Vehicle part with user interface

Abstract

This vehicle part (2) comprises: - a light source (8) capable of emitting a luminous image, - a micro-mirror plate (12) capable of projecting the luminous image outside the vehicle part (2) in the form of a hologram (4), - a privacy filter (15) located between the light source (8) and the hologram (4), and - a sensor (16) capable of detecting the presence of any object in a projection plane (17) coinciding at least partially with the hologram (4). Figure for the abbreviation: Fig. 3

Description

Title of the invention: Vehicle part with user interface

[0001] The invention relates to a motor vehicle part. More particularly, the invention relates to a motor vehicle part having a user interface.

[0002] The technology of motor vehicles with a human-machine interface, commonly referred to as HMI (Human-Machine Interface), is already known. This interface allows the vehicle to communicate with a person and / or a user to communicate with the vehicle. In the first case, this may involve visual information presented by the vehicle to the user. In the second case, it may involve instructions given by the user to the vehicle, for example, to validate an action to be performed on the vehicle. Communication can be bidirectional, as for example when the user instructs the vehicle to open a door and the vehicle asks the user to enter a predetermined code before executing the requested task.

[0003] Such an interface may take the form of a touchscreen mounted on the vehicle body coupled with an electronic control unit or ECU. The information provided by the vehicle is displayed on the screen, and the user can tap the screen to give instructions, for example by pressing a touch keypad or by having their fingerprint read.

[0004] This interface is interesting but presents certain problems. The vehicle's bodywork is exposed to the outside environment, which means it can get dirty, in which case it is best not to touch the touchscreen for hygiene reasons. Conversely, touching a touchscreen with one's fingers generally leaves a greasy residue, which detracts from the appearance of the touchscreen and therefore the vehicle. Furthermore, a touchscreen generally malfunctions when the user's fingers are wet, so the touchscreen may be inoperative in the rain.

[0005] To overcome these problems, it is known from application FR1910401A1, filed in the name of the applicant, to use a micromirror plate, which projects a luminous image generated by a light source in the form of a hologram, coupled with a sensor allowing a user to interact with the hologram. This allows the user to avoid touching the exterior surface of the vehicle, so the drawbacks of the prior art device described above do not occur. However, the projection of the hologram by the micromirror plate also causes light interference on either side of the hologram. This can interfere with the user's interaction with the hologram. and in any event creates an undesirable aesthetic effect that is best avoided.

[0006] The invention aims in particular to remedy these problems by improving the prior art user interface to make it clearer to use while also improving its aesthetic appearance.

[0007] To this end, the invention provides a vehicle part comprising: - a light source capable of emitting a luminous image,

[0008] - a micro-mirror plate capable of projecting the luminous image outside the room of a vehicle in the form of a hologram,

[0009] - at least one privacy filter located between the light source and the hologram, and

[0010] - a sensor capable of detecting the presence of any object in a projection plane coinciding at least partially with the hologram.

[0011] The presence of a privacy filter in the path of the light beam emitted by the light source unexpectedly prevents light pollution caused by hologram artifacts located at the periphery of the main hologram. The filter thus eliminates the aforementioned light interference, or at least reduces its visibility. Consequently, the user can more easily distinguish the parts of the hologram with which they can interact, for example, if it is in the form of a keyboard.

[0012] Furthermore, the presence of the privacy filter makes it possible to mask the hologram for people not directly facing the vehicle part or whose gaze is at an angle greater than or equal to a predetermined value relative to a principal axis of light emission from the light source. This provides privacy for the user in that people beside them, or more generally, people who can see the vehicle other than the user directly facing the hologram, cannot discern how they interact with the hologram. This can prove useful, for example, when the hologram is used to enter a PIN to unlock the vehicle.

[0013] Advantageously, the micro-mirror plate is covered by a skin transparent to visible and infrared light.

[0014] This provides a seal to the micro-mirror plate, protecting it from moisture and dust. Furthermore, it conceals the components behind the surface, thus improving the overall aesthetics of the vehicle.

[0015] Preferably, the skin is made of polycarbonate (PC), polypropylene (PP), or polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). It is also possible to make the skin from the following materials: acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), acrylonitrile styrene acrylate (ASA), styrene acrylonitrile (SAN), and acrylonitrile styrene mixtures. acrylate and polycarbonate, mixture of polycarbonate and polyethylene terephthalate, amorphous polyolefin such as cyclo-olefin copolymers (COC) or cyclo-olefin polymers (COP).

