Interface device for motor vehicles, and corresponding motor vehicles

Abstract

Interface device for a motor vehicle, and corresponding motor vehicle. An interface device in a motor vehicle comprises two touch sensors (10, 20) mounted on a pillar (3), so as to be controlled by a user by placing one of their hands on said pillar (3). A first sensor (10), called the upper sensor, is located on an upper face of said pillar, comprising a touch surface for detecting the movements of the thumb of said hand. A second sensor (20), called the lower sensor, is located on an lower face of said pillar, comprising a touch surface for detecting the movements of the other fingers of said hand. The device includes processing means (46) for analyzing the movements detected by said sensors (10, 20) and assigning distinct actions to each of said sensors (10, 20). Figure for the abbreviation: Fig. 6

Description

Description Title of the invention: Interface device for vehicle au- tomobile, and corresponding motor vehicle 1. Scope of the invention

[0001] — The invention relates to the field of user interfaces (driver or passenger) machine for vehicle, and more specifically the central interface of the vehicle, located between the driver's seat and a passenger seat. 2. Disadvantages of the state of the art

[0002] Traditional driver-vehicle interfaces are composed of elements of physical controls (or mechanical controls, i.e., with a moving part): buttons, dials and sometimes joysticks, each physical control element being generated raally assigned to a given function. The physical nature of these elements of The control allows them to be manipulated blindly, especially while driving. However, this gives the interface a rigidity that prevents it from evolving. form or its functions and is limited by the arrangement and type of elements of commands determined by the vehicle design.

[0003] — This rigidity is all the more detrimental as modern vehicles rest today on embedded computing whose operating system and more ge- Generally, features are subject to change, particularly through updates to day. Furthermore, these modern operating systems allow the use applications (GPS, music, weather…), each with its own ergonomic constraints that are sometimes difficult to reconcile with the layout of physical control elements of the interface.

[0004] — Another notable drawback is the evolving need to distinguish the content of displaying and controlling an interface and dividing it to dedicate a part to driver, and the other to the passenger in the same row of seats.

[0005] — To overcome this drawback, the use of central knobs is now known, allowing, in interaction with a screen, the control of various functions (GPS, cli- (matization, audio system, telephone…) using a single control. But these The controls are not always ergonomic.

[0006] The use of interfaces using touch screens is also known, in the form of Touchscreen tablets integrated into vehicles. These touchscreens can solve the problem of the scalability of the on-board computer system in the vehicle.

