Motor vehicle with at least one virtual control element for a functional device

Abstract

The invention relates to a motor vehicle (10) having at least one virtual operating element (71) for manually setting at least one virtually visualized parameter of a physically real functional device (70) with a hand and / or finger movement and / or a hand and / or finger gesture, wherein the at least one virtual operating element (71) represents the parameter to be set.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a motor vehicle with at least one virtual operating element for manually adjusting at least one virtually visualized parameter of a physically real functional device with a hand and / or finger movement and / or a hand and / or finger gesture.

[0002] DE 10 2017 211 521 A1 describes a motor vehicle with a system for generating a virtual reality and for visually outputting a virtual view of the virtual reality. The system also generates a virtual control element for setting a functional parameter for executing a real physical function. The virtual control element is configured like commonly known physical control elements, for example, a virtual push button, a virtual slider, a virtual lever, and the like.

[0003] DE 10 2022 003 981 A1 discloses a virtual visualization of parameters of a comfort system, such as an air conditioning system in a motor vehicle. For an air vent, the temperature and flow band of an outgoing air stream are virtually visualized.

[0004] DE 10 2020 210 682 A1 describes a method for outputting aerodynamic information in a motor vehicle and a display device for outputting this information. An augmented reality display is used for visualization, with the aid of a head-up display if necessary. The aerodynamic information relates to the aerodynamics of the vehicle's surroundings.

[0005] The invention has the object of increasing the operating comfort for a vehicle occupant in a motor vehicle of the type mentioned above.

[0006] The invention achieves the stated object with a generic motor vehicle in which, according to the invention, at least one virtual control element represents at least one parameter to be adjusted. Thus, the virtual control element combines two functions. Likewise, one can say that the virtual visualization of the at least one parameter also serves as at least one virtual control element for adjusting the at least one parameter. To adjust the at least one parameter, the vehicle occupant can, for example, use the fingers of his or her hand to influence the virtual visualization of the at least one parameter to be adjusted.

[0007] The physically real functional device can be an air vent in a vehicle interior. The physically real functional device can also be a lighting device or another functional device in the vehicle interior.

[0008] If the physically real functional device is the air vent, the at least one virtual control element can be represented as a virtually visualized line or surface in a vehicle interior, which represents the at least one parameter to be adjusted. The line can have variously curved or straight sections. The surface can also be provided with flat or arbitrarily curved sections. Both the curved line sections and the curved surface sections can be curved around all three main axes of the vehicle interior.

[0009] The virtually visualized surface can represent the surface of a hose, where the surface is an isosurface of the flow velocity of the air jet. However, the virtually visualized surface does not have to be a closed, circumferential surface, but can also be represented as a limited surface with a visualized border.

[0010] If the at least one parameter to be adjusted is the flow velocity of the air jet exiting the ventilation nozzle, it can be represented by the length of the line or tube or the size of the area. Thus, the vehicle occupant can change the flow velocity by changing the length of the line or tube or the size of the area using a hand and / or finger movement and / or hand and / or finger gesture. Lengthening the line or tube or enlarging the area can increase the flow velocity, whereas shortening the line or tube or reducing the area can reduce the flow velocity.

[0011] The virtually visualized surface can have at least one paraboloidal and / or hyperboloidal and / or hyperbolic-paraboloidally curved surface section. Furthermore, trough-shaped curved surfaces or surface sections are also possible.

[0012] The at least one paraboloidally and / or hyperboloidally and / or hyperbolically paraboloidally curved surface section can have an isosurface section of the flow velocity of the air jet. The isosurface section can have different colors for different flow velocities of the air jet, so that the vehicle occupant receives a virtually displayed analog image signal regarding the instantaneous flow velocity of the air jet.

[0013] Furthermore, the at least one parameter to be adjusted can be the direction of the air jet exiting the ventilation nozzle, which is represented by the course of the line or hose or the spread of the area. The vehicle occupant can also manually change the direction of the air jet using hand and / or finger movements and / or hand and / or finger gestures.

[0014] To ensure that the length of the at least one control element and its spatial extent in the vehicle interior do not exceed dimensions that can be handled by the vehicle occupant, a minimum value of the flow velocity of the air jet can be specified so that only points of the line or the hose or the surface of the at least one control element are virtually visualized which correspond to a flow velocity above the minimum value.

[0015] To increase ease of use, after adjusting the at least one parameter to a new target value, in addition to the visualization of the target value of the at least one parameter, a second, changing visualization of the current actual state of the at least one parameter can appear. This second visualization adapts to the target value of the at least one parameter and ultimately overlaps with it when the actual state has reached the target value. Thus, after adjusting the at least one parameter, the vehicle occupant can visually track how the current actual state of the at least one parameter follows the target value and how long this takes.

