Method and device for controlling a vehicle display system by touch scanning on a touch screen

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and a device for controlling a display system of a vehicle. For this purpose, data representative of a touch swipe (202) on a touch screen (13) of the display system are received. A set of graphical contents of a human-machine interface of the vehicle to be displayed on the touch screen is determined based on said data, the set of graphical contents comprising at least one graphical content. A first graphical object (21, 22) identifying a first graphical content of the set of graphical contents is displayed on the touch screen, the first graphical object being associated with the touch swipe (202). Figure for abstract: Figure 2

Description

Title of the invention: Method and device for controlling a vehicle display system by touch scanning on a touch screen Technical field

[0001] The invention relates to methods and devices for controlling a display system of a vehicle, in particular but not exclusively a motor vehicle. The invention relates in particular to a method and a device for controlling the display of graphic content(s) by a touch pressure corresponding to a touch scan. Technological background

[0002] Some contemporary vehicles have several screens on board to display information useful to the driver for driving the vehicle as well as comfort information, such as, for example, information for interacting with the infotainment system, also called the IVI system (from the English "In-Vehicle Infotainment" or in French "Infodivertissement embargo"), of the vehicle.

[0003] Among these screens, it is known to embed one or more LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) type screens, for example TFT (Thin-Film Transistor) type, or OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) type.

[0004] The integration of such screens makes it possible, for example, to control, via a graphical Human-Machine Interface (HMI) displayed on such screens, the operating status of the systems embedded in the vehicle, for example the AD AS systems (from the English “Advanced Driver-Assistance System” or in French “Advanced Driving Assistance System”).

[0005] Control of on-board systems is for example obtained by performing commands on the touch interface of a screen of the vehicle. These commands are varied and include for example short or brief touch presses, long touch presses, multiple touch presses (for example double touch press), touch swipes in several directions and senses, touch presses with one or more fingers, etc. The variety and large number of these touch commands makes the use of the touch interface unintuitive for controlling the on-board systems of the vehicle and limits the acceptance of the touch interface as a means of control. The user experience is degraded and the attention of the driver of the vehicle can be reduced when the latter searches for which touch command to perform to execute the associated function, which disrupts the control of the vehicle by the driver. The attention required to carry out the tactile command appropriate for the execution of the desired function leads to safety risks for the vehicle and other road users, the driver's attention being diverted from the road and the control of the vehicle's driving may then be degraded. Summary of the present invention

[0006] An object of the present invention is to solve at least one of the problems of the technological background described above.

[0007] Another object of the present invention is, for example, to improve the user experience with respect to a touch interface of a display screen of a vehicle.

[0008] Another object of the present invention is to minimize the loss of attention of the driver and to improve the safety of the vehicle.

[0009] According to a first aspect, the present invention relates to a method for controlling a display system of a vehicle, the display system comprising a touch interface screen, called a touch screen, said method being implemented by at least one processor and comprising the following steps: - receiving data representative of a touch scan on the touch screen; - determining a set of graphic contents of a human-machine interface of the vehicle to be displayed on the touch screen based on the data, the set of graphic contents comprising at least one graphic content; - display control of a first graphic object identifying a first graphic content of the set of graphic contents on the touch screen.

[0010] The display of a graphic object identifying a particular graphic content from a set of graphic contents itself determined as a function of data representative of a touch scan carried out by a user (for example the driver of the vehicle) makes it possible to visually indicate to this user which graphic content will be displayed, as well as which associated function will be executed, following the touch scan that this user is currently carrying out. Thus, the user can decide to continue or interrupt the touch command, that is to say the touch scan, in progress depending on whether the graphic content identified as having to be displayed following the touch command actually corresponds to what the user wants.

[0011] The user thus obtains a direct and simple clear indication of the direction of the touch command carried out, which reduces the attention required to find the correct command and minimizes the time spent searching for information. The user's vigilance is improved, as is the safety of the vehicle and its passengers when the user corresponds to the driver of the vehicle.

[0012] Centralizing controls on a single screen also eliminates the need for physical buttons to control the vehicle's on-board systems, thereby reducing vehicle design and manufacturing costs.

[0013] According to a variant, the data comprising a first piece of information representative of a distance traveled on the touch screen by at least one finger performing the touch scan, a graphic representation of the first graphic object is a function of the first piece of information.

[0014] According to another variant, the graphic representation of the first graphic object corresponds to: - a first graphical representation when the first information is representative of a distance less than a first threshold distance; and - a second graphic representation different from the first graphic representation when the first information is representative of a distance greater than a second threshold distance, the second threshold distance being greater than or equal to the first threshold distance, the second threshold distance being representative of a distance necessary and sufficient to trigger a display of the first graphic content on the touch screen by the at least one processor.

