MOTOR VEHICLE CONTROL DEVICE AND METHOD

Abstract

The invention relates to a control device for a motor vehicle comprising: - a touch surface (2) for detecting contact with a user's finger and the movement of the finger on the touch surface, and - a haptic and / or audible feedback module (4) configured to vibrate the touch surface (2) and / or to generate audible feedback to the user, in response to contact with the touch surface (2), characterized in that it comprises a control unit (5) configured to control the haptic and / or audible feedback module (4), in order to generate a haptic and / or audible feedback pattern when finger movement is detected on a boundary (6) separating two zones (Z1, Z2) of the touch surface (2). The invention also relates to a control method.

Description

Motor vehicle control device and method The present invention relates to a control device for a motor vehicle and to a method for controlling said control device. In recent years, cars have become easier to handle with the appearance of new emerging technologies (eg power steering, ABS, cruise control, reversing radar, etc.). Paradoxically, however, the number of functions to be controlled while driving has also increased significantly. This can induce a certain complexity related to the poor knowledge of the use of these functionalities and their diversity. The car has become a real living space, perceived as a personal and interconnected communication center: with, for example, the MP3 player, the GPS, the connection with mobile phones. The introduction of these new functions results in an increase in the number of buttons on the dashboard of a car cockpit. However, the number of buttons cannot be increased indefinitely, due in particular to the complexity generated, the limited space, the accessibility or the cognitive load. Moreover, the driver's interaction with the on-board systems in the car can reproduce a situation of attentional overload in which the driver may not process all the information of the driving task in the best possible way, resulting in errors and longer detection. One possibility is to centralize the buttons by replacing them with a touch screen. This makes it possible to continue to increase the number of functions, these becoming programmable and reconfigurable and exposed temporarily or permanently depending on the context or the activated function. The screen thus includes the possibility of multifunctionality, while dematerialising the buttons and being customizable. In addition, screens have three other major advantages: on the one hand, they allow direct interaction (the co-location of the display and input), on the other hand they are flexible (the display can be easily configured for a number of functions), and finally they are intuitive (familiar method of interaction such as "pointing"). However, unlike the case of a push button, when the driver interacts with a touch screen, he does not receive any feedback directly related to his action on the interface, other than the simple touch of his finger crashing into the screen. In order to compensate for the loss of information caused by the substitution of classic mechanical interfaces by touch screens, it is planned to add feedback, such as haptics, for provide system feedback to the user. This feedback makes it possible to avoid the possible ambiguity of the taking into account of the action of the user by the system, likely to favor the appearance of dangerous situations. However, he must also avoid overloading the visual and auditory pathways which are already heavily strained by the task of driving. Indeed, the use of touch screens in a motor vehicle must not interfere with the driver's attention. An object of the present invention is to provide a control device and a method for controlling said control device, which does not interfere with driving, which is well perceived and appreciated by users, and which can be distinguished from other signals. for an application of touch screens respecting automotive constraints. To this end, the subject of the present invention is a control device for a motor vehicle comprising: a tactile surface intended to detect a contact of a finger of a user and the movement of the finger on the touch surface, and a haptic and / or sound feedback module configured to vibrate the surface tactile and / or to generate sound feedback to the user, in response to a touch of the touch surface, characterized in that it comprises a control unit configured to control the haptic and / or sound feedback module, to generate a haptic feedback pattern and / or sound when a movement of the finger is detected on a border separating two areas of the touch surface. By border separating two zones, we mean a predefined border or limitation on the touch surface via, for example, the computer program or software loaded in the control unit. || it is therefore a boundary defined by software and not a physical border or one identified by markings. It is thus possible to simulate, thanks to the haptic and / or sound feedback, a physical boundary or a limitation between two zones whereas the tactile surface is devoid of it and generally completely smooth. According to one or more characteristics of the control device, taken alone or in combination, no haptic feedback is generated once the finger has crossed the boundary, the touch surface comprises at least a first zone delimited by a closed surface, and at least one second zone surrounding said first zone. We can thus simulate for example a keyboard key, a first haptic and / or sound feedback is generated when a movement of the finger entering the first zone delimited by a closed surface is detected and a second haptic and / or sound feedback is generated when a displacement of the finger exiting in said first zone is detected. We can simulate the feeling of a user pressing and then releasing a key, the second haptic and / or sound feedback is distinct from the first haptic feedback and / or sound, the control unit controls a function when a contact is detected in the area behind the border, a parameter of the sound feedback is chosen from among the intensity of the volume, phase, frequency, duration and / or a parameter of the haptic feedback is chosen from acceleration intensity, frequency, amplitude, duration, phase. The invention also relates to a method for controlling a control device for a motor vehicle as described above, characterized in that it comprises the following steps: the contact of a user's finger and the movement of the finger on the a touch surface, and a haptic and / or sound feedback pattern is generated when a displacement of the finger is detected on a border separating two areas of the touch surface. According to one or more characteristics of the control process taken alone or in combination, no haptic feedback is generated once the finger has crossed the boundary, the touch surface comprises at least a first zone delimited by a closed surface, and at least one second zone surrounding said first zone, a first haptic and / or sound feedback is generated when a movement of the finger entering a first zone is detected and a second haptic feedback and / or sound, is generated when a movement of the outgoing finger in said first zone is detected, the second haptic and / or sound feedback is distinct from the first haptic feedback and / or sound, a function is controlled when a contact is detected in the zone located behind the border. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other advantages and characteristics will appear on reading the description of the invention, as well as on the appended figures which represent a non-limiting embodiment of the invention and in which: FIG. 1 represents an example of a control device for a vehicle automobile, and FIG. 2 represents an example of a touch surface. In these figures, identical elements bear the same reference numbers. DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIG. 1 represents a control device for a motor vehicle 1. The control device 1 comprises a touch surface 2 and a haptic and / or sound feedback module 4. The touch surface 2 is intended to detect contact with a user's finger and the movement of the finger on the touch surface 2. The haptic and / or sound feedback module 4 is configured to make the touch surface 2 vibrate in response to contact with the touch surface 2 by a finger or any other activation means (for example a stylus) of a user having for example modified or selected a command and / or to generate sound feedback for the user, in response to contact with the touch surface 2. “Haptics” means feedback by touch. Thus, haptic feedback is a vibratory or vibrotactile signal. The control device 1 may include a display device arranged under the touch surface 2 to display images through the touch surface 2, then transparent, thus forming a touch screen. A touchscreen is an input device that allows users of a system to interact with it through touch. || allows the direct interaction of the user on the zone he wants to select for various uses such as, for example, the selection of a destination address or a name in a directory, the settings of the air conditioning system, the activation of a dedicated function, selection of a track from a list, or generally scrolling from a list of choices, selection, validation, and error. The touch surface 2 comprises a plate carrying a contact sensor for detecting pressing pressure or movement of the user's finger or stylus. The contact sensor is for example a pressure sensor, such as using FSR technology for “Force Sensing Resistor” in English, that is to say using pressure-sensitive resistors. SFR technology has a very good resistance and robustness, while having a high resolution. In addition, it is very responsive and precise, while being relatively stable over time. It can have a fairly long lifetime, and can be used with any type of activation means, at a relatively low cost. According to a conception of FSR technology, the sensor works by bringing two conductive layers into contact, for example by the action of the finger. One of the achievements consists in covering a glass slab with a layer of conductive ink, on which is superimposed a sheet of flexible polyester, itself covered on its internal face with a layer of conductive ink. Insulating and transparent pads insulate the slab from the polyester sheet. Activation on the touch surface produces a slight depression of the polyester layer, which comes into contact with the conductive layer of the glass slab. The local contact of the two conductive layers leads to a modification of the electric current applied to the slab, corresponding to a voltage gradient. According to another example, the contact sensor comprises flexible semiconductor layers sandwiched between for example a conductive layer and a resistive layer. By exerting pressure or sliding on the FSR layer, its ohmic resistance decreases, thus making it possible, by applying an appropriate electrical voltage, to measure the pressure applied and / or the location of the place where the pressure is exerted. According to another example, the contact sensor is based on capacitive technology. The haptic feedback module 4 comprises at least one actuator (not shown) connected to the plate of the touch surface 2, to generate the haptic feedback according to a signal coming from the contact sensor. Haptic feedback is a vibratory signal such as a vibration produced by a sinusoidal control signal or by a control signal comprising one or a succession of pulses, sent to the actuator. The vibration is for example directed in the plane of the touch surface 2 or orthogonal to the plane of the touch surface 2 or even directed in a combination of these two directions. In the case of several actuators, the latter are arranged under the touch surface 2, in different positions (in the center or on one side) or in different orientations (in the direction of pressing on the surface or in another axis). According to an exemplary embodiment, the actuator is based on a technology similar to that of the loudspeaker (in English: “Voice Coil”). || comprises a fixed part and a movable part in translation in an air gap of the fixed part, for example of the order of 200 μm, between a first and a second position, parallel to a longitudinal axis of the movable part. The mobile part is for example formed by a mobile magnet sliding inside a fixed coil or by a mobile coil sliding around a fixed magnet, the mobile part and the fixed part cooperating by electromagnetic effect. The moving parts are connected to the plate in such a way that the movement of the moving parts generates the translational movement of the plate to generate haptic feedback to the user's finger. This technology is easily controllable and makes it possible to move large masses, such as that of a screen, at various frequencies and respects the very strict automotive constraints of low cost, good resistance to significant temperature variations, and ease of fitting. in place. The control device 1 further comprises a control unit 5 configured to control the haptic and / or sound feedback module 4 in order to generate a haptic and / or sound feedback pattern when a movement of the finger is detected on a border 6 separating two zones Z1, Z2 of the touch surface 2. Of course, border 6 is not materialized on touch surface 2. The movement of the finger, such as sliding, includes information on the location of the finger on at least two successive spatial coordinates on the touch surface 2. A sound feedback parameter can be chosen from volume intensity, phase, frequency, duration. A parameter of the haptic feedback can be chosen among the intensity of the acceleration, the frequency, the amplitude, the duration, the phase. It is thus possible to simulate, thanks to the haptic and / or sound feedback, a physical border between two zones. The border has for example the shape of a line, for example at least partially rectilinear. Provision can also be made for no haptic feedback to be generated once the finger has crossed the boundary 6. Provision can also be made for the control unit 5 to control a function, for example to control on-board systems of the vehicle such as the air conditioning, radio, music, telephone, ventilation or navigation system, when a contact is detected in the zone Z1 located behind |a border 6. According to an exemplary embodiment represented in FIG. 2, the touch surface 2 comprises at least a first zone Z1 delimited by a closed surface, for example substantially square, and at least a second zone Z2 surrounding the first zone Z1. Provision can also be made for the control unit 5 to control a function when a contact is detected in the closed zone Z1. It is thus possible to simulate, for example, a key on the keyboard. Thus, when the user's finger crosses the border 6, he feels a haptic feedback informing him of this passage, simulating for example the depression of a key. Provision can also be made for a first haptic and / or sound feedback to be generated when a movement of the finger entering a closed zone Z1 is detected and for a second haptic and / or sound feedback to be generated when a movement of the finger leaving in said closed zone Z1 is detected. The second haptic feedback can be distinct from the first haptic feedback so that the feeling of a user pressing and then releasing a key can be simulated.

