Method and device for controlling a drive mode selector system of a vehicle

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and device for controlling a drive mode selector system of a vehicle. To this end, a graphical representation (211) of a revolution counter or a power indicator of the vehicle is displayed within a specific item of content of a human-machine interface displayed in a first area (21) of a touchscreen (13). Data representative of a tactile input on the displayed graphical representation (211) are received. A graphical item of content (31) comprising first graphical objects (311, 312, 313), each associated with a drive mode available for the vehicle, is displayed in a second area of the touchscreen (13) upon receipt of the data.

Description

DESCRIPTION Title: Method and device for controlling a vehicle driving mode selection system The present invention claims priority from French application 2307663 filed on 07 / 18 / 2023, the content of which (text, drawings and claims) is incorporated herein by reference. Technical field

[0001] The invention relates to methods and devices for controlling a driving mode selection system for a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle. The invention relates in particular to a method and a device for controlling the display of content configured to control the driving mode of a vehicle. The invention also relates to a method and a device for controlling the driving mode of a vehicle. Technological background

[0002] Contemporary vehicles, at least some of them, have a system configured to choose a driving mode from a plurality of driving modes such as an economy mode, a sport mode or a normal mode. The driver generally selects the driving mode desired by pressing a physical control button, for example located on a central console of the vehicle or on the steering wheel, which triggers, for example, the display of a list of driving modes available for the vehicle on a screen behind the steering wheel, also called a instrument panel. The driver can then navigate from one driving mode to another using the physical button until confirming the selection of the chosen driving mode again by pressing the physical button.

[0003] The presence of a physical control button induces manufacturing and design costs for the manufacturer, which ultimately increases the cost of the vehicle. Such a physical control button also leads to constraints in terms of style, which complicates the vehicle's design. Finally, the dissociation between the control button and the feedback on the instrument panel complicates the use of the vehicle's driving mode control or command system, which degrades the user experience and can confuse the driver who is looking for information. Summary of the present invention

[0004] An object of the present invention is to solve at least one of the problems of the technological background described above.

[0005] Another object of the present invention is, for example, to improve the control of a driving mode selection system of a vehicle, in particular an automobile.

[0006] Another object of the present invention is, for example, to improve the user experience with respect to the control of a driving mode selection system of a vehicle.

[0007] According to a first aspect, the present invention relates to a method for controlling a driving mode selection system of a vehicle, the vehicle having a display system comprising a touch screen, the method comprising the following steps: - control of the display of a determined content of a human-machine interface, called HMI, in a first zone of the touch screen, the determined content comprising a graphic representation of a rev counter or an electrical power indicator of the vehicle; - reception of first data representative of a tactile press on the graphic representation; - display control of a first graphic content comprising a plurality of first graphic objects each associated with a driving mode of a plurality of driving modes of the vehicle following reception of the first data, the first graphic content being displayed in a second zone of the touch screen.

[0008] Direct use of the graphical representation of the vehicle's tachometer or power indicator to request the display of graphical content configured to select a driving mode from a plurality of driving modes. Driving allows the driver to control the driving mode from a single interface, i.e. via a single touchscreen. Having all the controls and content displayed on a single screen facilitates access to information and minimizes the time spent searching for information. This improves driver alertness, as well as the safety of the vehicle and its passengers.

[0009] Using a single screen reduces the diversity of displays used and the cost incurred by these different displays, in particular the design and manufacturing costs of the vehicle.

[0010] According to one variant, the method further comprises the following steps: - receiving second data representative of a touch press on a first graphic object of the plurality of first graphic objects; - control of display of information representative of the driving mode associated with the first graphic object selected in the plurality of driving modes in a determined part of the graphic representation.

[0011] According to another variant, the method further comprises a step of controlling the driving mode selection system to switch the vehicle from a current driving mode to the driving mode associated with the first graphic object.

