Touch-sensitive screen for a motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a touch-sensitive screen (1) for a motor vehicle, comprising a touch-sensitive surface (4) and a sensor unit (3), wherein the touch-sensitive surface (4) is designed to detect user inputs by a user touching the touch-sensitive surface (4), wherein the sensor unit (3) is designed to receive electromagnetic radiation, characterized in that the screen (1) is designed to ignore touches of at least part of the touch-sensitive surface (4) when the sensor unit (3) receives the electromagnetic radiation.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a touch-sensitive screen for a motor vehicle according to claim 1.

[0002] Touch-sensitive screens are used to display information on a surface and receive user input. In a motor vehicle, for example, various functions can be controlled via a touch-sensitive screen. A touch-sensitive screen can also be referred to as a touchscreen.

[0003] With touch-sensitive screens, it's advantageous not to process unwanted touches as user input. For example, if a user places an object on the touch-sensitive screen without considering that this could be processed as user input, it's advantageous to ignore the detected touch, as otherwise a function would be triggered that the user doesn't want.

[0004] EP 3 295 286 B1 discloses a touch-sensitive screen that detects and rejects unwanted touches using ultrasonic sensors and a processor.

[0005] In contrast, the present invention is based on the object of detecting unwanted touches when the screen is used as a storage surface.

[0006] This object is achieved by a display according to claim 1, a motor vehicle according to claim 8, and a method according to claim 9. Embodiments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

[0007] The touchscreen comprises a touch-sensitive surface and a sensor unit. The touchscreen is designed to detect user inputs when a user touches the touchscreen. This can be done capacitively, for example. The touchscreen can be designed, for example, to be used as an operating element in a motor vehicle, for example, to operate a multimedia system of the motor vehicle.

[0008] The sensor unit is configured to receive electromagnetic radiation. The screen is configured to ignore touches on at least a portion of the touch-sensitive surface when the sensor unit receives the electromagnetic radiation. Preferably, the portion is the portion of the touch-sensitive surface that is closer to the sensor unit than other portions of the touch-sensitive surface. The size of the portions can correspond to the size of the sensor unit or be larger than the sensor unit. It is also possible for the screen to be configured to ignore touches on the entire touch-sensitive surface when the sensor unit receives the electromagnetic radiation.

[0009] With such a screen, the reception of electromagnetic radiation triggers the ignoring of touches on at least part of the surface. This is advantageous because it is assumed that the electromagnetic radiation was caused by a technical device and not by a person. Thus, it is assumed that the touch was not made by a person, which is why it should not be processed as user input to prevent the triggering of an unwanted function.

[0010] The invention is particularly advantageous when the touch-sensitive screen is located in an area that a user could also use to place their smartphone or tablet computer. If the user then places the smartphone or tablet computer on the touch-sensitive surface, electromagnetic radiation from the smartphone or tablet computer is received and the touch is ignored. This is particularly advantageous when the screen is used as part of or in the area of ​​the center console, as users frequently place their smartphones in this area.

[0011] According to one embodiment of the invention, the sensor unit can comprise a transceiver configured to receive the electromagnetic radiation. Additionally, the transceiver can be configured to emit electromagnetic signals, which can, for example, be in the same frequency range as the electromagnetic radiation. In this way, the transceiver and the source of the electromagnetic radiation can exchange data with each other. For example, certain data received by the transceiver via the electromagnetic radiation can trigger the ignoring of touches on at least part of the touch-sensitive surface.

[0012] According to one embodiment of the invention, the sensor unit can be designed as an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) sensor unit. For example, the transceiver can be an RFID transceiver. The use of RFID is advantageous because this technology primarily detects particularly close sources of electromagnetic radiation, so that the touch-sensitive surface is not deactivated if a radiation source is relatively far away from the touch-sensitive surface.

[0013] According to one embodiment of the invention, the electromagnetic radiation can be radiation according to the NFC (Near Field Communication) standard. This can mean, in particular, that data is transmitted using the electromagnetic radiation according to the NFC standard. The NFC standard is an international transmission standard based on RFID technology for the contactless exchange of data via electromagnetic induction using loosely coupled coils over short distances of a few centimeters. This is particularly advantageous for reliably detecting smartphones or tablet computers as the source of the electromagnetic radiation, as these are often equipped with NFC transceivers.

[0014] According to one embodiment of the invention, the sensor unit can comprise a plurality of transceivers, each configured to receive the electromagnetic radiation. The transceivers can be arranged at a distance from one another. Each of the transceivers can be assigned a section of the touch-sensitive surface. For example, this can be an area around the respective transceiver. The screen can be configured to ignore touches on the respective section if the respective transceiver receives the electromagnetic radiation. It is also possible for each transceiver to be assigned a plurality of sections and / or for the sections assigned to the transceivers to at least partially overlap.

[0015] It is possible that the touches are only ignored if the respective transceiver receives the electromagnetic radiation with a signal strength above a threshold.

