Electronic key fob for motor vehicles featuring a reconfigurable display screen

Abstract

An electronic key fob (1) for a motor vehicle enabling remote control of at least one vehicle function, comprising a housing (2) bearing at least one physical control button capable of controlling the vehicle function, and a display screen (31) capable of displaying several screen pages, using an electronic ink display technique; said housing (2) containing a display management module (31) capable of selecting a specific page of the screen (31) to be displayed on the screen (31) bearing a graphic representation (32) of the make of the vehicle to which the key fob (1) is paired from among a specific set of pages capable of being displayed by the screen (31) containing respectively a set of graphic representations of vehicle makes all belonging to the same motor vehicle manufacturer or group of motor vehicle manufacturers. (Figure 2)

Description

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

[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 reconfigurable display screen.

[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 information for personalizing the unit.

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

[0004] In the prior art, an electronic key case comprising first and second half-shells, each having a base extended at its periphery by a connecting edge with the other half-shell; the connecting edges of the two half-shells of the case extending along a connecting plane of these two half-shells and forming complementary means for closing the case cooperating with each other by force snap-fit.

[0005] Typically, a housing of this type is used to form the gripping end of a key for operating a vehicle lock. In this case, the housing forms a support for an electronic device for remotely controlling the vehicle's openings and / or recognizing an authorized user. An internal battery (or cell) within the housing provides power to the electronic control device. One of the two halves of the housing supports physical control buttons for the electronic device, for example, buttons for locking and unlocking the doors and opening the vehicle's trunk.

[0006] Furthermore, the housing can form a housing for a metal insert, also called a cam, intended to be inserted into the lock for its emergency mechanical opening.

[0007] The half-shell, opposite the one supporting the control buttons, also called the cover (or "cover" in Anglo-Saxon terminology), generally bears the logo of the brand of the vehicle to which the housing is paired.

[0008] This logo is generally engraved or made from the plastic material constituting the lid. This logo allows the case to be personalized, and for a manufacturer with a wide variety of brands and therefore logos, it is necessary A case, or at least a cover, should be provided for each vehicle brand. Furthermore, case customization is limited to the logo.

[0009] To overcome these drawbacks, the present invention proposes a solution enabling a varied, customizable and reconfigurable graphic display on the same unit and without energy expenditure in use.

[0010] To this end, the present invention has as its first object an electronic key case for motor vehicles allowing remote control of at least one function of the vehicle, comprising a case body carrying at least one physical control button capable of controlling the vehicle function, and a display screen capable of displaying several screen pages, using an electronic ink display technique; said case body housing a screen display management module capable of selecting a determined page of the screen to be displayed on the screen bearing a graphic representation of the brand of the vehicle to which the case is paired from among a determined set of pages capable of being displayed by 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.

[0011] According to one feature, the housing body further houses a wireless communication module coupled to the screen display management module, capable of receiving data transmitted by a remote terminal to select a specific screen page and display the specified page via the management module.

[0012] According to another feature, the management module is also capable of displaying on the screen graphical customization information related to the user of the device.

[0013] According to another feature, the housing body contains an electronic board supporting a remote control device for the vehicle function to which the physical control button is coupled; said board also supporting the display management module and the wireless communication module.

[0014] According to another feature, the electronic board is electrically powered by a battery supported by the board.

[0015] According to another feature, the housing body further houses a retractable emergency key insert arranged in the housing body along an internal edge of the housing body in the retracted position.

[0016] The present invention has as its second object a method for managing the display of the screen of a device as described above, implemented by the display management module, consisting of selecting and displaying a specific screen page of the screen related to the vehicle to which the device is paired, upon receipt of data transmitted to the box by a remote terminal of the box via the wireless communication module.

[0017] According to one feature, the method further consists of displaying on the screen graphic personalization information related to the user of the device.

[0018] 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.

[0019] The present invention has the advantage of reducing the number of covers bearing a personalized graphic representation of the numerous motor vehicle brands (logo, model, silhouette, etc.) of the same manufacturer or group of manufacturers. The present invention makes it possible to use only one cover for all the brands.

[0020] Other features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent upon examination of the detailed description below, and the accompanying drawing, in which:

[0021] [Fig. 1] schematically illustrates a cross-sectional view of a key housing according to the invention; and

[0022] [Fig.2] illustrates a key case according to the invention in perspective.

[0023] Fig. 1 illustrates, by means of a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view, a mode of relation of an electronic key housing 1 according to the invention.

[0024] 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.

[0025] 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.

[0026] The housing body 2 also houses a PCB (Printing Circuit Board) type electronic card 10.

[0027] The card 10 supports an electronic remote control device 11 for controlling vehicle functions, including central locking / unlocking of vehicle doors, as well as a wireless communication module 12 (via wave) using, for example, Wifi, Bluetooth, ... technology. 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.

[0028] 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.

[0029] The housing body 2 also supports on its outer face 20 opposite the cover 3, 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 control of vehicle functions such as locking and unlocking the vehicle openings (locking the doors, unlocking the doors, opening the trunk) via the electronic control device 11.

[0030] The cover 3 covers the housing body 2, on the external face 30 of the housing 1, opposite the external face 20 of the housing body 2 bearing the physical control buttons 21.

[0031] The cover 3 is transparent and covers or incorporates a screen 31 using a display technique on a flexible, electronically modifiable medium, which does not require energy to maintain a displayed text or image. This display technique is known as "electronic ink" (e-ink in Anglo-Saxon terminology) or "electronic paper" (e-paper in Anglo-Saxon terminology).