[0007] — However, these touchscreen-based interfaces are not without drawbacks. In Indeed, due to the very nature of the screen, namely smooth and without roughness, it is pra- It is virtually impossible to order it blindly. Thus, the screen-based interface Touchscreen can be dangerous, as it requires the driver to take their attention away from driving. Furthermore, these various known systems are accessible to both the passenger and the driver, whereas it would be preferable for the actions permitted for each to be distinct. For example, the passenger should not be able to interact with driving-related aspects (the dashboard display facing the driver, engine or suspension settings, etc.). Conversely, the driver should not be able to control entertainment functions, such as selecting a television program. Therefore, there is a need for a new, simple, and intuitive interface that allows control of numerous vehicle functions, while limiting the risks introduced by such operations and without compromising the vehicle's interior appearance. 3. Description of the invention To this end, the invention proposes a new type of interface, which does not have all the drawbacks of the state of the art. More specifically, the invention proposes an interface device in a motor vehicle comprising two touch sensors mounted on a pillar, so as to be controlled by a user by placing one of their hands on said pillar, - a first sensor, called the upper sensor, being placed on an upper face of said upright, comprising a touch surface intended to detect the movements of the thumb of said hand, and - a second sensor, called the lower sensor, being placed on an underside of said upright, comprising a touch surface intended to detect the movements of the other fingers of said hand, and processing means analyzing the movements detected by said sensors and assigning distinct actions to each of said sensors. Thus, this new type of control device has the advantage of being able to be manipulated "blindly", intuitively, thanks to the general shape of the handle of the upright which naturally guides a user's fingers onto the two touch sensors. This control device is also scalable, as the two touch sensors can each acquire their own digital movements, the nature of these movements being defined in software and therefore being able to evolve through updates or depending on the nature of an application active at the level of the interface's operating system. According to a particular implementation, at least one of said touch sensors also detects touches on its touch surface. This allows you to simulate the behavior of a physical button. This allows in particular to reproduce a click of a button, especially when the detection of the press on the touch surface triggers a physical button arranged under the touch sensor, and thus to confirm that the action has been taken into account. Such an interface device may also include means of haptic stimulation, delivering stimuli onto the surface of at least one of said tactile sensors. Such haptic stimulation methods can improve the overall ergonomics of the interface, particularly when a driver is operating the device "blindly" while driving. These haptic simulation methods provide haptic feedback when a user presses or moves a surface, giving the impression of pressing a button, turning a clicky dial, or more generally, directly signaling to the user's fingers whether an action has been registered or not. Furthermore, these haptic stimulation methods can be activated even when the user is not actively interacting with the device, to provide information such as a notification, or to guide and facilitate finger placement on touch sensors. According to a particular aspect, said touch sensors may be covered with a re-clothing extending over said amount. The approach of the invention makes it possible to completely cover the sensors, which are then not visible, in order to maintain an optimal aesthetic appearance. According to a particular implementation, said amount includes a suitable housing, formed on said lower face of the amount and suitable for receiving said other fingers, opposite said second sensor. This housing, or depression, which contains the second sensor, further improves the ergonomics of the device. Indeed, when a user places their hand on the upright to activate one of the two touch sensors, the housing guides their hand longitudinally to the position where both touch sensors are located. According to a particular embodiment of the invention, said processing means detect, for each of said touch sensors, finger movements parallel to the main axis of said upright, finger movements perpendicular to the main axis of said upright and / or diagonal movements, at 45° to the main axis of said upright. For example, these processing methods detect: - for said first sensor, thumb movements in a first direction parallel to said upright and thumb movements in a second direction perpendicular to said first direction. These first and second directions can in some cases also be combined, to take into account diagonal thumb movements; - for said second sensor, movements of at least one of said other fingers in a direction perpendicular to said amount. In this example, the upper sensor retrieves a bidirectional instruction via thumb movements. This allows the upper sensor to be used to control the interface in a simple and intuitive way. The lower sensor, in this example, captures unidirectional information ergonomically through an opening and closing finger movement. According to a particular approach, at least some of the predetermined functions are displayed on a screen on the dashboard of said vehicle. In this case, said screen can be organized into several display windows, at least one of said windows being able to display different widgets organized in stacks of widgets, and in that said second sensor allows scrolling said stack of widgets in said window, said first sensor allows selecting, or activating, one of said