Method for adjusting the function of one or more switches of a vehicle, computer-readable medium, system, and vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for adjusting the function of one or more switches of a vehicle, the method comprising: detecting the activation of a function of a switch by a driver of the vehicle; detecting confusion of a driver of the vehicle after the detected activation of the function of the switch using an interior camera of the vehicle; providing a message to the driver of the vehicle to adjust the function of the switch depending on the detected confusion of the driver; receiving an operator interaction from the driver in response to the provided message to adjust the function of the switch of the vehicle; and adjusting the function of the switch of the vehicle depending on the received operator interaction from the driver of the vehicle.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for adjusting the function of one or more switches of a vehicle. The invention further relates to a computer-readable medium for adjusting the function of one or more switches of a vehicle, a system for adjusting the function of one or more switches of a vehicle, and a vehicle comprising the system for adjusting the function of one or more switches of a vehicle.

[0002] Vehicles are produced in right-hand drive and left-hand drive versions. Vehicle functions of the right-hand drive version are often not adapted to the left-hand drive version, and vice versa. For example, a turn signal switch may be located on the same side of the steering wheel in both right-hand drive and left-hand drive versions in some countries, but on opposite sides in others. This can lead to accidental activation of switches by drivers of right-hand drive and left-hand drive vehicles. Furthermore, switches on the steering wheel are often not swapped between country-specific versions.For example, the volume of an audio output from a vehicle's infotainment system can be adjusted on the right side of the steering wheel via one or more switches, in both left-hand drive and right-hand drive versions of the vehicle.

[0003] DE 10 2023 121 880 A1 describes a method for a motor vehicle to reduce driver distraction, wherein the method comprises: capturing driver image data relating to the driver; determining, based on the driver image data, a potential input attempt by the driver using a control element of the motor vehicle for the intended operation of a vehicle function; and outputting an assistance output that is acoustically perceptible to the driver and relates to the vehicle function.

[0004] DE 10 2022 126 741 A1 describes a method for verifying a measure taken by a driver assistance system of a motor vehicle. The method comprises: detecting a triggering event that is intended to trigger the action of the driver assistance system; and carrying out the intended action by means of the driver assistance system. A response information describing a user's reaction to the action is determined by means of a detection device; and verifying whether the action was carried out due to a false alarm from the driver assistance system by evaluating the determined response information. If the action was carried out due to the false alarm, false alarm information describing this fact is provided.

[0005] It is therefore an object of the invention to adapt the function of one or more switches of a vehicle more efficiently. In particular, an object of the invention is to efficiently reduce false activations of a switch function by a driver of the vehicle.

[0006] This problem is solved by the features of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention result from the dependent claims.

[0007] According to a first aspect, the invention is characterized by a method for adapting the function of one or more switches of a vehicle. The method can be a computer-implemented method and / or a control unit-implemented method. The method comprises detecting the activation of a switch function by the vehicle's driver, detecting driver confusion following the activation of the switch function using an interior camera of the vehicle, and providing a message to the driver to adapt the function of the vehicle's switch function depending on the detected driver confusion.Furthermore, the procedure includes receiving an operator interaction from the driver in response to the provided message to adjust the function of the vehicle's switch, and adjusting the function of the vehicle's switch depending on the received operator interaction from the vehicle's driver.

[0008] Advantageously, the method can dynamically adapt the function of a switch depending on the detected driver confusion. This efficiently simplifies the operation of different switch configurations in various vehicle types across different countries.

[0009] According to an advantageous embodiment, the switch can be a steering column switch of the vehicle. This allows the function of a steering column switch of the vehicle to be efficiently and dynamically adjusted.

[0010] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the switch can be a steering wheel switch of the vehicle. This allows the function of a steering wheel switch of the vehicle to be efficiently and dynamically adjusted.

[0011] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the method can also include receiving information about the current driving situation of the vehicle, detecting when the driver activates the switch function based on this current driving situation, and recognizing any confusion on the part of the driver after the switch function has been activated, again based on this current driving situation, using the vehicle's interior camera. This allows for a significant improvement in the detection of driver confusion.

[0012] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the method can also include detecting incorrect operation of the switch depending on the current driving situation, and providing a message to the driver to adjust the function of the vehicle's switch based on the detected driver confusion and the detected incorrect operation of the switch. This allows for efficient detection of driver error.

[0013] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the method can also include detecting a test activation of the switch function by the vehicle driver and providing the driver with a message to adjust the switch function based on the detected driver confusion and the detected test activation of the switch function. This can efficiently improve the detection of driver confusion.

