Method for operating an operating device and operating device and motor vehicle

Abstract

Method for operating an operating device of a motor vehicle comprising a display screen and at least one operating element, wherein the display screen comprises a plurality of display states (UZ, ZZ1, ZZ2, ZZ3, ZZ4, AZ), in each of which a predetermined display content is shown on the display screen, wherein the operating device is configured to switch between two display states (UZ, ZZ1, ZZ2, ZZ3, ZZ4, AZ) upon detection of an operating step, so that, depending on a number of detected operating steps between a current display state (AZ) and an original display state (UZ), the display screen assumes a number of intermediate display states (ZZ1, ZZ2, ZZ3, ZZ4) corresponding to the number of detected operating steps in a chronological sequence, wherein a dwell time (T) of the display screen in one of the intermediate display states (ZZ1, ZZ2, ZZ3, ZZ4) is recorded, and wherein the at least one control element is at least temporarily assigned a backward function (RF1, RF2), upon activation of which the display screen is set to that intermediate display state (ZZ1, ZZ2, ZZ3, ZZ4) which, in the chronological sequence before the current display state (AZ), last has a dwell time (T) which is greater than a predetermined time value (TC), characterized in that after setting the display screen to the last intermediate display state in the sequence (ZZ1, ZZ2, ZZ3, ZZ4), the dwell time (T) of which is greater than the predetermined time value (TC), upon reactivation of the reverse function (RF2), the display screen is set to the original display state (UZ), so that at the latest after two activations of the reverse function (RF1, RF2), the display screen is set to the original display state (UF), regardless of the dwell time (T) of the display states between the original display state (UZ) and the last intermediate display state in the sequence (ZZ1, ZZ2, ZZ3, ZZ4), the dwell time (T) of which is greater than the predetermined time value (TC), wherein the at least one operating element is designed as a single operating element for both return functions.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for operating an operating device comprising a display screen and at least one operating element. Furthermore, the invention relates to an operating device and a motor vehicle having an operating device.

[0002] Operating devices are known that display a predetermined display content on a display screen, such as a display. Depending on the operation of the operating device or the selection of a predetermined display content, the display content on the display screen changes. It is also known for an operating device to comprise at least one control element, the actuation of which provides a "back" or "backward" function. Using this function, the operating device returns to a display content immediately preceding the current display content.

[0003] An example of a reverse function of a control element is known from DE 10 2011 106 784 A1. The control element can be rotated about a rotation axis, whereby holding the control element beyond a rotation stop generates several control signals for a function. When the control element is released, the last function selected by the generated control signals is adopted.

[0004] From DE 10 2016 210 631 A1, an operating element is known which, on the basis of an input signal generated after detection of a user input, detects an incorrect input by the user on the operating element and adapts a functional logic depending on the detected incorrect input.

[0005] DE 10 2008 049 122 B4 discloses a system for selecting display elements on motor vehicle displays. The system comprises a control element with four separately operable pushbuttons. Operating algorithms are provided for assigning the pushbuttons to frequently recurring, typical operating actions while driving the vehicle.

[0006] US 2017 / 0038918 A1 relates to an information display method and an information display device. Since the display screen of an information display device often does not display a large information list, users must search through the information using searches. The screen displays a segment of the information list with each search. In one embodiment, the identification information of each displayed information segment is recorded, and the user can navigate back to a previously displayed information segment based on the recorded identification information. In another embodiment, a dwell time is recorded for each displayed information segment, wherein the dwell time is a measure of the length of time a user remains on the corresponding information segment.The identification information is only recorded if the retention time of the corresponding information segment exceeds a predefined time threshold.

[0007] A first jump label is provided, which is configured to receive a user command to jump to a previously displayed information segment whose identification information has been recorded. A second jump label may be provided which, when activated by a user, displays at least two previously displayed information segments for user selection. A third jump label may be provided, upon activation of which identification information for the earliest displayed information segment is detected from the recorded identification information and jumps to this information segment.

[0008] A disadvantage of such operating devices is that a large number of operating actions or steps must be carried out in order to return the operating device to its original state.

