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:
Nov. 13, 2007
Filed:
Aug. 31, 2004
Dimitri Kanevsky, Ossining, NY (US);
Roberto Sicconi, Ridgefield, CT (US);
Mahesh Viswanathan, Yorktown Heights, NY (US);
Dimitri Kanevsky, Ossining, NY (US);
Roberto Sicconi, Ridgefield, CT (US);
Mahesh Viswanathan, Yorktown Heights, NY (US);
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US);
Abstract
An improved apparatus and method is provided for operating devices and systems in a motor vehicle, while at the same time reducing vehicle operator distractions. One or more touch sensitive pads are mounted on the steering wheel of the motor vehicle, and the vehicle operator touches the pads in a pre-specified synchronized pattern, to perform functions such as controlling operation of the radio or adjusting a window. At least some of the touch patterns used to generate different commands may be selected by the vehicle operator. Usefully, the system of touch pad sensors and the signals generated thereby are integrated with speech recognition and/or facial gesture recognition systems, so that commands may be generated by synchronized multi-mode inputs.