Means of transport, user interface and steering wheel with display unit in the steering wheel rim

Abstract

A user interface, a means of transportation (10), and a steering wheel (4) for a means of transportation (10) are proposed. The steering wheel (4) comprises a steering wheel rim (2) and an electrical display unit (1), wherein the display unit (1) is arranged in the steering wheel rim (2) and configured to indicate a zero position of the steering wheel (1).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a means of transportation, a user interface, and a steering wheel for a means of transportation with an electrical display unit in the steering wheel rim. In particular, the present invention relates to an intuitive display of information and operating states at the driver's workplace.

[0002] Steering wheels are increasingly being equipped with more and more interaction options for drivers. For example, driver assistance or entertainment systems can be operated via the steering wheel. The controls are typically located in the steering spokes, which are located at the 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock positions. The controlled content is located, for example, in the instrument cluster and / or the central information display and / or the head-up display (if available).

[0003] The aforementioned objects do not fully exploit the technical possibilities. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to improve the interaction between a vehicle operator and the vehicle.

[0004] The above object is achieved according to the invention by a steering wheel for a means of transport having the features according to claim 1, a user interface having the features according to claim 12 and a means of transport having the features according to claim 15.

[0005] The steering wheel according to the invention is intended for a means of transport (e.g. a car, van, truck, aircraft and / or watercraft) and comprises a steering wheel rim and an electrical or electronic display unit. The display unit is located in the steering wheel rim at the position which is considered to be "topmost" or in the area of ​​the 12 o'clock position when driving straight ahead. By means of the display unit, information can be shown on the steering wheel rim which is represented by a signal from the means of transport. For example, this can be driving situation-specific information, vehicle configuration-specific information, incoming messages, environmental information, or similar. Due to the fact that the display unit is located in the user's primary field of vision or just briefly below it, the displayed information can be visually perceived and taken into account by the driver more easily than in the instrument cluster.

[0006] For example, the signal can cause the display unit to increase or decrease the intensity of a continuous light emission. In particular, if the display unit is represented by a plurality of light sources or a plurality of LEDs, the LEDs can generate a higher light output as soon as the signal is received. Alternatively or additionally, more LEDs than before can be controlled to emit light. In this case, the intensity of the previously illuminated area can be increased. Alternatively or additionally, the boundaries of the illuminated area of ​​the steering wheel rim can be shifted outwards relative to the non-illuminated areas of the steering wheel rim (i.e., towards the 11 o'clock position and towards the 1 o'clock position).

[0007] The display unit can be designed as a matrix display so that any desired, complex or configurable shapes, symbols and letters can be shown. Alternatively or additionally, individual, light-intensive LEDs can be used to encode information via position, light color, light intensity or a time course. The LEDs can in particular be arranged within the steering wheel rim and concealed by a semi-transparent or semi-translucent surface. For example, the steering wheel can be a leather-covered steering wheel and / or a wooden steering wheel with numerous bores / holes in its cover / surface. The light from the LEDs or the screen can penetrate through these bores / holes and be seen by the user.

[0008] In the area of ​​the electrical display device, the surface of the steering wheel rim can have a plastic surface that is transparent, partially transparent, or at least translucent. The aforementioned properties can be combined with one another. A translucent area allows the use of an optical diffuser, which emits a homogeneous light pattern when the LEDs arranged behind it are operated. Alternatively or additionally, a screen can be provided in the steering wheel rim, through which symbols, letters, patterns, or similar can be created by directing the light (optionally homogenized by a diffuser) from the interior of the steering wheel rim toward the driver.

[0009] The display unit can in particular be configured to display a current gear / gearbox position, for which purpose it displays, for example, a letter representing the respective gear (P, N, D, R) or a number (1, 2, 3). This display can be particularly advantageous if the driver intends to influence the gear and for this purpose approaches, touches, or operates a gear selector switch. In response to the aforementioned sensor-detected events, the gear position can be displayed using the display unit according to the invention, and the user can be made aware of the current gear position in a discreet and comfortable / ergonomic manner. The gear position can be changed using a transparent input interface that is spatially and / or logically assigned to the display unit.In other words, the display unit can be arranged behind the input interface, which is designed as a transparent input surface. Alternatives to known input interfaces include, for example, switches located in the 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock positions, control rollers, touch-sensitive input surfaces, etc. The input interface can be used to influence the information to be displayed using the display unit according to the invention. For example, the source of the data intended for the display unit can be selected. Alternatively or additionally, the display format, color, light intensity, etc., can be selected according to user requirements.

