Method for controlling a steering wheel heater of a motor vehicle and motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for controlling a steering wheel heater (4) of a motor vehicle (1), in which a control surface (8) for activating the steering wheel heater (4) is displayed on a display (3) arranged on a steering wheel (2) only if at least one of the following parameters is fulfilled: falling below a predefined outside temperature, the presence of a predefined date and / or the presence of a predefined time. This eliminates the need for a previously required button to operate the steering wheel heating (4) and increases driving comfort.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for controlling a steering wheel heater in a motor vehicle. The invention further relates to a motor vehicle comprising a steering wheel, a display arranged on this steering wheel, a steering wheel heater, and a computer system for carrying out this method.

[0002] From CN 116 431 922 A, a generic method and a device for controlling a steering wheel heater of a motor vehicle are known, wherein in the method, in response to an existing situation when using a motor vehicle, environmental data outside the motor vehicle is recorded and a corresponding target recommendation is issued to the user.

[0003] From CN 115 826 802 A, a method for displaying a vehicle function is known, wherein individual vehicle functions are displayed to a user. Such a vehicle function could be, for example, a steering wheel heater and / or a seat heater, which can be activated via a corresponding voice control system. When the seat heater is activated, it is inferred that there is a low temperature in a passenger compartment, and based on this assumption, a recommendation to activate the steering wheel heater is issued.

[0004] From DE 10 2020 003 450 A1, a method for automatically activating a steering wheel climate control of a motor vehicle's steering wheel is known, comprising the following steps: Detecting the temperature of a driver of the vehicle, in particular the driver's hand, by means of a temperature sensor arranged on a door handle of the motor vehicle and transmitting the detected temperature to a control unit, activating a steering wheel heater by the control unit if the detected temperature falls below a limit value.

[0005] This should significantly increase comfort for the driver.

[0006] From DE 10 2009 006 927 A1, a device and a method for selectively controlling the illumination of display and / or control elements in a vehicle cockpit depending on the type and duration of movements of body parts of a user directed towards them are known.

[0007] From DE 10 2020 007 067 A1 a method for situation-controlled display of an actuating element for a function in a vehicle on a touch-sensitive display surface operable by a person using the vehicle is known, in which the actuating element is designed as a locking element for window regulators of the vehicle.

[0008] Generally, motor vehicles, especially mid-range and luxury passenger cars, often have a heated steering wheel to make driving more comfortable, particularly in cold weather. Further advantages of such a heated steering wheel include faster hand warming, which improves dexterity and handling, thereby increasing driving safety.

[0009] Such passenger cars in the mid-range and upper-range segments usually also have so-called multifunction steering wheels, which can have a wide variety of operating elements, such as rollers, rotary knobs, buttons, switches, touch surfaces, etc., for operating and controlling a wide range of vehicle functions.

[0010] Steering wheel heaters are typically operated via controls located on the steering wheel itself, such as the aforementioned rollers or buttons, or via voice control. Often, these steering wheel heaters are combined with seat heating, as it is assumed that if steering wheel heating is desired, seat heating is also desired, or vice versa.

[0011] However, a disadvantage of steering wheel heating systems known from the state of the art is that they often require a button on the steering wheel, which requires a considerable amount of space and wiring, and requires even more space if, for example, several temperature levels are desired, similar to a seat heater.

[0012] In most climate zones, however, steering wheel heating is only needed in winter or during the transitional seasons, but not in summer, so that buttons specifically provided for this purpose are not used for a large part of the time and space on the steering wheel is wasted unnecessarily.

[0013] The present invention therefore deals with the problem of providing a method for controlling a steering wheel heating system of a motor vehicle and a motor vehicle by means of which, in particular, the disadvantages known from the prior art can be overcome.

[0014] This problem is solved according to the invention by a method according to independent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims. Furthermore, this problem is solved with a motor vehicle having the features of claim 7.

