Human-machine interface device and vehicle comprising such a human-machine interface device

Abstract

Human-machine interface device and vehicle comprising such a human-machine interface device The human-machine interface device (4) comprises a touch panel (6) having a front surface (6A) intended to be visible to a user and a rear surface (6B), the touch panel (6) being configured to detect an interaction of said user with the touch panel (6), the touch panel (6) being elastically deformable, and a plurality of actuators (16) disposed behind the touch panel (6), each actuator (16) being controllable between a retracted configuration and an extended configuration in which the actuator (16) deforms an area of ​​the touch panel (6) located opposite the actuator (16) by forming a protruding bump on the front surface (6A) of the touch panel (6),the human-machine interface device (4) comprising at least one configuration in which several actuators (16) in extended position jointly define the same control element (24) projecting from the front surface (6A) of the touch panel (6). Figure for the abbreviation: Figure 2,

Description

Title of the invention: Human-machine interface device and vehicle comprising such a human-machine interface device

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of human-machine interface devices, in particular for vehicles, notably motor vehicles.

[0002] Motor vehicles are generally equipped with a human-machine interface device through which the driver can control one or more on-board systems, such as an infotainment system, a heating, air conditioning and ventilation system (also known as HVAC), a navigation system or a parking assistance system.

[0003] It is desirable to be able to have a human-machine interface device which allows the driver to easily control the various on-board systems of the motor vehicle while allowing him to maintain his attention on driving the motor vehicle.

[0004] To this end, the invention proposes a human-machine interface device comprising a touch panel having a front surface intended to be visible by a user and a rear surface, the touch panel being configured to detect an interaction of said user with the touch panel, the touch panel being elastically deformable, and a plurality of actuators arranged behind the touch panel, each actuator being controllable between a retracted configuration and an extended configuration in which the actuator deforms an area of ​​the touch panel located opposite the actuator by forming a protruding bump on the front surface of the touch panel, the human-machine interface device comprising at least one configuration in which several actuators in the extended position jointly define a single control element protruding from the front surface of the touch panel.

[0005] The use of several actuators to jointly form a single control element in a configuration of the human-machine interface device makes it possible to form a control element having a chosen shape and interaction mode (e.g. a push button, a rotary button or a slider), for example depending on images displayed on a display screen of the human-machine interface device and / or circumstances detected by sensors.

[0006] According to particular embodiments, the human-machine interface device comprises one or more of the following optional characteristics, taken individually or in all technically possible combinations:

[0007] - each control element is chosen from a touchpad, a push button, a linear cursor, and a rotary knob;

[0008] - each actuator is a dielectric elastomer actuator;

[0009] - at least one of the actuators is in the extended position in at least two confi distinct configurations of said human-machine interface device in which said at least one actuator defines two different control elements;

[0010] - the actuators are distributed behind the touch panel according to an arrangement matrix;

[0011] - the distance between each actuator and each adjacent actuator is between 0.2 cm and 1.0 cm, especially between 0.3 cm and 0.7 cm;

[0012] - the touch panel defines a plurality of sensors distributed on the touch panel;

[0013] - the touch panel defines a respective sensor opposite each actuator;

[0014] - the touch panel comprises an outer layer covering a sensitive layer configured to detect an interaction of said user with the touch panel;

[0015] - the sensitive layer defines a plurality of sensors, in particular ca sensors passive and / or resistive sensors;

[0016] - the sensitive layer is a layer of elastic ink printed in patterns defining each sensor.

[0017] The invention also relates to a vehicle comprising a human-machine interface device as defined above.

[0018] The invention and its advantages will be better understood on reading the following description, given solely as a non-limiting example, and made with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

[0019] - [Fig.l] [Fig.l] is a schematic view of a human-interface device configurable machine, in a first configuration;

[0020] - [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is a schematic view of the human-machine interface device configurable, in a second configuration;

[0021] - [Fig.3] [Fig.3] is a schematic top view of a configuration assembly;

[0022] - [Fig.4][Fig.5][Fig.6][Fig.7][Fig.8] Figures 4 to 8 are top views of a touch panel of the human-machine interface device of Figures 1 and 2, in different configurations.