widgets. It is therefore possible, using the amount, to control a whole stack of widgets with one hand, without the cumbersome nature of a classic touchscreen command. The rendering can also be ensured graphically (widgets or windows) so that the movements and actions are perceptible in the user's peripheral field of vision, so that the user can understand and control their own actions through the specific movements of the widget, although these are not in their macular field (field in which they can read precise information), but in their peripheral field (field in which it is not possible to read precise information). This helps to limit the need to take one's eyes off the road when the driver grips the pillar to use the control device. This involves, for example, making the interface areas or windows highly responsive in a simple and efficient way, so that the peripheral part of the eye can perceive the action synchronized with the haptic console. This is possible with the interface device of the invention, but impossible with interfaces using a touchscreen. Another advantage is the rapid memorization or understanding of functions based on consistent patterns (a so-called muscle memory approach) dedicated to the user's thumb, fingers, and eye, respectively. For example, regardless of the menu context (air conditioning, navigation, music, etc.), a consistent interaction pattern is applied (left, right, up, down, and / or diagonal...). According to another particular aspect, a long press on the said lower sensor can detach the widget from the said stack and a swipe moves it on the said screen in order to expand its content and give access to more features. According to this example, it is therefore possible not only to select widgets to on the fly, but also to develop them for more interactions. For example, the first sensor allows you to act on and control the content of an active widget. According to a particular implementation, the upright has a section in the general shape of an upright handle, and further defines a space inside it, said space being able to receive the touch sensors, the haptic simulation means and the processing means. In this case, the upright, which houses a large portion of the embedded electronics, gives the assembly a very compact design. Furthermore, thanks to the handle formed by the upright, roughly the size of a partially closed hand, the resulting space is large enough to accommodate large haptic actuators that form the haptic simulation system. This allows for rich haptic feedback (following a user command or an operating system notification) in both amplitude and nuances, reproducible by the haptic simulation system. Mounting the electronics within the upright is also simplified, as the electronics can be assembled outside the upright and slid along its length into the housing. In a preferred embodiment, the component is part of the center console of the vehicle. In other embodiments, an interface device may be installed in the armrest of a door. The invention also relates to a motor vehicle implementing at least one interface device as described above. According to a particular implementation, the said central console may include two uprights, each carrying two sensors, intended to be operated respectively by a driver and a passenger. In addition, or simply as another approach, an interface device according to the invention can be placed in the armrest of a door. Such a motor vehicle may also include a screen extending over an essential part of the interior width of the vehicle, and comprising a plurality of display areas, or windows, the position, format and / or content of which can be configured according to commands delivered via said sensors. According to another particular aspect, the motor vehicle may also include a third touch sensor, placed in a central position under the dashboard of said vehicle. 4. List of Figures The proposed technique, as well as its various advantages, will be more easily understood in light of the following description of several methods of implementation. illustrative and non-exhaustive examples of this text and the attached drawings, including: - [Fig.1] represents a top view of an example of a part of the interior of a motor vehicle, implementing two interface devices according to the invention, - [Fig.2] represents a perspective view of an amount of [Fig.1], - [Fig.3] represents a cross-sectional and perspective view of the amount of [Fig.2], - [Fig.4] represents a top view of the upright of [Fig.3], - [Fig.5] represents a longitudinal sectional top view of the upright of [Fig.4], - [Fig.6] represents a cross-sectional view of the [Fig.3] housing tactile sensors, processing means and haptic actuators of the interface device, - [Fig.7] represents an exploded perspective view of the amount of [Fig.2], - [Fig.8] shows a rear view of the device in [Fig.1] in operation, - [Fig.9] represents a view of a display area of ​​the device screen in [Fig.8], in two different states. 5. Detailed description of the invention 5.1. Physical Ergonomics We then illustrate a method of implementing the proposed technique, treated as a simple illustrative example, and not limiting, in support of figures 1 to 9. This vehicle includes, near a driver's seat and a passenger's seat, two pillars 3 and 4, generally in the shape of a handle (i.e., able to be grasped by the hand of the driver, respectively of the passenger), near a central console 2. An interface device 1 of the motor vehicle according to the invention is mounted in each pillar 3 or 4. As can be seen in Figure 3, two touch sensors 10 and 20 are mounted on pillar 3 (driver's side pillar, for a left-hand drive position). The two touch sensors 10 and 20 are arranged so that they can be controlled with one hand by a user gripping the pillar (hence the general handle shape), and more specifically with the thumb on one side (on the upper part of pillar 3) and the other fingers on the other (on the lower part of pillar 3). The