[0015] The present invention is based on the general idea of ​​not providing a separate button permanently present on the steering wheel for activating a steering wheel heater, but rather of automating the control of such a heater and offering automatic activation of the heater via a control area on a display only when there is a high probability that such a heater is actually desired or required. Accordingly, in the inventive method for controlling a motor vehicle's steering wheel heater, a control area for activating the heater is displayed on the steering wheel display only if at least one of the following parameters is met: the outside temperature falls below a predefined level, a predefined date is present, and / or a predefined time is present.The display can be a TFT, OLED, micro-LED, or AMOLED display. Integrating the steering wheel heating controls into a display already mounted on the steering wheel eliminates the need for separate buttons. This not only significantly reduces manufacturing costs but also saves space on the steering wheel, freeing it up for other functions. Of course, the display can also be customized by the vehicle user with any other functions, such as voice control and / or telephone functions. Integrating the steering wheel heating controls into the display does not result in any loss of user comfort, as the system is automated based on factors such as the outside temperature, a predefined date, or a predefined time.For example, it's conceivable that the control area on the display for activating the steering wheel heating would only be shown when the outside temperature is below 10°C, as in this case it can be assumed that steering wheel heating is desired to warm the hands and thus improve dexterity. Thanks to the automated and parameter-dependent display of the control area, a vehicle user doesn't have to search for it on the display, for example by clicking through several submenus; instead, the control area is displayed automatically if there is a high probability that the user actually wants to heat the steering wheel.

[0016] A combination of the listed parameters with different weightings is also conceivable, so that, for example, with an outside temperature of 20 °C in the morning, where the temperature in the passenger compartment is still at 15 °C due to a cold night and the steering wheel temperature is still at 10 °C due to the high mass and inertia, the user will still see the control area for activating the steering wheel heating on the display when entering the vehicle, even though the outside temperature is actually already pleasant and would not require additional steering wheel heating.

[0017] Even at an outside temperature of only 10 °C, for example during an evening cool-down, after a drive of several hours, where the passenger compartment still has a temperature of approximately 23 °C and the steering wheel temperature is also approximately 23 °C, the control area for activating the steering wheel heating may not be displayed on the screen, because the user or driver of the vehicle has already been holding the steering wheel for a longer period of time and it is therefore warm, and the passenger compartment temperature and the steering wheel temperature, unlike the outside temperature which is slowly cooling in the twilight, do not yet require heating of the steering wheel.

[0018] In an advantageous further development of the inventive method, a control area for activating the steering wheel heating is displayed on the steering wheel-mounted display only if the steering wheel temperature falls below a certain threshold. Such a situation can occur, for example, when the outside temperature is already higher in the morning, but the passenger compartment is still cold due to a previous cold night, as is the steering wheel due to its mass and thermal inertia. In this case, it can be beneficial and increase driver comfort if, under such a combination of parameters, the control area for activating the steering wheel heating is displayed on the steering wheel-mounted display, thus enabling the driver to heat the steering wheel quickly and easily.

[0019] In a further advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention, a control area for activating the steering wheel heating is displayed on the display arranged on the steering wheel only if a certain temperature in the passenger compartment is reached. Thus, for example, if the vehicle is parked after a long drive, such as during a break, and the driver resumes driving after the break, the outside temperature may be comparatively low, while the temperature in the passenger compartment, and therefore indirectly also the temperature of the steering wheel, may still be high enough due to the previous drive that additional heating of the steering wheel is not necessary. In this case, the control area for activating the steering wheel heating does not need to be displayed at all.The display can show other functions that are more important for driving comfort in this situation.

[0020] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, different heating levels of the steering wheel heating can be selected and displayed via the control surface. This allows the steering wheel heating to be controlled relatively easily via the display's control surface, analogous to the control of a seat heater, for example via three heating levels, without requiring, for example, three separate buttons in a door, as is the case with a separate seat heater.