[0023] As illustrated in [Fig.l], a vehicle 2 comprises a configurable human-machine interface device 4 comprising a touch panel 6 configured to detect touch interactions of a user with the touch panel 6, the touch panel 6 being elastically deformable, and a deformation assembly 8 configured to modify the shape of the touch panel 6 so as to generate one or more protruding bumps on a front face of the touch panel 6.

[0024] The touch panel 6 has a front surface 6A and a rear surface 6B. The front surface 6A is intended to be visible and accessible to the user. The surface rear 6B is opposite front surface 6A.

[0025] The touch panel 6 is configured to detect contact or proximity of one or more fingers of the user with the front surface 6A of the touch panel 6.

[0026] The touch panel 6 is elastically deformable so that pressure applied locally to an area of ​​the rear surface 6B of the touch panel 6 generates a bump on the area located opposite the front surface 6A of the touch panel 6.

[0027] The touch panel 6 is for example laminated and comprises an outer layer 10 and a sensitive layer 12 located under the outer layer 10. The outer layer 10 and the sensitive layer 12 are both elastically deformable to obtain the elastically deformable touch panel 6.

[0028] The outer layer 10 is for example made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), ethylene-propylene-diene monomer (EPDM), silicone, polyurethane (PU) or natural or synthetic leather.

[0029] The sensitive layer 12 defines for example a plurality of sensors 14 distributed over the entire surface of the sensitive layer 12 and making it possible to detect contact or proximity of a user's finger with the front surface 6A of the touch panel 6.

[0030] Each sensor 14 of the sensitive layer 12 defines for example a resistive sensor or a capacitive sensor.

[0031] The sensitive layer 12 is for example produced using an elastic conductive ink. Such inks are for example marketed by the company DuPont®, in particular under the reference CB 100 - Conductive Via Fill, the reference CB028 - Flexible Silver Shielding and the reference CB459 - Thin, High Adhesion Platable Seed Layer.

[0032] Each sensor 14 is for example defined by a particular pattern of the sensitive layer 12, in particular when the sensitive layer 12 is produced in the form of a layer of electrically conductive ink.

[0033] The deformation assembly 8 comprises a plurality of actuators 16 arranged behind the touch panel 6, i.e. on the side of the rear surface 6B of the touch panel 6.

[0034] The actuators 16 are distributed behind the touch panel 6. Each actuator 16 is located opposite a respective zone of the touch panel 6.

[0035] The sensitive layer 12 comprises for example a respective sensor 14 opposite each actuator 16.

[0036] Each actuator 16 is individually controllable between an inactive configuration, in which the touch panel 6 has a first shape, and an active configuration in which the touch panel 6 has a second shape.

[0037] In particular, each actuator 16 is configured so that the passage of the actuator 16 from the inactive configuration to the active configuration causes the elastic deformation of the touch panel 6 opposite this actuator 16, forming a protruding bump on the front surface 6A of the touch panel 6 to the right of the actuator 16.

[0038] Each actuator 16 in the active configuration presses on the rear surface 6B of the touch panel 6 so as to form a protruding bump on the front surface 6A of the touch panel 6.

[0039] In [Fig.l], all the actuators 16 are in the rest position. The touch panel 6 is in a rest position not deformed by the actuators 16. Preferably, the front surface of the touch panel 6 is substantially flat.

[0040] In [Fig.2], two adjacent actuators 16 are in the active position and together generate a bump 18 which extends above these two actuators 16 in the active position, the rest of the touch panel 6 not being deformed.

[0041] Each actuator 16 has for example a first fixed portion 20 and a second movable portion 22 in contact with the rear surface 6B of the touch panel. In the inactive configuration, the second portion 22 is close to the first portion 20 and in the active configuration, the second portion 22 is distant from the first portion 20.