[0012] According to a further variant, the first graphical content further comprises a plurality of second graphical objects, each second graphical object of the plurality of second graphical objects being associated with a different first graphical object of the plurality of first graphical objects.

[0013] According to a further variant, the method further comprises the following steps: - receiving third data representative of a touch press on a second graphic object of the plurality of second graphic objects; - control of display of a second graphic content in a third zone of the touch screen following the reception of the third data, the second graphic content comprising a set of information relating to the driving mode associated with the first graphic object associated with the second graphic object selected from the plurality of second graphic objects.

[0014] According to another variant, the third zone corresponds to the second zone, the second graphic content being displayed in replacement of the first graphic content.

[0015] According to a further variant, the second zone and / or the third zone correspond to a pop-up window displayed on a specific part of the first zone.

[0016] According to a second aspect, the present invention relates to a device for controlling a driving mode selection system of a vehicle, the device comprising a memory associated with a processor configured for implementing the steps of the method according to the first aspect of the present invention.

[0017] According to a third aspect, the present invention relates to a vehicle, for example of the automobile type, comprising a device as described above according to the second aspect of the present invention or a system as described above according to the third aspect of the present invention.

[0018] According to a fourth aspect, the present invention relates to a computer program which comprises instructions adapted for executing the steps of the method according to the first aspect of the present invention, in particular when the computer program is executed by at least one processor.

[0019] Such a computer program may use any programming language, and may be in the form of source code, object code, or intermediate code between source code and object code, such as in a partially compiled form, or in any other desirable form.

[0020] According to a fifth aspect, the present invention relates to a computer-readable recording medium on which is recorded a computer program comprising instructions for carrying out the steps of the method according to the first aspect of the present invention.

[0021] On the one hand, the recording medium may be any entity or device capable of storing the program. For example, the medium may include a storage medium, such as a ROM memory, a CD-ROM or a ROM memory of microelectronic circuit type, or even a magnetic recording medium or a hard disk.

[0022] Furthermore, this recording medium may also be a transmissible medium such as an electrical or optical signal, such a signal being able to be conveyed via an electrical or optical cable, by conventional or hertzian radio or by self-directed laser beam or by other means. The computer program according to the present invention may in particular be downloaded from a network such as the Internet.

[0023] Alternatively, the recording medium may be an integrated circuit in which the computer program is incorporated, the integrated circuit being adapted to perform or to be used in performing the method in question. Brief description of the figures

[0024] Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge from the description of the particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiments of the present invention below, with reference to the appended figures 1 to 7, in which:

[0025] [Fig. 1] schematically illustrates a part of the passenger compartment of a vehicle, according to a particular exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] [Fig. 2] schematically illustrates a display device of the vehicle of FIG. 1, according to a first particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0027] [Fig. 3] schematically illustrates the display device of the vehicle of FIG. 1, according to a second particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0028] [Fig. 4] schematically illustrates content displayed on the display device of the vehicle of FIG. 1, according to a third particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0029] [Fig. 5] schematically illustrates content displayed on the display device of the vehicle of FIG. 1, according to a fourth particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0030] [Fig. 6] illustrates a device configured to control a driving mode selection system of the vehicle of FIG. 1, according to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] [Fig. 7] illustrates a flowchart of the different steps of a method for controlling a driving mode selection system of the vehicle of FIG. 1, according to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Description of examples of implementation

[0032] A method and a device for controlling a driving mode selection system of a vehicle will now be described in the following with joint reference to Figures 1 to 7. The same elements are identified with the same reference signs throughout the description which follows.

[0033] The terms "first(s)", "second(s)" (or "first(s)", "second(s)"), etc. are used in this document by arbitrary convention to identify and distinguish different elements (such as operations, means, etc.) implemented in the embodiments described below. Such elements may be distinct or correspond to a single element, depending on the embodiment.