first of these sensors is called upper sensor 10. The upper sensor 10 is placed on an upper face 12 of said upright 3. The upper sensor 10 includes a touch surface intended to detect the movements of the thumb of a hand gripping the upright. The second of these sensors is called the lower sensor 20. The lower sensor 20 is placed on an underside 22 of the upright 3. The lower sensor 20 includes a touch surface intended to detect the movements of the other fingers of said hand gripping the upright. Processing means (not shown) analyzing the movements detected by said sensors 10 and 20 and assigning distinct actions to each of said sensors. This may include a microprocessor housed near the sensors, and / or a remote central control unit, receiving the signals delivered by the sensors and performing the required operations accordingly. Given the nature of the two touch sensors 10 and 20, which can each acquire their own digital movements, the nature of the distinct actions specific to each sensor can evolve in software, as will be seen below. This interface device can be operated blindly, intuitively, thanks to the general shape of the handle of the upright 4 which naturally guides a user's fingers to the two touch sensors 10 and 20. To this end, a recess, or depression, can be provided in the upright, at the level of the lower sensor, so as to receive the fingers, and thus to place them directly opposite this second sensor, without it being necessary to look at the upright. At least one of these touch sensors can also detect touches on its touch surface. This can be achieved using a force sensor, or a button located beneath the sensor and activated when the sensor is pressed. This allows, in particular, for menu selection or confirmation of a selected action. The interface device may also include at least one haptic actuator, delivering stimuli to the surface of at least one of the touch sensors. These stimuli can, among other things, reproduce the sensations of physical buttons and dials. Furthermore, this haptic actuator can provide haptic feedback on the sensor surface, for example, in response to an action, to confirm that it has been registered. This haptic feedback can also facilitate the user's hand tracking on the touch surface. Different levels of haptic feedback can be considered (amplitude, duration, repetition, etc.) to provide different information. Auditory and / or visual feedback can also be included. The touch sensors can be covered with a textured coating extending over the pillar, so as to facilitate their location by a user without looking. In the illustrated embodiment, however, the sensors are completely concealed beneath the covering, for example, leather or a leather-like material, which extends over the entire pillar and may continue onto all or part of the center console and dashboard. Although not visible, the sensors are easily accessible due to the recess, or depression, 30 provided for this purpose. This is particularly visible in figures 3 and 5. The depression formed on the face lower 22 helps to guide (particularly in the longitudinal direction of the upright 3) the fingers of a user grasping the handle formed on the upright, so that their fingers are positioned easily and directly on the lower sensor 20. The thumb then naturally rests on the upper sensor. According to one embodiment, visible in particular in [Fig. 6], the section 40 of the upright contributes to defining a general shape of the handle of the upright 3. This also defines a space 42 within it. This space 42 can accommodate the touch sensors 10 and 20, one or more haptic actuators 44 (here, two, one per touch sensor) and the aforementioned processing means 46. It should be noted that this section is not only ergonomic but also selective: only the driver's right hand can operate the left pillar, and only the passenger's left hand can operate the right pillar (or vice versa, for right-hand drive vehicles). Thus, the passenger cannot operate the controls intended for the driver, and vice versa. Here, the upright 3 houses within its interior, in space 42, a large part of the interface electronics (namely the sensors 10 and 20, the haptic actuators 44, and the processing means 46). Due to the handle formed by the upright 3, with dimensions close to a partially closed hand, the resulting space is large enough to accommodate the various components, including the haptic actuators 44. This allows for a rich haptic feedback (following a user command or an operating system notification) (both in amplitude and in nuances reproducible by the haptic actuator(s) 44). Furthermore, mounting the electronics within the upright 3 is simplified, as the electronics can be assembled outside the upright 3 and slid along its longitudinal axis into the housing 42. In one example, the interface device cooperates with a screen on the dashboard 5 of said vehicle. At least some of the predefined functions are displayed on said screen 5. This advantageously limits the need to take one's eyes off the road when the driver grasps pillar 3 to use the interface device. In the illustrated example [Fig. 1], the screen 5 extends over a significant portion of the vehicle's interior width. The screen 5 can be organized into a plurality of display areas 50, or windows, visible in [Fig. 8]. The position, format, and / or content of these windows can then be configured according to commands delivered via the sensors 10 and 20. The interface device 1 can further include one or more speakers 48 housed in the pillar 3 or in other locations to provide audio feedback. The vehicle may also have a third touch sensor 7 (visible in figures 1, 2 and 8), Located centrally under the dashboard of the vehicle, and usable by both the driver and passenger, this touch sensor contributes to the overall ergonomics of the center console. Other actions, and other feedback, haptic, audible and / or visual, can also be delivered by the steering wheel, which in the illustrated example [Fig.8] has two light zones $. In some embodiments, the center console may include two other pillars 9A and 9B similarly equipped with a specific interface device, intended for each rear passenger. 