motor vehicle having a control element with a segmented, touch-sensitive sensor field

Abstract

Motor vehicle (10) showing: - a control element comprising at least one touch-sensitive, segmented sensor field (12) comprising at least two touch-sensitive surfaces, wherein the touch-sensitive surfaces are designed and configured to generate at least one electronic signal upon approach to a body surface, in particular a finger surface; and - a computing device (100), designed and configured to receive and evaluate the at least one electronic signal (200) from the touch-sensitive surfaces of the touch-sensitive, segmented sensor field (12) of the control element in order to distinguish at least two approach and / or touch situations from each other, characterized in that the computing device (100) is designed and configured to distinguish an approach of a large finger (30b) from a placement of a small finger (30a) on the sensor field (12).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a motor vehicle. The invention relates to a steering device. The invention relates to an infotainment system. The invention relates to a computing device.

[0002] Motor vehicles have a number of devices that can be controlled by a user, passenger, or driver. Touch-sensitive sensor fields can be used for this purpose, for example, to enable input into a navigation or infotainment system. Sensor fields are described in US 2015 / 0 212 627 A1 and DE 10 2020 126 941 A1. The corresponding design of known touch-sensitive sensor fields is considered unsatisfactory, which can complicate the operation of the device to be controlled in the motor vehicle.

[0003] The object of the invention is to improve the handling of devices in motor vehicles.

[0004] The problem is solved in particular by a motor vehicle with the features of claim 1. The problem is solved in particular by a steering device with the features of claim 8. The problem is solved in particular by an infotainment system with the features of claim 8. The problem is solved in particular by a computing device with the features of claim 9. Further features and details of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims, the description, and the drawings. Features and details described in connection with the motor vehicle also apply in connection with the steering device and the computing device. The reverse is also true, so that the disclosure of the individual aspects of the invention always includes, or allows for, reciprocal reference.

[0005] According to one aspect, the problem is solved in particular by a motor vehicle with the features of claim 1.

[0006] A motor vehicle has a control element that includes at least one touch-sensitive, segmented sensor field. The sensor field has at least two touch-sensitive surfaces, which are designed and configured to generate at least one electronic signal when a body surface, in particular a finger surface, approaches them. The motor vehicle has a computing unit designed and configured to receive and evaluate the at least one electronic signal from the touch-sensitive surfaces of the touch-sensitive, segmented sensor field of the control element in order to distinguish between at least two proximity and / or contact situations, in particular to control at least one device in the motor vehicle.The computing device is designed and configured to distinguish between the approach of a large finger and the placement of a small finger on the sensor field. This improves the handling of the vehicle or the device being controlled.

[0007] For sensor fields, the responsiveness to a user's approach to a surface intended for operation is particularly important. This surface can be a hand surface and / or a finger surface. The sensor field, or the touch-sensitive areas that at least partially form the sensor field, can be designed and arranged to react to an approach and / or contact with this surface, in particular by generating at least one electronic signal. For the response behavior, it is important that the device can be configured to trigger a response only upon actual contact and not merely upon approach. Therefore, the electronic signals that can be output by the touch-sensitive areas can differ between a contact situation and an approach situation.This would be the case, in particular, if all physiological characteristics of all possible users were identical; that is, if all body surfaces of the different users were identically sized, meaning if all users had fingers of the same size. But even in such a purely hypothetical situation, input via thumb, index finger, ring finger, middle finger, or even little finger (here, the smallest finger of a human hand, to be distinguished generally from the relative size classification of "small" versus "large") would be possible, meaning that even an individual can have fingers of different sizes, even in real-world situations. These fingers can approach a touch-sensitive surface, and corresponding electronic signals can be generated depending on the approach and / or contact situation, but also depending on the approaching finger (or, more generally, the approaching user interface).The sensor field described here, particularly in conjunction with the touch-sensitive sensor surfaces, can be further designed and configured, especially in conjunction with the computing device described elsewhere herein, to distinguish between at least two of these different proximity and / or touch situations. In particular, the response behavior of the computing device can be modulated in such a way that a corresponding control of a device in the motor vehicle can only be carried out in the case of a "genuine input intention".