[0016] The skin can thus be manufactured by molding, and in a low-cost manner.

[0017] Advantageously, the sensor is formed by an infrared sensor.

[0018] The sensor is therefore simple to make.

[0019] Advantageously, the vehicle part forms a tailgate, a door, a front, middle or rear pillar, a hood, an exterior mirror or a vehicle bumper.

[0020] These types of vehicle parts correspond to areas of the vehicle that are well suited to the communication of information or the reception of instructions.

[0021] According to a first embodiment of the invention, the light source comprises a light screen.

[0022] Advantageously, at least one privacy filter is coloured and / or metallic.

[0023] The privacy filter, which can be seen through the vehicle part depending on its configuration, thus contributes to the aesthetics of the vehicle.

[0024] Advantageously, the vehicle part includes several privacy filters.

[0025] According to a first embodiment of the invention, at least one privacy filter is located opposite the micro-mirror plate, it being understood that at least one privacy filter is located on the reflective side of the micro-mirror plate, at a distance from the micro-mirror plate or in contact with the micro-mirror plate.

[0026] According to a second embodiment of the invention, at least one privacy filter is located opposite the light source, at a distance from the light source or in contact with the light source.

[0027] It is also possible to combine the first and second embodiments of the invention.

[0028] The privacy filter can thus be arranged in several locations within the vehicle part, which helps to make the invention adaptable to different space constraints within the vehicle part and to the nature of the latter. It is also possible to provide for the vehicle part to include several privacy filters among the locations presented above, by combining or not the first and second embodiments. For example, such filters can be positioned so that each presents different filtering directions, thus filtering the light pollution formed by hologram artifacts in each of these directions. Brief description of the figures

[0029] The invention will be better understood upon reading the following description, given solely by way of example and made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0030] [Fig. 1] [Fig. 1] is a perspective view of a vehicle part according to the invention,

[0031] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is a sectional view of a vehicle part according to a first embodiment of the invention, in the deactivated state,

[0032] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] is a sectional view of the vehicle part of [Fig.2], in the activated state, and

[0033] [Fig.4] [Fig.4] is a sectional view of a vehicle part, similar to the view in [Fig.3], according to a second embodiment of the invention. Detailed description

[0034] A vehicle part 2 according to the invention is shown in [Fig. 1]. In this case, the vehicle part 2 forms a motor vehicle tailgate, but it can be any other part of a vehicle, such as a door, a front, middle, or rear pillar, a hood, an exterior mirror, or a bumper, to name just a few examples. As can be seen, a hologram 4 is displayed and is visible to any person standing in front of the vehicle part 2.

[0035] Vehicle part 2 is shown in more detail in [Fig. 2]. Vehicle part 2 includes a body element 6 corresponding to the primary function of vehicle part 2. In this case, it is a tailgate, which will not be described further below.

[0036] The vehicle part 2 includes a light source 8 capable of emitting a luminous image. This light source 8 is here formed by a luminous screen, generally flat in shape, carried by a support 10 fixed to the body element 6. The light source 8 is coupled with an electronic control unit or ECU 11 which enables the luminous screen to emit a luminous image.

[0037] The vehicle part 2 includes a micro-mirror plate 12 capable of projecting the luminous image, generated by the light source 8, outside the vehicle part 2. The micro-mirror plate 12 is coupled to the ECU 11. An example of a micro-mirror plate 12 is marketed by Asukanet under the name "Aska3D". The concept of a micro-mirror plate, as such, being known, it will not be described further hereafter. The enclosure formed by the light source 8, the micro-mirror plate 12, and a portion of the body element 6 must form an enclosure that is moisture-proof, dust-proof, and lightproof, in the sense that natural light or light from other adjacent light sources must not be able to penetrate it, and non-reflective, so as not to disrupt the generation and projection of the hologram.To make the enclosure non-reflective, you can use matte black paint, black velvet or felt, or any type of non-reflective or ultra-absorbent black paint.

