Method for controlling an operating unit, operating unit and motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for controlling an operating unit (3), in particular of a motor vehicle (2), wherein the operating unit (3) has a plurality of touch-sensitive operating elements (4) which are arranged adjacent to one another, wherein the operating elements (4) can be activated for actuation by an operator and an operating element (4) is evaluated as actuated when the operating element (4) is touched, wherein during a touch of an operating element (4) which is evaluated as actuation, adjacently arranged operating elements (4) are deactivated so that the adjacently arranged operating elements (4) are not evaluated as actuated even when touched.

Description

The invention relates to a method for controlling an operating unit, in particular a motor vehicle.In motor vehicles, control units are widely known. Control units with a plurality of adjacently arranged keys or buttons are known. In this case, a function is activated or deactivated when the corresponding button or button is pressed manually. Such buttons or knobs typically have markings or projections, so that it is also possible to see, without being viewed in addition, for example when driving with the motor vehicle, that the button is touched correctly. This makes it possible to largely avoid incorrect operation.Recently, modern control units have become known which no longer contain mechanical keys or buttons, but touch-sensitive control elements. Such touch-sensitive operating elements typically have capacitive sensor elements arranged behind a surface, which detect an approach, for example a finger, to the surface and a touching of the surface and interpret them as an operation of the corresponding operating element.Such modern operator control units typically have a plurality of touch-sensitive operator control elements which are often arranged relatively close to and adjacent to one another, with the result that there is the risk of incorrect operation if operator control elements lying closely next to one another are touched simultaneously or directly one after the other.Such incorrect operation also often occurs because, when the arm is extended and the vehicle moves, inertial forces occur which act on the extended arm and lead to up-and-down movements of the arm, so that the arm on the touch-sensitive surface unintentionally touches adjacent touch-sensitive operating elements due to this up-and-down movement, so that functions of adjacently arranged operating elements are unintentionally activated. Such unintentional activation deflects the driver's attention from driving because the unintentionally activated function leads to the driver being inclined to deactivate this function again promptly, which binds attention. Such incorrect operation is therefore undesirable and therefore must be avoided to a large extent.CN 1 15 225 074 A discloses a method for controlling an operating unit having a plurality of touch-sensitive operating elements, wherein it is checked whether the operated operating element is permissible and also whether the type of operation is permissible. The permissibility of the actuation is determined here on the basis of key features. Such a procedure is rather complicated and not reasonable and effective in every arrangement of operating elements.DE 10 2018 221 706 A1 discloses an operating system for a motor vehicle having a screen with an operating surface with operating elements displayed thereon.DE 10 2011 108 214 A1 discloses an operating element for a motor vehicle, having an adjusting element which can be rotated and / or pressed about an axis and a touch-sensitive surface surrounding it adjacent thereto.US 2004 / 0 140 913 A1 discloses a method for automatically determining the validity or invalidity of key inputs when operating keys on a keypad or a keyboard.It is the object to provide an improved method for controlling an operating unit, which avoids incorrect operation of adjacent touch-sensitive operating elements or reduces the risk associated therewith.The object is achieved with the features of claim 1.An exemplary embodiment of the invention relates to a method for controlling an operating unit, in particular of a motor vehicle, wherein the operating unit has a plurality of touch-sensitive operating elements which are arranged adjacent to one another, wherein the operating elements can be activated for actuation by an operator and an operating element is evaluated as being actuated when the operating element is touched, wherein operating elements arranged adjacent are deactivated during a touch of an operating element evaluated as being actuated, so that the adjacently arranged operating elements are not evaluated as being actuated even when a touch is touched. This prevents any unintentional slipping off, for example a finger, from an operating element to an adjacent operating element from first activating the function assigned to the first operating element and subsequently unintentionally likewise activating the function assigned to the adjacent operating element. The deactivation of adjacent operating elements prevents unintentional movements which fluctuate on account of inertial forces from leading to unintentional activations of functions which must subsequently be taken back again and therefore take unnecessary attention to the driver.It is also expedient if the adjacently arranged operating elements are only reactivated when the operating element evaluated as being actuated is no longer touched and / or when the operating element evaluated as being actuated is no longer evaluated as being actuated and / or the touching of the operating unit is ended. This introduces a type of safety margin which is intended to avoid the subsequent contact of an adjacent operating element not being touched unintentionally.According to the invention, the adjacently arranged operating element is only reactivated and / or the adjacently arranged operating elements are only reactivated when a predefined waiting time has elapsed after the beginning of the touching of an operating element and / or after the beginning of an actuation of the operating element evaluated as being actuated. This also introduces a type of safety margin which is intended to avoid the subsequent contact of an adjacent operating element not being touched unintentionally.In this case, it is also advantageous in an exemplary embodiment if the predefined waiting time is fixedly predefined or can be set in a variable manner. The variable adjustability increases the dynamics, wherein incorrect operations can nevertheless be prevented.It is also expedient if only the directly adjacent adjacently arranged operating element is deactivated and / or only the directly adjacent adjacently arranged operating elements are deactivated. This also increases the safety and nevertheless prevents incorrect operation.It is also expedient if a plurality of adjacently