[0034] According to a particular and non-limiting example of embodiment of the present invention, the control of a driving mode selection system of a vehicle is for example implemented by one or more computers of the vehicle. The vehicle advantageously has a display system comprising a touch screen. For this purpose, the method comprises the control of the display of a determined content of a human machine interface (HMI) in a first zone of the touch screen. Such content comprises for example a set of information useful for driving the vehicle, in particular a graphical representation of a rev counter indicating the rotation speed of the engine (in revolutions per minute) at a current time or a graphical representation of an electrical power indicator, that is to say an indicator of the electrical power consumed or recovered by the vehicle (when the vehicle corresponds to an electric vehicle or a plug-in hybrid vehicle). at a current time. First data representative of a touch press on the graphic representation (of the rev counter or the power indicator) are received from the touch interface, for example when a user makes a touch press on the touch screen at the location where the graphic representation is displayed. Following the reception of the first data, the computer controls the display of a first graphic content comprising a plurality of first graphic objects each associated with a driving mode of a plurality of driving modes available for the vehicle, the first graphic content being controlled to be displayed in a second area of ​​the touch screen.

[0035] Such a method makes it possible to control, via a voluntary action, content allowing the choice of a desired driving mode from a plurality of driving modes provided for the vehicle.

[0036] Figure 1 schematically illustrates a part of the passenger compartment of a vehicle 10, according to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0037] The vehicle 10 corresponds, for example, to a vehicle with a thermal engine, with electric motor(s) or even a hybrid vehicle with a thermal engine and one or more electric motors, for example a plug-in hybrid vehicle. The vehicle 10 thus corresponds, for example, to a land vehicle comprising a passenger compartment or at least equipped with a display screen, for example a car, a truck, a bus, a motorcycle.

[0038] The vehicle 10 advantageously incorporates a display system comprising a screen 13 with a touch interface and a computer configured to control the display of content(s) of a graphical MMI on the touch screen 13. The computer corresponds for example to the computer of the infotainment system, called the IVI computer (from the English “In-Vehicle Infotainment” or in French “Infodivertissement embarké”) of the vehicle 10.

[0039] The screen 13 corresponds for example to a display device of the LCD type (from the English “Liquid Crystal Display” or in French “Display à cristals liquide”), for example example of a TFT type (from the English "Thin-Film Transistor" or in French "Thin Film Transistor"), or OLED (from the English "Organic Light-Emitting Diode" or in French "Organic Electroluminescent Diode").

[0040] According to a particular embodiment, the display system comprises one or more other screens, for example a screen of a so-called head-up display device or system corresponding for example to a transparent or semi-transparent blade arranged in such a way that a driver seated in the seat 15 sees the content displayed or projected on the transparent blade when the driver drives the vehicle 10.

[0041] Such a display system comprising the touch screen 13 is for example provided or configured to reduce the number of screens present in the vehicle 10, making it possible for example to eliminate the display screen(s) called the instrument panel or dashboard and generally arranged in an area 13 behind the steering wheel 14 in the dashboard 11.

[0042] According to a particular embodiment, the vehicle 10 has one or more on-board systems each controlled by one or more computers. These computers, with the IVI computer, form for example a multiplexed architecture for the realization of different services useful for the proper functioning of the vehicle and for assisting the driver and / or the passengers of the vehicle in the control of the vehicle 10 via the control of the system(s) on board the vehicle 10.ECUs communicate and exchange data with each other via one or more computer buses, for example a communication bus of the data bus type CAN (from the English "Controller Area Network" or in French "Réseau de contrôles"), CAN FD (from the English "Controller Area Network Flexible Data-Rate" or in French "Réseau de contrôles à débit de données flexible"), FlexRay (according to the ISO 17458 standard), LIN (from the English "Local Interconnect Network" or in French "Réseau interconnecté local") or Ethernet (according to the ISO / IEC 802-3 standard).

[0043] An on-board system in the vehicle 10 corresponds to a driving mode selection system of a vehicle.