[0042] The movement of the second portion 22 relative to the first portion 20 is carried out for example electrically, electromagnetically or piezoelectrically.

[0043] In an exemplary embodiment, each actuator 16 is a dielectric elastomer actuator. The supply of electric current or electric voltage to the actuator 16 makes it possible to vary the distance between the first portion 20 and the second portion 22.

[0044] In one embodiment, each actuator 16 comprises the first portion 20 and the second portion 22 located at the two ends of a stack of at least two electrodes and one or more dielectric layers made of elastomer material interposed between the electrodes. Supplying the electrodes with electrical voltage makes it possible to vary the height of the stack, and thus to vary the distance between the first portion 20 and the second portion 22.

[0045] As visible in [Fig.3], the actuators 16 are distributed under the touch panel 6 (the outline of which is shown here in dotted lines), for example according to a matrix arrangement in rows and columns (here twelve rows and ten columns).

[0046] The repair of actuators 16 makes it possible to deform different areas of the touch panel 6 depending on which actuators 16 are activated or not.

[0047] Each actuator 16 has, for example, in top view, i.e. perpendicular to the front surface of the touch panel 6, an area falling within a square with a side of 10 mm, in particular a square with a side of 5 mm.

[0048] The distance between each actuator 16 and each adjacent actuator 16 is for example between 0.2 cm and 1.0 cm, in particular between 0.3 cm and 0.7 cm.

[0049] The greater the extent of each actuator 16 and / or the distance between actuators 16 adjacent is reduced, the finer the shape of the front surface 6A of the touch panel 6 can be changed.

[0050] Preferably, the human-machine interface device 4 comprises at least one configuration in which several actuators 16 in active configuration jointly define the same control element 24 projecting from the front surface 6A of the touch panel 6.

[0051] Each control element 24 is in the form of a protruding bump on the front surface 6A of the touch panel 6, each control element 24 allowing user interaction with the touch panel 6 detectable by the touch panel 6. In particular, the sensitive layer 12 is configured to detect user interaction with each control element 24.

[0052] Each control element 24 is for example a push button, a slider, a rotary button or a touchpad.

[0053] A control element 24 defining a push button has, for example, a square, rectangular or circular shape.

[0054] A control element 24 allows user interaction by pressing the control element 24 or by bringing a finger near the control element 24 to trigger an action associated with the control element 24.

[0055] A control element 24 defining a cursor has, for example, the shape of an elongated bump. The elongated bump may extend along a rectilinear or curvilinear line. Such a control element 24 may be associated, for example, with a control for adjusting a sound volume or adjusting a zoom of an image.

[0056] A control element 24 defining a cursor allows user interaction by moving his finger along the control element 24.

[0057] A control element 24 defining a rotary button has, for example, the shape of a disc-shaped bump or a circular ring having a center.

[0058] A control element 24 defining a rotary knob allows user interaction by moving one or more fingers on the control element 24 around the center of the control element 24, in one direction of rotation or the other direction of rotation.

[0059] A control element 24 defining a touchpad has, for example, the shape of a bump having a top surface in the form of a plate, for example with a rectangular or circular outline.

[0060] A control element 24 defining a touchpad allows user interaction by moving one or more fingers on the upper surface of the control element 24, for example to move a pointer over an image or to write alphanumeric characters, for example to enter a name, a telephone number or an address.

[0061] Preferably, the human-machine interface device 4 is provided with a lighting device making it possible to display a light pictogram associated with each control element 24, the light pictogram being for example lit when the corresponding control element 24 is active and extinguished when the corresponding control element 24 is inactive.

[0062] Preferably, the human-machine interface device 4 comprises at least one actuator 16 which defines a first control element 24 in a first configuration of the human-machine interface device 4, and a second control element 24 in a second configuration of the human-machine interface device 4, the second configuration being distinct from the first configuration.

[0063] The first control element 24 and the second control element 24 are for example of the same type or of different types, chosen in particular from a push button, a slider, a rotary button or a touchpad.