[0014] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the detection of the driver's confusion after the activation of the switch by the vehicle's interior camera can include detecting a surprised and / or irritated glance by the driver in the direction of the switch, and / or detecting a searching glance by the driver towards the switch, thus further enhancing the detection of the driver's confusion. This can efficiently improve the detection of driver confusion.

[0015] According to a further advantageous embodiment, adapting the function of the vehicle's switch depending on the received operator interaction from the vehicle's driver can involve swapping the function of the switch with a function of another switch in the vehicle, depending on the received operator interaction from the vehicle's driver, wherein the other switch is preferably a further switch in the vehicle arranged substantially symmetrically to the switch. This allows the functions of the switches to be adapted efficiently.

[0016] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the additional switch can be another steering column switch or another steering wheel switch of the vehicle. This allows the functions of the steering column switches or steering wheel switches to be efficiently adapted.

[0017] According to a further advantageous embodiment, adapting the function of the vehicle's switch based on the driver's input can also involve swapping the function of a control surface and / or a display or indicator depending on the swapping of the switch's function with the function of another switch. This allows for efficient adjustment of the functions of both switches and other functions linked to them.

[0018] According to another aspect, the invention is characterized by a computer-readable medium for adjusting a function of one or more switches of a vehicle, wherein the computer-readable medium comprises instructions which, when executed on a computer and / or a control unit, perform the method described above.

[0019] According to another aspect, the invention is characterized by a system for adapting a function of one or more switches of a vehicle, wherein the system is configured to perform the method described above.

[0020] According to another aspect, the invention is characterized by a vehicle comprising the system described above for adjusting a function of one or more switches of the vehicle.

[0021] Further features of the invention will become apparent from the claims, the figure, and the figure description. All features and combinations of features mentioned above in the description, as well as those subsequently mentioned in the figure description and / or shown in the figure alone, are usable not only in the combinations specified, but also in other combinations or individually.

[0022] The following describes a preferred embodiment of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawing. Further details, preferred configurations, and further developments of the invention will be derived from this. In detail, the drawing schematically illustrates... Fig. 1 An exemplary method for adjusting the function of one or more switches of a vehicle.

[0023] In detail, it shows Fig.1. An exemplary method 100 for adapting the function of one or more switches of a vehicle. The method can adapt one or more functions of one or more switches of a vehicle. Furthermore, the method can adapt one or more functions of one or more switches of a vehicle while the vehicle is in motion. A switch can be a steering column switch or a steering wheel switch. The method can interchange the functions of two switches arranged symmetrically to the center of a steering column or steering wheel. Functions of switches of a left-hand drive variant of a vehicle can be adapted to functions of switches of a right-hand drive variant of a vehicle and vice versa by the method.

[0024] Method 100 can detect the activation of a function of a switch by the driver of vehicle 102. The function can be the activation of a windshield wiper or the activation of a turn signal. Method 100 can detect the activation of the windshield wiper or the activation of the turn signal by the driver operating the switch. The function can be the adjustment of a volume using one or more switches on the steering wheel. Method 100 can detect the adjustment of the volume using one or more switches on the steering wheel by the driver. In addition, the method can detect a current driving situation of the vehicle and detect the activation of the function of the switch by the driver in relation to that current driving situation. For example, the current driving situation can be a turning maneuver at an intersection.The procedure can, for example, detect when the driver activates a windshield wiper using the switch while turning at an intersection.

[0025] Method 100 can detect driver confusion after the activation of the switch using an interior camera of the vehicle. Method 104 can monitor the driver's gaze to detect this confusion. If the driver's gaze is representative of an irritated look, a surprised look, and / or a searching look, the method can detect driver confusion. Additionally or alternatively, the method can monitor whether the driver cancels the activation of the switch and executes the function of another switch, preferably arranged symmetrically to the first activated switch. Furthermore, the method can additionally or alternatively detect a vehicle type, for example, left-hand drive or right-hand drive, and compare it with a driver profile to determine which type of vehicle the driver typically drives.If the driver usually drives a left-hand drive vehicle and is currently driving a right-hand drive vehicle, the procedure can additionally use this information to detect driver confusion when triggering the function of the right switch and / or the left switch.

[0026] Furthermore, the system can infer driver confusion if the interior camera, by analyzing the driver's gaze direction, detects that the driver frequently performs one or more functions of symmetrically arranged switches within a predetermined time interval, for example, more than once or twice within a second. From this behavior, the system can infer a pattern of behavior that serves to learn the functions of the two symmetrically arranged switches.