Claims

DEMANDS 1. Motor vehicle control device comprising: - a touch surface (2) designed to detect contact from a user's finger and the movement of the finger on the touch surface, and - a haptic and audible feedback module (4) configured to vibrate the touch surface (2) and to generate audible feedback to the user, in response to contact with the touch surface (2), characterized in that it comprises a control unit (5) configured to control the haptic and audible feedback module (4), in order to generate a haptic and audible feedback pattern when a finger movement is detected on a boundary (6) separating two zones (Z1, Z2) of the touch surface (2), A first haptic and audible feedback is generated when a movement of the finger entering a first zone (Z1) delimited by a closed surface is detected, and a second haptic and audible feedback is generated when a movement of the finger leaving said first zone (Z1) is detected, and The second haptic and auditory feedback is distinct from the first haptic and auditory feedback.

2. Control device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that no haptic feedback is generated once the finger has crossed the boundary (6).

3. Control device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the touch surface (2) comprises at least the first zone (Z1) delimited by the closed surface, and at least a second zone (Z2) surrounding said first zone (Z1).

4. Control device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control unit (5) controls a function when a contact is detected in the area (Z1) located behind the boundary (6).

5. Control device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a parameter of the sound feedback is chosen from the intensity of the volume, phase, frequency, duration and a parameter of the haptic feedback is chosen from the intensity of the acceleration, frequency, amplitude, duration, phase.

6. A method for controlling a motor vehicle control device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises the following steps: - we detect the contact of a user's finger and the movement of the finger on a touch surface (2), - A haptic and audible feedback pattern is generated when a finger movement is detected on a boundary (6) separating two zones (Z1, Z2) of the surface 5 touchscreen (2) - a first haptic and audible feedback is generated when a movement of the finger entering a first zone (Z1) is detected, and a second haptic and audible feedback is generated when a movement of the finger leaving said first zone (Z1) is detected, and 10 - the second haptic and auditory feedback is distinct from the first haptic feedback and sound.

7. Control method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that no haptic feedback is generated once the finger has crossed the boundary (6).

8. A control method according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the 15. Touch surface (2) includes at least the first zone (Z1) delimited by a surface closed, and at least a second zone (Z2) surrounding said first zone (Z1).

9. Control method according to any one of claims 8 to 12, characterized in that a function is controlled when a contact is detected in the area (Z1) located behind the boundary (6).

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