Electronic key fob for motor vehicles featuring a screen with an evolving display

Abstract

An electronic key fob (1) for a motor vehicle enabling remote control of vehicle functions; said fob (1) comprising a housing body (2) and a display screen (31) covering substantially the entire surface of one outer face of the housing body (2) capable of displaying reconfigurable pictograms (33) on the screen (31), representing the vehicle functions to be controlled and arranged opposite touch buttons (30) capable of controlling said functions; said fob (1) further comprising a display management module (13) for the screen (31) capable of selecting and prioritizing the pictograms (33) to be displayed on the screen (31) according to their frequency of use. (Figure 1)

Description

Title of the invention: Electronic key fob for motor vehicles comprising a screen with a dynamic display

[0001] The present invention relates generally to keys enabling remote control of functions of a motor vehicle and relates more particularly to an electronic key box for motor vehicles comprising a screen with an evolving display.

[0002] By electronic key, we mean a key which allows at least the remote locking and unlocking of the vehicle's openings (doors, trunk, etc.) and by screen, a screen capable of displaying control information related to vehicle functions.

[0003] Such a key is also referred to as a "key fob" in Anglo-Saxon terminology or even a "plip".

[0004] An electronic key fob with a display screen using LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode), or TFT (Thin Film Transistor) display technology is already known in the prior art, along with physical control buttons, including buttons for controlling so-called security functions, such as door locking and unlocking buttons, trunk opening buttons, or a panic button, ...

[0005] Such a screen allows control of a large number of vehicle functions which would be impossible to achieve from physical buttons, given that some vehicles can potentially have up to fourteen functions which can be controlled remotely.

[0006] However, the display of commands on the screen follows a display logic determined by the manufacturer of the vehicle to which the unit is paired and does not take into account the usage habits of the unit during the unit's usage cycle.

[0007] To overcome this drawback, the present invention proposes a solution enabling an evolving and automatic display based on the use of the functions controlled by the device. The display is also customizable and reconfigurable by the user.

[0008] To this end, the present invention has as its first object an electronic key fob for a motor vehicle allowing remote control of vehicle functions; said fob comprising a housing body and a display screen covering substantially the entire surface of an outer face of the housing body capable of displaying at least one pictogram on the screen, representing a function of the vehicle to be controlled and arranged opposite a touch button capable of controlling said function; said unit further comprising a screen display management module capable of selecting and prioritizing the pictograms to be displayed on the screen according to their frequency of use.

[0009] According to one feature, the management module is also capable of selecting a graphic representation to display of the brand of the vehicle to which the device is paired from a determined set of screen pages of the screen containing respectively a set of graphic representations of the brands of vehicles all belonging to the same car manufacturer or the same group of car manufacturers.

[0010] According to another feature, the housing body contains an electronic board supporting a remote control device for the vehicle's functions to which the touch control button is coupled; said board also supporting the screen display management module and the wireless communication module.

[0011] According to another feature, the electronic board (is electrically powered by a battery supported by the board.

[0012] According to another feature, the housing body further supports a retractable mechanical emergency key insert arranged in the housing body, along an edge of the housing body, in the retracted position.

[0013] According to another feature, the display screen is an electronic ink screen capable of displaying multiple screen pages.

[0014] According to another feature, the housing body further comprises at least one physical control button related to a so-called vehicle safety function.

[0015] The present invention has as its second object a method of managing the display of the screen of a box as described above, implemented by the display management module, consisting of selecting a graphic representation of the brand of the vehicle to which the box is paired for its display on the screen and selecting and arranging one or more pictograms representing one or more functions to be controlled and displayed on the screen upon receipt of data transmitted by a remote terminal to the management unit via the wireless communication module.

[0016] According to one feature, the method consists of displaying only one pictogram at a time on the screen; the pictogram displayed on the screen immediately succeeding a previous pictogram, after activation of the touch button associated with the previous pictogram, according to a pre-established display order determined from a set of determined pictograms.

[0017] Finally, the present invention has as its third object a computer program product comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer, lead the latter to implement the process as described above.

[0018] The introduction of a screen with an evolving and reconfigurable display, in addition to the advantages already mentioned above, has the further advantage of reducing the diversity of boxes bearing the logos of the different brands of motor vehicles belonging to the same manufacturer or group of motor vehicle manufacturers: the reconfigurable display screen makes it possible to use only one box for all the brands.

[0019] The present invention also makes it possible to manage the display of touch control buttons on the screen according to multiple organizations either by the manufacturer (or group of car manufacturers) in the factory or dealership, or by the user from a remote portable terminal.

[0020] The present invention provides a further solution for reducing the number of touch buttons displayed on the screen.