[0064] The first control element 24 and the second control element 24 are different but share one or more common actuators 16, each in an active configuration for both the first control element 24 and the second control element 24.

[0065] The human-machine interface device 4 comprises a control module 26 configured to control the actuators 16 according to several predetermined configurations, each configuration corresponding to a respective shape of the front surface 6A of the touch panel 6, different from that of the other configurations.

[0066] In each predetermined configuration, the touch panel 6 is deformed so as to form one or more control elements 24.

[0067] In each predetermined configuration, the sensitive layer 12 allows the detection of user interactions with each control element 24 defined in said predetermined configuration.

[0068] The control module 26 is for example configured to detect the user's interactions with the touch panel 6, more particularly with the front surface 6A of the touch panel 6, via the sensitive layer 12 connected to the control module 26.

[0069] Each configuration of the human-machine interface device 4 may be associated with a particular image or a particular menu of a graphical user interface of the human-machine interface device 4 displayed on a display screen 30 of the human-machine interface device 4.

[0070] One or more configurations of the human-machine interface device 4 may be associated with the same image or the same menu of the graphical user interface of the human-machine interface device 4.

[0071] When several configurations are associated with the same image or the same menu of the human-machine interface device 4, the selection of one of the configurations is carried out according to the current situation.

[0072] Advantageously, the human-machine interface device 4 is configured to select and implement each configuration according to the current situation.

[0073] In an exemplary embodiment, the human-machine interface device 4 is configured to implement a configuration based on a signal provided by a detection system 32 configured to detect the behavior of the user.

[0074] The detection system 32 comprises for example one or more behavior sensors 34 and a behavior detection module 36 configured to determine a behavior of the user based on the signals provided by the behavior sensors 34.

[0075] Each behavior sensor 34 comprises for example a camera, a radar or a biometric sensor.

[0076] The behavior detection module 36 is for example configured to provide a signal representative of a level of mental load of the user, i.e. a level of solicitation of the user.

[0077] The human-machine interface device 4 is for example configured, in a given situation, to implement a complex configuration associated with the given situation if the mental load level of the user is low and a simple configuration associated with the given situation if the mental load level of the user is high.

[0078] The complex configuration comprises, for example, more control elements 24 than the simple configuration.

[0079] Figures 4 to 8 illustrate examples of configuration of the human-machine interface device 4.

[0080] In [Fig.4], the human-machine interface device 4 is in a configuration with two control elements 24 in the form of push buttons located at the top of the front surface 6A of the touch panel 6. A luminous pictogram is displayed on each control element 24.

[0081] A control element 24 could for example be associated with a command to accept an incoming telephone call via a communication device such as a telephone connected to the human-machine interface device 4, and the other with a command to refuse an incoming telephone call.

[0082] In [Fig.5], the human-machine interface device 4 is in a configuration with a control element 24 in the form of a cursor located at the bottom of the front surface 6A of the touch panel 6. A luminous pictogram is displayed on the control element 24.

[0083] The control element 24 could for example be associated with a control of page loading on a graphical user interface associated with the human-machine interface device.

[0084] In [Fig.6], the human-machine interface device 4 is in a configuration with a control element 24 in the form of a rotary knob located in the center of the front surface 6A of the touch panel 6. A luminous pictogram is displayed on the control element 24.

[0085] The control element 24 could for example be associated with a control of a sound volume of a sound reproduction system controllable via the human-machine interface device 4.

[0086] In [Fig. 7], the human-machine interface device 4 is in a configuration combining the configurations of Figures 4 to 6, with two control elements 24 in the form of push buttons located at the top of the front surface 6A of the touch panel 6, a control element 24 in the form of a slider located at the bottom of the front surface 6A of the touch panel 6 and a control element 24 in the form of a rotary knob located in the center of the front surface 6A of the touch panel 6.

[0087] In each of the configurations of Figures 4 to 7, each control element 24 is formed by elastic deformation of the touch panel 6 by activating several adjacent actuators 14. Each control element 24 is larger than a single actuator 14.