[0009] The object of the present invention is to provide an operating device and a method for operating an operating device, the operation of which provides a high level of user comfort for a user.

[0010] This object is achieved by the subject matter of the independent patent claims. Advantageous developments of the invention are disclosed by the subclaims, the following description, and the figures.

[0011] The present invention is based on the finding that user comfort of a user of an operating device is increased if an assignment of a reverse function of the operating device is adapted depending on a user requirement.

[0012] In order to provide a high level of user comfort, the method described below for operating an operating device is created. The operating device comprises a display screen, such as a display or a virtual reality display or an augmented reality display. The display screen of the operating device comprises a plurality of display states, in each of which a predetermined display content is shown on the display screen. In other words, the display screen is configured to display different display contents, such as different context menus or different display forms of a display image. As virtual reality or as augmented reality, the display content is displayed, for example, as a hologram and / or as a holographic display. The display screen can be designed, for example, as a head-up display.

[0013] The different display contents each define a different display state. For example, a predetermined section of a navigation map can be shown on the display screen as the display content, with different sections defining different display states. For example, zooming into the displayed navigation map can correspond to a new display state. Furthermore, a predetermined vehicle function of a motor vehicle can be shown as the display content. Different selection menus for the predetermined vehicle function can then correspond to different display states.

[0014] Furthermore, the operating device comprises at least one operating element, which is designed, for example, as a rotary knob or as an operating button or as a touch-sensitive part of the display screen.

[0015] The operating device is configured to switch between two display states upon detection of an operating step. The operating step is detected, for example, based on gesture recognition and / or speech recognition and / or based on detection of a haptic actuation of at least one further operating element of the operating device. Upon detection of a further operating step, the display screen switches to a further display state. Overall, the display state of the display screen can change with each operating step, so that the display screen assumes different display states in a temporal sequence.Depending on a number of recorded operating steps between a current display state of the display screen and an original display state of the display screen, the display screen assumes a number of intermediate display states in the chronological sequence corresponding to the number of recorded operating steps.

[0016] According to the invention, a respective dwell time of the display screen in one of the intermediate display states is recorded. In other words, the time that elapses between two display states or the time during which a respective display state remains is measured. The at least one operating element of the operating device is at least temporarily assigned a backward function. Activating the backward function causes the display screen to be set to the intermediate display state that, in the chronological sequence before the current display state, last had a dwell time that is greater than a predetermined time value.In other words, upon activation of the backward function, the display screen is moved from the current display state to a previous display state, wherein the previous display state corresponds to the last display state in which the dwell time exceeds the predetermined time value.

[0017] Depending on the sequence of recorded operating steps and the time duration between the individual operating steps, the display screen is set to a different display state upon activation of the back function. The display screen therefore shows a previous display content that was displayed for longer than the predetermined time. For example, the predetermined time value is 10 seconds. However, the predetermined time value can also be at least 10 seconds, in particular at least 15 seconds. If the duration of a display state falls short of this time frame, it can be assumed that a user of the operating device is sufficiently familiar with this display state and can therefore carry out the next operating step quickly. It is therefore not in the user's interest to return to this display state or the corresponding displayed content.In this way, it is advantageous if this display state is skipped when the reverse function is activated.

[0018] On the other hand, if the duration of a display state exceeds the predetermined time, it can be assumed that the user may have to view the displayed content for longer because they may need to think about the next operating step. In this case, activating the back function is advantageous if the user returns to this display state, perhaps because they made a mistake during an operating step and / or want to try out other operating options. Thus, overall user comfort can be increased by assigning the back function to a specific situation.

[0019] The invention also encompasses further developments of the method according to the invention, which result in additional advantages. The invention also encompasses combinations of the features of the described embodiments.

[0020] One embodiment provides that if none of the recorded dwell times of the respective intermediate display states is greater than the predetermined time value, the display screen is reset to the original display state upon activation of the back function. In other words, in this case, all intermediate display states are skipped upon activation of the back function. The display screen then shows, for example, an initial menu and / or an original display content. This provides the advantage that the operating device can be used quickly.