[0015] According to another variant, the method further comprises a step of controlling the display of a second graphic object identifying a second graphic content of the set of graphic contents on the touch screen, the second graphic content being different from the first graphic content, a graphic representation of the second graphic object being a function of the first information, the graphic representation of the second graphic object corresponding to: - a first graphical representation when the first information is representative of a distance less than the first threshold distance; and - a second graphic representation different from the first graphic representation when the first information is representative of a distance greater than a third threshold distance, the third threshold distance being greater than the second threshold distance, the third threshold distance being representative of a distance necessary and sufficient to trigger a display of the second graphic content on the touch screen by the at least one processor.

[0016] According to a further variant, a display of the first graphical object and a display of the second graphical object are controlled in such a way that the first graphical object and the second graphical object partially overlap with the first graphical object in the foreground over the second graphical object.

[0017] According to another variant, the display of the first graphic object and the display of the second graphic object are controlled so as to follow a movement of the at least one finger performing the touch scan on the touch screen.

[0018] According to an additional variant, the data comprising a second piece of information representative of a number of fingers performing the touch scan, the set of graphic contents being further determined as a function of the second piece of information.

[0019] According to a second aspect, the present invention relates to a device for controlling a display system of a vehicle, the device comprising a memory associated with a processor configured for implementing the steps of the method according to the first aspect of the present invention.

[0020] According to a third aspect, the present invention relates to a vehicle, for example of the automobile type, comprising a device as described above according to the second aspect of the present invention or a system as described above according to the third aspect of the present invention.

[0021] According to a fourth aspect, the present invention relates to a computer program which comprises instructions adapted for executing the steps of the method according to the first aspect of the present invention, in particular when the computer program is executed by at least one processor.

[0022] Such a computer program may use any programming language, and be in the form of source code, object code, or intermediate code between source code and object code, such as in a partially compiled form, or in any other desirable form.

[0023] According to a fifth aspect, the present invention relates to a computer-readable recording medium on which is recorded a computer program comprising instructions for carrying out the steps of the method according to the first aspect of the present invention.

[0024] On the one hand, the recording medium may be any entity or device capable of storing the program. For example, the medium may comprise a storage means, such as a ROM memory, a CD-ROM or a microelectronic circuit type ROM memory, or a magnetic recording means or a hard disk.

[0025] Furthermore, this recording medium may also be a transmissible medium such as an electrical or optical signal, such a signal being able to be conveyed via an electrical or optical cable, by conventional or hertzian radio or by self-directed laser beam or by other means. The computer program according to the present invention may in particular be downloaded from an Internet-type network.

[0026] Alternatively, the recording medium may be an integrated circuit in which the computer program is incorporated, the integrated circuit being adapted to perform or to be used in performing the method in question. Brief description of the figures

[0027] Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge from the description of the particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiments of the present invention below, with reference to the appended figures 1 to 5, in which:

[0028] [Fig.l] schematically illustrates a part of the passenger compartment of a vehicle, according to a particular exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0029] [Fig.2] schematically illustrates the display of a first graphic object at different time instants on a display device of the vehicle of [Fig.l], according to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0030] [Fig.3] schematically illustrates the display of the first graphic object and a second graphic object at different time instants on the display device of the vehicle of [Fig.l], according to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0031] [Fig.4] illustrates a device configured to control a display system of the vehicle of [Fig.l], according to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] [Fig.5] illustrates a flowchart of the different stages of a control process of a vehicle display system of [Fig.l], according to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Description of examples of implementation

[0033] A method and a device for controlling a display system of a vehicle will now be described in the following with joint reference to Figures 1 to 5. The same elements are identified with the same reference signs throughout the description which follows.

[0034] The terms "first(s)", "second(s)" (or "first(s)", "second(s)"), etc. are used in this document by arbitrary convention to enable different elements (such as operations, means, etc.) implemented in the embodiments described below to be identified and distinguished. Such elements may be distinct or correspond to a single element, depending on the embodiment.

[0035] According to a particular and non-limiting example of embodiment of the present invention, the control of a display system on board a vehicle is for example implemented by one or more computers of the vehicle, for example via one or more processors.

[0036] For this purpose, data representative of a touch command corresponding to a touch scan performed by one or more fingers of a user on the touch interface of a screen, called a touch screen, of the display system are received. A touch scan corresponds to a continuous and prolonged touch press of one or more fingers on a part of the touch screen, the continuous and prolonged touch press forming a trace of a segment (from 1 to several centimeters for example) in a determined direction and sense, the direction being any, for example horizontal, vertical or oblique.

[0037] The received data characterizing the touch scan allows the processor(s) to determine a set of graphic contents of a human-machine interface. (HMI) of the vehicle to be displayed in response to the touch swipe, as well as the function(s) associated with each graphical content to be executed in response to the touch swipe.

[0038] The display of a first graphical object identifying or representing a first graphical content of the set of graphical contents is controlled so that this first graphical object is displayed on the touchscreen, for example near or on the path of the touch scan to indicate to the person performing the touch scan what graphical content will be displayed in response to the touch scan, as well as the function associated with the graphical content that will be performed in response to the touch scan.

