Instrument panel, means of transport and device for operating a heating and air conditioning system of a means of transport

Abstract

Device for operating a heating and air conditioning system (11, 12, 13) of a means of transport (10) comprising: - a first finger groove (1) arranged in a substantially flat surface (7) extending in a linear or curved manner for the haptic guidance of a user's finger (20), - a detection unit for recording swipe gestures performed in the finger groove (1), - an evaluation unit (35) for processing captured swipe gestures, wherein - the detection unit has a capacitive surface arranged in the finger groove (1).

Description

State of the art

[0001] The present invention relates to a means of transportation, a control panel, and a device for operating a heating and air conditioning system of a means of transportation. In particular, the present invention relates to a safe method for operating the settings of a means of transportation with the lowest possible distraction potential for the user.

[0002] The current trend in the cockpits of modern vehicles, especially cars, is towards a switchless design. Since this also means dispensing with conventional rotary push-button controls, which result in a lack of significant haptic feedback to user input, there is a need for a user interface and an input element that integrates well into the aesthetics of a switchless cockpit and still provides the customer with good orientation and visual feedback when adjusting important functions (such as audio volume, scrolling through long lists, climate control, etc.).

[0003] DE 10 2012 008 681 A1 discloses a multifunction control device for a motor vehicle, in which a combined slider / touch surface is provided for receiving swipe gestures and press inputs. The control element is elongated or rectangular, with a raised edge projection serving to guide the user's finger. Preferably, the control element is arranged substantially vertically to the side of the screen display.

[0004] DE 10 2013 226 225 A1 discloses a device for operating a vehicle function with a control body which has differently oriented surfaces, the surfaces of which are designed for the respective operation of a respective function via swipe gestures.

[0005] DE 10 2014 008 040 A1 discloses a motor vehicle with an input / output device in which local protrusions are provided on a capacitively monitored input surface, which guide the user's finger.

[0006] DE 10 2015 004 062 A1 discloses an air supply device for an air conditioning system in a motor vehicle, in which a haptic guide for the user's finger is provided on a louver of an air outlet. In one embodiment, it is proposed to design a haptic adjustment aid, for which a ribbed structure or knurling is provided.

[0007] Based on the prior art cited above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a cost-effective and convenient input device for operating heating / air conditioning systems in means of transport. In particular, it is an object of the present invention to enable such settings to be made as "blindly" as possible, thus reducing the potential for distraction for the user. Disclosure of the invention

[0008] The problem identified above is solved according to the invention by a device for operating a heating / air conditioning system of a means of transport. For the purposes of this invention, a "heating / air conditioning system" is understood to be a device for influencing the temperature perception of an occupant of a means of transport, and in particular, devices for adjusting air temperature, seat temperature, steering temperature, etc., can be understood as devices according to the invention. The means of transport can be, for example, a car, van, truck, motorcycle, aircraft, and / or watercraft. The device comprises a linear and / or curved "finger groove" for the haptic guidance of a user's finger when performing a swiping gesture, which is embedded in a substantially flat surface.Within the scope of the present invention, a "finger groove" is to be understood as a substantially linear and / or longitudinally extended depression in the form of a groove, a trench, or a trough, which is designed to guide a user's wiping gesture as long as the user presses their finger into the finger groove substantially perpendicular to the flat surface of the device.

[0009] The user's finger is guided along both sides of the finger groove, essentially parallel to the flat surface. A sensor unit is designed to detect swipe gestures performed in the finger groove. In other words, the sensor unit can determine the position and / or movement of the user's finger and provide corresponding information for further processing. An evaluation unit is provided to process the detected swipe gestures and the signals derived from them. The evaluation unit can, for example, include a programmable processor, a microcontroller, or similar device. In practical automotive applications, evaluation units are often implemented as electronic control units (ECUs). The sensor unit features a capacitive surface located within the finger groove.This device can be designed according to the type of input devices known in the prior art (English: "digitizer"), although a display device in the form of a pixel matrix, such as that contained in touchscreens, is not part of the device according to the invention. By means of swiping gestures in the finger groove of the device according to the invention, the user can, for example, adjust a fan speed, which enables control of the airflow of heated or cooled air. The arrangement described above can be manufactured relatively inexpensively and is particularly convenient and safe to operate, as it is guided.

[0010] The dependent claims describe preferred embodiments of the invention.

[0011] The flat surface can, for example, be formed in one piece. In other words, the surface of the finger groove can be formed in one piece with the essentially flat surface, thus preventing the ingress of foreign objects and noise generation from vibrations occurring during driving.