[0038] The bodywork element 6 includes a skin 13 covering the micromirror plate 12 in order to protect it from external mechanical stresses that could damage it. The skin 13 is made of a transparent material. Here, "transparent" means that the material is at least transparent to all light radiation with a wavelength in the visible spectrum, i.e., between approximately 380 and 780 nm, and in the infrared spectrum, i.e., between 700 and 20,000 nm, within the scope of the invention. The skin 13 is made of a plastic having this characteristic, in this case polycarbonate, commonly referred to as "PC". However, the skin can be made of any other plastic having this characteristic, for example, polypropylene (PP) or polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA).The skin 13 can be semi-transparent to conceal the micro-mirror plate 12 from view, and non-diffusing to prevent the hologram from appearing blurry. Here, "semi-transparent" means that the skin 13 transmits only a portion of visible light, for example, between 10% and 40%. This surface reduces the brightness of the hologram 4 but does not prevent its generation. The body element 6 further includes a structural lining 14 so as to form, together with the skin 13, the body element 6.

[0039] The vehicle part 2 includes at least one privacy filter 15 positioned here between the micro-mirror plate 12 and the skin 13. In the space between these two elements, the privacy filter 15 is located opposite, against, or at a distance from the micro-mirror plate 12. Alternatively, the privacy filter 15 may be located opposite, against, or at a distance from the other surface of the micro-mirror plate 12, such that the latter is positioned between the skin 13 and the privacy filter 15.

[0040] The privacy filter 15 is in the form of a sheet with a general shape similar to that of the micromirror plate 12, here flat, which covers the entire transmission or reflection surface of the mirror plate 12. By way of example, the privacy filter can allow the passage of light within an angular range of 60° centered on an axis perpendicular to the privacy filter 15, here included in the cutting plane of [Fig. 2]. However, any other value can be provided for this angular range, and this angular range can be two-dimensional, namely in the form of an angular sector in a plane, or three-dimensional, for example in the form of a cone.Alternatively, such a filter can be replaced by a plurality of filters, each allowing light to pass through a plane angular range centered on an axis perpendicular to the privacy filter, each filter being positioned so that the angular ranges are not located in the same plane. The privacy filter 15 works in the same way as a computer screen filter and is therefore... known in itself, so it will not be described further as such in what follows.

[0041] In the case where the skin 13 is semi-transparent, the privacy filter 15 can be seen from outside the vehicle. It is possible to color and / or metallize the privacy filter 15, giving it a one-way mirror effect so as not to disrupt the non-reflective appearance of the enclosure mentioned above, so that it contributes to the aesthetics of the vehicle part 2.

[0042] The vehicle part 2 includes a sensor 16, here an infrared sensor. The sensor 16 is coupled to the ECU 11, carried by the support 10 and covered by the skin 13. The function of the sensor 16 will be described later.

[0043] In [Fig.2], vehicle part 2 is in the deactivated state, which means that the light source 8 is off and no hologram is generated.

[0044] Figure 3 illustrates the vehicle part 2 when activated. This activation can be controlled by means of a detector 18 capable of detecting the approach of a person to the vehicle part 2 and under certain additional predetermined conditions, for example, the detection of the vehicle key. Here, the detector 18 includes a position sensor fixed to the outside of the vehicle part 2. When the detector 18 detects that a person is approaching the vehicle part 2, it sends a signal to the ECU 11 to activate the light source 8 and the micro-mirror plate 12.

[0045] In the activated state, the light source 8 is switched on and generates a luminous image. This luminous image is emitted towards the micro-mirror plate 12, which projects the luminous image out of the vehicle part 2 so as to generate the hologram 4. Since the luminous screen is generally flat, the hologram 4 has a planar shape. The privacy filter 15 restricts the generation of the hologram 4 to the predetermined angular range described above, thus preventing the formation of light interference at the periphery of the hologram 4. The micro-mirror plate 12 projects the hologram 4 such that the angle α between the luminous screen and the micro-mirror plate 12 is equal to the angle between the micro-mirror plate 12 and the plane of the hologram 4.It is thus understood that by choosing the arrangement of the light source 8 in relation to the micro-mirror plate 12, the inclination of the hologram 4 in relation to the vehicle part 2 can be modulated. In the present case, an angle a of approximately 50° is particularly convenient for the hologram 4 to be clearly visible and to have an ergonomic position.

[0046] The sensor 16 is oriented such that it can detect the presence of any object located within a detection zone 17, delimited in [Fig. 3] by two dotted lines, in which the hologram 4 is located. If the ECU 11 expects user interaction 20 with the hologram 4, it can insert into the image, and therefore into the projected hologram, text inviting the user to interact with the hologram and at least one area in which it can interact, for example a keyboard. When the user 20 crosses said area with their finger as illustrated in [Fig. 3], this is detected by the sensor 16 which transmits this information to the ECU 11 to indicate that the user 20 has interacted with the hologram 4. In other words, the ECU 11 reacts to the position of the finger on the hologram 4.