[0039] [Fig. 1] schematically illustrates a part of the passenger compartment of a vehicle 10, according to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0040] The vehicle 10 corresponds for example to a vehicle with a thermal engine or to a hybrid vehicle with a thermal engine and one or more electric motors. The vehicle 10 thus corresponds for example to a land vehicle, for example a car, a truck, a bus.

[0041] The vehicle 10 advantageously incorporates a display system comprising a screen 13 with a touch interface and a computer configured to control the display of content(s) of a graphical MMI on the touch screen 13. The computer corresponds for example to the computer of the infotainment system, called the IVI computer (from the English “In-Vehicle Infotainment” or in French “Infodivertissement embargo”) of the vehicle 10.

[0042] The touch screen 13 corresponds for example to a screen of the LCD type (from the English “Liquid Crystal Display” or in French “Display à cristals liquide”), for example of the TFT type (from the English “Thin-Film Transistor” or in French “Transistor en film mince”), or OLED type (from the English “Organic Light-Emitting Diode” or in French “Diode électroluminescente biologique”).

[0043] The touch screen 13 is configured to display content intended for the driver and passengers of the vehicle 10. The touch screen 13 is also configured to allow the driver and / or passengers of the vehicle to interact with one or more systems embedded in the vehicle via a human machine interface (HMI) displayed on the touch screen 13. For example, the screen 13 is configured to interact with any embedded system of the vehicle 10, for example with one or more of the following systems, the list below being provided for illustration purposes without being exhaustive: - an infotainment system, known as an IVI system; and / or - a vehicle navigation and geolocation system 10; and / or - a vehicle air conditioning system 10; and / or - a vehicle seat adjustment control system 10; and / or - a vehicle speed regulation system; and / or - a system for controlling the trajectory and / or maintaining the vehicle in the lane 10; - etc.

[0044] According to a particular embodiment, the display system comprises one or more other screens, for example a screen of a device or system called a head-up display corresponding for example to a transparent or semi-transparent blade arranged in such a way that a driver seated in the seat 15 sees the content displayed or projected on the transparent blade when the driver is driving the vehicle 10. The display system comprises for example furthermore a display screen called a handset or dashboard and generally arranged in an area 12 behind the steering wheel 14 in the dashboard 11.

[0045] According to a particular embodiment, the display system comprising the touch screen 13 is for example provided or configured to reduce the number of screens present in the vehicle 10, making it possible for example to eliminate the display screen(s) called the instrument panel or dashboard.

[0046] According to a particular embodiment, the vehicle 10 has one or more on-board systems each controlled by one or more computers. These computers, with the IVI computer, form for example a multiplexed architecture for the realization of different services useful for the proper functioning of the vehicle and for assisting the driver and / or the passengers of the vehicle in the control of the vehicle 10 via the control of the system(s) on board the vehicle 10.The computers communicate and exchange data with each other via one or more computer buses, for example a communication bus of the data bus type CAN (from the English "Controller Area Network" or in French "Réseau de contrôles"), CAN FD (from the English "Controller Area Network Flexible Data-Rate" or in French "Réseau de contrôles à débit de données flexible"), FlexRay (according to the ISO 17458 standard), LIN (from the English "Local Interconnect Network" or in French "Réseau interconnecté local") or Ethernet (according to the ISO / IEC 802-3 standard).

[0047] A process for controlling a display system on board the vehicle 10 is advantageously implemented by one or more processors of the display system, for example by a computer of an on-board system of the vehicle 10 such as the IVI system.

[0048] The control process is described with reference to figures 2 and 3 which each illustrate the result of the display of one or more graphic objects on the touch screen 13, according to different exemplary embodiments.

[0049] In a first operation of the process, data representative of a touch scan 202, 302 on the touch interface of the touch screen 13 are received, according to a tactile press 202, 302 from a user (for example the driver of the vehicle 10) corresponding to a tactile scan.

[0050] Touch scanning is a scanning movement performed by the user on the touch screen during which one or more of the user's fingers remain in continuous contact with the touch interface.

[0051] A touch scan on the touch screen 13 sends information to the IVI computer so that the latter implements one or more functions associated with the command corresponding to the touch scan.

[0052] The data representative of the touch scan are for example received via one or more data buses connecting the touch interface of the screen (or a computer controlling such a touch interface where appropriate) and the IVI computer.

[0053] The movement is in a determined direction and sense which are arbitrary, for example: - a horizontal movement from left to right of the touch screen 13, or conversely from right to left; or - a vertical movement from the bottom to the top of the touch screen 13, or conversely from the top to the bottom; or - an oblique movement from the lower left corner to the upper right corner of the touch screen, or vice versa from the upper right corner to the lower left corner; or - an oblique movement from the lower right corner to the upper left corner of the touch screen, or vice versa from the upper left corner to the lower right corner; or - any other movement in any possible direction and in any possible sense.

