Trw Limited

The Garrett Corporation

William R Swihart

Brian K Blackburn

Scott B Gentry

Edwin R Deacon

An apparatus (10) and a method for controlling a plurality of controllable devices (14, 16, 18 and 20). Preferably, the devices (14, 16, 18 and 20) are located within a vehicle. A touch pad (46) of the apparatus (10) has an array of manually touchable areas (48) and provides signals indicative of manual touches to the areas (48). The array of manually touchable areas (48) are arranged such that various swiping and non-swiping manual touch patterns to the array can be accomplished. The touch patterns include touch patterns which correspond to controllable aspects of the devices (14, 16, 18 and 20). The apparatus (10) includes a control module (52). A receiver function (60) of the control module (52) receives the signals provided by the touch pad (46). An interpreter function (64) of the control module (52) interprets information contained within the received signals to identify touch patterns to the touch pad (46). A communication function (66) of the control module (52) provides control signals to control the controllable aspects of the devices (14, 16, 18 and 20) in response to the identified touch patterns.

Method and apparatus for controlling a plurality of controllable devices

A turbocharger having a variable nozzle vane assembly to be used in association with an engine. A plurality of pivotable vanes are mounted between the turbocharger backplate and unison ring on one side and an annular side wall, independent of the turbine housing on the other. Each vane includes a drive pin which pivots the vane in response to rotational movement of the unison ring.

Growing community of inventors

Torrance, CA, United States of America

William R Swihart