Electronic key fob for motor vehicles without physical control buttons and with a reconfigurable screen

Abstract

An electronic key fob (1) comprising a housing body (2) without physical buttons and comprising an electronic ink display screen (31) capable of displaying at least one pictogram on the screen (31), representing a function of the vehicle to be controlled and arranged opposite a touch button capable of controlling said function; said screen (31) being capable of further displaying a reconfigurable graphic representation of the make of the vehicle to which the fob (1) is paired; said housing body (2) further housing a display management module (13) capable of selecting the graphic representation of the make of the vehicle to which the fob (1) is paired from a predetermined set of graphic representations of vehicle makes all belonging to the same vehicle manufacturer, and of selecting and arranging the one or more pictograms to be displayed from a set of predefined pictograms. (Figure 1)

Description

Title of the invention: Electronic key fob for motor vehicles without physical control buttons and with a reconfigurable 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 without physical buttons and with a reconfigurable 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 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] Furthermore, the housing contains a metal insert (or cam) intended to be inserted into the lock for its emergency mechanical opening.

[0007] The so-called security physical control buttons, typically three in number on a standard electronic key case, occupy a significant volume in relation to the total volume of the case.

[0008] They have a determined thickness which is involved in the total thickness of the case and therefore impacts the design of the case.

[0009] They introduce a mechatronic mechanism (contact mechanism and electronic connection) that is liable to wear out or even break.

[0010] Furthermore, LCD, OLED or TFT type screens are very energy-intensive and it is Therefore, it is necessary to plan for regular recharging of the device's battery; this requires equipping the device with a connector and a charging circuit. This further increases the device's size and adds an extra layer of fragility.

[0011] To overcome these drawbacks, the present invention proposes a solution that makes it possible to do without physical control buttons and physical connectors on the case, thereby reducing its weight and slimming its profile (reducing the thickness of the case, which is substantially flat).

[0012] To this end, the present invention has as its first object an electronic key case for motor vehicles allowing remote control of vehicle functions; said case comprising a body of case without physical control buttons and comprising an electronic ink display screen covering substantially the entire surface of an external face of the body of case, 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 screen being capable of also displaying a reconfigurable graphic representation of the brand of the vehicle to which the case is paired;said housing unit also containing a screen display management module capable of selecting the graphic representation of the vehicle brand to which the unit is paired from a predetermined set of graphic representations of vehicle brands all belonging to the same car manufacturer or group of car manufacturers, and of selecting and arranging the one or more pictograms to be displayed, associated with the function(s) to be controlled, from a set of predefined pictograms.

[0013] According to one feature, the housing body also houses a wireless communication module, coupled to the display management module of the screen, capable of receiving data transmitted by a remote terminal to control the display management module.

[0014] According to another feature, the housing body contains an electronic board supporting a remote control device for the vehicle function to which the touch control button is coupled; said board also supporting the screen display management module and the wireless communication module.

[0015] According to another feature, the electronic board is electrically powered by a battery supported by the board.

[0016] According to another feature, the housing body further houses a retractable mechanical emergency key insert arranged in the housing body, along an internal edge of the housing body, in the retracted position.

[0017] According to another feature, the display screen is capable of displaying several screen pages.

[0018] 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.

[0019] 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.

[0020] According to another feature, the method consists of permanently displaying on the screen a first set of determined pictograms associated with so-called safety control functions, and displaying a second set of determined pictograms hierarchically on the screen according to their frequency of use.

[0021] 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.

[0022] The introduction of an electronic ink display screen associated with a touch control layer, replacing physical control buttons, in addition to the advantages already mentioned above, has the further advantage of reducing the diversity of covers bearing a personalized graphic representation of the many brands of motor vehicles (logo) of the same manufacturer or group of motor vehicle manufacturers, allowing only one cover to be used for all brands.

[0023] It also allows for the management of the display of touch control buttons on the screen according to multiple configurations, either by the manufacturer (or group of automotive manufacturers) or by the user. Furthermore, thanks to the use of electronic ink display technology, it consumes very little electrical energy: only during changes in display state (no energy is consumed to maintain the display: the display is static).

[0024] The present invention provides yet another solution for reducing the number of touch buttons displayed on the screen.

[0025] Other features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent upon examination of the detailed description below, and the accompanying drawing, in which:

[0026] [Fig. 1] schematically illustrates a cross-sectional view of a key housing according to the invention;

[0027] [Fig.2] illustrates a key case according to the invention in perspective displaying a first page according to a first display mode;

[0028] [Fig. 3] illustrates a key case according to the invention in perspective displaying a second page according to the first display mode;

[0029] [Fig. 4] illustrates a key case according to the invention in perspective displaying a first page according to a second display mode;

[0030] [Fig. 5] illustrates a key case according to the invention in perspective displaying a second page according to the second display mode; and

[0031] [Fig. 6] illustrates a key case according to the invention in perspective during reconfiguration screen display configuration.

[0032] Fig. 1 illustrates, by means of a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view, an embodiment of an electronic key case 1 without physical control buttons and comprising a display screen according to the invention.

[0033] In the embodiment, 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-fit.

[0034] 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.

[0035] 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, textual patterns, images, photos, and other patterns that can be displayed.

[0036] The housing body 2, houses a metal emergency locking / unlocking element 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.

[0037] The housing body 2 also houses a PCB (Printing Circuit Board) type electronic card 10.

[0038] 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.

[0039] The cover 3 closes, by covering it, the housing body 2.

[0040] The cover 3 has a transparent outer face 30 covering or incorporating a screen 31 using a display technique on a flexible, electronically modifiable medium, not requiring 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).