[0021] Other features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent upon examination of the detailed description below, and the accompanying drawing, in which:

[0022] [Fig.1] schematically illustrates a cross-sectional view of a key case according to the invention;

[0023] [Fig.2] illustrates a key case according to the invention in perspective displaying a first page according to a first display mode;

[0024] [Fig. 3] illustrates a key case according to the invention in perspective displaying a second page according to the first display mode;

[0025] [Fig.4] illustrates a key case according to the invention in perspective displaying a first page according to a second display mode;

[0026] [Fig. 5] illustrates a key case according to the invention in perspective displaying a second page according to the second display mode; and

[0027] [Fig.6] illustrates a key case according to the invention in perspective during the phase of screen display reconfiguration.

[0028] Fig. 1 illustrates, by means of a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view, an embodiment of an electronic key housing 1 according to the invention.

[0029] The housing 1 is formed by the assembly of a housing body 2 with a cover 3. The assembly of the cover 3 onto the housing body 2, which are made from plastic materials, is done for example by simple snap-fitting.

[0030] The housing body 2 houses a mechanical locking / unlocking device 4 for the driver's side door, called a cam or insert, along an inner edge of the housing body 2 in its retracted position.

[0031] The housing body 2 also houses a PCB (Printing Circuit Board) type electronic card 10.

[0032] The card 10 supports an electronic remote control device 11 for controlling vehicle functions, including central locking / unlocking of vehicle doors and other functions, as well as a wireless communication module 12 (via wave) using, for example, Wifi, Bluetooth, ... technology and a display management module 13 for the screen 31 coupled to the communication module 12.

[0033] This module 12 allows data to be exchanged between the box 1 and a remote and communicating electronic device such as a smartphone, tablet, laptop, vehicle telematics box, ... not shown, via the display management module 13.

[0034] The electronic board 10 is powered by a battery 5 internal to the housing 1. The battery 5 can be, for example, an electric cell, of the button cell type, carried by the electronic board 10.

[0035] In the embodiment illustrated in [Fig.1], the housing body 2 supports on its outer face 20, a control pad comprising one or more physical keys, or control buttons 21 (here three buttons 21), of the push-button type or otherwise, for the remote actuation of so-called security functions of the vehicle such as locking the doors, unlocking the doors, opening the trunk via the electronic control device 11.

[0036] The cover 3 covers the housing body 2, on the external face 30 of the housing 1 which is opposite the external face 20 of the housing body 2 bearing the physical control buttons 21.

[0037] The cover 3 has a transparent outer face 30 covering or incorporating a screen 31 using a display technology that may be TFT (Thin Film Transistor), OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode), LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), or an electronic ink display technology. This technology, referred to as electronic ink ("e-ink" in Anglo-Saxon terminology) or electronic paper ("e-paper" in Anglo-Saxon terminology), has the advantage of not requiring energy to maintain a displayed (static) text or image on the screen 31. The only energy expenditure occurs when the display of the screen 31 changes (change of display state).

[0038] The usable display area of ​​the screen 31 can cover the entire outer surface 30 of the cover 3. The user can thus clearly read the information displayed on the screen 31 of the housing 1.

[0039] By usable surface of the screen 31, we mean the surface of the screen 31 used for displaying graphic, textual patterns, images, photos, and other patterns that can be displayed with the aforementioned techniques.

[0040] The cover 3 is also particularly flat, smooth, and of low thickness (its thickness being given mainly by the thickness of the screen 31), which contributes to giving the case 1 a clean line.

[0041] A touch-sensitive layer 20, in particular capacitive, referred to as the control touch layer in the following description, is arranged against the inner face of the screen 31 and extends substantially over the entire surface of the inner face of the screen 31.

[0042] The control touch layer 20 and the screen 31 are coupled respectively to control circuits 22, 32 carried by the electronic board 10, by wired connections not shown.

[0043] The assembly formed by the screen 31 and the touch control layer 20 define a touch control interface 20, 31 for the remote control of functions of the motor vehicle to which the box 1 is paired.

[0044] This interface 20, 31 allows a large number of touch control buttons to be displayed, organized on different pages of the screen 31, and therefore allows a large number of vehicle functions to be controlled via the same unit 1.

[0045] The screen 31 allows the display of one or more pictograms representing one or more vehicle function controls. It also allows the display of graphic representations (logos) of vehicle brands from the same manufacturer or even group of automotive manufacturers.

[0046] The interface 20, 31 is coupled to an electronic remote control device 11 supported by the card 10 for remote control of vehicle functions, including central locking / unlocking of vehicle openings.