[0021] The invention provides that after the display screen has been set to the last intermediate display state in the sequence, the duration of which is greater than the predetermined time value, the display screen is set to the original display state upon reactivation of the back function. In other words, after the back function has been activated twice at the latest, the display screen is set to the original display state. This offers the advantage of returning to the original display state of the display screen particularly quickly, so that the operating device can be operated particularly quickly.

[0022] The operating device according to the invention comprises a display screen and at least one operating element. The display screen is configured to display a respective predetermined display content in a respective display state from a plurality of display states. The operating device is further configured to switch between two display states upon detection of an operating step, so that, depending on the number of detected operating steps between a current display state and an original display state, the display screen assumes a number of intermediate display states in a chronological sequence corresponding to the number of detected operating steps.

[0023] Furthermore, the operating device has a detection device configured to detect the respective dwell time of the display screen in one of the intermediate display states. The at least one operating element of the operating device is at least temporarily assigned a backward function. The backward function, when activated, is configured to set the display screen to the intermediate display state that, in the chronological sequence prior to the current display state, last had a dwell time greater than a predetermined time value.

[0024] The invention also includes further developments of the operating device according to the invention that have features already described in connection with the further developments of the method according to the invention. For this reason, the corresponding further developments of the operating device according to the invention are not described again here.

[0025] The motor vehicle according to the invention has the operating device according to the invention.

[0026] The invention also includes further developments of the motor vehicle according to the invention that have features already described in connection with the further developments of the method according to the invention and with the further developments of the operating device according to the invention. For this reason, the corresponding further developments of the motor vehicle according to the invention are not described again here.

[0027] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are described below. Shown are: Fig. 1 a diagram showing a temporal sequence of different display states of a display screen of an operating device and an assignment option for a backward function of the operating device; Fig. 2 a diagram as in Fig. 1, where two further assignment options for the reverse function of the control device are shown; and Fig. 3 a diagram as in Fig. 1 and as in Fig. 2, which, however, is not the subject of the present invention, wherein two further assignment possibilities of the reverse function of the operating device are shown.

[0028] The exemplary embodiments explained below are preferred embodiments of the invention. In the exemplary embodiments, the described components of the embodiments each represent individual features of the invention that can be considered independently of one another, each of which also develops the invention independently of one another. Therefore, the disclosure is intended to encompass combinations of the features of the embodiments other than those shown. Furthermore, the described embodiments can also be supplemented by further features of the invention already described.

[0029] In the figures, the same reference symbols designate elements with the same function.

[0030] Fig. 1 shows a diagram illustrating a temporal sequence of various display states UZ, ZZ1, ZZ2, ZZ3, ZZ4, and AZ of a display screen of an operating device. In an original display state UZ, the display screen displays, for example, a start menu of the operating device or, for example, a navigation map with an original scaling. For this purpose, the display screen can be configured as a display, a touchscreen, a head-up display, or a virtual reality display. For example, the operating device is arranged in a motor vehicle and provides operation of various motor vehicle functions and / or navigation functions.

[0031] The operating device further comprises a detection device for detecting an operating step. For example, a predetermined gesture and / or a voice input and / or a haptic input via a physical operating element and / or the touch-sensitive screen is detected by the detection device. With each operating step, the display screen is placed into a different display state. In other words, the display content shown on the display screen changes with each operating step. For example, an operating step can correspond to zooming on the navigation map, so that with each operating step, a partial section of the navigation map is displayed at a larger scale. However, an operating step can also correspond to a menu selection from a provided selection menu, so that a different menu function is provided with each display state.

[0032] With each operating step, the display screen changes from the original display state UZ to an intermediate display state ZZ1, another intermediate display state ZZ2, etc., whereby the last operating step carried out sets the display screen to a current display state AZ. Here in Fig. 1, for example, four intermediate display states ZZ1, ZZ2, ZZ3, ZZ4 were executed before a fifth operating step set the display screen to the current display state AZ.

[0033] At least for each intermediate display state ZZ1, ZZ2, ZZ3, ZZ4, a respective dwell time T is recorded, which corresponds to a period of time in which the respective intermediate display state ZZ1, ZZ2, ZZ3, ZZ4 is displayed by the display screen before a further display state ZZ1, ZZ2, ZZ3, ZZ4, AZ is displayed triggered by an operating step.