[0054] The data representative of the touch scan 202, 302 comprise for example one or more pieces of information such as: - first information representative of the distance traveled by the finger(s) performing the touch scan, from the origin or start of the touch scan; and / or - a second piece of information representing the number of fingers pressing (or in contact) on the touch interface during the touch scan; and / or - a third piece of information representative of a direction of the touch scan; and / or - a fourth piece of information representative of a direction of tactile scanning; and / or - a fifth piece of information representing location on the touch screen 13, for example coordinates, of a starting point or origin of the touch scan; and / or - a sixth piece of information representing the location on the touch screen 13, for example coordinates, of an end point of the touch scan; and / or - a seventh piece of information representing the speed of the movement made by the finger(s) to perform the tactile scan.

[0055] The data received thus characterizes the touch scan performed by the user at any time, the data being received as the finger(s) move over the touch interface, for example at regular intervals (for example every 10, 20, 50 or 100 ms), certain information not being understood as such but deduced or obtained from the data, for example obtained by derivative or integral of the received data.

[0056] In a second operation of the process, a set of graphic contents of a human-machine interface of the vehicle 10 to be displayed on the touch screen 13 is determined as a function of the data representative of the touch scan received in the first operation, the set of graphic contents comprising at least one graphic content.

[0057] The graphical content(s) to be displayed in response to the touch scan 202, 302 is or are determined based on one or more characteristics of the touch scan 202, 302 included in the received data or derived from the received data. This or these characteristics correspond to one or more of the characteristics associated with the information included in the data and listed previously.

[0058] The received data (and the information contained in or obtained from this data) are used to determine which display of which graphical content should be triggered when the touch scan 202, 302 has been performed (i.e., after the user has stopped moving his or her finger(s) on the touch interface) as well as which function associated with the content to be displayed should be executed.

[0059] For example, the computer in charge of the process identifies the type of touch scan performed in a list of touch scans stored in memory and determines which set of graphical contents to display (and the associated functions or actions to execute) based on the type of touch scan identified.

[0060] For example, when the computer recognizes that the touch swipe initiated on the touch screen 13 corresponds to a horizontal swipe from left to right, the list of the associated graphic content(s) to be displayed includes the home page of the vehicle's HMI and the home page of the vehicle's navigation system HMI 10, depending on the length of the touch swipe for example.

[0061] According to another example, when the computer recognizes that the touch scan initiated on the touch screen 13 corresponds to a vertical scan from top to bottom, the associated graphic content to be displayed corresponds to the page of the HMI corresponding to the notification center.

[0062] According to an alternative embodiment, the number of fingers in contact with the touch interface and used to perform the touch scan is taken into account to determine the set of graphic contents (for example in addition to the direction and sense of the touch scan).

[0063] The correspondence information between each type of touch scan and the associated set of graphic content to be displayed (and / or the associated actions and functions to be executed) is for example stored in a memory of the computer, for example in the form of a correspondence table, called LUT (from the English “Look-Up Table”).

[0064] In a third operation of the process, the display of a first graphic object identifying a first graphic content of the set of graphic contents is controlled so that this first graphic object is displayed on the touch screen 13, for example at the location of the touch scan or near the area of ​​the touch screen 13 receiving the touch scan.

[0065] A display control of a graphic object (text, pictogram, icon, etc.) or of graphic content comprises a rendering of the graphic content or of the graphic object, such rendering corresponding to a set of operations carried out by one or more processors on the pixels of one or more images of the graphic content to be displayed on the screen 13. For example, the rendering consists of associating with a set of pixels of an image pixel data (for example color data expressed in an RGB type space (from the English "Red, Green, Blue" or in French "rouge, vert, bleu")) associated with each graphic object.

[0066] The display control of a graphic object thus comprises the transmission of control signals to the touch screen 13 to modify the values ​​associated with the pixels of the touch screen 13 at the location intended to display the graphic object, that is to say at a determined position on the touch screen 13.

[0067] The display of the graphical object is triggered by receiving data representative of the touch scan, for example when it is recognized from this data that a touch scan is performed and what the type of touch scan is.

[0068] When the data representative of the touch scan comprises first information representative of a distance traveled on the touch screen by the finger(s) performing the touch scan, a graphical representation of the first graphical object is a function of the first information.

[0069] When several graphic contents are associated with the detected touch scan, the display of a different graphic object for each graphic content is controlled to display all of the graphic objects on the touch screen 13. The different graphic objects are for example displayed in a stacked manner, that is to say partially superimposing each other, with the first graphic object in the foreground, a second graphic object in the background under the first graphic object (only a part of the second graphic object appearing on the touch screen 13), a third graphic object in the background under the second graphic object (only a part of the third graphic object appearing on the touch screen 13), etc.