[0012] Optionally, a second finger groove can be provided in the essentially flat, preferably one-piece, surface, which is assigned to a different function than the first finger groove. In this way, a separate finger groove can be provided for different functions, thus creating a readily usable input element for the parameters of each function. The two finger grooves can, for example, be haptically coded to allow the user to recognize the respective function by touch. For instance, the first finger groove can have bumps, a longitudinal ridge, transverse grooves, or similar features, while the second finger groove is coded differently. This improves the possibility of blind operation, as the haptic coding of the different finger grooves can be quickly learned and applied by the user.

[0013] The second finger groove can be positioned above or below the first. Particularly if the second finger groove runs parallel to the first, a space-saving arrangement can be achieved within a 1-DIN or 2-DIN unit in a vehicle dashboard. The second finger groove can also have a fundamentally different longitudinal orientation relative to the first. For example, the first and second finger grooves can be arranged essentially perpendicular to each other. This allows, for instance, the use of space around a display unit with minimal additional requirements.

[0014] Preferably, blind operation can be simplified by providing a transition groove between the first and second finger grooves. This transition groove can be understood as a guide for the user's finger when moving from one finger groove to the next. The transition groove can be essentially sensorless, thereby reducing manufacturing costs. Preferably, however, the transition groove should not be assigned to any other function call upon user interaction.

[0015] The transfer groove can be distinguished from the finger grooves by haptic feedback, specifically by its reduced width and / or depth. Alternatively or additionally, the transfer groove can have a different surface structure (for example, the aforementioned bumps or ridges, etc.). This allows the user to move "blindly" from one finger groove to the next without having to look at the device according to the invention.

[0016] The possibilities for user feedback are expanded by the fact that the device according to the invention has a light outlet which is embedded in the finger groove. Pictograms and / or light patterns indicating the position / extent of the respective finger groove can be generated via the light outlet. For this purpose, the surface of the device can be at least partially transparent, thus forming the light outlet.

[0017] A light source (e.g., an LED or a multitude of LEDs) can be provided behind the light outlet.

[0018] Preferably, a translucent ("milky") element can also be provided to homogenize the light patterns emitted from the light outlet. This reduces the number of light sources required and improves the optical appearance of the device.

[0019] The light outlet can be configured to emit a predefined different light color, independent of the light color emitted in the finger groove(s) within the area of ​​the device's touch panels. This can be achieved through apertures, colored translucent light guides, or light sources emitting different light colors.

[0020] The finger groove can be configured to recognize multiple touch gestures. In other words, the finger groove can detect whether the user has placed one, two, three, or more fingers in it simultaneously. Depending on the number of fingers, the device can, for example, initiate a first function call with a single finger, a second function call with two fingers, and a third function call with three fingers, with the first, second, and third function calls being distinct from one another. Depending on the number of fingers in the finger groove, feedback regarding the number of fingers and the associated function call can be provided to the user (for example, by a different color of light emitted from the light outlet).

[0021] The blind operation of the device according to the invention is further improved if the first finger groove and / or the second finger groove is haptically demarcated from the flat surface at both end regions. In other words, the finger groove also has a groove wall at ends opposite each other with respect to its longitudinal axis, through which the user can feel the end or end region of the finger groove. This does not preclude the presence of a transition groove at the end regions.

[0022] Preferably, touchpads for selecting predefined functions of the means of transport can be embedded in the flat surface. If two or more finger grooves are arranged in the device according to the invention, the touchpads can be arranged between the finger grooves (which are, for example, arranged parallel to each other). The touchpads can output control signals in the manner of an "ON / OFF logic" and / or enable a stepwise increase / decrease of an associated parameter. The touchpads can also be operated essentially via the aforementioned capacitive surface, so that mechanical elements and the gaps often associated with them can be avoided, and the probability of foreign matter entering the device can be further reduced.

[0023] Preferably, an output unit can be coupled to the device according to the invention, which can be designed, for example, as a screen arranged next to the finger groove and / or as a loudspeaker and / or as a vibration exciter. In this way, the output unit can provide feedback to the user about the selected function or the adjusted parameter (e.g., a designation of a set temperature value and / or a current fan speed). In particular, if the output unit requires no or less eye movement than would be required for optical detection by the device according to the invention, the potential for distraction for the user can be further reduced when they wish to receive feedback about the currently selected function.