5.2. Software Ergonomics Given the generally elongated shape of the upright 3, it defines a principal axis X, also called the longitudinal direction. In one implementation example, the processing means 46 detect, for each of the touch sensors 10 and 20, finger movements parallel to the principal axis X of the upright, finger movements perpendicular to the principal axis of the upright, and / or diagonal movements at 45° to the principal axis X of the upright. The possible, or detectable, actions may vary depending on the operations in progress. In some cases, simple perpendicular movements, or even movements in a single direction, may be sufficient. In this case, other movements will not be taken into account, or in some cases may be reinterpreted. In one example, said processing means 46 detect via the upper sensor 10, thumb movements in a first direction parallel to the principal axis X and thumb movements in a second direction perpendicular to said first direction. Here, the upper sensor 10 enables the detection of bidirectional instructions through thumb movements. This allows the upper sensor 10 to be used to control the interface in a manner similar to a joystick, a directional pad, or a touchscreen. In one example, the processing means 46 further detect, via the lower sensor 20, movements of at least one of the other fingers, at least in a direction perpendicular to said upright 3. The lower sensor 20, in this example, allows a unidirectional instruction to be captured in an ergonomic way, thanks to an opening and closing movement of the fingers. In one example, screen 5 is organized into several display windows. At least one of these windows can display different widgets arranged in stacks. The lower sensor 20 allows scrolling through this stack of widgets in this window, for example, by swiping. Here, the first sensor 10 can allow se- To select, or activate, one of the said widgets, it is thus possible, using the amount 3, to control on the fly a whole stack of widgets with one hand, without the cumbersome nature of a classic touch screen command. Furthermore, in one particular example, a long press on the lower sensor can detach the widget from the stack, while a swipe moves the widget around the screen to expand its content and provide access to more features. This allows not only for on-the-fly widget selection but also for expanding them for greater interaction. Finally, the upper sensor 10 can enable action on and control of the content of an active widget, in particular thanks to the bidirectionality of thumb movements which the processing means 46 can acquire using the upper sensor 10. In the example described here, the screen 5 comprises several display areas 50. Each area can be associated with a human-vehicle interface device: driver's side pillar 3, passenger's side pillar, third touch sensor 7, and optionally one or more touch sensors 9 located on the vehicle's steering wheel. The area of ​​the screen 5 relating to the driver's side pillar 3 is referenced 52 in [Fig. 8]. A specific example of the general ergonomics of the center console 2 is now described, using the pillar 3, and in particular the effects of commands entered on the pillar 3 on the display area 52 related to the driver's side pillar 3. The screen 5 here displays one or more widgets on the display area 52. In the example shown [Fig. 9], the display area 52 includes two widgets, 520 and 522. Here, the lower sensor 20 allows you to operate the favorite widgets to the left of the central menu. The possible touch gestures are as follows: swipe left and right to scroll through the widgets (stack), tap to toggle a passive sub-widget to an active sub-widget. A passive widget is one that is not usable or is waiting to be activated. An active widget is one that is usable, for example, by using the upper touchpad on the handle. The lower sensor 20 also enables the operation of favorite widgets to the left of the central menu (i.e., area 54 of screen 5 related to the central touch sensor 7). The possible touch gestures are as follows: swipe left and right to scroll through the widgets (stack), tap to switch between a passive and an active sub-widget. The convention remains: Passive - not usable / waiting, Active - usable using the upper touchpad on the handle. Here, a long press detaches the widget from the stack (the widget shrinks) and a swipe sends it to the passenger side in order to expand the content and show more functionality. Finally, the upper sensor 10 allows control of the content of the sub-widgets. active. The suggested touch gestures are content-based (primarily up and down, or multidirectional). In addition, the top sensor 10 animates the widget content of active sub-widgets. The touch gestures are content-based (primarily up and down, or multidirectional). Widgets 520 and 522 can adopt a shrunken and an expanded state depending on whether they are active or passive. Here, in state A of display area 52, the left-hand widget 520 is in the shrunken (and passive) state, and the right-hand widget 522 is in the expanded (and active) state. In state B of display area 52, the opposite is true. Of course, many other implementations, and other on-screen displays, are possible, and the user can, if necessary, configure their preferences via this same interface. The interface can be used, in particular, for: adjust the temperature (personalized for each user); to adjust a GPS; to make phone calls or send messages; adjust comfort settings (seat, steering wheel, etc.); set a lighting ambiance; adjust audio settings; select an audio source (and video source if applicable, for passengers); adjust vehicle parameters (engine, suspension, etc.); select the elements visible on the dashboard; This list of examples is not exhaustive and is presented for illustrative purposes only.