[0044] A driving mode selection system is a system controlled by a computer and configured to choose a driving mode from a set of driving modes planned for the vehicle, these planned driving modes corresponding to candidate driving modes.

[0045] The driving modes available for a vehicle depend, for example, on the vehicle type. For example, the driving modes available for a vehicle with a combustion engine only differ from at least some of the driving modes available for an electric vehicle or a plug-in electric vehicle. Some driving modes, for example, are common to all vehicle types.

[0046] For example, the driving modes available for a vehicle with a thermal engine only include: - an economical driving mode, called eco mode; - a standard driving mode; - a sporty driving mode; and - one or more customizable driving modes.

[0047] Selecting a driving mode allows certain vehicle parameters to be configured differently, such as, for example, damping system parameters, steering parameters, engine control parameters (for example, limitation of the maximum authorized acceleration values), which allows the road behavior of the vehicle 10 and / or the energy consumption to be modified, the latter increasing depending on the driving mode (minimum consumption for the economy mode and maximum consumption for the sport mode).

[0048] For example, the driving modes available for a plug-in hybrid vehicle include: - an electric driving mode, i.e. a mode in which the vehicle uses only electric energy; - a hybrid driving mode, i.e. a mode in which the vehicle uses electric mode up to a speed threshold value (for example between 0 and 50 km / h) then thermal mode (thermal engine only) for speeds above the speed threshold value; - a sporty driving mode.

[0049] A process for controlling a driving mode selection system of a vehicle of the vehicle 10 is advantageously implemented by the vehicle 10, for example by one or more processors of one or more computers of the on-board system of the vehicle 10, for example by the IVI computer.

[0050] In a first operation, the display of a graphical representation of a rev counter or a graphical representation of an electrical power indicator (from the English "powermeter") of the vehicle 10 is controlled in such a way that the graphical representation of the rev counter or that of the power indicator is displayed on the touch screen 13 in a determined content of a human-machine interface, called HMI, which content is displayed in a first zone of the touch screen 13.

[0051] A graphical representation is a representation via a digital display by providing control signals to the screen pixels used for displaying the graphical representation.

[0052] The graphic representation corresponds to that of a rev counter when the vehicle 10 corresponds to a vehicle comprising only a thermal engine.

[0053] The graphical representation corresponds to that of a power indicator when the vehicle 10 corresponds to an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle.

[0054] A power indicator is configured to indicate in real time what electrical power is consumed by the vehicle 10 (in kW for example) or what power is generated by the vehicle to recharge the traction battery (in the deceleration phases of the vehicle 10 for example).

[0055] The displayed content includes, for example, in addition to the rev counter or the power indicator, a set of information useful to the driver to ensure control and supervision of the vehicle 10.

[0056] The set of information includes, for example, the instantaneous speed of the vehicle 10 when the latter is in a rolling or traffic phase, i.e. in motion, driven by the engine of the vehicle 10.

[0057] The set of information includes, for example, other additional information such as, for example, the remaining autonomy (expressed, for example, in km), the distance traveled, a level of energy remaining in the tank (for example, the quantity of electrical energy remaining in the traction battery when the vehicle 10 corresponds to an electric or hybrid vehicle or the quantity of fuel remaining in the tank when the vehicle 10 is a vehicle with a thermal or hybrid engine), etc.

[0058] Figure 2 illustrates the screen 13 with the content of the HMI displayed in a first zone 21 of the screen 13, according to a particular example. The first determined zone 21 is for example assigned or dedicated for the display of the content of the HMI controlled by the IVI computer to provide or display to the driver the information necessary for controlling the vehicle 10, for example the instantaneous speed and the indication of power or rotation speed of the engine of the vehicle 10.

[0059] The content of the HMI includes the graphical representation 211 corresponding to that of the power indicator according to the illustrative example of Figure 2.