[0088] During an incoming telephone call, depending on the mental load of the user, the human-machine interface device 4 is for example configured to use the simple configuration of [Fig.4] or the complete configuration of [Fig.7].

[0089] In [Fig.8], the human-machine interface device 4 is in a configuration with four control elements 24 in the form of push buttons located in the center of the front surface 6A of the touch panel 6. A luminous pictogram is displayed on each control element 24.

[0090] The control elements 24 could be associated with controls of a sound reproduction system, for example with controls for moving to the next or previous piece of music in a list of pieces of music and controls for increasing or decreasing the sound level.

[0091] Each of the control elements 24 of the configuration of [Fig.8] use actuators common to the control element 24 in the form of a rotary knob of Figures 6 and 7.

[0092] Thus, each of the common actuators 14 is active in a first configuration ([Fig.6] or 7) to form a control element 24 and active in a second configuration ([Fig.8]) to form another control element 24.

[0093] Thanks to the human-machine interface device 4 having a configurable touch panel 6, it is possible to offer different configurations adapted according to circumstances, including based on the state of a graphical user interface or user availability, to limit user requests to what is strictly necessary when the user is busy with other tasks or to provide access to more functionality when the user is more available.

[0094] Each control element 24 formed as a projection on the front surface 6A of the touch panel 6 allows the user to tactilely identify the position of the control element 24. The user can thus interact with the control element 24 more easily than with a virtual button on a graphical user interface. In particular, he can locate the control element 24 tactilely without looking at the touch panel 6, and, for example in the case of a vehicle, without taking his eyes off the road.

[0095] A dielectric elastomer actuator 16 may have a thin thickness, in particular thinner than a pneumatic or electromechanical actuator. A dielectric elastomer actuator 16 is easy to assemble, reliable over time (e.g. no risk of loss of pneumatic pressure) and offers great freedom in creating the shape of each control element 24.

Claims

Claims

1. A human-machine interface device (4) comprising a touch panel (6) having a front surface (6A) intended to be visible to a user and a rear surface (6B), the touch panel (6) being configured to detect an interaction of said user with the touch panel (6), the touch panel (6) being elastically deformable, and a plurality of actuators (16) arranged behind the touch panel (6), each actuator (16) being controllable between a retracted configuration and an extended configuration in which the actuator (16) deforms an area of ​​the touch panel (6) located opposite the actuator (16) by forming a protruding bump on the front surface (6A) of the touch panel (6),the human-machine interface device (4) comprising at least one configuration in which several actuators (16) in the extended position jointly define a single control element (24) projecting from the front surface (6A) of the touch panel (6), characterized in that the touch panel (6) comprises an external layer (10) covering a sensitive layer (12) configured to detect an interaction of said user with the touch panel (6), the sensitive layer (12) being a layer of elastic ink.,

2. A human-machine interface device according to claim 1, wherein each actuator (16) is a dielectric elastomer actuator.

3. A human-machine interface device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein at least one of the actuators (16) is in the extended position in at least two distinct configurations of said human-machine interface device (4) in which said at least one actuator (16) defines two different control elements.

4. A human-machine interface device according to any preceding claim, wherein the actuators (16) are distributed behind the touch panel (16) in a matrix arrangement.

5. A human-machine interface device according to any preceding claim, wherein the distance between each actuator (16) and each adjacent actuator (16) is between 0.2 cm and 1.0 cm, in particular between 0.3 cm and 0.7 cm.

6. A human-machine interface device according to any preceding claim, wherein the sensitive layer (12) defines a

7.

8.

9.

10. plurality of sensors (14). A human-machine interface device according to claim 6, wherein each sensor (14) is a capacitive sensor or a resistive sensor. A human-machine interface device according to claim 6 or claim 7, wherein the elastic ink layer is printed in patterns defining each sensor (14). Human-machine interface device according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the sensitive layer (12) comprises a respective sensor (14) opposite each actuator (16). A human-machine interface device according to any preceding claim, wherein the elastic ink is electrically conductive.

Images