IP Library Granted Patent US 12686274
Granted Patent B2
US 12686274 · App. 18/651,100 · Granted Jul 21, 2026

Multi-functional switch for a vehicle and a method of controlling the same

Inventors: Jin Young Koh (Suwon-si, KR); Kyeoung Il Cho (Anyang-si, KR)
Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPNY; KIA CORPORATION; LS AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
B60K35/81B60K35/22B60W50/0205G07C5/008B60W2756/10
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12686274
App. No.
18/651,100
Granted
Jul 21, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A multi-functional switch for a vehicle includes a communication unit configured to receive a specification code for electronic devices determined according to a vehicle identification number of the vehicle by communicating with a diagnostic server. The communication unit is also configured to receive specification information for checking whether the electronic devices are present in the vehicle by communicating with an electronic control unit inside the vehicle. The multi-functional switch also includes a storage unit configured to store the specification code received from the diagnostic server. The multi-functional switch additionally includes a display unit and a control unit. The control unit is configured to control the display unit to display images corresponding to functions of the electronic devices based on the specification code and the specification information received through the communication unit.

Claims (25)

1 . A multi-functional switch for a vehicle, the multi-functional switch comprising:

a communication unit configured to i) receive a specification code for electronic devices determined according to a vehicle identification number of the vehicle by communicating with a diagnostic server and ii) receive specification information for checking whether the electronic devices are present in the vehicle by communicating with an electronic control unit in the vehicle;

a storage unit configured to store the specification code received from the diagnostic server;

a display unit; and

a control unit configured to control the display unit to display images corresponding to functions of the electronic devices present in the vehicle, based on the specification code and the specification information received through the communication unit,

wherein the control unit is configured to:

based on determining that the specification code and the specification information match, control the display unit to display images corresponding to functions of the electronic devices present in the vehicle, according to the specification code, and

based on determining that the specification code and the specification information are different from each other, i) generate a diagnostic trouble code and ii) transmit the diagnostic trouble code to the diagnostic server through the communication unit.

2 . The multi-functional switch of claim 1 , wherein the display unit includes:

a first display unit configured to display first functions of the electronic devices; and

a second display unit configured to display second functions of the electronic devices.

3 . The multi-functional switch of claim 2 , wherein:

the first functions are functions of lighting devices; and

the second functions are functions of wiper devices.

4 . The multi-functional switch of claim 1 , wherein:

the specification code includes a plurality of bits; and

the functions of the electronic devices are indicated by values of the plurality of bits.

5 . A method of controlling a multi-functional switch for a vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving, by a communication unit, a specification code for electronic devices determined according to a vehicle identification number of the vehicle from a diagnostic server;

receiving, by the communication unit, specification information for checking whether the electronic devices are present in the vehicle by communicating with an electronic control unit of the vehicle;

controlling, by a control unit, a display unit to display images corresponding to functions of the electronic devices present in the vehicle, based on the specification code and the specification information, wherein controlling the display unit includes, based on determining that the specification code and the specification information match, controlling the display unit to display images corresponding to the electronic devices according to the specification code; and

transmitting, by the control unit, a diagnostic trouble code to the diagnostic server, based on determining that the specification code and the specification information are different from each other.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein:

the specification code includes a plurality of bits; and

the method includes determining, by the control unit, whether the electronic devices are provided in the vehicle based on values of the plurality of bits.