[0047] An example of an application of this system is the display of information. Examples of information include the charging status of the vehicle's batteries, a diagnostic of the vehicle's condition, etc.

[0048] Another example of an application for this system is unlocking the vehicle. When the user 20 approaches the vehicle, the vehicle component 2 enters the activated state, displays a keypad in the hologram 4, and prompts the user 20 to enter their code. The user enters their code into the hologram 4 with their finger. The keys on the keypad in the hologram 4 pressed by the user 20 are determined by the sensor 16. If the entered code is correct, the ECU 11 issues an instruction to unlock the vehicle. Otherwise, the ECU 11 is programmed to indicate that the entered code is incorrect and then prompt the user to enter their code again. Other possible applications include unlocking only a part of the vehicle, for example, an access hatch to a vehicle compartment, activating a warning light, or launching a parking space exit program in autonomous mode, to name just a few examples.

[0049] Figure 4 shows a vehicle part 2' according to a second embodiment of the invention. The privacy filter 15 is here placed against the light source 8, so that it is positioned between the light source 8 and the micro-mirror plate 12. According to this configuration, the privacy filter 15 reduces the brightness of the hologram 4 compared to the configuration of the first embodiment. This allows for the generation of a more discreet hologram 4. The projection of the hologram 4 and the interaction with it function in the same way as in the previous embodiment. As an alternative embodiment, it is also possible to place the privacy filter opposite the light source, while being located at a distance from it.

[0050] The invention is not limited to the embodiments presented and other embodiments will be obvious to a person skilled in the art.

[0051] It is possible to combine the two embodiments described above in the case where the vehicle part includes several privacy filters.

[0052] Any type of suitable light source can be used to generate the hologram, for example those listed below: flat screen, curved screen, screen coupled with a magnifying lens, video projector coupled with a projection screen, short-throw video projector coupled with a projection screen, video- projector coupled with a rear projection screen.

[0053] List of references 2: vehicle part 4: hologram 6: Bodywork element 8: light source 10: support 11: Electronic control unit or ECU 12: Micro-mirror plate 13: skin 14: Structural lining 15: Privacy filter 16: sensor 17: Detection zone 18: detector 20: user

Claims

Demands

1. Vehicle part (2; 2'), characterized in that it comprises: - a light source (8) capable of emitting a luminous image, - a micro-mirror plate (12) capable of projecting the luminous image outside the vehicle part (2; 2') in the form of a hologram (4), - at least one privacy filter (15) located between the light source (8) and the hologram (4), and - a sensor (16) capable of detecting the presence of any object in a projection plane (17) coinciding at least partially with the hologram (4).

2. Vehicle part (2; 2') according to the preceding claim, wherein the micro-mirror plate (12) is covered by a skin (13) transparent to visible and infrared light.

3. Vehicle part (2; 2') according to the preceding claim, wherein the skin (13) is made of polycarbonate, polypropylene or polymethyl methacrylate.

4. Vehicle part (2; 2') according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sensor (16) is formed by an infrared sensor.

5. Vehicle part (2; 2') according to any one of the preceding claims, forming a tailgate, a door, a front, middle or rear pillar, a hood, an exterior mirror or a vehicle bumper.

6. Vehicle part (2; 2') according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the light source (8) comprises a light screen.

7. Vehicle part (2; 2') according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one privacy filter (15) is coloured and / or metallised.

8. Vehicle part (2; 2') according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising several privacy filters (15).

9. Vehicle part (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein at least one privacy filter (15) is located opposite the micro-mirror plate (12).

10. Vehicle part (2) according to claim 9, wherein at least one privacy filter (15) is located at a distance from the micromirror plate (12).

11.

12.

13.

14. Vehicle part according to claim 9, wherein at least one privacy filter (15) is in contact with the micromirror plate (12). Vehicle part (2') according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein at least one privacy filter (15) is located opposite the light source (8). Vehicle part (2') according to claim 12, wherein at least one privacy filter (15) is located at a distance from the light source (8). Vehicle part (2') according to claim 12, wherein at least one privacy filter (15) is in contact with the light source (8).

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