[0010] To always provide the user with adequate light intensity depending on the lighting conditions, a signal from a light sensor, in particular a signal from a light sensor used for the ambient lighting or a display, can be used to adjust or regulate the light emission of the display unit in the steering wheel rim. This avoids glare and enhances the impression of quality of a steering wheel according to the invention.

[0011] Particularly in the event that the display unit is set up to show a current gear or several or even all gears, the user can select a different gear / gear position depending on a driving condition or a selected gear / gear position if a capacitive input option is available. For example, if the current gear position is P, the options N, D and R can be displayed. In a gear position D, an input option can be deactivated while driving in order to avoid errors or to prevent erroneous / unintentional gear changes. If the vehicle has subsequently been braked to a standstill, the gear positions R, N and P can be offered. The release of operation of the gear position via the input interface can be made dependent on the user gripping the steering wheel with at least one hand in the 3 o'clock position or in the 9 o'clock position.In this position, information (a different color, increased brightness, or similar) can be output via the display unit, indicating that the gear selection is now possible via the input interface assigned to the display device. If both hands of the driver leave the 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock positions, the display unit can be "greyed out" with a lower intensity, a different color, or similar, providing the user with feedback that they need not fear an (accidental) input and thus a change in the gear, even if they swipe or grasp the steering wheel rim in the area of ​​the display unit.

[0012] The steering wheel can, in particular, have an electrical connection that supplies the steering wheel with electrical power. Furthermore, a data connection (e.g., a bus device) is provided, via which the content intended for display on the display unit is received and the data generated via the input interface is transmitted. In principle, the data lines and wiring harness components used in the prior art for multifunction steering wheels can be used or supplemented in accordance with the invention.

[0013] According to a second aspect of the present invention, a user interface for a means of transport is proposed, which has a steering wheel according to the first aspect of the invention. The steering wheel and in particular its display unit or the lighting means are supplied with information and energy via one control unit of the means of transport or via several control units of the means of transport. In other words, a logical connection to the on-board electrical system of the means of transport results for the steering wheel, via which the steering wheel according to the invention can operate a multitude of functions and control units. In this way, the features, combinations of features, and advantages of the user interface according to the invention are clearly evident in a manner corresponding to the steering wheel according to the invention, so that reference is made to the above explanations to avoid repetition.

[0014] According to a third aspect of the present invention, a means of transportation is proposed which can be configured as a car, van, truck, aircraft, and / or watercraft. The means of transportation comprises a steering wheel according to the first aspect of the invention or a user interface according to the second aspect of the invention. In particular, the means of transportation can have ambient light with which an optical appearance of the display unit can be synchronized. This concerns the intensity, the color, the color gradient, and any representation of structured light. In this way, the means of transportation according to the invention is also configured to implement the features, combinations of features, and the resulting advantages of the steering wheel according to the invention or the user interface according to the invention. To avoid repetition, reference is made to the above explanations.

[0015] The information that can be displayed using the display unit according to the invention is, in particular, information that describes a fill level or a state variable with respect to a maximum value. For example, the charge level of a traction energy storage device, a tank level, a boost pressure of a turbocharger, vertical, longitudinal, or lateral acceleration, or the state of an electric booster can be visualized. Different colors can be used for the different variables and configured by the user. Starting from a center position or a position on the left or right edge of the display unit, the percentage of the respective variable can now be displayed in real time as a bar / bar chart. This provides the user with an intuitively understandable, ergonomic display of the aforementioned information in the primary field of vision or close to the primary field of vision.

[0016] The user can decide, among other things, which and how much information should be displayed on the display unit in the steering wheel rim. This can be a permanent setting or the values ​​can be displayed depending on the current driving / vehicle / vehicle configuration status. Short description of the characters

[0017] Further details, advantages, and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings. They show: Fig. 1 a schematic side view of an embodiment of a means of transport according to the invention with an embodiment of a steering wheel according to the invention as a component of an embodiment of a user interface according to the invention; and Fig. 2 a perspective view of a driver's workplace of an embodiment of a means of transport according to the invention.

