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:
Jan. 17, 2012
Filed:
May. 02, 2011
John K. Lenneman, Okemos, MI (US);
Joseph F. Szczerba, Grand Blanc, MI (US);
Roy J. Mathieu, Rochester Hills, MI (US);
Thomas A. Seder, Northville, MI (US);
Jan H. Aase, Oakland Township, MI (US);
Alan M. Baum, Livonia, MI (US);
John K. Lenneman, Okemos, MI (US);
Joseph F. Szczerba, Grand Blanc, MI (US);
Roy J. Mathieu, Rochester Hills, MI (US);
Thomas A. Seder, Northville, MI (US);
Jan H. Aase, Oakland Township, MI (US);
Alan M. Baum, Livonia, MI (US);
GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Detroit, MI (US);
Abstract
An apparatus for operator control of an in-vehicle system includes an interface device for receiving inputs for control of the in-vehicle system from an operator hand, the interface device including a control panel having a visual display screen. The apparatus further includes a sensing system adjacent the interface device including an optical proximity sensor having a single infrared light source, a first plurality of directionally sensitive light receivers for detecting a first reflected infrared light from the infrared light source that is reflected by the operator hand only when the operator hand approaches the optical proximity sensor near the interface device from a driver side of the vehicle and a second plurality of directionally sensitive light receivers for detecting a second reflected infrared light from the infrared light source that is reflected by the operator hand only when the operator hand approaches the optical proximity sensor near the interface device from a passenger side of the vehicle. A controller generates a user-specific menu on the visual display screen based upon the first and second plurality of directionally sensitive light receivers detecting respective first and second reflected infrared light from the infrared light source.