US 12,012,053 B2
In-vehicle operating device and method of controlling same
Jong Hwan Jeon, Anyang (KR)
Assigned to SEOYON E-HWA CO., LTD., Anyang (KR); and SEOYON AMERICA CORPORATION, Auburn Hills, MI (US)
Filed by SEOYON E-HWA CO., LTD., Anyang (KR); and SEOYON AMERICA CORPORATION, Auburn Hills, MI (US)
Filed on Aug. 26, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/412,441.
Claims priority of application No. 10-2020-0141205 (KR), filed on Oct. 28, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0126766 A1, Apr. 28, 2022
Int. Cl. B60R 16/023 (2006.01); B60R 16/00 (2006.01); B60R 16/033 (2006.01)
CPC B60R 16/023 (2013.01) [B60R 16/005 (2013.01); B60R 16/033 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An in-vehicle operating device comprising:
a panel constituting a vehicle interior component and having an opening;
an operation module provided to be movable backward and forward in a first direction through the opening between a first position and a second position spaced apart from each other, with a button operated by a user being disposed on a front end thereof;
a cam mechanism comprising a cam element and a cam pin, wherein the cam element has a guidance path extending in a second direction intersecting with the first direction and the cam pin is connected to and movable along the guidance path;
an actuator comprising a plurality of shape-memory members contracting by applying current when heated and restored to an original state thereof when cooled, the plurality of shape-memory members configured to cause relative movement between the cam element and the cam pin along the guidance path using a force generated during contraction, wherein the plurality of shape-memory members includes at least one first shape-memory member configured to move the operation module to the first position according to the relative movement and at least one second shape-memory member configured to move the operation module to the second position according to the relative movement; and
a controller configured to supply current to the actuator while maintaining a voltage provided from a vehicle battery within a preset voltage range, and control an amount of current for each of the plurality of shape-memory members included in the actuator according to a condition for operating each of the plurality of shape-memory members.