[0016] In particular, the flow velocity and the direction of the air jet depend on various conditions in the vehicle interior, such as the number of occupants, their seating position and their body movements. To ensure that the hand and / or finger movement and / or the hand and / or finger gesture required to adjust in particular the flow velocity and the direction of the air jet cannot change these parameters compared to the time of the operating intention, the at least one virtual control element or the at least one parameter to be adjusted can be displayed stationary for a specific period of time from the time the operating intention is recognized. This facilitates adjustment to the desired target specification. The duration of the stationary display of the at least one parameter to be adjusted can be only a few seconds.

[0017] The motor vehicle may have a system for manually adjusting at least one parameter of the ventilation nozzle, comprising at least one 3D visualization device for visualizing the current setting of the at least one parameter, at least one camera, and at least one electric motor for actuating the ventilation nozzle. The preferred 3D visualization devices may be, for example, data glasses, a holographic device, virtual reality glasses, augmented reality glasses, or similar known devices.

[0018] Various embodiments of a motor vehicle according to the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0019] In detail: Fig. 1 shows a vehicle interior with a system comprising several components for manually adjusting an air vent with a first embodiment of a virtual control element; Fig. 2 shows a second embodiment of a virtual control element in a first operating state of the ventilation nozzle; Fig. 3 the virtual control element Fig. 2 in a second operating state of the ventilation nozzle; Fig. 4 a third embodiment of the virtual control element; Fig. 5 shows a fourth embodiment of the virtual control element in a first operating state of the ventilation nozzle; Fig. 6 the virtual control element Fig. 5 in a second operating state of the ventilation nozzle; Fig. 7 shows a fifth embodiment of the virtual control element in a first operating state; Fig. 8 the virtual control element Fig. 7 in a second operating state of the ventilation nozzle.

[0020] Fig. 1 shows a motor vehicle 10 with a vehicle interior 11 in which a vehicle occupant 12 is seated. The vehicle occupant 12 wears data glasses 13 with a data glasses camera 14 so that they can perceive a virtual environment. Furthermore, further cameras 15 and 16 are mounted in the vehicle interior 11, which, together with the data glasses camera 14, detect a hand and / or finger movement and / or a hand and / or finger gesture of the vehicle occupant 12. Furthermore, a holographic device 17 is provided, which the vehicle occupant 12 can use as an alternative to the data glasses 13 to view 3D visualizations. The motor vehicle 10 is also equipped with a processor 18 for adjusting an electric motor-operated ventilation nozzle 19. A processor 20 processes image data supplied by the cameras 14 to 16 and audio data originating from a voice input into a microphone (not shown in detail here).In order to visualize the image data supplied by the cameras 14 to 16 in real time, a processor 21 is provided.

[0021] If the vehicle occupant 12 wishes to manually adjust the ventilation nozzle 15, they act on a virtual linear control element 22 by means of a hand and / or finger movement and / or a hand and / or finger gesture, which also virtually visualizes a parameter of an air jet exiting the ventilation nozzle 15 that is to be adjusted. Consequently, the virtual control element 22 also functions as an analog display element with respect to the parameter of the air jet that is to be adjusted.

[0022] The manually adjustable parameters of the ventilation nozzle can be, for example, the flow direction of the air jet exiting the ventilation nozzle or its flow velocity. The flow direction of the air jet can be represented by the orientation of the linear control element 22 in the vehicle interior, and the flow velocity of the air jet can be represented by the length of the linear control element 22.

[0023] To change the flow direction, the vehicle occupant 12 can, for example, use one of his fingers to move the linear control element 22 sideways or upwards or downwards in the desired direction.

[0024] If the vehicle occupant 12 wishes to adjust the flow rate, he can increase the length of the linear control element 22 to increase the flow rate and thus achieve a greater air flow in the vehicle interior, or shorten the length of the linear control element 22 to reduce the flow rate.

[0025] The control element 22, or rather the air jet represented by the control element 22, is ideally depicted as a straight line. In reality, however, the air jet is generally not straight, but can have several curved sections, which can constantly change depending, for example, on the number of vehicle occupants and their body movements. Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 control elements 23 and 24, which represent a curved air jet, the lengths of the control elements 23 and 24 varying in the Fig. 2 and Fig. 3. Thus, the longer control elements 23 and 24 in Fig. 2 a higher flow velocity of the air jet and the shorter control elements 23 and 24 in Fig. 3 a lower flow velocity of the air jet. To extend the control elements 23 and 24, the vehicle occupant 12 can grasp the control elements at their ends and pull them out. To shorten the control elements 23 and 24, the vehicle occupant 12 can press the control elements 23 and 24 together with the palm or back of his hand.

[0026] With control elements 40 and 41 (see Fig. 4), which have consecutive line segments of different lengths, it is possible to inform the vehicle occupant about the decrease in flow velocity. The length of a line segment is proportional to the flow velocity along it. Consequently, longer line segments have a higher flow velocity than shorter line segments.

