Modular center stack console

Details Modular center stack console Modular center stack console

1998-07-24

2001-03-13

Pope, Daryl (Department: 2736)

Communications: electrical

Land vehicle alarms or indicators

Internal alarm or indicator responsive to a condition of the...

C701S036000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06201471

ABSTRACT:

TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to a single modular console having a plurality of potentiometers for adjusting the radio and the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (hereafter HVAC) features in a vehicle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
To date, the radio is a single display component usually controlled by at least four potentiometers. The HVAC system is a single display component controlled by at least three potentiometers and several buttons. Both of these components are shipped to a vehicle plant in separate containers and are installed into the vehicle at different times. This is labor intensive, costly and consumes a substantial amount of real estate on the surface of and behind the dashboard of the vehicle.
The present invention provides advantages over and alternatives to the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention incorporates the function of the upper level radio with an HVAC climate control. The present invention includes a single modular unit having a single display and several dual function potentiometers for controlling various functions of a radio and an HVAC climate control system. The present invention makes more real estate available in the instrument panels trim and dashboard for other components such as a refrigerated compartment, navigation system display units, cellular phone compartments and so forth where prior art HVAC switches were located. Further, a single modular system incorporating controls for the radio and the HVAC simplifies the vehicle assembly process in that a single unit can be shipped to and installed into the vehicle instead of two separate units.
In a preferred embodiment, the single modular unit utilizes three dual function potentiometers. The radio tuning function uses one dual function potentiometer and a second dual function potentiometer is provided to control other features and functions of the radio. The HVAC system also has a dual function potentiometer. Preferably the potentiometer includes a two-piece knob assembly having an outside piece that rotates around an inside piece that functions as a push button switch.
These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following brief description of the drawing, detailed description, and appended claims and drawing.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5916288 (1999-06-01), Hartman

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