[0034] The operating device has an operating element that is at least temporarily assigned a backward function RF1. The operating element can be embodied as a physical operating element, such as a rotary control or a control button. However, the operating element can also be embodied as a touch-sensitive portion of the display screen. Furthermore, the operating element can be purely virtual, in that it is actuated solely by voice recognition or gesture recognition. Using the backward function RF1, the display screen moves from the current display state AZ to a previous display state UZ, ZZ1, ZZ2, ZZ3, ZZ4.

[0035] Depending on the recorded dwell times T in the respective intermediate display states ZZ1, ZZ2, ZZ3, ZZ4, the display state UZ, ZZ1, ZZ2, ZZ3, ZZ4 to which the display screen is set upon initial activation or triggering of the reverse function RF1 is determined. For this purpose, each recorded dwell time T is compared with a predetermined time value TC. For example, the predetermined time value TC is ten seconds. Fig. In the example shown in Figure 1, the respective dwell times T of the intermediate display states ZZ1, ZZ2, ZZ3, ZZ4 are all less than or equal to the predetermined time value TC. For example, all recorded dwell times T of the intermediate display states are less than or equal to 10 seconds. In this case, when the reverse function RF1 is activated or triggered for the first time, the display state of the display screen is reset from the current display state AZ to the original display state UZ.

[0036] In Fig. 2 shows the same chronological sequence of display states UZ, ZZ1, ZZ2, ZZ3, ZZ4 and AZ of the display screen. The only difference is that Fig. 1 the recorded time periods T of the individual intermediate display states ZZ1, ZZ2, ZZ3, ZZ4. As in Fig. 2, the display screen remains in the respective temporal display states ZZ1, ZZ3, and ZZ4 for a time period T that is less than or equal to the predetermined time value TC. In the intermediate display state ZZ2, the display screen remains for a time period T that is greater than the predetermined time value TC. In other words, the time period T for an operating step between the display state ZZ2 and the display state ZZ3 is longer than the predetermined time value TC. This can be an indication that the user of the operating device requires a longer period of time to become familiar with the display content of the display state ZZ2. Thus, in this case, when the backward function RF1 is activated or triggered for the first time, the current display state AZ of the display screen is set to the intermediate display state ZZ2.The intermediate display states ZZ4 and ZZ3 are skipped due to their respective short dwell times T. Upon a second activation or triggering of the reverse function RF2, the display screen can return to the original display state UZ, as shown here in dashed lines.

[0037] In Fig. 3, which is not the subject of the present invention, is as shown in the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 the same time sequence at different display states UZ, ZZ1, ZZ2, ZZ3, ZZ4 and AZ of the display screen of the control device is shown, whereby here the respective dwell times T of the individual display states UZ, ZZ1, ZZ2, ZZ3, ZZ4 and AZ differ from those in the Fig. 1 and Fig.2. Here, the interim display state ZZ3 and the interim display state ZZ1 are those display states in which the respective dwell time T is greater than the predetermined time value TC. When the backward function RF1 is activated or triggered for the first time, the current display state AZ is set to the display state which last in the chronological sequence had a dwell time T greater than the predetermined time value TC. In this case, this is the display state ZZ3. When the backward function RF2 is activated or triggered for a second time, the display screen is set to the display state which precedes this display state ZZ3 in the chronological sequence and also has a dwell time T greater than the predetermined time value TC. In this case, this is the display state ZZ1. All other display states ZZ4 and ZZ2 are skipped by the backward function.

[0038] Overall, the examples show how the invention can adapt a reverse function of an operating device to meet requirements and thus provide a high level of user comfort for a user of the operating device.