[0024] The evaluation unit can, for example, be configured to adjust a light signal emitted from the light outlet to the current ambient lighting setting of the vehicle when a predefined time period has elapsed since the end of a gesture detected by the sensor unit. This adjustment can be made, for example, with regard to light intensity and / or light color and / or a (for example, time-varying) light pattern. In this way, the device according to the invention can be integrated even more effectively into the visual appearance of the dashboard or the vehicle.

[0025] According to a second aspect of the present invention, an instrument panel for a means of transport is proposed, which includes a device according to the first aspect of the invention. The instrument panel can, in particular, have a section that is arranged substantially vertically in the means of transport, into which the substantially flat surface of the device according to the invention is fitted. A finger moved over the finger groove under a normal force oriented in the direction of travel is mechanically fixed or guided by the finger groove at the position where a swipe gesture operation has the greatest likelihood of success. In particular, an undesirable influence of vibrations and / or driving over potholes on the position of the finger is avoided, since the finger is enclosed in the finger groove upwards and downwards, and, depending on the arrangement, to the left and right.

[0026] According to a third aspect of the present invention, a means of propulsion is proposed which comprises an instrument panel according to the second aspect of the invention and / or a device according to the first aspect of the invention. The features, combinations of features, and the advantages arising therefrom correspond so clearly to those that have been carried out in connection with the first and second aspects of the invention that, to avoid repetition, reference is made to the above descriptions. Brief description of the drawings

[0027] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings show: Fig. 1 a schematic overview of components of an embodiment of a means of transport according to the invention with an embodiment of a device according to the invention in an embodiment of an instrument panel according to the invention; Fig. 2 a perspective view of an embodiment of a device according to the invention; and Fig. 3 a top view of an embodiment of a device according to the invention. Embodiments of the invention

[0028] Fig. Figure 1 shows a passenger car 10 as a means of transport in which a screen 34, as an output unit, is connected to an electronic control unit 35, as an evaluation unit. A device 8 according to the invention is arranged in the dashboard below the screen 34 and is also connected to the electronic control unit 35. Control lines also connect the electronic control unit 35 to a heating element 12 and an air pump 13 of a heating / air conditioning system, both arranged in a channel 11.

[0029] Fig. Figure 2 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a device 8 according to the invention, which has a substantially flat frontal surface 7 into which a first, substantially horizontal finger groove 1 and two adjacent finger grooves 2, 3 are recessed below and parallel to the first finger groove 1. Essentially vertically arranged transition grooves 4, 6 connect the end regions of the first finger groove 1 with the approximately 45° upwardly directed end regions 22 of the second finger groove 2 and the third finger groove 3, as well as the end regions of the second finger groove 2 and the third finger groove 3 facing the center of the device 8. The transition grooves 4, 5, 6 have a tapered cross-section or a reduced width compared to the finger grooves 1, 2, 3. In this way, their position is perceptible to the user, thus improving their orientation during blind operation.In the upper finger groove 1, a linear and horizontally extending light outlet 15 is provided between a first air pump symbol 14 and a second air pump symbol 16. This light outlet can be used to indicate, on the one hand, the position of a user's finger 20 (for example, via a variable intensity adjustment) and, on the other hand, the setpoint temperature of the heating / air conditioning system (for example, via an adjustment of the emitted light color). A corresponding light outlet 15 is provided in the second finger groove 2 between a temperature symbol 17 for cool setpoint temperatures and a temperature symbol 18 for high setpoint temperatures. The temperature symbols 17 and 18 can, for example, be color-coded. For instance, temperature symbol 17 can be blue, while temperature symbol 18 is red.Temperature symbols 17 and 18 can also be backlit, improving readability in poor lighting conditions. While the second finger groove 2 is used to set a target temperature for the driver's side, the third finger groove 3 is for setting a target temperature for the passenger side. Here, a temperature symbol 19 indicates a cool target temperature, and a temperature symbol 21 indicates a high target temperature. A linear, horizontal light outlet 15 extends between temperature symbols 19 and 21, through which the position of the user's finger 20 and / or the currently set target temperature can be illustrated by a corresponding light pattern, as explained in connection with the second finger groove 2. Touch fields 30 and 31 are located below the transition groove 5 for activating seat heating for the driver's and passenger's sides, respectively.In a central rib 9 of the flat surface 7, further touch fields 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 are provided, via which windshield ventilation, automatic climate control, an air conditioning operating mode, air distribution, a recirculation function, synchronization of the settings for the driver / passenger side, and rear window heating can be activated. The central rib 9, like the flat surface 7 (reference numeral 33) located below the finger grooves 2, 3, has a cover element 32, which can be made, for example, of chrome, burl wood, or similar materials, thus enabling a visually harmonious integration of the device according to the invention into the visual appearance of the dashboard of the vehicle. The covers 32, 33 can also be designed as light outlets, so that an ambient light emission used in the rest of the vehicle can also be adopted for the device according to the invention.

