US Patent 7756611 On-board device having apparatus for specifying operator

Patent 7756611 was granted and assigned to Denso on July, 2010 by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

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Is a

Patent

Patent attributes

Current Assignee

Denso

Patent Jurisdiction

United States Patent and Trademark Office

Patent Number

77566110

Patent Inventor Names

Makiko Sugiura0

Date of Patent

July 13, 2010

Patent Application Number

118221650

Date Filed

July 3, 2007

Patent Primary Examiner

‌

Gertrude Arthur Jeanglaud

Patent abstract

An operator-specifying apparatus is combined with an on-board device such as a navigation device mounted on an automotive vehicle. An ultrasonic sensor device is mounted on a frame of a display panel of the navigation device. A hand of a person who is manipulating the navigation device, a driver or an assistant, is detected by the ultrasonic sensor device. If it is determined that the driver is manipulating (or about to manipulate) the navigation device when the vehicle is being driven, manipulation of the navigation device is prohibited to secure safety in driving. On the other hand, if it is found out the assistant is operating the navigation device, such prohibition is canceled to effectively use the navigation device.