[0021] A computer system can be used to detect when the steering wheel heating is activated. This system records the ambient temperature, steering wheel temperature, passenger compartment temperature, time, and / or date at the time of activation and calculates the probability of use. If this probability reaches or exceeds a predefined threshold, the system displays the control button for the steering wheel heating. In this case, the system has a learning mode, so it learns from previous activations of the steering wheel heating to determine when the control button should be displayed. This allows for a high degree of personalization based on individual preferences.This learning mode further trains the system to display the control area at the right moment, ensuring it is shown only as often as necessary to avoid wasting space, but always as frequently as required or desired by the customer. The learning mode is triggered based on driver activity, preventing the control area from being displayed when the driver is not using it, and vice versa.

[0022] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, the control surface or the computer system operating in the background can be operated by means of voice control. Thus, if the control surface is displayed on the steering wheel screen, the driver can control the steering wheel heating without manual operation by issuing appropriate voice commands. This significantly increases driver comfort.

[0023] The present invention is further based on the general concept of providing a motor vehicle with a steering wheel, a display arranged on the steering wheel, a steering wheel heater, a temperature sensor device for detecting at least one temperature, a time recording device for detecting a time and date, and a computer device for carrying out the method described in the preceding paragraphs. This allows the advantages described with respect to the method according to the invention to be transferred to the motor vehicle. Specifically, these advantages lie in the elimination of a previously required mechanical button for operating a steering wheel heater and the resulting release of the space previously required for this function.Furthermore, by means of the motor vehicle according to the invention and by means of the method according to the invention, the control surface for operating the steering wheel heating can only be offered if there is a comparatively high probability that a driver actually wants to use the steering wheel heating.

[0024] Voice control is provided for operating the computer system and, consequently, the steering wheel heating. Such voice control allows for relatively simple acoustic control and operation of the steering wheel heating when the control area is displayed on the steering wheel-mounted display, thus further increasing driving comfort for the driver.

[0025] The display is conveniently located in a steering wheel spoke. This placement significantly simplifies operation of the control surface, as it is easily accessible with a thumb without having to take your hands off the steering wheel. This enhances user comfort.

[0026] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the motor vehicle according to the invention, the temperature sensor device is designed to detect a temperature in the passenger compartment, an outside temperature, and / or a temperature of the steering wheel. The temperature sensor device can thus have a wide variety of temperature sensors at a wide variety of locations and thereby control the display of the control area in the display arranged on the steering wheel in such a way that the control area for the steering wheel heating is highly likely to be displayed only when the user actually wants to activate the steering wheel heating or when such steering wheel heating is desirable based on the corresponding detected temperatures.

[0027] Further important features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims, the drawings and the associated description of the figures based on the drawings.

[0028] Preferred embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawing and are explained in more detail in the following description, wherein identical reference numerals refer to identical or similar or functionally identical components.

[0029] Each schematically illustrates Fig. 1 a view of a motor vehicle according to the invention, Fig. 2 a view of a steering wheel of the motor vehicle according to the invention.

[0030] According to the Fig. 1 A motor vehicle 1 according to the invention has a steering wheel 2 and a display 3 arranged on the steering wheel 2 (see also Fig. 2) on.

[0031] Furthermore, a steering wheel heater 4 and a temperature sensor device 5 for measuring at least one temperature are provided. Fig. The steering wheel 2 has displays 3 arranged in each of its spokes 6. Furthermore, the motor vehicle 1 according to the invention has a time recording device for recording a time and date, as well as a computer unit 7, which is connected to the temperature sensor unit 5 and its individual temperature sensors, the display 3, the steering wheel heating 4, and optionally other components.

[0032] The computer device 7 is designed to carry out a method according to the invention for controlling the steering wheel heating 4 of the motor vehicle 1, wherein in the method according to the invention a control surface 8 for actuating the steering wheel heating 4 is displayed on the display 3 arranged on the steering wheel 2 only if at least one of the following parameters is fulfilled: falling below a predefined outside temperature, presence of a predefined date and / or presence of a predefined time.

