Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Dipanjan Ghosh

Stuart C Salter

Pietro Buttolo

James Stewart Rankin, Ii

Harry Lobo

Jessica Smith

Khaled Omar

Kassandra Hibala Ritter

Gary Steven Strumolo

Mahendra Somasara Dassanayake

A system may include an in-vehicle component, including a first control set to configure the component, configured to identify a device associated with a user approach to the component; and send an interaction request to the device to cause the device to display a user interface for the component including a second control set to configure the component, the second control set including at least one function unavailable in the first control set. A personal device may receive, from an in-vehicle component including a first control set to configure the component, a user interface definition descriptive of a second control set to configure the component; and receive, from the component, a request to display a user interface for the component including the second control set to configure the component, the second control set including at least one function unavailable in the first control set.

In-vehicle component user interface

A proximity sensing system may include a conductive first trace and a conductive second trace adjacent to, interleaved with, and electrically isolated from the first trace. A density of the traces varies along a first axis such that rates of change of capacitance between the traces associated with movement, through an electric field, of an object in a direction of the first axis at a constant velocity are indicative of the direction. The sensing system may further include a conductive third trace adjacent to, interleaved with, and electrically isolated from the first trace. A first area between the first trace and second trace is independent of and isolated from a second area between the first trace and the third trace. Also, a density of the first and third traces may vary along the first axis.

Motion based capacitive sensor system

A proximity switch assembly and method for detecting activation of a proximity switch assembly is provided. The method includes steps of generating activation fields with a plurality of proximity sensors associated with a plurality of proximity switches, monitoring amplitude of a signal generated in response to each of the activation fields, subtracting the smallest signal from each of the other signals, and determining activation of one of the plurality of proximity switches based on the subtracted signals. A proximity sensor assembly and method of suppressing noise for a plurality of proximity sensors is also provided, which includes subtracting the smallest signal from each of other signals associated with a plurality of proximity sensors and determining activation of one of the plurality of proximity sensors based on the subtracted signals.

Proximity switch assembly with signal drift rejection and method

A proximity switch assembly and method for detecting activation of a proximity switch assembly and tuning the assembly. The assembly includes proximity switches each having a proximity sensor providing a sense activation field and control circuitry processing the activation field to sense activation. The method of tuning includes generating an activation field with a proximity sensor, generating a signal in response to the activation field, detecting noise associated with the signal, and adjusting a parameter based on the detected noise, wherein the parameter is used to detect a proximity state such as activation of the proximity switch.

Proximity switch assembly and method of tuning same

A keypad having a plurality of switches identifies a numerical value according to user input to the plurality of switches. The numerical value may be computed as a total count of the plurality of switches that are swiped across in a consistent direction or may be computed as a total count of the plurality of switches that are simultaneously pressed. The keypad may further send the numerical value to a controller configured to facilitate access to vehicle unlock functionality.

Simultaneous button press secure keypad code entry

A proximity switch assembly and method for detecting activation of a proximity switch assembly and providing feedback is provided. The assembly includes a plurality of proximity switches each comprising a proximity sensor providing a sense activation field. The assembly also includes control circuitry processing a signal associated with the activation field of each proximity sensor and detecting a finger located between two proximity switches. The assembly further includes a feedback device generating a feedback when the finger is detected between the two proximity switches. In addition, the assembly may detect speed of movement of a finger interfacing with the proximity switches and vary the feedback based on the detected speed.

Proximity switch assembly having haptic feedback and method

A proximity switch assembly and method for detecting activation of a proximity switch assembly is provided. The assembly includes a plurality of proximity switches each having a proximity sensor providing a sense activation field and control circuitry processing the activation field of each proximity switch to sense activation. The control circuitry controls the activation field of each proximity switch to sense activation, monitors signals indicative of the activation field, and determines a first stable signal amplitude and a subsequent second signal amplitude, and generates an activation output when the second stable signal amplitude exceeds the first stable amplitude by a known amount.

Proximity switch assembly and activation method having virtual button mode

A proximity switch assembly and method for detecting activation of a proximity switch assembly is provided. The assembly includes a plurality of proximity switches each having a proximity sensor providing a sense activation field. A first proximity sensor generates a first activation field and comprises first and second electrodes having first fingers interdigitated with second fingers. A second proximity sensor generates a second activation field and comprises third and fourth electrode fingers having third fingers interdigitated with fourth fingers. The first and second electrodes are interleaved with the third and fourth electrodes.

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Livonia, MI, United States of America

Dipanjan Ghosh