arranged operating elements are deactivated, in particular all adjacently arranged operating elements are deactivated. This further improves the safety and it is better achieved that incorrect operation is prevented.It is also expedient if directly adjacent operating elements are deactivated as nearest neighbors and further adjacent operating elements are deactivated as next-but-one neighbors, i.e. neighbors of neighbors, neighbors of neighbors of neighbors, etc. This further improves the safety and it is achieved even better that incorrect operation is prevented.It is particularly advantageous if the operating elements are arranged in a pattern, in particular in a row, a curve, a matrix, a chain arrangement, etc. As a result, the operating elements can be arranged in a compact and / or visually appealing manner, so that little installation space is required.It is also expedient if the respective operating element is assigned a function which is not activated when the operating element is deactivated and which is activated when the operating element is activated.It is also advantageous if the function assigned to the operating element is permanently predefined or is designed to be variable. This achieves dynamic and / or customer-adjusted operation.All embodiments and features described for the method apply to the operating unit and the motor vehicle.The invention is explained in detail below on the basis of an exemplary embodiment with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, there are shown: FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a cockpit of a motor vehicle with an operating unit with touch-sensitive operating elements, and FIG. 2 is a schematic view for explaining the method according to the invention.FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a cockpit 1 of a motor vehicle 2 with an operating unit 3 with touch-sensitive operating elements 4. The operating unit 3 can alternatively also be arranged in another way, for example on the steering wheel, on the dashboard, in the central console, in a rear console, etc.As can be seen in FIG. 1 and in FIG. 2, the operating elements 4 are arranged in a pattern, in particular in a row, a curve, a matrix, a chain arrangement, etc. In this case, operating elements 4 are arranged adjacent to one another. Thus, an operating element 4 can have, for example, only one adjacent operating element 4 arranged directly adjacent or a plurality of such adjacent operating elements 4 arranged directly adjacent. Thus, the operating element [ 2] in FIGS. 1 and 2 is arranged directly adjacent to the operating element [ 1].An operating element 4 can also have further operating elements 4 as neighbors, which are further away than the directly adjacent operating elements 4. In FIGS. 1 and 2, the operating element [4] is indirectly adjacent to the operating element [1] as neighbor of a neighbor of a neighbor.The operating elements 4 of the operating unit 3 are typically touched with a finger in order to actuate them. If the corresponding operating element 4 is touched, it can be evaluated as being actuated if the necessary conditions are present for this purpose.In this case, the respective operating element 4 is assigned a function which the operator wishes to activate or deactivate or set, for which reason he wishes to touch the operating element 4. Such a function is not activated when the operating element 4 is touched, if the operating element 4 is deactivated, and the function is activated when the touched operating element 4 is activated.A function assigned to the operating element 4 can be permanently predefined or designed to be variable, such as being alternating or being adjustable, for example.The method according to the invention for controlling an operating unit 3 provides that the operating unit 3 has a plurality of touch-sensitive operating elements 4, which are arranged adjacent to one another.In this case, adjacent is to be understood as directly adjacent and / or directly adjacent.In this case, the operating elements 4 can be activated for actuation by an operator, for example by touching, wherein an operating element 4 is evaluated as being actuated when the operating element 4 is touched, wherein operating elements 4 arranged adjacent are deactivated during a touch of an operating element 4 evaluated as being actuated, so that the adjacently arranged operating elements 4 are not evaluated as being actuated even when a touch 4 is touched. The slipping, for example of a finger, from one operating element 4 to an adjacent operating element 4, as is intended to represent FIG. 2, should not lead to a chain of actuations. If, for example, the operating element [1] is touched first and evaluated as being actuated, the adjacent operating elements [2], [3], [4] are deactivated, so that they are not evaluated as being actuated even in the case of a subsequent touch. Or if, for example, the operating element [2] is first touched and evaluated as being actuated, the adjacent operating elements [1], [3], [4] are deactivated, so that they are not evaluated as being actuated even in the case of a subsequent touch.In this case, the adjacently arranged operating elements 4 are only activated again when the operating element 4 evaluated as being actuated is no longer touched and / or when the operating element 4 evaluated as being actuated is no longer evaluated as being actuated and / or the touching of the operating unit 3 is ended, for example by lifting off the touching finger. Thereafter, a further contact of an operating element 4 is considered to be a new contact and intended.It is also possible for the adjacently arranged operating element 4 to be activated again and / or for the adjacently arranged operating elements 4 to be activated again only when a predefined waiting time has elapsed after the beginning of the touching of an operating element 4 and / or after the beginning of an actuation of the operating element 4 evaluated as actuated. Such a waiting time can be, for example, 1 to 3 seconds, for example 1.5 seconds.In this case, the predefined waiting time can optionally be permanently predefined, for example 1.5 seconds, or the waiting time can be variably adjustable in order to be able to meet the behavior of the operator.For example, according to the invention, only the directly adjacent operating element 4 can be deactivated and / or only the directly adjacent adjacently arranged operating elements 4 can be deactivated.It is also possible for a plurality of adjacently arranged operating elements 4 to be deactivated, and in particular for all adjacently arranged operating elements 4 to also be deactivated.Directly adjacent operating elements 4 can also be deactivated as nearest neighbors and further adjacent operating elements 4 as next-but-one neighbors, i.e. neighbors of neighbors, neighbors of neighbors of neighbors, etc.List of reference characters1 Cockpit 2 Motor vehicle 3 Operating unit 4 Operating element 5 Steering wheel