[0060] The first zone 21 covers for example only a part of the total display area of ​​the screen 13, one or more other determined zones (not illustrated) being for example assigned to other contents of the HMI, for example an area for displaying the information associated with the multimedia system of the vehicle 10 and / or an area for displaying information associated with the navigation system of the vehicle 10.

[0061] According to a variant, the first zone 21 covers a major part of the total display area of ​​the screen 13 (for example 80 or 90%), only additional information being displayed in an upper banner of the screen 13 for example.

[0062] In a second operation, first data representative of a first touch press 210 on a display area corresponding to the area covered by the graphic representation 211 in the first area 21 are received, following a touch press 210 of a user (for example the driver of the vehicle 10) on the graphic representation 211.

[0063] A touch 210 on the graphic representation 211 sends information to the IVI computer so that the latter implements a function associated with the command corresponding to the touch.

[0064] The first data representative of the touch support are for example received via one or more data buses connecting the touch interface of the screen (or a computer controlling such a touch interface where applicable) and the IVI computer.

[0065] The first data are for example representative of a so-called brief or short tactile press, that is to say the duration of the press on the graphic representation 211 is less than a threshold duration (for example equal to 500 or 1000 ms).

[0066] In another example, the first data is representative of a double click, that is, a sequence of two consecutive and close touch presses (with, for example, less than 250 or 500 ms between the two consecutive touch presses).

[0067] In a third operation, the IVI calculator controls the display of a first graphic content 31 as illustrated in FIG. 3, according to a particular illustrative example. The first graphic content 31 comprises a plurality of first graphic objects 311, 312, 313 each associated with a driving mode of a plurality of driving modes of the vehicle. This first graphic content is displayed in a second zone of the touch screen 13, as illustrated in FIG. 3, which second zone is for example different from the first zone 21, for example included or partially included in the first zone 21. The display control of the first graphic content 31 is triggered by the reception of the first data.

[0068] The first graphic content is for example displayed in a window occupying a part of the display area of ​​the screen 13 and corresponding to the second area, this window corresponding for example to a contextual window, also called an intrusive or pop-up window (from the English "pop-up window"). This window is for example displayed in the central part of the first area 21, superimposed on the first area 21, for example centered on the screen 13 (around the center of the screen 13).

[0069] According to an exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, the first graphic content 31 comprises first graphic objects 311, 312, 313 each associated with a different driving mode from a list of driving modes available for the vehicle 10.

[0070] The first graphic object 311 is for example associated with an electric driving mode, the first graphic object 312 with a hybrid driving mode and the third graphic object 313 with a sport driving mode of the vehicle 10.

[0071] A graphical object corresponds to an object of a clickable graphical interface, for example an icon, a virtual button, a text box, etc.

[0072] Touching where a graphic object is displayed triggers the execution of a function or set of instructions associated with that graphic object.

[0073] According to an alternative embodiment, the first graphic content 31 further comprises a plurality of second graphic objects 321, 322, 323 such that each second graphic object of the plurality is associated with a unique first graphic object 311 to 313, with a 1 for 1 correspondence (1 first graphic object is associated with 1 different second graphic object). For example, the first graphic object 211 is associated with the second graphic object 321, the first graphic object 212 is associated with the second graphic object 322 and the first graphic object 213 is associated with the second graphic object 323.

[0074] Each second graphic object 321 to 323 is configured to provide additional information on the driving mode associated with the first graphic object 311 to 313 with which the second graphic object is associated when a touch is pressed on this second graphic object.

[0075] Each second graphic object 321 to 323 takes, for example, the form of an icon or a button, for example a question mark surrounded by a circle.

[0076] In a fourth operation, second data representative of a first touch press 310 on a first graphic object of the plurality 311 to 313, for example on the first graphic object 313 according to the particular example of FIG. 3, are received, following a touch press 310 from a user (for example the driver of the vehicle 10) on this first graphic object 313.

[0077] This tactile press 310, temporally subsequent to the tactile press 210, triggers the transmission of information to the IVI computer so that the latter implements one or more functions associated with the command corresponding to the tactile press 310.