[0032] It 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.

[0033] The card 10 supports a display management module 13 for the screen 31 coupled to the communication module 12 and the screen 31.

[0034] In one embodiment, illustrated by [Fig.2] and representing the case 1 according to the invention in perspective in a viewing direction by a user of the case 1, the screen 31 substantially fills the entire outer face 30 of the cover 3 and blends into the latter, so as to optimize the display area of ​​the screen 31 and allow the display of a still image representing the logo 32 of the brand in the upper third of the cover 3, considering the reading direction for a user of the case 1, and the display of a text message here of welcome with the first name of the user and his photo 33, in the lower two-thirds of the cover 3.

[0035] 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.

[0036] According to possible embodiments of the cover 3, the edges of the usable 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. By usable surface of the screen 31, we mean the surface of the screen 31 used for displaying graphic motifs: text, images, photos, and other graphic motifs that can be displayed with the electronic ink display technique.

[0037] Thanks to this technique, 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.

[0038] The wireless communication module 12 is coupled to the display management module 13 of the screen 31 itself coupled to the screen 31.

[0039] The management module 13 allows a specific page to be selected in the screen 31 from among a specific number of pages that can be displayed by the screen 31, from a remote electronic device or terminal communicating by means of waves (Smartphone, tablet, laptop, vehicle telematics box, ...) not shown.

[0040] Each page of screen 31 contains at least one graphic representation (logo) 32 of each vehicle brand of the manufacturer or group of car manufacturers.

[0041] Thus, the pairing of the cover 31 and therefore of the key housing 1, with the vehicle, is immediate by selecting the page of the display screen 31 corresponding to the brand of the vehicle for which the housing 1 is intended.

[0042] The only energy expenditure related to the electronic ink display technology occurs when the screen 31 changes pages (display state changes). Once the display on screen 31 is frozen, there is no further energy expenditure. The logo 32 is then permanently displayed on screen 31 as long as the unit 1 is paired with the vehicle of the brand corresponding to the logo 32.

[0043] The pairing 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 brand of the vehicle with which the unit 1 is paired, upon receipt of control data transmitted by the remote terminal of the manufacturer (or group of automotive manufacturers) and transmitted to the management unit 13 via the communication module 12.

[0044] Other graphical personalization information related to the user of the unit 1 (e.g., a welcome text message, an image or photo 33 of the user) can be displayed in addition to the brand logo 32. This data can be recorded in a file on any data storage medium and transmitted wirelessly to the unit 1, from a dealership, particularly at the time of the initial handover of the keys to the user, via a terminal of the vehicle manufacturer or group of manufacturers, and / or the vehicle's telematics unit (or multimedia unit).

[0045] The method for managing the display of screen 31 implemented by the display management module 13 then consists of adding the personalization information to the page of screen 31 bearing the logo 32, upon receipt of order data transmitted by the remote terminal of the manufacturer (or group of automotive manufacturers) and transmitted to the management unit 13 via the communication module 12.

[0046] Updates to the content and / or graphics of the pages of screen 31 may also be made by the manufacturer (or group of car manufacturers) depending on the vehicle brands (brand graphic universe) and developments in the design of the casings.

[0047] The management process selects the screen pages and replaces the old content and / or graphics with new ones

[0048] All these operations: pairing, adding information and updates, are performed remotely via radio waves. The updates are of the OTA (Over The Air) type, for example, from an update program executed, for example, by a portable terminal of the manufacturer (or group of automotive manufacturers) communicating via radio waves with the unit 1, a laptop or other device.

[0049] The invention 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 a motor vehicle allowing remote control of at least one function of the vehicle, comprising a housing body (2) carrying at least one physical control button (21) capable of controlling the vehicle function, and a display screen (31) capable of displaying several screen pages, using an electronic ink display technique; said housing body (2) housing a display management module (13) for the screen (31) capable of selecting a specific page of the screen (31) to be displayed on the screen (31) bearing a graphic representation (32) of the brand of the vehicle to which the housing (1) is paired from among a specific set of pages capable of being displayed by the screen (31) containing respectively a set of graphic representations of vehicle brands all belonging to the same motor vehicle manufacturer or the same group of motor vehicle manufacturers.

2. Housing (1) according to the preceding claim, in which the housing body (2) further houses a wireless communication module (12) coupled to the display management module (13) of the screen (31), capable of receiving data transmitted by a remote terminal to select a specified screen page of the screen (31) and display the specified page via the management module (13).

3. Case (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the management module (13) is capable of further displaying on the screen (31) graphic personalization information related to the user of the case (1).

4. Housing (1) according to the preceding claim, in which the housing body (2) houses an electronic card (10) supporting a remote control device (11) for the vehicle function to which the physical control button (21) is coupled; said card (10) further supporting the display management module (13) and the wireless communication module (12).

5. 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).

6. A housing (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the housing body (2) further accommodates a spare key insert (4) retractable arranged in the housing body (2) along an internal edge of the housing body (2) in the retracted position.

7. Method of managing the display of the screen (31) of a box (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 6, implemented by the display management module (13), consisting of selecting and displaying a determined screen page of the screen (31) in relation to the vehicle to which the box (1) is paired, upon receipt of data transmitted to the box (1) by a remote terminal of the box (1) via the wireless communication module (12).

8. Method according to the preceding claim, further consisting of displaying on the screen (31) graphic personalization information related to the user of the device (1).

9. 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 7 or 8.

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