[0016] Using multiple transceivers is particularly advantageous because it allows you to deactivate only those sections of the interface where the smartphone or tablet computer is located. Other sections can continue to be operated normally.

[0017] According to one embodiment of the invention, the touch-sensitive surface can be designed to detect the touches capacitively.

[0018] According to one embodiment of the invention, the screen can be configured to ignore touches of at least part of the touch-sensitive surface only if the amplitude of the electromagnetic radiation received by the sensor unit is greater than a threshold value. This can also apply, in particular, to the multiple transceivers and the multiple sections.

[0019] The motor vehicle according to claim 8 comprises a touch-sensitive screen according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0020] In the method according to claim 9, touches of at least a part, for example, the section or sections, of the touch-sensitive surface are ignored when the sensor unit receives the electromagnetic radiation. It is particularly possible for the touches to be ignored if the amplitude of the electromagnetic radiation is greater than the threshold value. It is also possible for touches of the entire touch-sensitive surface to be ignored.

[0021] Further features and advantages of the present invention will become clear from the following description of a preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawing. Fig.1 a schematic perspective view of an interior of a motor vehicle with a touch-sensitive screen according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0022] The touch-sensitive screen 1 is part of the center console between two seats of the motor vehicle. This area is particularly advantageous for use with the touch-sensitive screen 1, as the screen 1 can be operated from both seats. However, the area is also frequently used by users to place objects such as a smartphone 2. The screen 1 has an upwardly and / or backward-facing touch-sensitive surface 4, which is designed to capacitively detect touches as user inputs. The user inputs can be used to control, for example, a multimedia system, a navigation system, and / or an air conditioning system.

[0023] The touch-sensitive screen 1 comprises several transceivers 3, preferably according to the NFC standard, as sensor units. Each transceiver 3 is assigned a section of the touch-sensitive surface 4. The respective transceiver 3 is spaced from the respective section exclusively in the direction of the normal vector or opposite to the direction of the normal vector of the touch-sensitive surface 4. The sections can also overlap. Preferably, the respective transceiver 3 is spaced from a central region or center point of the respective section exclusively in the direction of the normal vector or opposite to the direction of the normal vector of the touch-sensitive surface 4.

[0024] If a user now places a smartphone 2 with an NFC transceiver on the touch-sensitive surface 4, at least one of the transceivers 3 of the screen 1 receives electromagnetic radiation emitted by the NFC transceiver of the smartphone 2. In particular, it is possible for communication according to the NFC standard to be carried out between the transceiver 3 of the screen 1 and the NFC transceiver of the smartphone 2, during which communication the transceiver 3 receives the electromagnetic radiation.

[0025] When the transceiver 3 receives the electromagnetic radiation, touches on the touch-sensitive surface 4 in the section assigned to this transceiver 3 or on the entire touch-sensitive surface 4 are ignored and thus not processed as user input. This is advantageous because a user typically does not want to perform user input by placing a smartphone 2 down.

[0026] The touch-sensitive screen 1 can thus be used as intended and additionally as a storage area for a smartphone 2 without triggering unwanted functions. If touches are ignored in only one section, the remaining area of ​​the touch-sensitive surface 4 can still be used for user input. QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] EP 3 295 286 B1

[0004]

Claims

[1] Touch-sensitive screen (1) for a motor vehicle, comprising a touch-sensitive surface (4) and a sensor unit (3), wherein the touch-sensitive surface (4) is designed to detect user inputs by a user touching the touch-sensitive surface (4), wherein the sensor unit (3) is designed to receive electromagnetic radiation, characterized by that the screen (1) is designed to ignore touches of at least part of the touch-sensitive surface (4) when the sensor unit (3) receives the electromagnetic radiation. [2] Screen (1) according to claim 1, characterized by that the sensor unit (3) comprises a transceiver (3) which is designed to receive the electromagnetic radiation. [3] Screen (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the sensor unit (3) is designed as an RFID sensor unit. [4] Screen (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the electromagnetic radiation is radiation according to the NFC standard. [5] Screen (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by in that the sensor unit (3) comprises a plurality of transceivers (3), each of which is designed to receive the electromagnetic radiation, wherein the transceivers (3) are arranged at a distance from one another, wherein each of the transceivers (3) is assigned a section of the touch-sensitive surface (4), and wherein the screen (1) is designed to ignore touches of the respective section when the respective transceiver (3) receives the electromagnetic radiation. [6] Screen (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the touch-sensitive surface (4) is designed to detect the touches capacitively. [7] Screen (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the screen (1) is designed to ignore touches of at least part of the touch-sensitive surface (4) only if an amplitude of the electromagnetic radiation received by the sensor unit (3) is greater than a threshold value. [8] Motor vehicle comprising a touch-sensitive screen (1) according to one of the preceding claims. [9] Method for controlling a screen (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by that touches of at least part of the touch-sensitive surface (4) are ignored when the sensor unit (3) receives the electromagnetic radiation.

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