[0078] The second data representative of the touch press 310 are for example received via one or more data buses connecting the touch interface of the screen (or a computer controlling such a touch interface where appropriate) and the IVI computer.

[0079] The second data are for example representative of a so-called brief tactile press, that is to say the duration of the press on the first graphic object 313 is less than the threshold duration described previously.

[0080] In another example, the second data is representative of a double click.

[0081] In a fifth operation, the IVI calculator controls the display of information 411 representative of the driving mode associated with the first graphic object selected in the plurality of driving modes in a determined part or zone of the display zone of the graphic representation 211 of the power indicator, as illustrated in FIG. 4, according to a particular illustrative example. The display of information 411 is triggered by the reception of the second data.

[0082] Receiving the second information further triggers the end of display of the first graphic content 31.

[0083] The information 411 takes for example the form of a graphic object (icon, pictogram or text zone) representative of the driving mode selected by the user when the touch 310 is pressed on the first graphic object 313 (for example the sport driving mode in the case of a touch press on the first graphic object 313 according to the example provided previously). This information 411 is for example displayed in the center of the graphic representation 211 or in a lower part of the graphic representation 211. According to a variant, the location of the display of the information 211 in the graphical representation 211 is a function of what the graphical representation 211 represents (i.e., a tachometer or a power indicator).

[0084] The information 411 replaces, for example, information relating to a driving mode previously selected (or implemented by default when starting the vehicle 10), where applicable.

[0085] According to a particular embodiment, the second data representative of the tactile press 310 are further transmitted to the computer controlling the system for selecting the driving mode of the vehicle 10. Upon receipt of these second data, this computer controls the system so as to command a change in the driving mode of the vehicle 10 to switch from a current mode (for example the hybrid driving mode) to the driving mode associated with the first graphic object 313 and selected by the tactile press on the first graphic object 313 (for example the sport driving mode).

[0086] According to an alternative embodiment, the process further comprises a sixth operation during which third data representative of a tactile press on a second graphic object of the plurality of second graphic objects 321, 322, 323, for example on the second graphic object 321 associated with the first graphic object 311.

[0087] The sixth operation is for example implemented before the fourth and fifth operations from a temporal point of view.

[0088] The third data is for example representative of a brief touch press or a double-click.

[0089] According to this variant embodiment, the reception of the third data by the IVI computer triggers the display control, in a seventh operation, of a second graphic content 51 in a third zone of the touch screen 13, as illustrated in FIG. 5, according to a particular illustrative example.

[0090] The second graphic content 51 comprising a set of information 511 relating to the driving mode associated with the first graphic object associated with the second graphic object selected from the plurality of second graphic objects via touch on this second graphic object.

[0091] Thus, according to the example of a tactile press on the second graphic object 321, the second graphic content 51 comprises information 511 (for example text) relating to the driving mode (for example the electric driving mode) associated with the first graphic object 311 which is itself associated with the second graphic object 321.

[0092] The third display area of ​​this second graphic content 51 is for example identical to the second display area of ​​the first graphic content 31, that is to say that the second graphic content 51 is displayed at the location of the first graphic content 31, replacing the first graphic content 31.

[0093] According to another example, the third display area is different from the second display area. For example, the second graphic content 51 is displayed next to the first graphic content 31 so that the two graphic contents are visible in parallel and at the same time.

[0094] The second graphic content 51 is for example also displayed in a pop-up window, like the first graphic content 31.

[0095] According to an alternative embodiment according to which the first graphic content 31 does not include second graphic objects (but only the first graphic objects), the display of the second graphic content 51 is for example obtained by a so-called long touch press on the first graphic object for which the user wishes to obtain additional information relating to the driving mode associated with this first graphic object.

[0096] A long touch press corresponds to a touch press whose press duration (on the first graphic object in this case) is greater than the threshold duration (for example equal to 500 or 1000 ms).

