IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,773,690
Granted Patent B2
US 10,773,690 · App. 15/636,024 · Granted Sep 15, 2020

Cleaning a vehicle display

Inventors: Paul Kenneth Dellock (Northville, MI); Stuart C. Salter (White Lake, MI); David Brian Glickman (Southfield, MI); Annette Lynn Huebner (White Lake, MI); Venkatesh Krishnan (Canton, MI)
Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
B60S1/56A61L2/088A61L2/10A61L2/24G02B27/0006A61L2202/11A61L2202/14A61L2202/16A61L2202/17A61L2202/20B60S1/64
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,773,690
App. No.
15/636,024
Granted
Sep 15, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A computer having a processor and memory storing instructions executable by the processor that include: to determine whether a vehicle cabin is occupied; and based on the determination, to control actuation of a lamp, located on a bezel of a display, to impinge upon a screen having a light-sensitive coating.

Claims (42)

1. A system, comprising:

a display, comprising:

a screen comprising a cover comprising a light-sensitive coating, wherein the cover comprises a first predefined region and a second, different predefined region;

a bezel extending outwardly from the screen and forming at least a portion of a periphery of the screen; and

a lamp carried by the bezel and comprising a first light source and a second light source, wherein light from the first and second light sources is directed axially and radially-inwardly from the bezel and toward the cover, wherein light from the first light source is directed to the first predefined region and wherein light from the second light source is directed to the second predefined region; and

a computer, comprising:

a processor; and

memory storing instructions executable by the processor, the instructions comprising to:

(a) determine that a vehicle cabin is in an occupied state;

(b) determine that an ambient light in the cabin is greater than a first threshold;

(c) determine at least one predetermined criteria, wherein the at least one predetermined criteria includes that a state of a transmission is in PARK; and

(d) based on the determining (a), (b), and (c), actuate at least the first light source or the second light source to activate the light-sensitive coating on the respective first or second predefined region.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one predetermined criteria is an expiration of a timer associated with a last cleaning of the screen.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one predetermined criteria is a predetermined quantity of user-touches of the screen since a last cleaning of the screen.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the system further comprises a counter, wherein the predetermined quantity of user-touches comprises a first user-touch and a second user-touch, wherein the instructions further comprise to:

determine that the first user-touch and the second user-touch occur within a predetermined touch-interval; and in response thereto, count the second user-touch as less than one incrementation of the counter.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one predetermined criteria is a predetermined quantity of user touches of either the first or second predefined region since a last cleaning of the screen.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one predetermined criteria comprises determining that a contact region of the screen—within one of the first or second predefined regions—maintains a surface charge that is greater than a second threshold for at least a predetermined period of time.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the coating comprises titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ), wherein the lamp emits light at a wavelength within 310-390 nanometers (nm).

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one predetermined criteria includes failing to receive an input to abort the actuating (d) in response to a notification of an intent to perform the actuating (d) sent upon determining that the state of the transmission is in PARK.

9. A system, comprising:

a display, comprising:

a screen comprising a cover comprising a light-sensitive coating, wherein the cover comprises a first predefined region and a second, different predefined region;

a bezel extending outwardly from the screen and forming at least a portion of a periphery of the screen; and

a lamp carried by the bezel and comprising a first light source and a second light source, wherein light from the first and second light sources is directed axially and radially-inwardly from the bezel and toward the cover, wherein light from the first light source is directed to the first predefined region and wherein light from the second light source is directed to the second predefined region; and

a computer, comprising:

a processor; and

memory storing instructions executable by the processor, the instructions comprising to:

(a) determine whether a vehicle cabin is in an occupied state;

(b) determine at least one predetermined criteria, wherein the at least one predetermined criteria includes that a state of a transmission is in PARK; and

(c) based on the determinations of (a) or (b), actuate at least the first light source or the second light source to activate the light-sensitive coating on the respective first or second predefined region.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the coating comprises titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ), wherein the lamp emits light at a wavelength within 310-390 nanometers (nm).

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the at least one predetermined criteria comprises determining that an ambient light within the cabin exceeds a threshold.

12. The system of claim 9 , wherein the at least one predetermined criteria comprises an expiration of a predetermined interval of time, wherein the instructions further comprise to use a timer to measure the predetermined interval of time.

13. The system of claim 9 , wherein the at least one predetermined criteria is a predetermined quantity of user-touches of the screen since a last cleaning of the screen.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the system further comprises a counter, wherein the predetermined quantity of user-touches comprises a first user-touch and a second user-touch, wherein the instructions further comprise to:

determine that the first user-touch and the second user-touch occur within a predetermined touch-interval; and in response thereto, count the second user-touch as less than one incrementation of the counter.

15. The system of claim 9 , wherein the at least one predetermined criteria is a predetermined quantity of user touches of either the first or second predefined region since a last cleaning of the screen.

16. The system of claim 9 , wherein the at least one predetermined criteria comprises determining that a contact region of the screen—within one of the first or second predefined regions—maintains a surface charge that is greater than a threshold for at least a predetermined period of time.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the threshold includes a baseline value of nominal surface charge for a plurality of contact regions of the screen.

18. The system of claim 9 , wherein the instructions further comprise to: receive an indication of a manual actuation from a switch coupled to the display; and in response thereto, control the actuation.

19. The system of claim 9 , wherein the at least one predetermined criteria includes failing to receive an input to abort the actuating (c) in response to a notification of an intent to perform the actuating (c) sent upon determining that the state of the transmission is in PARK.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 28, 2017
From: KRISHNAN, VENKATESH; SALTER, STUART C.; DELLOCK, PAUL KENNETH; GLICKMAN, DAVID BRIAN; HUEBNER, ANNETTE LYNN
To: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 042852/0218 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20190001930A1 · Jan 3, 2019
Cited By (1)
US 12,274,799