[0008] A distinction must be made, in particular, between pure input intentions and movements of an input device, especially a finger, relative to the sensor field. Even though motion analysis is possible using so-called sliders—devices whose implementation also enables motion analysis of an input surface relative to the slider's surface—this is not the central focus in the embodiments of the systems, devices, and methods described here. However, embodiments of sliders can be implemented to output electronic signals via an arrangement of touch-sensitive surfaces. This allows for the differentiation of at least two approach and / or touch situations using the computing device described elsewhere herein, and in particular, enables the implementation of gesture controls, for example, to increase or decrease the activity or intensity of a function.The ability to reduce the slider's sensitivity is important, as is improving its responsiveness so that it only reacts when there is a genuine input intention. Alternatively or additionally, some devices may allow for gesture-based navigation, such as within a menu. Furthermore, the sensor's ability to distinguish between an approaching input device, such as a finger, and simply placing the device on the sensor is also crucial. If the sensor is too insensitive, a response might fail to occur even with a small finger touching the sensor, despite the user intending to activate a function.If the sensor field were set too sensitively, it could also trigger a response when a large finger approaches it without actually intending any input. Both cases can be distinguished by embodiments of the described touch-sensitive, segmented sensor field (in conjunction with a suitably configured and designed computing unit in a motor vehicle), i.e., whether a small finger is resting on the sensor or whether a large finger is merely approaching. This improves the response behavior, which in turn can improve the handling of devices to be controlled in a motor vehicle.

[0009] A sensor field is considered touch-sensitive if contact with the skin of a user, such as a driver or passenger, can be converted into an electronic signal to enable input to the computing unit for controlling a device. For this purpose, touch-sensitive surfaces can be provided which, upon contact and / or approach of a user's skin surface, can emit an electronic signal that can be fed to at least one computing unit for evaluation, as described in detail elsewhere herein.

[0010] An electronic signal serves, in particular, to transmit an input by touching the sensor field, especially at least one of the segments of the segmented sensor field. A sensor field is segmented, in particular, if it consists of areas that can be independently "addressed" by touch, i.e., that output an electronic signal.

[0011] The device to be controlled can be a vehicle control device designed and configured to control a vehicle function that can influence driving behavior. This could be, for example, cruise control, a brake, an acceleration device, or similar devices.

[0012] Alternatively or additionally, a device can be part of an infotainment system, such as for media playback, music, a navigation system, or similar. Alternatively or additionally, the device can be part of a vehicle interior control system, such as seat heating, a heater, seat position adjustment, interior lighting, or similar.

[0013] From one perspective, the computing device can be further developed and configured to control at least one device in the vehicle based on the evaluation results of at least one of the two proximity and / or contact situations. This allows for responsiveness depending on individual operation. For example, a distinction can be made between whether actual contact is considered a "genuine input intention" to execute a control function, or whether, for instance, a certain level of proximity (corresponding to the level of a value of at least one electronic signal) can be considered a "genuine input intention" to execute a control function.

[0014] From one perspective, the computing device can be designed and configured to incorporate relative and / or absolute values ​​of the electronic signals transmitted to it from the touch-sensitive surfaces into the evaluation. This allows the computing device to perform an improved assessment of whether a surface, such as a finger, is approaching the touch-sensitive surfaces or whether at least one of these touch-sensitive surfaces is actually being touched, i.e., whether a contact situation exists. In some embodiments, it may also be possible to distinguish how much of the surface area is covered by a finger (or other body part). Thus, the device, system, and / or method described here and elsewhere herein can also enable the development of pressure sensitivity to identify and / or quantify contact behavior on the surface.

[0015] From one perspective, the touch-sensitive, segmented sensor field can have at least one of the following number of segments: at least three, at least four, more than six, more than 10, more than 15, or more than 20 segments. This allows for more precise touch detection. Furthermore, input of a movement direction can be more easily registered and thus more accurately represented in the processing unit.

[0016] From one perspective, the computing device can be designed and configured to distinguish between the approach of a large finger and the placement of a small finger on the sensor field. This can be achieved, for example, by placing a small finger on the sensor field.

[0017] The term "small" refers specifically to a finger that is approximately the size of a segment of the touch-sensitive segmented sensor field. Similarly, the term "large" can refer to a finger that can at least partially cover a specific number of sensor fields, defined (configured) for the application. The sensor field itself can also have a correspondingly adapted number of segments of a specific size for the application. The sensor fields can also differ in size, for example, because a higher resolution is desired in one area of ​​the sensor field compared to another. This can also be specific to a particular application.

[0018] From one perspective, the computing device can be designed and configured to determine the direction of a finger's movement across the sensor field. This allows for the implementation of gesture control. Swiping an input device, such as a finger, across the sensor field can cause the segments to transmit electronic signals to the computing device in a sequence of movements. This signal can then be interpreted by the computing device as a direction of movement, for example, for gesture control, enabling the device to be controlled accordingly. As described in detail elsewhere herein, this can particularly improve the responsiveness of a slider to an "input intention."This slider can be configured or set up accordingly, particularly to evaluate, in conjunction with the control device described elsewhere herein, whether an input should be considered to be a touch or a proximity input. It can also be used to resolve ambiguous and / or contradictory potential input situations.