[0097] The end of the display of the second graphic content 51 is for example triggered upon receipt of fourth data representative of a tactile press (for example example a brief touch press) on the third display area of ​​this second graphic content 51.

[0098] According to an alternative embodiment, the end of the display is automatically controlled by the computer at the end of a determined duration starting from the display of the second graphic content 51. For example, this determined duration is provided so that the second graphic content 51 remains displayed for, for example, 5, 10 or 15 seconds and then disappears automatically without the user making a tactile press on this second graphic content 51.

[0099] Figure 6 schematically illustrates a device 5 configured for controlling a system for selecting a driving mode of a vehicle, for example the vehicle 10, according to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The device 6 corresponds for example to a device on board the vehicle 10, for example a computer.

[0100] The device 6 is for example configured for the implementation of the operations described with regard to figures 1 to 5 and / or the steps of the method described with regard to figure 7. Examples of such a device 6 include, but are not limited to, on-board electronic equipment such as an on-board computer of a vehicle, an electronic calculator such as an ECU (“Electronic Control Unit”), a smartphone, a tablet, a laptop. The elements of the device 6, individually or in combination, can be integrated in a single integrated circuit, in several integrated circuits, and / or in discrete components. The device 6 can be produced in the form of electronic circuits or software (or computer) modules or even a combination of electronic circuits and software modules.

[0101] The device 6 comprises one (or more) processor(s) 60 configured to execute instructions for carrying out the steps of the method and / or for executing the instructions of the software(s) embedded in the device 6. The processor 60 may include integrated memory, an input / output interface, and various circuits known to those skilled in the art. The device 6 further comprises at at least one memory 61 corresponding for example to a volatile and / or non-volatile memory and / or comprises a memory storage device which may comprise volatile and / or non-volatile memory, such as EEPROM, ROM, PROM, RAM, DRAM, SRAM, flash, magnetic or optical disk.

[0102] The computer code of the embedded software(s) comprising the instructions to be loaded and executed by the processor is for example stored in the memory 61.

[0103] According to various particular and non-limiting embodiments, the device 6 is coupled in communication with other similar devices or systems and / or with communication devices, for example a TCU (from the English “Telematic Control Unit” or in French “Telematic Control Unit”), for example via a communication bus or through dedicated input / output ports.

[0104] According to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the device 6 comprises a block 62 of interface elements for communicating with external devices. The interface elements of the block 62 comprise one or more of the following interfaces: - RF radio frequency interface, for example Wi-Fi® type (according to IEEE 802.11), for example in the 2.4 or 5 GHz frequency bands, or Bluetooth® type (according to IEEE 802.15.1), in the 2.4 GHz frequency band, or Sigfox type using UBN (Ultra Narrow Band) radio technology, or LoRa in the 868 MHz frequency band, LTE (Long-Term Evolution), LTE-Advanced; - USB interface (from the English “Universal Serial Bus” or “Universal Serial Bus” in French); - HDMI interface (from the English “High Definition Multimedia Interface” or “High Definition Multimedia Interface” in French); - LIN interface (from the English “Local Interconnect Network”).

[0105] According to another particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the device 6 comprises a communication interface 63 which makes it possible to establish communication with other devices (such as other computers of the on-board system) via a communication channel 630. The communication interface 63 corresponds for example to a transmitter configured to transmit and receive information and / or data via the communication channel 630. The communication interface 63 corresponds for example to a wired network of the CAN (Controller Area Network) type, CAN FD (Controller Area Network Flexible Data-Rate), FlexRay (standardized by the ISO 17458 standard) or Ethernet (standardized by the ISO / IEC 802-3 standard).

[0106] According to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the device 6 can provide output signals to one or more external devices, such as a display screen 640, touch-sensitive or not, one or more speakers 650 and / or other peripherals 660 (projection system) via output interfaces 64, 65 and 66 respectively. According to a variant, one or other of the external devices is integrated into the device 6.

