate the connectivity status of the mobile device and/or the vehicle electronics system; and the plurality of switch connections includes a first switch connection that is configured for direct or indirect connection to at least one of a vehicle power supply or a docking station, and a second switch connection that is configured for direct or indirect connection to the vehicle electronics system; and wherein the vehicle switch system is configured to facilitate connecting the mobile device to the vehicle electronics system so that one or more feature(s) and/or function(s) of the mobile device can be accessed and utilized through the vehicle electronics system. In at least some implementations, there is provided a method of using a vehicle switch system that includes a vehicle switch having a switch component and a switch indicator, the switch component is a switching device and includes an actuator piece configured for engagement by a user, the switch indicator is a visual indicating device and includes an illuminated piece configured to indicate the connectivity status of a mobile device and/or a vehicle electronics system, the method comprising the steps of; detecting when a user engages the switch component; determining a user selection based on a duration or amount of time with which the user engages the switch component; when a short press is determined, enabling a docking station to charge the mobile device and displaying a first color and/or pattern with the switch indicator to indicate that the mobile device is not connected to the vehicle electronics system; and when a long press is determined, enabling a docking station to charge the mobile device, initiating a process to connect the mobile device to the vehicle electronics system, and displaying a second color and/or pattern with the switch indicator to indicate that the mobile device is connected to the vehicle electronics system or is in the process of being connected to the vehicle electronics system. Further areas of applicability of the present disclosure will become apparent from the detailed description, claims and drawings provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the summary and detailed description, including the disclosed embodiments and drawings, are merely exemplary in nature intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention, its application or use. Thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the disclosure are intended to be within the scope of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a partial view of a vehicle interior and shows an example of a vehicle switch system for a mobile device that is mounted to a dashboard; FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a vehicle switch, which is part of the vehicle switch system of FIG