[0033] The steering wheel heating 4 is therefore only offered to the user of the vehicle 1 if it can be assumed with a relatively high probability that the driver of the vehicle 1 actually wants to activate such a steering wheel heating 4. Furthermore, by integrating the control surface 8 into the steering wheel-side display 3, a previously separate push-button switch for operating the steering wheel heating 4 can be dispensed with, thereby freeing up a particularly compact installation space, especially on the steering wheel 2.

[0034] Since the steering wheel heating 4 is only required in winter or at most during a transitional period in typical climate zones, a significant increase in comfort can be achieved by integrating the control area 8 for operating the steering wheel heating 4 into the steering wheel-side display 3 and by automatically offering the control area 8 if it is highly likely that the steering wheel heating 4 will actually be needed.

[0035] For example, if the outside temperature detected by the temperature sensor 5 exceeds 30 °C, it can be assumed that the steering wheel heating is not required. Displaying the control area 8 depending on the time of day can also be advantageous, as the likelihood of using the steering wheel heating 4 is lower during the day (at midday) than at night or early in the morning. Furthermore, it can be assumed that the steering wheel heating 4 is unlikely to be needed during the months of June to August in Central Europe.

[0036] With the method according to the invention, it is therefore possible, for example in winter, to immediately offer the user of the motor vehicle 1 the control surface 8 required to activate the steering wheel heating 4 upon entry and afterwards to hide it again or cover it with another control / display surface, if, for example, no further heating of the steering wheel 2 is desired, or if the ambient temperatures or a temperature in the passenger compartment 13 does not require further heating of the steering wheel 2.

[0037] By activating control surface 8, at least depending on one of the aforementioned parameters, even a wide variety of situations can be handled with exceptional reliability.

[0038] For example, if the outside temperature in the morning is already 20 °C, but the temperature in the passenger compartment 13 is only 15 °C due to a preceding cold night, and the temperature of the steering wheel 2 is only 10 °C due to its high mass and inertia, the control surface 8 can still be used to activate the steering wheel heating 4 with the method according to the invention, even though the parameter of the outside temperature alone does not require this. By combining the individual parameters, namely the predefined outside temperature, the date, and the time, precisely such cases can be handled particularly reliably.

[0039] Another scenario that can be handled particularly reliably with the method according to the invention occurs when the outside temperature in the evening is only 10 °C, but the vehicle 1 has already been driving for several hours, resulting in a temperature in the passenger compartment 13 of, for example, 23 °C and the temperature of the steering wheel 2 also being 23 °C. In this case, considering only the outside temperature to activate the steering wheel heating 4 would suggest using the control button 8 on the display 3, although this is neither necessary nor desired by the driver in this specific situation. However, by combining the parameters of outside temperature, date and time, and, for example, also the temperature of the passenger compartment 13, you can handle such situations relatively easily.

[0040] In an advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention, the control surface 8 for activating the steering wheel heating 4 is displayed on the display 3 arranged on the steering wheel 2 only if the temperature of the steering wheel 2 and / or the interior temperature of the passenger compartment 13 falls below a certain threshold. This can occur, for example, in the situation described above with an outside temperature of 20 °C in the morning, a temperature in the passenger compartment 13 of only 15 °C due to a preceding cold night, and a temperature of the steering wheel 2 of only 10 °C due to its high mass and thermal inertia. In this case, the control surface 8 can still be offered for activating the steering wheel heating 4 using the method according to the invention, even though the outside temperature parameter alone does not necessitate this.

[0041] The driver of the motor vehicle 1 according to the invention can also select different heating levels 9 via the control surface 8 on the display 3 (compare Fig. 2) selected and displayed. According to the Fig. 2, the steering wheel heating 4 is set to the third heating level, thus enabling a comparatively quick warming of the steering wheel 2.

[0042] In the Fig. 2 are arranged in the steering wheel 2 two displays 3, whereby of course individual programming also makes it possible to arrange the control surface 8 in the left or right display 3 in order to increase individual operating comfort for the driver of the motor vehicle 1 according to the invention.