Claims

[1] Method for operating an operating device of a motor vehicle comprising a display screen and at least one operating element, wherein the display screen comprises a plurality of display states (UZ, ZZ1, ZZ2, ZZ3, ZZ4, AZ), in each of which a predetermined display content is shown on the display screen, wherein the operating device is designed to switch between two display states (UZ, ZZ1, ZZ2, ZZ3, ZZ4, AZ) upon detection of an operating step, so that depending on a number of detected operating steps between a current display state (AZ) and an original display state (UZ), the display screen assumes a number of intermediate display states (ZZ1, ZZ2, ZZ3, ZZ4) corresponding to the number of detected operating steps in a chronological sequence, wherein a dwell time (T) of the display screen in one of the intermediate display states (ZZ1, ZZ2, ZZ3, ZZ4) is recorded, and wherein the at least one control element is at least temporarily assigned a backward function (RF1, RF2), upon activation of which the display screen is set to that intermediate display state (ZZ1, ZZ2, ZZ3, ZZ4) which, in the chronological sequence before the current display state (AZ), last has a dwell time (T) which is greater than a predetermined time value (TC), characterized by , that after setting the display screen to the last intermediate display state in the sequence (ZZ1, ZZ2, ZZ3, ZZ4), the dwell time (T) of which is greater than the predetermined time value (TC), upon reactivation of the reverse function (RF2), the display screen is set to the original display state (UZ), so that at the latest after two activations of the reverse function (RF1, RF2), the display screen is set to the original display state (UF), regardless of the dwell time (T) of the display states between the original display state (UZ) and the last intermediate display state in the sequence (ZZ1, ZZ2, ZZ3, ZZ4), the dwell time (T) of which is greater than the predetermined time value (TC), wherein the at least one operating element is designed as a single operating element for both return functions. [2] Method according to claim 1, wherein, if none of the detected dwell times (T) of the respective intermediate display states (ZZ1, ZZ2, ZZ3, ZZ4) is greater than the predetermined time value (TC), upon activation of the backward function (RF1, RF2), the display screen is set to the original display state (UZ). [3] Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the predetermined time value (TC) is at least 10 seconds, in particular at least 15 seconds. [4] Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one operating element is designed as a rotary control or as an operating button or as a touch-sensitive part of the display screen. [5] Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one operating step is detected on the basis of gesture recognition and / or speech recognition and / or recognition of a haptic actuation of at least one further operating element. [6] Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the respective predetermined display content on the display screen corresponds to a head-up display and / or a holographic display and / or a virtual reality display and / or an augmented reality display and / or a display of a navigation map and / or a display of a vehicle function. [7] Operating device of a motor vehicle comprising a display screen and at least one operating element, wherein the display screen is configured to display a respective predetermined display content in a respective display state (UZ, ZZ1, ZZ2, ZZ3, ZZ4, AZ) from a plurality of display states (UZ, ZZ1, ZZ2, ZZ3, ZZ4, AZ), wherein the operating device is configured to switch between two display states (UZ, ZZ1, ZZ2, ZZ3, ZZ4, AZ) upon detection of an operating step, so that, depending on a number of detected operating steps between a current display state (AZ) and an original display state (UZ), the display screen assumes a number of intermediate display states (ZZ1, ZZ2, ZZ3, ZZ4) corresponding to the number of detected operating steps in a chronological sequence, wherein the operating device has a detection device which is designed to detect a respective dwell time (T) of the display screen in one of the intermediate display states (ZZ1, ZZ2, ZZ3, ZZ4), wherein the at least one operating element is at least temporarily assigned a backward function (RF1, RF2) which, when activated, is designed to set the display screen to that intermediate display state (ZZ1, ZZ2, ZZ3, ZZ4) which, in the chronological sequence before the current display state (AZ), last has a dwell time (T) which is greater than a predetermined time value (TC), characterized by , that the operating device is further configured, after setting the display screen in the last intermediate display state in the sequence (ZZ1, ZZ2, ZZ3, ZZ4), the dwell time (T) of which is greater than the predetermined time value (TC), to set the display screen in the original display state (UZ) upon renewed activation of the backward function (RF2), so that at the latest after the backward function (RF1, RF2) has been activated twice, the display screen is set in the original display state (UF), regardless of the dwell time (T) of the display states between the original display state (UZ) and the last intermediate display state in the sequence (ZZ1, ZZ2, ZZ3, ZZ4), the dwell time (T) of which is greater than the predetermined time value (TC), wherein the at least one operating element is designed as the only operating element for both return functions. [8] Motor vehicle with an operating device according to claim 7.

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