[0019] In the alternative embodiments described elsewhere herein, it may be provided that no slider is formed, but rather a single "touch button" which, through its implementation and design, is able to resolve corresponding ambiguous and / or alternative potential inputs.

[0020] From one perspective, the control element can be a control element of a steering device, used to receive a vehicle control command. This allows the adjustment of a device relevant to the vehicle's driving behavior, such as a brake, an accelerator, cruise control, or similar.

[0021] From one perspective, the control element can be a control element of an infotainment system, used to receive input into the infotainment system. This allows for the adjustment of settings such as music playback, navigation system settings, or interior controls like seat heating, seat position, interior lighting, or similar functions.

[0022] From an independent perspective, a steering device of a motor vehicle, as described elsewhere herein, has a control element that includes at least one touch-sensitive, segmented sensor field.

[0023] The steering device can be designed and configured for steering a motor vehicle, in particular as described elsewhere herein. The steering device can, in particular, have at least one control element that has a touch-sensitive sensor field which is segmented.

[0024] The steering device can be described by the features, properties, and advantages of the motor vehicle, the infotainment system, or the computing device. This also applies across the category boundaries of method, device, and system. Thus, the computing device, the infotainment system, and the motor vehicle can also be described by the features, properties, and advantages of the steering device. For the sake of readability and conciseness, a repetition of all these features, properties, and advantages is omitted.

[0025] According to one aspect, at least one additional data acquisition device can be designed and configured to transmit further data information to the computing unit. The data acquisition device can, in particular, be a camera. The computing unit can be designed and configured to include the data from the additional data acquisition device in the evaluation, to evaluate the data and the electronic signals, and to distinguish between at least two proximity and / or contact situations. This allows for a further improvement in the differentiation of otherwise ambiguous situations. Image analysis, in particular frame-by-frame image analysis, can be performed to enable the determination of the position of an input surface, such as the skin surface of a finger, and thus to define and, in particular, read out a true input intention.This, in combination with the evaluation of electronic signals, can resolve further potentially contradictory and / or ambiguous situations in order to determine whether a control function should be performed.

[0026] From an independent perspective, a motor vehicle infotainment system, as described elsewhere herein, has a control element that includes at least one touch-sensitive, segmented sensor field. The infotainment system can be described by the features, characteristics, and benefits of the motor vehicle, the steering device, or the computing unit. This also applies across the category boundaries of method, device, and system. Thus, the computing unit, the steering device, and the motor vehicle can also be described by the features, characteristics, and benefits of the infotainment system. For the sake of readability and conciseness, a repetition of all these features, characteristics, and benefits is omitted.

[0027] According to an independent aspect, a computing device is designed and configured to receive an electronic signal from a touch-sensitive, segmented sensor field of a control element of a motor vehicle, in particular as described elsewhere herein, in order to control a device in the motor vehicle.

[0028] According to one aspect, the computing device is designed and configured to receive and evaluate the at least one electronic signal from the touch-sensitive surfaces of the touch-sensitive, segmented sensor field of the control element in order to distinguish at least two approach and / or touch situations from each other, in order to distinguish an approach of a large finger to the touch-sensitive, segmented sensor field from a placement of a small finger on the touch-sensitive, segmented sensor field.

[0029] The computing device can be described by the features, properties, and advantages of the motor vehicle, the infotainment system, or the steering device. This also applies across the category boundaries of method, device, and system. Thus, the steering device and the motor vehicle can also be described by the features, properties, and advantages of the computing device. For the sake of readability and conciseness, a repetition of all these features, properties, and advantages is omitted.

[0030] Further advantages, features, and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are described in detail with reference to the drawings. The features mentioned in the claims and in the description can be essential to the invention individually or in any combination. The drawings schematically show: Fig. 1. A representation of an embodiment of a motor vehicle with various operating elements for controlling various devices; and Fig. 2A to Fig. 2D comparative representations of embodiments of sensor field inputs; and Fig. 3A and Fig. 3B Comparative representations of embodiments of sensor field inputs.

[0031] Fig. Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of an exemplary embodiment of a motor vehicle 10. An interior 5 is schematically depicted as an example, representing a situation of a driver (not shown) looking out through a windshield 21 via a steering mechanism 20. Sensor fields 12 are arranged, for example, on the steering mechanism 20, on a gearshift lever 14 (for an automatic or manual transmission), or on an infotainment system 15. A navigation system 13 can be controlled in the latter, for example, to make a selection 17 or to navigate a menu 19.