[0070] [Fig.2] illustrates the result of the display of a first graphic object accompanying a touch scan 202 carried out by a user on the touch screen of the vehicle 10, according to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0071] [Fig.2] illustrates the display of the first graphical object at two time instants tl and t2, the second time instant t2 being later than the first time instant tl.

[0072] The first time instant tl corresponds to a time instant associated with the start of the tactile gesture 201 performed by the user to perform the tactile scan 202.

[0073] According to the example of [Fig.2], the touch scan 202 is obtained by moving a finger of the user on the touch screen 13 along a horizontal direction from left to right of the touch screen 13.

[0074] The touch scan 202 is represented by a horizontal arrow pointing to the right of the touch screen 13.

[0075] As illustrated in [Fig.2], the graphic representation of the first graphic object is a function of a distance traveled on the touch screen by the finger performing the touch scan 202 during the touch gesture 201, the distance traveled being for example received in the form of a first piece of information with the data representative of the touch scan 202.

[0076] Thus, the graphical representation of the first graphical object corresponds to: - a first graphic representation 21 when the first information is representative of a distance less than a first threshold distance; and - a second graphic representation 22 different from the first graphic representation 21 when the first information is representative of a distance greater than a second threshold distance, the second threshold distance being greater than or equal to the first threshold distance.

[0077] According to a particular embodiment, the first threshold distance is equal to the second threshold distance.

[0078] The second threshold distance is representative of a distance necessary and sufficient to trigger a display of the first graphic content on the touch screen by the at least one processor of the computer in charge of the process.

[0079] Even if different, the first graphical representation 21 of the first graphical object and the second graphical representation 22 of the first graphical object are both representative of the first graphical content whose display is to be triggered when the touch scan 202 has been completely performed.

[0080] According to the example of [Fig.2], the first graphic object is representative of a first graphic content corresponding to the home page of 1THM of the vehicle 10, the first graphic object representing a house surrounded by a circle.

[0081] The house according to the first graphic representation 21 is for example illustrated with a first determined color while the house according to the second graphic representation 22 is for example illustrated with a second determined color different from the first determined color.

[0082] According to another example, the house according to the first graphic representation 21 is displayed in a fixed and continuous manner while the house according to the second graphic representation 22 is displayed in a flashing manner.

[0083] When the user starts the touch gesture 201 to perform the touch scan 202 (illustrated by the left part of [Fig.2] associated with the instant t1), the first graphic object is displayed according to the first graphic representation 21 as soon as the touch scan is recognized and the first graphic content to be displayed associated with this touch scan is determined. The first graphic object is displayed according to the first graphic representation 21 until the travel distance of the touch gesture 201 reaches the first threshold distance (for example equal to 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 10 cm).

[0084] When the distance traveled by the tactile gesture 201 to perform the tactile scan 202 reaches the second threshold distance, noted dl, (illustrated by the right part of [Fig.2] associated with the instant t2), the graphic representation of the first graphic object passes to the second graphic representation 22.

[0085] When the first threshold distance is equal to the second threshold distance, the first graphical object is displayed throughout the touch gesture 201 and the resulting touch swipe 202, the graphical representation of the first graphical object changes from the first graphical representation 21 to the second graphical representation 22 when the distance traveled by the user's finger performing the touch swipe 202 reaches the first threshold distance (equal to the second threshold distance).

[0086] When the second threshold distance is strictly greater than the first threshold distance (for example the second threshold distance is equal to 5, 7 or 10 cm and the first threshold distance is respectively equal to 3, 5 or 7 cm), the first graphical object is displayed according to the first graphical representation 21 until the distance traveled by the finger of the user performing the touch scan 202 reaches the first threshold distance, then the first graphical object is no longer displayed until the distance traveled by the finger of the user performing the touch scan 202 reaches the second threshold distance, then the first graphical object is displayed according to the second graphical representation 22 from the moment when the distance traveled by the finger of the user performing the touch scan 202 has reached the first threshold distance until the end of the touch scan 202,that is to say until the moment when the user removes his finger from the touch interface of the touch screen 13. According to an alternative embodiment, the first graphic object is displayed according to a third graphic representation different from the first and second representations, graph between the first threshold distance and the second threshold distance dl.

[0087] The display of the first graphic object according to the second graphic representation 22 indicates to the user the instant from which he can remove his finger from the touch screen and complete the touch scan so that the function(s) or action(s) associated with the touch command corresponding to the touch scan 202 are executed, the action(s) including in particular the display of the first graphic content.

[0088] Thus, when the touch scan 202 has been completely completed and the user has removed his finger from the touch interface, the process further comprises an operation of controlling the display of the first graphical content (the home page of the vehicle HMI 10 according to the particular example of [Fig. 2]) so that the first graphical content is displayed on the touch screen 13.

[0089] If other functions or actions are associated with the display of this first graphical content, the process also includes one or more operations for controlling the execution of the instructions associated with these functions or actions.