[0107] Figure 7 illustrates a flowchart of the different steps of a method for controlling a driving mode selection system of a vehicle, for example the vehicle 10, according to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The method is for example implemented by a device on board the vehicle 10 or by the device 6 of Figure 6.

[0108] In a first step 71, the display of a determined content of a human-machine interface, called HMI, is controlled so that this determined content is displayed in a first zone of a touch screen of the vehicle, the determined content comprising a graphic representation of a rev counter or an electric power indicator of the vehicle.

[0109] In a second step 72, first data representative of a touch press on the graphic representation are received.

[0110] In a third step 73, the display of a first graphic content comprising a plurality of first graphic objects each associated with a driving mode of a plurality of driving modes of the vehicle is controlled so that this first graphic content is displayed in a second zone of the touch screen, different from the first zone or identical to the first zone, following the reception of the first data.

[0111] According to a variant, the variants and examples of the operations described in relation to one of figures 1 to 5 apply to the steps of the method of figure 7.

[0112] Of course, the present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described above but extends to a method of displaying one or more graphic contents for the selection of driving mode(s) of a vehicle which would include secondary steps without thereby departing from the scope of the present invention. The same would apply to a device configured for the implementation of such a method.

[0113] The present invention also relates to a vehicle, for example an automobile or more generally an autonomous land-based motor vehicle, comprising the device 6 of FIG. 6 or a display system comprising the device 6 of FIG. 6 connected in communication to a touch screen 13.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Method for controlling a driving mode selection system of a vehicle, said vehicle (10) having a display system comprising a touch screen (13), said method comprising the following steps: - control (71) of display of a determined content of a human-machine interface, called HMI, in a first zone (21) of said touch screen (13), said determined content comprising a graphic representation (211) of a rev counter or an electric power indicator of said vehicle (10); - reception (72) of first data representative of a tactile press (210) on said graphic representation (211); - control (73) of display of a first graphic content (31) comprising a plurality of first graphic objects (311, 312, 313) each associated with a driving mode of a plurality of driving modes of said vehicle (10) following the reception (72) of said first data, said first graphic content (31) being displayed in a second zone of said touch screen (13).

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the following steps: - receiving second data representative of a tactile press (310) on a first graphic object (313) of said plurality of first graphic objects (311, 312, 313); - control of display of information (411) representative of the driving mode associated with said first graphic object (313) selected from said plurality of driving modes (311, 312, 313) in a determined part of said graphic representation (211).

3. Method according to claim 2, further comprising a step of controlling said driving mode selection system to switch said vehicle (10) from a current driving mode to said driving mode associated with said first graphical object (313).

4. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, for which said first graphic content (31) further comprises a plurality of second graphic objects (321, 322, 323), each second graphic object of said plurality of second graphic objects (321, 322, 323) being associated with a first graphic object different from said plurality of first graphic objects (311, 312, 313).

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising the following steps: - receiving third data representative of a tactile press on a second graphic object of said plurality of second graphic objects (321, 322, 323); - control of display of a second graphic content (51) in a third zone of said touch screen (13) following the reception of said third data, said second graphic content (51) comprising a set of information (511) relating to the driving mode associated with the first graphic object associated with said second graphic object selected from said plurality of second graphic objects (321, 322, 323).

6. Method according to claim 5, for which said third zone corresponds to said second zone, said second graphic content (51) being displayed in replacement of said first graphic content (31).

7. Method according to claim 5 or 6, for which said second zone and / or said third zone correspond to a pop-up window displayed on a determined part of said first zone.

8. Computer program comprising instructions for implementing the method according to any one of the preceding claims, when these instructions are executed by a processor.

9. Device (6) for controlling a driving mode selection system of a vehicle (10), said device (6) comprising a memory (61) associated with at least one processor (60) configured for implementing the steps of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

10. Vehicle (10) comprising the device (6) according to claim 9.

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