[0027] In detecting driver confusion, the system can use the current driving situation and / or an incorrect operation of one of the two symmetrically arranged switches, in addition to gaze-based confusion detection using the vehicle's interior camera. For example, if the driver operates the windshield wipers instead of a turn signal, or the windshield wipers instead of a turn signal and then a turn signal instead of the windshield wipers, and the interior camera detects the driver looking towards the respective switch, the system can detect driver confusion. If a statistically significant frequency of incorrect switch operation occurs in a driving situation, such as the current driving situation, the system can also infer driver confusion.

[0028] Furthermore, the method can provide the driver with a message to adapt the function of the vehicle's switch depending on the detected confusion of the driver. 106. The message to adapt the function of the vehicle's switch to the driver can include a suggestion to exchange the function of the switch with the function of another switch in the vehicle. The method can receive an operator interaction from the driver in response to the provided message to adapt the function of the vehicle's switch. 108.

[0029] Finally, Method 100 can adapt the function of the vehicle's switch depending on the received operator interaction from the vehicle's driver. For example, Method 100 can adapt the function of the vehicle's switch by swapping its function with that of another switch. Additionally, display content and / or one or more adaptive control surfaces of the vehicle can also be adapted.

[0030] Advantageously, the system can proactively offer the driver the option to adjust, in particular reverse, the function of a switch if confusion is detected. This can efficiently reduce the risk of the driver operating one or more switches incorrectly and thus increase driving safety. Reference symbol list 100 procedures 102 Detecting the triggering of a switch function 104 Recognizing confusion in a vehicle driver 106 Providing a message to adjust the function of the vehicle's switch 108 Receiving a driver interaction 110 Adjusting the function of the vehicle's switch

Claims

[1] Method (100) for adjusting a function of one or more switches of a vehicle, the method comprising: Detect (102) a triggering of a function of a switch by a driver of the vehicle of the vehicle; Detecting (104) a confusion of a driver of the vehicle after the detected activation of the function of the switch with an interior camera of the vehicle; Providing (106) a message to adapt the function of the vehicle's switch to the driver of the vehicle depending on the detected confusion of the driver; Receiving (108) an operator interaction from the driver in response to the provided message to adjust the function of the vehicle's switch; and Adapting (110) the function of the vehicle's switch depending on the received operating interaction from the vehicle's driver. [2] Method (100) according to claim 1, wherein the switch is a steering column switch of the vehicle. [3] Method (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the switch is a switch on a steering wheel of the vehicle. [4] Method (100) according to any of the preceding claims, the method (100) further comprising: Receiving an up-to-date information about the vehicle's driving situation; Detecting the activation of the switch function by the vehicle driver depending on the current driving situation of the vehicle; and Detecting driver confusion after the switch function has been triggered, depending on the current driving situation, using the vehicle's interior camera. [5] Method (100) according to any of the preceding claims, the method (100) further comprising: Detecting incorrect operation of the switch depending on the current driving situation; and Providing a message to adapt the function of the vehicle's switch to the driver of the vehicle, depending on the detected confusion of the driver and the detected misuse of the switch's function. [6] Method (100) according to any of the preceding claims, the method (100) further comprising: Detecting a test activation of the switch function by the vehicle driver; and Providing the message to adapt the function of the vehicle's switch to the driver of the vehicle, depending on the detected confusion of the driver and the detected, test-based triggering of the switch's function. [7] Method (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the detection (104) of the confusion of the driver of the vehicle after the detected triggering of the function of the switch comprises using the interior camera of the vehicle: Detecting a surprised and / or irritated look from the vehicle's driver to detect the driver's confusion after the switch function was triggered by the vehicle's interior camera; and / or Detecting the driver's searching gaze towards the switch, thus detecting the driver's confusion through the vehicle's interior camera after the switch's function has been triggered. [8] Method (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the adjustment (110) of the function of the vehicle's switch comprises depending on the received operating interaction of the vehicle's driver: Swap the function of the switch with a function of another switch of the vehicle depending on the received operating interaction of the driver of the vehicle, wherein the other switch is preferably another switch of the vehicle arranged substantially symmetrically to the switch. [9] Method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the further switch is a further steering column switch or a further steering wheel switch of the vehicle. [10] Method (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the adjustment (110) of the function of the vehicle's switch depending on the received operating interaction of the vehicle's driver further comprises: Swapping a function of a control surface and / or a function of a display or an operating indicator depending on the swapping of the function of the switch with the function of the other switch. [11] Computer-readable medium for adjusting a function of one or more switches of a vehicle, wherein the computer-readable medium comprises instructions which, when executed on a computer and / or a control unit, perform the method (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 10. [12] System for adapting a function of one or more switches of a vehicle, wherein the system is configured to perform the method (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 10. [13] Vehicle comprising the system for adjusting a function of one or more switches of a vehicle according to claim 12.

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