[0030] Fig. Figure 3 shows a top view of a further embodiment of a device according to the invention, wherein the Fig. 2 elements shown in Fig. 3 are provided with identical reference numerals, thus eliminating the need for further discussion to avoid repetition. The symmetry of the basic shape of the device (especially apart from the symbols of the touch fields 23 to 31) is particularly evident, so that the third finger groove 3 also has an end region 22 directed upwards at approximately 45°, which opens into the transition groove 6.

[0031] Even though the aspects of the invention and advantageous embodiments have been described in detail with reference to the exemplary embodiments explained in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures, modifications and combinations of features of the illustrated exemplary embodiments are possible for the person skilled in the art without leaving the scope of the present invention, the scope of which is defined by the accompanying claims. Reference symbol list 1, 2, 3 finger groove 4, 5, 6 Transition channel 7 flat surface 8 Device 9 Middle walkway 10 cars 11 Channel element 12 Heating system 13 Air pump 14 Fan symbol 15 light outlets 16 fan symbol 17, 18, 19, 21 temperature symbol 20 users 22 End area 23 to 31 Keypad 32, 33 aperture 34-inch screen 35 electronic control unit

Claims

[1] Device for operating a heating and air conditioning system (11, 12, 13) of a means of transport (10) comprising: - a first finger groove (1) arranged in a substantially flat surface (7) extending in a linear or curved manner for the haptic guidance of a user's finger (20), - a detection unit for recording swipe gestures performed in the finger groove (1), - an evaluation unit (35) for processing captured swipe gestures, wherein - the detection unit has a capacitive surface arranged in the finger groove (1). [2] Device according to claim 1, wherein a second finger groove (2, 3) is provided in the flat surface (7) which is assigned to a different functional scope than the first finger groove (1). [3] Device according to claim 2, wherein the second finger groove (2, 3) is connected to the first finger groove (1) - essentially in parallel and / or - essentially runs vertically. [4] Device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein a transfer groove (4, 5, 6) is provided between the first finger groove (1) and the second finger groove (2), which is configured to guide a user's finger (20) from the first finger groove (1) into the second finger groove (2, 3). [5] Device according to claim 4, wherein the transfer groove (4, 5, 6) is opposite to the first finger groove (1) - reduced width and / or - reduced depth and / or - has a different surface structure. [6] Device according to one of the preceding claims further comprising a light outlet (15) which is recessed into the finger groove (1, 2, 3), wherein a light source is arranged behind the light outlet (15), which - comprises individual light sources, preferably LEDs, wherein in particular - a translucent element is provided for homogenizing the light emitted from the light outlet (15). [7] Device according to claim 6, wherein the light outlet (15) is configured to emit a predefined different light color into the finger groove (1, 2, 3), independently of a light color emitted in the area of ​​touch fields (14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29). [8] Device according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the evaluation unit (5) is further configured to adapt a light signal emitted from the light outlet (15) to a current setting of the ambient light of the means of transport (10) in response to the elapse of a predefined time period after the end of a gesture detected by means of the detection unit. [9] Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the finger groove (1, 2, 3) is haptically delimited from the flat surface (7) at both end regions. [10] Device according to one of the preceding claims further comprising - Touch fields (14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29), which are arranged and set up in the flat surface (7), to start a predefined function of the means of transport (10) in response to a touch by the user (20). [11] Device according to one of the preceding claims further comprising - an output unit (4) which is configured to output a message about a parameter adjusted by means of the operation when responding to an operation of the finger groove (1, 2, 3). [12] Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the finger groove (1, 2, 3) is configured to resolve multiple touch gestures, and the device (8) is configured, - to acknowledge a gesture with exactly one finger with an initial signal - to acknowledge a multiple touch gesture with exactly two fingers with a second signal and in particular - to acknowledge a multiple touch gesture with exactly three fingers with a third signal, which is emitted from the light outlet (15). [13] Instrument panel for a means of transport (10) comprising a device (8) according to one of the preceding claims. [14] Means of transport comprising an instrument panel according to claim 13 or a device (8) according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 12.

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