[0090] [Fig. 3] illustrates the display of the first graphic object and a second graphic object at three different time instants t1, t2 and t3, the third time instant t3 being later than the second time instant t2 which is itself later than the first time instant t1, according to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0091] The time instants tl and t2 of [Fig.3] correspond to the time instants tl and t2 of [Fig.2],

[0092] The control of the display of the first graphical object according to the first graphical representation 21 and the second graphical representation 22 is as described previously with regard to [Fig.2].

[0093] [Fig. 3] illustrates the display of several graphic objects (2 according to the particular example of [Fig. 3]) when several graphic contents whose display can be triggered by the execution of the touch scan 302 are determined or identified when the touch scan 302 is identified or recognized.

[0094] When the characteristics of the touch scan 302 are determined, identified or recognized (e.g. the direction and sense of the touch scan 302, and optionally the number of fingers performing the touch scan 302) from the received data, a graphical object is displayed for each graphical content to be displayed.

[0095] As illustrated in [Fig. 3], the graphical representation of the first graphical object and the graphical representation of the second graphical object are each a function of a distance traveled on the touch screen by the finger performing the touch scan 302 during the touch gesture 301, the distance traveled being for example received in the form of a first piece of information with the data representative of the touch scan 302.

[0096] The display of the first graphical object and the display of the second graphical object are controlled in such a way that the first graphical object and the second graphical object partially overlap, the first graphical object being displayed in the foreground relative to the second graphical object, i.e. the first graphical object is displayed to partially cover the second graphical object. The first graphical object is thus fully visible and the second graphical object partially, at least until the first graphical object is no longer displayed to allow the second graphical object to be fully visible.

[0097] Thus, as illustrated in [Fig. 3], the display of a second graphic object identifying a second graphic content is controlled in such a way that this second graphic object is displayed on the touch screen 13, the second graphic content being different from the first graphic content, a graphic representation of the second graphic object being a function of the first information of distance traveled by the finger(s) of the user performing the touch scan 302.

[0098] The graphical representation of the second graphical object corresponding to: - a first graphical representation 31 when the first information is representative of a distance less than the first threshold distance; and - a second graphical representation 32 different from the first graphical representation when the first information is representative of a distance greater than a third threshold distance, the third threshold distance being greater than the second threshold distance.

[0099] The third threshold distance is representative of a distance necessary and sufficient to trigger a display of the second graphic content on the touch screen by the at least one processor of the computer in charge of the process.

[0100] Even if different, the first graphical representation 31 of the second graphical object and the second graphical representation 32 of the second graphical object are both representative of the second graphical content whose display is to be triggered when the touch scan 302 has been completely performed.

[0101] According to the example of [Fig.3], the second graphic object is representative of a second graphic content corresponding to the home page of the HMI of the navigation system of the vehicle 10, the second graphic object representing a geographical map, for example a road map, surrounded by a circle.

[0102] The geographical map according to the first graphic representation 31 is for example illustrated with a first determined color while the geographical map according to the second graphic representation 32 is for example illustrated with a second determined color different from the first determined color.

[0103] According to another example, the geographical map according to the first graphic representation 31 is displayed in a fixed and continuous manner while the geographical map according to the second graphic representation 32 is displayed in a flashing manner.

[0104] When the user starts the touch gesture 301 to perform the touch scan 302 (illustrated by the left part of [Fig.3] associated with the instant t1), the first graphic object and the second graphic object are respectively displayed according to the first graphic representation 21, 31 as soon as the touch scan 302 is recognized and the first and second graphic contents to be displayed associated with this touch scan 302 are determined or identified. The first graphic object and the second graphic object are displayed in superposition according to the first graphic representation 21 and 31 respectively until the travel distance of the touch gesture 301 reaches the first threshold distance (for example equal to 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 10 cm).

[0105] When the distance traveled by the tactile gesture 301 to perform the tactile scan 302 reaches the second threshold distance, noted dl, (illustrated by the central part of [Fig.3] associated with the instant t2), the graphic representation of the first graphic object passes to the second graphic representation 22 while the graphic representation of the second graphic object remains at the first graphic representation 31.

[0106] The display of the first graphic object according to the second graphic representation 22 indicates to the user the moment from which he can remove his finger from the touch screen and complete the touch scan 302 so that the function(s) or action(s) associated with the display of the first graphic content (the home page of the vehicle HMI 10) and with the touch command corresponding to the touch scan 302 are executed, the action(s) including in particular the display of the first graphic content.

[0107] If the user completes the touch scan 302 after reaching the second threshold distance and before reaching the third threshold distance, the process further comprises an operation of controlling the display of the first graphical content (the home page of the vehicle HMI 10 according to the particular example of [Fig. 2]) so that the first graphical content is displayed on the touch screen 13, as well as the execution of any instructions associated with functions or actions to be implemented with the display of the first graphical content.

