Device for providing work instructions to motor vehicles

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for providing work instructions to motor vehicles. To provide a device that facilitates the performance of work for its users, the device is provided to have a central unit which is equipped with - a projection device for displaying work instructions on a projection surface of the motor vehicle, - a movement unit for adjusting and aligning the projection device relative to the motor vehicle, - is connected to a position detection unit for contactless and / or tactile detection of the device's position relative to the motor vehicle.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device for providing work instructions to motor vehicles.

[0002] The execution of work, such as repairs and maintenance on motor vehicles, requires a high degree of care to ensure or restore the trouble-free operation of the vehicles. For the purposes of this intellectual property right, "motor vehicles" refers to all motor-driven vehicles, including both rail-bound and non-rail-bound land vehicles as well as aircraft.

[0003] The work typically carried out on motor vehicles in specialist workshops is particularly diverse and model-specific, therefore requiring a high level of expertise from the workers performing the work. If this expertise is lacking, the workers must spend a considerable amount of time reviewing the relevant vehicle-specific documentation to determine how the work should be carried out.

[0004] Based on this, the invention aims to provide a device that makes it easier for its users to carry out their work.

[0005] The invention solves the problem by providing a device for supplying work instructions to motor vehicles with the features of claim 1. Advantageous further developments of the device are specified in the dependent claims.

[0006] The device according to the invention has a central unit for providing the work instructions to the motor vehicles, which is connected to a projection device, a traversing unit and a position detection unit.

[0007] The projection device of the invention serves to display work instructions, such as repair or maintenance instructions, on a projection surface of the vehicle. The central unit supplies the projection device with the instructions to be carried out for the respective work and projects them into the user's field of vision onto a projection surface of the vehicle, which is a suitable, freely selectable surface of the vehicle. Projecting the work instructions into the user's field of vision eliminates the need for prior and repeated information gathering in suitable repair or maintenance documentation during the work. The projection device displays the work steps to be performed as needed within the user's field of vision, where they can be reliably understood.

[0008] The device's traversing unit is used to align the projection device with the vehicle so that the work instructions can be displayed on a suitable projection surface. This unit allows the projection device to be positioned and aligned relative to the vehicle. The traversing unit, which, for example, acts as a wheel drive for the device, enables it to be freely moved and aligned in a position relative to the vehicle so that the projection device can project the work instructions onto the desired projection surface. The position detection unit serves to orient the device relative to the vehicle, enabling contactless and / or tactile detection of the device's position relative to the vehicle.

[0009] The connection of the projection unit, the traversing unit, and the position detection unit to the central processing unit enables the latter to process the acquired and provided data in order to adjust, position, and align the device accordingly. This data processing takes place in the central processing unit, which is equipped with a suitable microcontroller for this purpose.

[0010] The device according to the invention thus enables the user to see work instructions, e.g., repair or maintenance instructions, directly in the area of ​​the vehicle where the work is to be carried out. The use of cumbersome manuals, whether in electronic or digital form, is no longer necessary. Displaying the work instructions in the user's field of vision allows for simple, reliable, and time-saving execution of the work.

[0011] Vehicle-specific work instructions, such as repair or maintenance instructions, can be stored in a memory unit connected to the central unit within the device, allowing them to be accessed directly at the device. Alternatively, the central unit can be equipped with a physical data interface, such as a USB port, enabling the connection of storage media containing vehicle data relevant to the device's intended use.

[0012] However, according to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the central unit is connected to a communication unit for retrieving work instructions. The communication unit preferably operates wirelessly, e.g., via WLAN, mobile network, Bluetooth, etc., and thus enables the required work instructions to be retrieved as needed from a database that can be wirelessly connected to the device.

[0013] This embodiment of the invention eliminates the need for extensive data storage within the device, as the necessary work instructions can be retrieved from the database and temporarily stored in the device as required. Following the completion of the work, the information supplied by the database can be deleted from an internal storage unit. It is also possible to transmit the work instructions entirely via the database as needed, thus minimizing the storage unit within the device to the minimum necessary to ensure a continuous image stream.