Claims

Method for controlling an operating unit (3), in particular of a motor vehicle (2), wherein the operating unit (3) has a plurality of touch-sensitive operating elements (4) which are arranged adjacent to one another, wherein the operating elements (4) can be activated for actuation by an operator and an operating element (4) is evaluated as being actuated when the operating element (4) is touched, wherein operating elements (4) arranged adjacent are deactivated during a touch of an operating element (4) evaluated as being actuated, such that the adjacently arranged operating elements (4) are not evaluated as being actuated even when a touch is touched, wherein the adjacently arranged operating element (4) is only activated again and / or the adjacently arranged operating elements (4) are only activated again if a predefined waiting time has elapsed after the beginning of the touch of an operating element (4) and / or after the beginning of an actuation of the operating element (4) evaluated as being actuated.Method according to Claim 1, characterized in that the adjacently arranged operating elements (4) are only reactivated when the operating element (4) evaluated as actuated is no longer touched and / or when the operating element (4) evaluated as actuated is no longer evaluated as actuated and / or the touching of the operating unit (3) is ended.Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the predefined waiting time is permanently predefined or can be set in a variable manner.Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that only the directly adjacent operating element (4) is deactivated and / or only the directly adjacent adjacently arranged operating elements (4) are deactivated.Method according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 4, characterized in that a plurality of adjacently arranged operating elements (4) are deactivated, in particular all adjacently arranged operating elements (4) are deactivated.Method according to Claim 5, characterized in that directly adjacent operating elements (4) are deactivated as nearest neighbors and further adjacent operating elements (4) are deactivated as next-but-one neighbors, that is to say neighbors of neighbors, neighbors of neighbors of neighbors, etc.Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the operating elements (4) are arranged in a pattern, in particular in a row, a curve, a matrix, a chain arrangement etc.Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the respective operating element (4) is assigned a function which is not activated when the operating element (4) is deactivated and which is activated when the operating element (4) is activated.Method according to claim 8, characterised in that the function assigned to the operating element (4) is permanently predefined or is designed to be variable.Operator control unit (3) for a motor vehicle (2), which is configured to carry out the method according to one of Claims 1 to 9.Motor vehicle having an operating unit (3) according to Claim 10.

Images