[0018] Fig. 1 shows a passenger car as an exemplary embodiment of a means of transport 10 according to the invention, in whose driver's seat a driver 5 is seated. The driver 5 grasps the steering wheel rim of the steering wheel 4 at the 9 o'clock position, in response to which a display unit arranged in the upper region of the steering wheel rim switches to an operating mode, so that the driver 5 can use a second hand to touch / use the touch-sensitive user interface (not shown) superimposed on the display unit 1 to make inputs. The signals generated by the input interface are fed via a signal input 6 to an evaluation unit 7, which can be configured as an electronic control unit. The evaluation unit 7 is connected via a signal output 8 to an electronic control unit 9 in the form of a transmission control unit. In this way, a gear selected by the driver 5 can be activated by touching the corresponding symbol on the display unit 1.Conversely, the transmission control unit can send a completion message to the evaluation unit 7, which then causes the updated transmission stage to be displayed by means of the display unit 1.

[0019] Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of a driver's workplace of a Fig.1. The steering wheel 4 has a semi-transparent area 3 at the 12 o'clock position, in which the leather covering of the steering wheel 4 has a plurality of holes (not visible to the naked eye). In this way, a matrix display located behind the perforated leather can represent a display unit 1 according to the invention, which can provide information about a selected gear, a 12 o'clock position or a zero position of the steering wheel 4, about incoming messages and other information. In the remaining areas of the steering wheel rim 2, no display unit is provided, nor is a semi-transparent leather layer arranged. However, in a double spoke in the area of ​​the 6 o'clock position, the ambient light 11a, 11b is cited in terms of its color, intensity, and its time course, just as in the display unit 1.In this way, the steering wheel rim 2 can contribute to providing information to the driver, and another surface located near or within the primary field of vision can be used to provide information to the driver. Via touch input in the area of ​​the display unit 1, the conventional hardware control elements in the form of two control rollers 12 can also be used to operate the functions of the vehicle in a known manner or to change the display in the display unit 1. List of reference symbols 1 display unit 2 steering wheel rim 3 semi-transparent area 4 steering wheel 5 drivers 6 Signal input 7 Evaluation unit 8 Signal output 9 Control unit 10 means of transport 11a, 11b Ambient light 12 conventional operating rollers

Claims

[1] Steering wheel for a means of transport (10) comprising - a steering wheel rim (2) and - an electrical display unit (1), wherein the display unit (1) is arranged in the steering wheel rim (2) and is designed to display a zero position of the steering wheel (1). [2] Steering wheel according to claim 1, wherein the display unit (1) is arranged to increase or decrease an intensity of a light emission in response to a signal from the means of transport (10). [3] Steering wheel according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the steering wheel rim (2) is transparent or partially transparent or translucent at least in one area, in particular centrally located around a 12 o'clock position, facing a driver (5). [4] Steering wheel according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the display unit (1) is arranged to display a current gear position, in particular in the form of a letter from the set “P, N, D, R”, in particular when the driver (5) operates a gear selector switch or approaches it or touches it. [5] Steering wheel according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the steering wheel (4) further comprises an input interface (12) which is assigned to the display unit (1) and which is configured to logically assign a user input, in particular made on the steering wheel rim (2), to a display element displayed on the display unit (1). [6] Steering wheel according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the display unit (1) is arranged - Light and / or - Light pattern and / or - To display light gradients of different colors. [7] Steering wheel according to one of the preceding claims further comprising - a cover with a semi-transparent area (3) and - a light source, wherein the light source is concealed by the semi-transparent area (3). [8] Steering wheel according to claim 7, wherein the cover in the semi-transparent area (3) comprises leather and / or wood. [9] Steering wheel according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the semi-transparent region (3) has a plurality of through holes. [10] Steering wheel according to one of claims 7 to 9, wherein a diffuser is arranged between the illuminating means and the cover. [11] Steering wheel according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the steering wheel (4) further comprises an electrical connection, in particular a bus subscriber, which is configured to influence a brightness and / or a color of the display unit (1) as a function of a signal from the means of transport (10). [12] User interface for a means of transport (10) comprising a steering wheel (4) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the steering wheel (4) is logically coupled to a control unit (9) of the means of transport (10). [13] User interface according to claim 12, wherein the display unit (1) is configured to shift a left boundary of a display area to the left and / or a right boundary of the display area to the right in response to a signal from a sensor system and / or an assistance function and / or a user interface. [14] User interface according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the display unit (1) is arranged to be synchronized with an ambient light (11a, 11b). [15] Means of transport comprising a steering wheel (4) according to one of claims 1 to 11 or a user interface according to one of claims 12 to 14.

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