[0027] Fig. Figure 5 shows tubular control elements 50 and 51, whose surface can represent an isosurface of the flow velocity of the air jet. Thus, the control elements 50 and 51 in Fig. 5 an air jet focused on a narrow area, so that the vehicle occupant can visually recognize whether or at which points the air jet hits him. In contrast, the control elements 50 and 51 in Fig. 6, a widened, diffuse air jet, whereby the vehicle occupant recognizes through the visualization of the control elements 50 and 51 that he or she is not being touched by the air jet. To set a focused air jet, the vehicle occupant 12 can, for example, move the control elements 50 and 51 toward each other with their thumb and index finger, whereas they can spread their thumb and index finger apart to create a widened, diffuse air jet with the control elements 50 in 51.

[0028] The Fig. 7 and Fig. 8 show an elongated ventilation nozzle 70 with a control element 71 having a limited area, which represents the extent of the air jet emerging from the ventilation nozzle 70. In Fig. 7, the vehicle occupant 12 recognizes from the border surrounding the flat control element 71 that the air jet does not touch him. In Fig. 8, the vehicle occupant 12 has compared to the Fig. 7 pulled a surface lobe 72 closer to itself so that it hits its body. In addition, Fig. 8 opposite Fig. 7, a surface tip 73 in a passenger area is pulled slightly more towards the front of the vehicle and towards a passenger door 74. To do this, the vehicle occupant 12 can grasp the surface tips 72 and 73, for example, with his thumb and index finger and pull them as far as desired. In the opposite case, if he wants to direct the air jet back into the Fig. 7, he simply has to press the tips 72 and 73 into the desired position with the palm or back of his hand. List of reference symbols 10 motor vehicle 11 Vehicle interior 12 vehicle occupants 13 Data glasses 14 data glasses camera 15 Camera 16 Camera 17 holographic device 18 processor 19 Ventilation nozzle 20 processor 21 processor 22 Control element 23 Control element 24 Control element 30 Control element 31 Control element 40 Control element 41 Control element 50 control element 51 Control element 70 Ventilation nozzle 71 Control element 72 surface lobes 73 area lobes QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 10 2017 211 521 A1

[0002] DE 10 2022 003 981 A1

[0003] DE 10 2020 210 682 A1

[0004]

Claims

[1] Motor vehicle (10) with at least one virtual control element (22, 23, 24, 30, 31, 40, 41, 50, 51, 71) for manually adjusting at least one virtually visualized parameter of a physically real functional device (19, 70) with a hand and / or finger movement and / or a hand and / or finger gesture, characterized by that the at least one virtual control element (22, 23, 24, 30, 31, 40, 41, 50, 51, 71) represents the at least one parameter to be set. [2] Motor vehicle (10) according to the preceding claim, characterized by that the physically real functional device is a ventilation nozzle (19, 70). [3] Motor vehicle (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the at least one virtual control element (22, 23, 24, 30, 31, 40, 41, 50, 51, 71) is represented as a virtually visualized line or surface in a vehicle interior, which represents the at least one parameter to be set. [4] Motor vehicle (10) according to claim 3, characterized by that the virtually visualized surface represents a surface of a hose, where the surface is an isosurface of the flow velocity of the air jet. [5] Motor vehicle (10) according to claim 3, characterized by that the virtually visualized surface has at least one paraboloid and / or hyperboloid and / or hyperbolic paraboloid curved surface section. [6] Motor vehicle (10) according to claim 5, characterized by that the at least one paraboloidally and / or hyperboloidally and / or hyperbolically paraboloidally curved surface section has an isosurface section of the flow velocity of the air jet. [7] Motor vehicle (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the at least one parameter to be adjusted is the direction of the air jet emerging from a ventilation nozzle (19, 70) and is represented by the course of the line or the hose or the spread of the area. [8] Motor vehicle (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the at least one parameter to be adjusted is the flow velocity of the air jet emerging from the ventilation nozzle (19, 70), which is represented by the length of the line or the hose or the size of the area. [9] Motor vehicle (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that a minimum value of the flow velocity of the air jet is specified, whereby only points of the line or tube or area are displayed which correspond to a flow velocity above the minimum value. [10] Motor vehicle (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat after a setting process of the at least one parameter to a new target specification, in addition to the visualization of the target specification of the at least one parameter, a second changing visualization of the current actual state of the at least one parameter appears, which adapts to the target specification of the at least one parameter and finally covers it. [11] Motor vehicle (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the at least one virtual operating element (22, 23, 24, 30, 31, 40, 41, 50, 51, 71) or the at least one parameter to be set is displayed stationary for a specific period of time from the recognition of an operating intention. [12] Motor vehicle (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat it has a system for manually adjusting the at least one parameter of the ventilation nozzle (19, 70), wherein it has at least one 3D visualization device (13, 17) for visualizing the current setting of the at least one parameter, at least one camera (14, 15, 16) and at least one electric motor for actuating the ventilation nozzle (19, 70).

Images