[0032] An electronic signal 200 can be transmitted to a computing device 100 in order to evaluate a corresponding touch input into a sensor field 12 in order to control one of the described devices.

[0033] Fig. 2A to Fig. The 2D figures show comparative, schematic, and exemplary representations of embodiments of sensor field inputs. Fig. Figures 2A to 3B show, as an example, a sensor field 12 with 4 segments each: 1, 2, 3, 4. This shows Fig. 2A a small finger 30a, which is smaller than one of the segments 1 of the sensor field 12, is placed on the sensor field. When the small finger 30a is placed on segment 1, a high signal strength of the electronic signal 200 can be output. In contrast, as in the Fig. Figure 2B shows a large finger 30b being guided over a sensor field 12, with all segments 1, 2, 3, 4 receiving an electronic signal 200 (see Figure 2B). Fig. 1) can output with a low signal strength.

[0034] The Fig. Figure 2C shows in particular a contact surface 22a as a touch input with a segment 2, whereby a very high signal strength of the electronic signal 200 can be generated by contact corresponding to the little finger. As shown in the Fig. As shown in 2D, a partial contact of a large finger 30b on segment 2 of the sensor field 12 also leads to a correspondingly high signal 200, in order to be able to represent a real touch as sensor field input in a computing device 100.

[0035] Fig. 3A and Fig.Figure 3B shows comparative, schematic, and exemplary representations of embodiments of sensor field inputs in which the contact area extends over two segments 2, 3. The electronic signal 200 from the touched segments 2, 3 can be low in the case of a small finger 30a, but particularly higher than from the untouched segments 1, 4. In contrast, an overlapping touch of a large finger 30b can lead to correspondingly high signal strengths from the touched segments 2, 3. This also allows the type of touching finger to be determined, which enables detailed input.

[0036] The preceding explanation of the embodiments describes the present invention solely by way of examples. Naturally, individual features of the embodiments can be freely combined with one another, provided this is technically feasible, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

[1] motor vehicle (10) comprising: - a control element comprising at least one touch-sensitive, segmented sensor field (12) comprising at least two touch-sensitive surfaces, wherein the touch-sensitive surfaces are designed and configured to generate at least one electronic signal upon approach to a body surface, in particular a finger surface; and - a computing device (100), designed and configured to receive and evaluate the at least one electronic signal (200) from the touch-sensitive surfaces of the touch-sensitive, segmented sensor field (12) of the control element in order to distinguish at least two proximity and / or touch situations from each other, characterized by , that the computing device (100) is designed and configured to distinguish between the approach of a large finger (30b) and the placement of a small finger (30a) on the sensor field (12). [2] Motor vehicle (10) according to claim 1, characterized by that the computing device is further trained and set up to control at least one device in the motor vehicle (10) based on the result of the evaluation in at least one of the two approach and / or contact situations. [3] Motor vehicle (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by that the computing device is designed and equipped to include relative and / or absolute values ​​of the electronic signals transmitted to it from the touch-sensitive surfaces in the evaluation. [4] Motor vehicle (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the touch-sensitive sensor field (12) has at least three segments (1, 2, 3, 4), in particular at least four, further in particular more than six, further in particular more than 10, further in particular more than 15, or further in particular more than 20. [5] Motor vehicle (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the computing device (100) is designed and configured to determine a direction from a finger (30a, 30b) via the sensor field (12). [6] Motor vehicle (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the control element is a control element of a steering device (20) to receive a vehicle control command and / or wherein the control element is a control element of an infotainment system (15) to receive an input into the infotainment system (15). [7] Motor vehicle (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized bythat at least one further data acquisition device, in particular a camera, is designed and configured to transmit further data information to the computing device and wherein the computing device is designed and configured to include the data from the further data acquisition device in the evaluation in order to evaluate the data and the electronic signals in order to distinguish between at least two proximity and / or contact situations. [8] Steering device (20) and / or infotainment system of a motor vehicle (10) according to one of the preceding claims comprising a control element comprising at least one touch-sensitive, segmented sensor field (12). [9] Computing device (100) designed and configured to receive an electronic signal (200) from a touch-sensitive, segmented sensor field (12) of a control element of a motor vehicle (10) according to one of claims 1 to 7 in order to control a device in the motor vehicle (10), characterized by , that the computing device (100) is designed and configured to receive and evaluate the at least one electronic signal (200) from the touch-sensitive surfaces of the touch-sensitive, segmented sensor field (12) of the control element in order to distinguish at least two approach and / or touch situations from each other in order to distinguish an approach of a large finger (30b) to the touch-sensitive, segmented sensor field (12) from a placement of a small finger (30a) on the touch-sensitive, segmented sensor field (12).

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