[0043] The computer unit 7 can also have a learning function that detects when the steering wheel heating 4 is activated and simultaneously records the outside temperature, the temperature of the steering wheel 2, the temperature of the passenger compartment 13, the time and / or the date, calculates a probability of use from this data, and displays the control area 8 in the display 3 if the probability of use reaches or exceeds a predefined limit. This allows the inventive method to be easily adapted to individual drivers.If, for example, the steering wheel heating 4 is not activated by the driver of the motor vehicle 1 despite the control area 8 being offered, even though this would normally be expected due to a low outside temperature and / or a low steering wheel temperature and / or a low temperature in the passenger compartment 13, the computer system 7 can conclude that a cold steering wheel 2 is not necessarily unpleasant for the driver, so that the control area 8 in the display 3 for activating the steering wheel heating 4 will no longer be offered in the future if the steering wheel heating 4 is not activated several times in such situations.

[0044] To further simplify the operation of the steering wheel heating 4, a voice control can also be activated when the control area 8 is displayed in the display 3, via which the steering wheel heating 4 can be acoustically controlled.

[0045] The temperature sensor device 5 can have several temperature sensors, for example a temperature sensor 10 for detecting an outside temperature, a temperature sensor 11 for detecting the temperature of the steering wheel 2 or a temperature sensor 12 for detecting a temperature in the passenger compartment 13.

[0046] The advantage of the inventive method and the inventive motor vehicle 1 is therefore that a mechanical button, which was previously used to control or operate the steering wheel heating 4, can be omitted. This not only simplifies the design but also eliminates the installation space required for such a button. Furthermore, integrating the control surface 8 for operating the steering wheel heating 4 into the steering wheel-side display 3 increases the functionality of the display 3. The automated display of the control surface 8 in the display 3 also reminds the user of the motor vehicle 1 of the presence of the steering wheel heating 4, while the relatively simple operation of the control surface 8 significantly increases user comfort.

Claims

[1] Method for controlling a steering wheel heater (4) of a motor vehicle (1), characterized by , that a control surface (8) for operating the steering wheel heating (4) is displayed on a display (3) arranged on a steering wheel (2) only if at least one of the following parameters is met: falling below a predefined outside temperature, presence of a predefined date and / or presence of a predefined time. [2] Method according to claim 1, characterized by , that the control area (8) for operating the steering wheel heating (4) is displayed on the display (3) arranged on the steering wheel (2) only if the temperature of the steering wheel (2) falls below a certain threshold. [3] Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by, that the control area (8) for operating the steering wheel heating (4) is displayed on the display (3) arranged on the steering wheel (2) only if a temperature in a passenger compartment (13) falls below a certain level. [4] Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that different heating levels (9) of the steering wheel heating (4) can be selected and displayed via the control surface (8). [5] Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that by means of a computer device (7) the activation of the steering wheel heating (4) is detected, wherein the computer device (7) detects an outside temperature detected at activation, a temperature of the steering wheel (2), a temperature in a passenger compartment (13), a time and / or a date and calculates a probability of use from this and displays the control surface (8) in the display (3), provided that the probability of use reaches or exceeds a predefined limit. [6] Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the control surface (8) can be operated by means of voice control. [7] Motor vehicle (1), - with a steering wheel (2), - with a display (3) arranged on the steering wheel (2), - with a heated steering wheel (4), - with a temperature sensor device (5) for detecting at least one temperature, - with a time recording device for recording a time and date, - with a computer device (7) for carrying out the method according to one of the preceding claims. [8] Motor vehicle (1) according to claim 7, characterized by , that a voice control system is provided for controlling the steering wheel heating (4). [9] Motor vehicle (1) according to claim 7 or 8, characterized by , that the display (3) is arranged in a steering wheel spoke (6) of the steering wheel (2). [10] Motor vehicle (1) according to any one of claims 7 to 9, characterized by , that the temperature sensor device (5) is designed to detect a temperature in the passenger compartment (13), an outside temperature and / or a temperature of the steering wheel (2).

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