[0108] If the user contains the touch gesture 301 to continue the touch scan 302 beyond the second threshold distance until reaching the third threshold distance noted d2, (illustrated by the right part of [Fig.3] associated with the instant t3), the end of display of the first graphic object is controlled, and the first graphic object is no longer displayed on the touch screen 13. The second graphic object is then displayed alone according to the first graphic representation 31.

[0109] When the distance traveled by the finger(s) of the user performing the touch scan 302 reaches the third threshold distance d2, then the graphical representation of the second graphical object switches to the second graphical representation 32.

[0110] The display of the second graphic object according to the second graphic representation 32 indicates to the user the instant from which he can remove his finger(s) from the touch screen 13 and complete the touch scan 302 so that the function(s) or action(s) associated with the touch command corresponding to the touch scan 302 with a travel distance greater than the third threshold distance are executed, the action(s) including in particular the display of the second graphic content.

[0111] Thus, when the touch scan 302 has been completely completed and the user has removed his or her finger(s) from the touch interface after a continuous contact distance with the touch interface greater than the third threshold distance, the process further comprises an operation for controlling the display of the second graphical content (the home page of the HMI of the vehicle navigation system 10 according to the particular example of [Fig. 3]) so that the second graphical content is displayed on the touch screen 13.

[0112] If other functions or actions are associated with the display of this second graphical content (for example the collection of mapping data and the reception of the geographical position of the vehicle 10 to display a graphical representation of the road environment evolving as the vehicle 10 moves), the process also comprises one or more operations for controlling the execution of the instructions associated with these functions or actions.

[0113] Thus, according to the example of [Fig.3], the display of several different graphic contents is triggered by the same touch scan 302, depending on the length of the touch scan 302 carried out on the touch screen 13. This makes it possible to reduce the number of touch commands necessary for the control of several graphic contents and / or on-board systems of the vehicle 10.

[0114] Each graphic object displayed is associated with the touch scan that triggered its display. Thus, the display of the first graphic object and the display of the second graphic object are controlled so as to follow a movement of the finger(s) on the touch screen performing the touch scan 202 or 302, the position of the first graphic object and the position of the second graphic object on the touch screen 13 evolving with the movement of the finger(s) as the touch scan 202 or 302 is performed.

[0115] The first graphic object and the second graphic object are for example displayed near the finger(s) performing the touch scan 202, 302, for example above the finger(s) at a determined distance from this or these fingers (for example 1 or 2 cm above this or these fingers).

[0116] According to an alternative embodiment, the values ​​of the first, second and third threshold distances are a function of the dimensions of the display surface of the touch screen. 13.

[0117] [Fig. 4] schematically illustrates a device 4 configured for controlling a display system of a vehicle, for example the vehicle 10, according to particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiments of the present invention. The device 4 corresponds for example to a device on board the vehicle 10, for example a computer.

[0118] The device 4 is for example configured for the implementation of the operations described with regard to figures 1 to 3 and / or the steps of the method described with regard to [Fig.5]. Examples of such a device 4 include, but are not limited to, on-board electronic equipment such as an on-board computer of a vehicle, an electronic calculator such as an ECU (“Electronic Control Unit”), a smartphone, a tablet, a laptop. The elements of the device 4, individually or in combination, can be integrated in a single integrated circuit, in several integrated circuits, and / or in discrete components. The device 4 can be produced in the form of electronic circuits or software (or computer) modules or even a combination of electronic circuits and software modules.

[0119] The device 4 comprises one (or more) processor(s) 40 configured to execute instructions for carrying out the steps of the method and / or for executing the instructions of the software(s) embedded in the device 4. The processor 40 may include integrated memory, an input / output interface, and various circuits known to those skilled in the art. The device 4 further comprises at least one memory 41 corresponding for example to a volatile and / or non-volatile memory and / or comprises a memory storage device which may comprise volatile and / or non-volatile memory, such as EEPROM, ROM, PROM, RAM, DRAM, SRAM, flash, magnetic or optical disk.

[0120] The computer code of the embedded software(s) comprising the instructions to be loaded and executed by the processor is for example stored in the 4L memory.

[0121] According to various particular and non-limiting embodiments, the device 4 is coupled in communication with other similar devices or systems and / or with communication devices, for example a TCU (from the English “Telematic Control Unit” or in French “Telematic Control Unit”), for example via a communication bus or through dedicated input / output ports.

[0122] According to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the device 4 comprises a block 42 of interface elements for communicating with external devices. The interface elements of the block 42 comprise one or more of the following interfaces: - RF radio frequency interface, for example Wi-Fi® type (according to IEEE 802.11), for example in the 2.4 or 5 GHz frequency bands, or Bluetooth® type (according to IEEE 802.25.1), in the 2.4 GHz frequency band, or Sigfox type using UBN (Ultra Narrow Band) radio technology, or LoRa in the 868 MHz frequency band, LTE (Long-Term Evolution), LTE-Advanced; - USB interface (from the English “Universal Serial Bus” or “Universal Serial Bus” in French); - HDMI interface (from the English “High Definition Multimedia Interface” or “High Definition Multimedia Interface” in French); - LIN interface (from the English “Local Interconnect Network”).