[0047] The electronic board 10 also supports a wireless communication module 12 (via wave) using, for example, Wifi, Bluetooth, ... technology

[0048] This module 12 allows data to be exchanged between the box 1 and a remote and communicating electronic device, or terminal such as a Smartphone, tablet, laptop, vehicle telematics box, ... not shown for setting up and configuring the screen 31.

[0049] Thus, with such an interface 20, 31, the screen 31 provides the information of the function to be controlled and the touch control layer 20, allows the action of the control in interaction with the control device 11. A touch control button 33 is defined by the area of ​​the touch layer 20 which is opposite the pictogram of the function to be controlled.

[0050] In the figures and in the description that follows, the touch control button and the pictogram opposite the button will be referred to by the same numerical reference 33.

[0051] In the embodiments illustrated in the figures, the screen 31 substantially fills the entire outer face of the cover 3 so as to optimize the display area of the screen 31 and allow the display of a still image representing the brand logo in the upper third of the cover 3, taking into account the reading direction for a user of the case 1, and the display of the pictograms (control buttons 33) in the lower two-thirds of the cover 3.

[0052] The overall dimensions of the cover 3 and therefore of the screen 31 are substantially identical to the overall dimensions of the case 1. Its dimensions are typically those of an electronic key case; a case which fits in the user's hand.

[0053] According to possible embodiments of the cover 3, the edges of the useful surface of the screen 31 are flush with the edges of the cover 3 or are substantially recessed from the edges of the cover 3, thus presenting a kind of frame for the surface of the screen 31.

[0054] In a first display mode, illustrated by figures 2 and 3, representing the box 1 according to the invention in perspective in a viewing direction by a user of the box 1, the display management module 13 controls the display of a still image representing the logo 32 of the brand, in the upper part of the screen 31 (here the upper half of the screen 31), considering the reading direction for a user of the box 1, and the display of a touch button 33 in the form of a graphic representation of a control of a function of the vehicle, in the lower part of the screen 31 (here the upper half of the screen 31).

[0055] The locking and unlocking controls, illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 respectively, are represented by a pictogram in the form of a closed and open padlock, respectively, surmounted by text indicating the control's designation (Master Control). Other controls may be displayed, such as opening and closing the trunk, turning the headlights on and off, etc.

[0056] In this first display mode, in order to reduce the number of touch buttons 33 displayed on the lower part of the screen 31 (here, the lower half), which, when too numerous, can impair the readability of the screen 31, the display management module 13 controls the display of only one pictogram 33 (a single touch button) at a time on the screen 31. The pictograms (touch buttons) are displayed successively on the screen 31 in an order that follows a specific display logic and prioritizes pictograms relating to so-called safety functions: the pictogram corresponding to unlocking replaces the locking pictogram on the screen 31 in order to allow unlocking by pressing the touch button 33 bearing the unlock pictogram. The same applies to opening and closing the trunk, turning the headlights on and off, etc.

[0057] In a second display mode, illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, and also with the aim of reducing the number of touch buttons 33 displayed on the lower half of the screen 31, the display management module 13 controls the display of the pictograms (touch buttons 33) on screen 31, according to the type of commands and their frequency of use by the user of the box 1 (usage habits).

[0058] As already mentioned above, the so-called safety controls, such as locking and unlocking the vehicle doors, the trunk or the "panic" control which activates the vehicle alarm, ... are carried out from physical control buttons on the housing 1.

[0059] As an alternative, they could also be made from touch control buttons added to the other touch control buttons available for their display on the screen 31. These "safety" touch buttons are then permanently displayed on the first page of the screen 31.

[0060] The pictograms 33 relating to the other vehicle controls are, for their part, hierarchically ordered during their display according to their frequency of use. A learning module of the management module 13, not shown, memorizes the different controls as they are used and prioritizes them according to their frequency of use. They are then organized into screen pages, with a maximum of four pictograms 33 per screen page in the examples considered in [Fig. 4] and 5.

[0061] When the user scrolls through the pages of the screen 31, they follow one another in accordance with the hierarchy of pictograms 33 which is done automatically according to the user's habits of using the commands.

[0062] Thanks to the box 1 according to the invention, it becomes possible to fully configure and set up the display of the screen 31, both with regard to the logo to be displayed in the upper half of the screen 31 (the logo remains permanently displayed as long as the box is paired with the vehicle) and the pictograms (touch buttons 33) to be displayed in the lower half of the screen 31.

[0063] The box 1 uses the communication module 12, coupled with the display management module 13 for a new setting and / or a new configuration of the display of the screen 31.