Claims

Demands

1. Interface device (1) in a motor vehicle, characterized in that that it includes two touch sensors (10, 20) mounted on a amount (3), so that they can be controlled by a user by placing one of his hands on the said amount (3), - a first sensor (10), called the upper sensor, being placed on a face upper (12) of said amount (3), comprising a touch surface designed to detect movements of the thumb of said hand, and - a second sensor (20), called the lower sensor, being placed on a face lower (22) of said amount (3), comprising a touch surface designed to detect the movements of the other fingers of said hand, and processing means (46) analyzing the movements detected by said sensors (10, 20) and assigning distinct actions to each said sensors (10, 20).

2. Interface device according to claim 1, characterized in that at less than one of said touch sensors (10, 20) also detects touches on its touch-sensitive surface.

3. Interface device according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that it includes means of stimulation haptic (44), delivering stimuli on the surface of at least one of said touch sensors (10, 20).

4. Interface device according to claim 3, characterized in that the the upright (3) has a section in the general shape of a handle of the amount (3), and further defines a space (42) within it, said space that can accommodate touch sensors (10, 20), means of sti- haptic stimulation (44) and processing methods (46).

5. Interface device according to any one of the preceding claims previous, characterized in that said touch sensors (10, 20) are re- covered with a coating extending over said upright (3).

6. Interface device according to any one of the preceding claims preceding, characterized in that the said amount (3) includes a adapted housing (30), formed on said lower face (22) of the amount (3) and suitable for receiving the said other fingers, in view of the said second sensor (20).

7. Interface device according to any one of the preceding claims preceding, characterized in that the said means of treatment (46) detect, for each of said touch sensors (10, 20), finger movements parallel to the main axis of said upright (3), of the finger movements perpendicular to the main axis of said ascending (3) and / or diagonal movements, at 45° to the main axis said amount (3).

8. Interface device according to any one of the preceding claims preceding, characterized in that the said means of treatment (46) detect: - for said first sensor (10), thumb movements in a first parallel direction said amount (3) and movements of the thumb in a second direction perpendicular to said first direction ; - for said second sensor (20). movements of at least one of said other fingers in a direction perpendicular to said upright (3).

9. Interface device according to any one of the preceding claims preceding, characterized in that at least a part of the separate actions is displayed on a screen (5) of the dashboard of said vehicle.

10. Interface device according to claim 9, characterized in that said screen (5) is organized into several display windows (50, 52, 54), at less one of said windows (52) capable of displaying different widgets (520, 522) organized into stacks of widgets, and in that said second sensor (20) allows scrolling through said stack of widgets in said window (52), and in that said first sensor (10) allows to select, or render active, one of said widgets.

11. Interface device according to claim 10, characterized in that a A long press on the lower sensor (20) allows the widget (520, 522) of said stack and a drag moves it onto said screen (5) in order to expand its content and provide access to more features.

12. Interface device according to any one of claims 10 or 11, characterized in that said first sensor (10) allows action on and to control the content of an active widget.

13. Interface device according to any one of the preceding claims preceding, characterized in that the amount (3) is part of a console central unit of said vehicle.

14. Motor vehicle implementing at least one interface device according to any one of the claims! at 13.

15. A motor vehicle according to claim 14, characterized in that it includes a central console comprising two uprights supporting each with two sensors, intended to be handled respectively by a driver and by a passenger.

16. Motor vehicle according to any one of claims 14 or 15, characterized in that it comprises a screen extending over a part essential to the vehicle's interior width, and including a plurality of display areas, or windows, whose position, format and / or the content is configurable based on orders delivered via said sensors.

17. | Motor vehicle according to any one of claims 14 to 16, characterized in that it further comprises a third touch sensor (7), placed in a central position under the dashboard of said vehicle.