The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 07, 2021
Filed:
Jan. 31, 2019
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Plano, TX (US);
John Charles Rafferty, Dexter, MI (US);
Lou M. Pope, Ypsilanti, MI (US);
Clinton J. Williams, Saline, MI (US);
TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC., Plano, TX (US);
Abstract
A multi-function input apparatus of a steering wheel that includes a plurality of outer buttons that correspond to a plurality of vehicle systems, such that actuation of at least one of the plurality of outer buttons selects a corresponding vehicle system from the plurality of vehicle systems. The apparatus includes a touch pad having a capacitive touch surface that is positioned adjacent the plurality of outer buttons. In response to actuation of the capacitive surface the touch pad is configured to navigate through and select a setting of a plurality of settings of the selected vehicle system. The apparatus further includes a confirmation button positioned adjacent to the touch pad that corresponds to a confirmation input such that actuation of the confirmation button actuates the selected setting of the selected vehicle system.