[0064] Updates to the content and / or graphics of the screen 31 can be performed by the manufacturer (or group of automotive manufacturers) wirelessly: for example, an OTA (Over The Air) update, using an update program executed, for example, by a portable terminal belonging to the manufacturer (or group of automotive manufacturers) communicating wirelessly with the control unit 1, such as a laptop computer. Such updates can be performed at the factory, during vehicle maintenance, or at the dealership when the keys are first handed over to the user.

[0065] Such an update uses a method of managing the display of the screen 31 implemented by the display management module 13, consisting of selecting a page of the screen 31 related to the vehicle to which the box 1 is paired, upon receipt of data emitted by the portable terminal of the manufacturer (or group of automotive manufacturers) and transmitted to the management unit 13 via the communication module 12.

[0066] The screen 31, or a part of the screen 31, allows the display of several pages. The management module 13 allows the selection of a specific page in the screen 31 from among a specific number of pages that can be displayed on the screen 31, from a remote electronic device, or terminal, communicating via radio waves (Smartphone, tablet, laptop, vehicle telematics unit, etc.) not shown.

[0067] Each page of screen 31 contains at least a graphic representation (logo) 32 of one of the vehicle brands of the manufacturer or group of car manufacturers.

[0068] Thus, the personalization of the cover 31 and therefore of the key housing 1 is immediate by selecting the page of the display screen 31 corresponding to the brand of the vehicle to which the housing 1 is paired.

[0069] During the vehicle's life cycle, when new pictograms corresponding to new vehicle function commands are available and offered by the manufacturer or group of car manufacturers, the user will have the option to download them from the vehicle's telematics box, or multimedia box, not shown, via a menu on a multimedia screen 40 of the vehicle coupled to the multimedia box, as illustrated in [Fig.6], or from his Smartphone, or any other portable terminal connected to the box 1 via a dedicated application and a subscription, to transfer the new pictograms.

[0070] He will also be able to choose the pictograms available for controlling non-safety vehicle functions that he wants to see displayed on his key, as well as the graphic style: typography, type of pictograms, font or background color, ...

[0071] The invention thus makes it possible to move from a fixed object, imposed on the user, to an object that he can adapt according to his desires or expectations, or when there is a change of user.

[0072] It is also particularly flat and of low thickness (thickness which is barely greater than that of the emergency insert 4 contained in the housing 1), which makes it an object with a clean line.

[0073] The invention also implements a computer program product comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer, lead the computer to implement the process as described above.

Claims

Demands

1. Electronic key housing (1) for motor vehicles enabling remote control of vehicle functions; said housing (1) comprising a housing body (2) and a display screen (31) covering substantially the entire surface of an outer face (30) of the housing body (2) capable of displaying at least one pictogram on the screen (31), representing a vehicle function to be controlled and arranged opposite a touch button (33) capable of controlling said function; said housing (1) further comprising a display management module (13) for the screen (31) capable of selecting and prioritizing the pictograms to be displayed on the screen (31) according to their frequency of use.

2. A unit (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the management module (13) is further capable of selecting a graphic representation (32) to be displayed of the brand of the vehicle to which the unit (1) is paired from a determined set of screen pages of the screen (31) containing respectively a set of graphic representations of vehicle brands all belonging to the same car manufacturer or the same group of car manufacturers.

3. Housing (1) according to the preceding claim, in which the housing body (2) houses an electronic card (10) supporting a device (11) for remotely controlling the vehicle functions to which the touch control button (21) is coupled; said card (10) further supporting the display management module (13) for the screen (31) and the wireless communication module (12).

4. Housing (1) according to the preceding claim, in which the electronic card (10) is electrically powered by a battery (5) supported by the card (10).

5. Housing (1) according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the housing body (2) further supports a retractable mechanical emergency key insert (4) arranged in the housing body (2), along an edge of the housing body (2), in the retracted position.

6. Housing (1) according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the display screen (31) is an electronic ink screen capable of displaying multiple screen pages.

7. Housing (1) according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the housing body (2) further comprises at least one physical control button (21) related to a so-called vehicle safety function.

8. Method of managing the display of the screen (31) of a box (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, implemented by the display management module (13), consisting of selecting a graphic representation of the brand of the vehicle to which the box (1) is paired for its display on the screen (31) and selecting and arranging one or more pictograms representing one or more control functions to be displayed on the screen (31) upon receipt of data transmitted by a remote terminal, to the management unit (13), via the wireless communication module (12).

9. A method according to the preceding claim, consisting of displaying only one pictogram at a time on the screen (31); the pictogram displayed on the screen (31) immediately succeeding a previous pictogram after activation of the touch button (33) associated with the previous pictogram, according to a pre-established display order determined from a set of determined pictograms.

10. Product computer program comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out the method according to one of claims 8 or 9.