[0014] In principle, it is possible to connect the device to an external terminal before starting the work in order to prepare the device for the work to be carried out. However, according to an advantageous further development of the invention, it is provided that the central unit is connected to a dialogue unit which - an input unit that is preferably speech-based, especially preferably gesture-based and - has an output unit that has an optical and / or acoustic effect.

[0015] This embodiment of the invention enables largely autonomous operation of the device. Communication between the device and the user occurs via the input unit, with voice-based, and preferably gesture-based, input allowing intuitive control of the device without requiring direct contact. For example, a user can control the device during operation, i.e., while performing tasks, using voice commands or gesture commands.

[0016] Data output can be provided not only via the projection device but also via other optical and / or acoustic output units. For example, additional information related to the visual information can be provided to the user via loudspeakers, pertaining to both the setup of the device and the execution of the work. Thus, the work instructions displayed optically via the projection device can be supplemented by the acoustic output unit, thereby facilitating the work to be carried out.

[0017] The design of the position detection unit, enabling it to determine the device's position relative to the vehicle, can be implemented in virtually any way. For example, sound-based or magnetic field-based sensors can be used to determine the device's position within its working area. Alternatively, displacement sensors, such as capacitive displacement sensors, can be used, allowing the device to autonomously determine its position within a defined workspace.

[0018] However, a further development of the invention provides that the position detection unit includes optical means, in particular camera-based sensors, for environmental detection. Optical means, especially camera-based sensors, allow for particularly precise environmental detection and position detection of the device, and thus precise positioning of the device relative to the vehicle on which the work is to be carried out. This enables the projection device to be positioned precisely so that the work instructions can be reliably projected onto the selected projection surface at the desired location on the vehicle. Furthermore, the camera-based systems enable very accurate position detection of the device relative to the vehicle via pattern recognition.

[0019] The camera-based sensors can also be used to automatically identify components or areas of the vehicle, whereby the camera images can be compared with corresponding patterns stored in a database. This embodiment of the invention thus also enables the camera-based sensors to automatically recognize the desired projection surface on or inside the vehicle, and subsequently, the projection device can be automatically set up and aligned.

[0020] Furthermore, the position detection unit can also be used as a proximity unit, which automatically avoids collisions. This prevents the device from being in the way during operation.

[0021] In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the projection device is motor-adjustable. This adjustment capability allows for automated fine-tuning of the projection device based on its alignment with the vehicle. For example, the device can be positioned near an open vehicle door, aligned with the interior, and adjusted so that a projection surface located inside the vehicle is captured by the projection device. The motorized adjustment advantageously enables multi-axis position correction of the projection device.

[0022] The choice of projection system for the projection device is generally freely selectable. However, according to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the projection device comprises a laser projector, which is characterized by its excellent image reproduction, enabling the user to easily perceive the work instructions on the projection surface.

[0023] According to the invention, any surface on, i.e., outside or inside, the motor vehicle can be used as a projection surface. In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the central unit is connected to a scanning unit for capturing the projection surface and is designed to adapt the projection to the topography of the projection surface.

[0024] According to this further development of the invention, the scanning unit enables the topography of the vehicle's surface, which is to serve as the projection surface, to be captured. The central unit can then adapt the projection device to the captured topography of the projection surface, so that even on uneven projection surfaces, such as curved or bent sections, a user-readable instruction is displayed. This design further improves the device's usability, as the topography of the projection surface no longer needs to be considered for proper display.

[0025] In a further embodiment of the invention, the central unit is designed to document the work performed. In addition to simply recording the displayed work instructions and the work itself, which must be confirmed by the user upon completion, the advantageous use of camera-based sensors or cameras allows for the recording of the work performed, enabling its specific archiving and documentation. Furthermore, the completed work can be projected onto the relevant areas of the vehicle at a later time. This provides a seamless retrospective view of the work performed. Specific areas of the vehicle can be highlighted by the projection device.

[0026] According to a further embodiment of the invention, the central processing unit automatically detects the work area and provides corresponding work instructions. Detecting the work area according to this embodiment of the invention enables the central processing unit to automatically select from the work instructions available for that area. These instructions can then be easily selected by the user, and if only one work instruction is available for the detected work area, it can be displayed directly to the user.