[0123] According to another particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the device 4 comprises a communication interface 43 which makes it possible to establish communication with other devices (such as other computers of the on-board system) via a communication channel 430. The communication interface 43 corresponds for example to a transmitter configured to transmit and receive information and / or data via the communication channel 430. The communication interface 43 corresponds for example to a wired network of the CAN (Controller Area Network) type, CAN FD (Controller Area Network Flexible Data-Rate), FlexRay (standardized by the ISO 17458 standard) or Ethernet (standardized by the ISO / IEC 802-3 standard).

[0124] According to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the device 4 can provide output signals to one or more external devices, such as a display screen 440, touch-sensitive or not, one or more speakers 450 and / or other peripherals 460 (projection system) via output interfaces 44, 45 and 46 respectively. According to a variant, one or other of the external devices is integrated into the device 4.

[0125] [Fig. 5] illustrates a flowchart of the different steps of a method for controlling a display system on board a vehicle, for example the vehicle 10, according to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The method is for example implemented by a device on board the vehicle 10 or by the device 4 of [Fig. 4].

[0126] In a first step 51, data representative of a touch scan on a touch screen of the vehicle display system is received.

[0127] In a second step 52, a set of graphic contents of an interface The human-machine interface of the vehicle to be displayed on the touch screen is determined based on the data, the set of graphical contents including at least one graphical content.

[0128] In a third step 53, the display of a first graphic object identifying a first graphic content of the set of graphic contents is controlled so as to display this first graphic object on the touch screen.

[0129] According to a variant, the variants and examples of the operations described in relation to one of figures 1 to 3 apply to the steps of the method of [Fig.5].

[0130] Of course, the present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described above but extends to a method for controlling the execution of instructions representative of functions or actions implemented by at least one system embedded in a vehicle which would include secondary steps without thereby departing from the scope of the present invention. The same would apply to a device configured for the implementation of such a method.

[0131] The present invention also relates to a vehicle, for example an automobile or more generally an autonomous land-based motor vehicle, comprising the device 4 of [Fig.4] or a display system comprising the device 4 of [Fig.4] connected in communication to a touch screen 13.

Claims

Claims

1. Method for controlling a display system of a vehicle (10), said display system comprising a touch interface screen, called touch screen (13), said method being implemented by at least one processor and comprising the following steps: - receiving (51) data representative of a touch scan (202, 302) on said touch screen (13); - determining (52) a set of graphic contents of a human-machine interface of said vehicle to be displayed on said touch screen as a function of said data, said set of graphic contents comprising at least one graphic content; - controlling (53) the display of a first graphic object identifying a first graphic content of said set of graphic contents on said touch screen (13).

2. Method according to claim 1, for which, said data comprising first information representative of a distance traveled on said touch screen (13) by at least one finger performing said touch scan (202, 302), a graphic representation of said first graphic object is a function of said first information.

3. Method according to claim 2, for which said graphical representation of said first graphical object corresponds to: - a first graphical representation (21) when said first information is representative of a distance less than a first threshold distance; and - a second graphical representation (22) different from said first graphical representation when said first information is representative of a distance greater than a second threshold distance, said second threshold distance being greater than or equal to said first threshold distance, said second threshold distance being representative of a distance necessary and sufficient to trigger a display of said first graphical content on said touch screen by said at least one processor.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising a step of controlling the display of a second graphical object identifying a second graphical content of said set of graphical contents on said touch screen (13), said second graphical content being different from said first graphical content, a graphical representation of said second determined graphic object being a function of said first information, said graphic representation of said second graphic object corresponding to: - a first graphic representation (31) when said first information is representative of a distance less than the first threshold distance; and - a second graphic representation (32) different from said first graphic representation when said first information is representative of a distance greater than a third threshold distance, said third threshold distance being greater than said second threshold distance, said third threshold distance being representative of a distance necessary and sufficient to trigger a display of said second graphic content on said touch screen (13) by said at least one processor.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein a display of said first graphical object and a display of said second graphical object are controlled such that said first graphical object and said second graphical object partially overlap with said first graphical object in the foreground over said second graphical object.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the display of said first graphical object and the display of said second graphical object are controlled to follow a movement of said at least one finger performing said touch scan (202, 302) on said touch screen (13).

7. Method according to one of claims 1 to 6, for which said data comprises a second information representative of a number of fingers performing said touch scan (202, 302), said set of graphic contents being further determined as a function of said second information.

8. Computer program comprising instructions for implementing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, when these instructions are executed by at least one processor.

9. Device (4) for controlling a display system of a vehicle (10), said device (4) comprising a memory (41) associated with at least one processor (40) configured for implementing the steps of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

10. Vehicle (10) comprising the device (4) according to claim 9.

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