[0027] An embodiment of the invention is explained below with reference to the drawings. The drawings show: Fig. 1 a schematic representation of a device for providing work instructions to motor vehicles and Fig. 2 a schematic representation of the arrangement of the device of Fig. 1 compared to a motor vehicle.

[0028] In Fig. Figure 1 shows a device 1 for providing work instructions to motor vehicles 3 in a side view. This device has a base 12 on which a projection device 2, a traversing unit 4 and a position detection unit 5 are arranged.

[0029] A battery module 16 is provided for the power supply of the device 1, which serves to power all units of the device 1. The traversing unit 4, which is equipped with driven drive rollers 13, serves to adjust the device 1, making it possible to position the device 1 in any way relative to a motor vehicle 3 (see figure). Fig. 2).

[0030] For position detection, the device 1 has a position detection unit 5 which, via sensors 15 arranged circumferentially on the device 1, enables exact position detection relative to the motor vehicle 3 as well as exact positioning and alignment of the device 1 relative to the motor vehicle 3.

[0031] By means of the traversing unit 4 it is therefore possible to arrange the device 1 and the projection device 2 arranged on the device 1 in such a way that a laser projector 10 can be aligned on the top of the device 1 so that work instructions can be projected onto a projection surface 17 on the motor vehicle 3.

[0032] Device 1 is operated via an input unit 14 and an output unit 8 in the form of a display. The input unit 14 and the output unit 8 form part of a dialog unit 7, by means of which a user can communicate with the device 1. In addition to the basic operation of the device 1 via the dialog unit 7, it is also possible to operate the device 1 via voice control. For this purpose, the device 1 has microphones (not shown) so that the user can control the device 1 hands-free.

[0033] The work instructions are projected onto the projection surface 17 on the vehicle 3 via the laser projector 10. The device 1 offers the possibility of outputting supplementary work instructions via loudspeakers (not shown here), which makes it easier for the user to carry out the work to be performed.

[0034] Device 1 is controlled by a central processing unit (not shown) located inside the device. This unit contains a microprocessor and processes the data from sensors 9 and 15, as well as controlling the individual units. The central processing unit is also connected to a scanning unit 11, whose sensors 9 are camera-based and enable the acquisition of the topography of the projection surface 17. The camera-based sensors 9 are also capable of documenting the work performed and transmitting this data to the central processing unit.

[0035] The work instructions are received by the central unit via a communication device (not shown here), which is wirelessly connected via an antenna 6 to a database (not shown here). In addition to the available work instructions, the database also contains storage space for archiving the work performed.

[0036] The device 1 can be controlled both by voice and by gestures, for which sensors 9 of the scan unit 11 can also be used. Reference symbol list 1 Device 2 Projection equipment 3 Motor vehicle 4. Traction unit 5 Position detection unit 6 antenna 7 Dialogue Unit 8 output units 9 sensors 10 laser projectors 11 Scan unit 12 basic supports 13 drive rollers 14 Input unit 15 sensors 16 battery module 17 projection surfaces

Claims

[1] Device for providing work instructions to motor vehicles, with a central unit connected to - a projection device (2) for displaying the work instructions on a projection surface (17) of the motor vehicle (3), - a movement unit for adjusting and aligning the projection device relative to the motor vehicle, - is connected to a position detection unit (5) for contactless and / or tactile detection of the position of the device relative to the motor vehicle (3). [2] Device according to claim 1, characterized by that the central unit is connected to a communication unit for retrieving work instructions. [3] Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by , that the central unit is connected to a dialog unit (7) which - an input unit (8), which is preferably speech-based, particularly preferably gesture-based and - has an output unit that has an optical and / or acoustic effect. [4] Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the position detection unit (5) has optically acting means, in particular camera-based sensors (9) for environment detection. [5] Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the projection device (2) is motor-adjustable. [6] Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the projection device (2) has a laser projector (10). [7] Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the central unit is connected to a scanning unit (11) for capturing the projection surface (17) and is designed to adapt the projection to the topography of the projection surface (17). [8] Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by that the central unit is trained to document the work performed. [9] Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by that the central unit automatically detects the work area and provides corresponding work instructions.

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