[0041] 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.

[0042] A touch detection 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 (the face which is opposite the electronic board 10) and extends substantially over the entire surface of the inner face of the screen 31.

[0043] 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.

[0044] 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. This interface 20, 31 replaces the physical control button pad of the state-of-the-art boxes.

[0045] 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 associated with the pictogram of the function to be controlled.

[0046] In the figures and in the description that follows, the touch control button and the pictogram associated with the button will be referred to by the same numerical reference 33.

[0047] With an electronic ink screen 31, the only electrical consumption of the housing 1 occurs only at the time of the change of state of the display (change of the display of the pictogram of the touch button).

[0048] The electronic ink screen 31 allows the display of pictograms representing functions of the vehicle to be controlled. It also allows the display of graphic representations (logos) of vehicle brands from the same manufacturer or even group of automotive manufacturers.

[0049] 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.

[0050] The electronic card 10 also supports 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.

[0051] This module 12 allows data exchange between the housing 1 and an electrical device electronic, or terminal, remote and communicating type Smartphone, tablet, laptop, vehicle telematics box, ... not shown, via the display management module 13.

[0052] 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).

[0053] 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.

[0054] 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, thus allowing 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.

[0055] In a second display mode, illustrated in figures 4 and 5, and still with the aim of reducing the number of touch buttons 33 displayed on the lower part of the screen 31, the display management module 13 controls the display of pictograms (touch buttons) on the screen 31, according to the type of commands and their frequency of use by the user of the box 1 (usage habits).

[0056] A first set of pictograms dedicated to so-called safety commands, such as locking and unlocking the vehicle's doors, the "panic" function which activates the vehicle alarm, ... are permanently displayed on the first screen page of screen 31.

[0057] A second set of pictograms relating to the other commands of the Vehicles are, in turn, ranked in order of frequency of use.

[0058] A learning module of the management module 13, not shown, memorizes the different commands used and ranks them by frequency of use (usage habit). They are then organized into screen pages, with a maximum of four pictograms per screen page in the examples considered in [Fig. 4] and 5.

[0059] When the user scrolls through the pages of screen 31, they follow one another in a hierarchy that updates automatically according to usage. They always follow a first page, or cover page, displaying the pictograms of the so-called security commands.

[0060] 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 which remains permanently displayed (as long as the box 1 is paired with the vehicle) in the upper half of the screen 31 and the pictograms to be displayed in the lower half of the screen 31.

[0061] 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.

[0062] 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, for example, during vehicle maintenance or at the dealership when the keys are first handed over to the user.

[0063] 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 with which the unit 1 is paired, upon receipt of a control signal issued by the manufacturer's (or group of automotive manufacturers') portable terminal and transmitted to the management unit 13 via the communication module 12.

[0064] 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 on 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 wirelessly (smartphone, tablet, laptop, vehicle telematics unit, etc.). presented.

[0065] Each page of screen 31 contains at least one graphic representation (logo) 32 of one of the vehicle brands of the manufacturer or group of car manufacturers.

[0066] Thus, the personalization of the cover 31 and therefore of the key case 1 is immediate by selecting the page of the display screen 31 corresponding to the brand of the vehicle to which the case 1 is paired.

[0067] It is also possible to choose personalized messages combining text and images as well as the pictograms available for vehicle function controls.

[0068] During the vehicle's life cycle, when new pictograms corresponding to new vehicle functions to be controlled are available and offered by the manufacturer or group of car manufacturers, the user will have the possibility of downloading 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.

[0069] He will also be able to choose the pictograms available for non-security 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, ...

[0070] 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.

[0071] 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.

[0072] 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

Claims

1. Electronic key case (1) for a motor vehicle allowing remote control of vehicle functions; said case (1) comprising a case body (2) without physical control buttons and comprising an electronic ink display screen (31) covering substantially the entire surface of an outer face (30) of the case body (2), capable of displaying at least one pictogram on the screen (31), representative of a function of the vehicle to be controlled and arranged opposite a touch button (33) capable of controlling said function; said screen (31) being capable of further displaying a reconfigurable graphic representation of the make of the vehicle to which the case (1) is paired;said housing body (2) further housing a module (13) for managing the display of the screen (31) capable of selecting the graphic representation of the brand of the vehicle to which the housing (1) is paired from a determined set of graphic representations of the vehicle brands all belonging to the same automobile manufacturer or the same group of automobile manufacturers, and of selecting and arranging the one or more pictograms to be displayed, associated with the function(s) to be controlled, from a set of predefined pictograms.;

2. Housing (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the housing body (2) further houses a wireless communication module (12), coupled to the management module (13) of the display of the screen (31), capable of receiving data transmitted by a remote terminal to control the display management module (13).

3. Housing (1) according to the preceding claim, in which the housing body (2) houses an electronic card (10) supporting a device (11) for remote control of the vehicle function to which the touch control button (21) is coupled; said card (10) further supporting the module (13) for managing the display of 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 one of the preceding claims, wherein the housing body (2) further houses a retractable mechanical emergency key insert (4) arranged in the housing body (2), along a internal edge of the housing body (2), in the retracted position.

6. Housing (1) according to any one of the preceding claims in which the display screen (31) is capable of displaying several screen pages.

7. Method for managing the display of the screen (31) of a box (1) according to 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 representative of one or more functions to be controlled and 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).

8. Method according to the preceding claim, consisting of displaying a single pictogram at a time on the screen (31); the pictogram displayed on the screen immediately following 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.

9. Method according to claim 7, consisting of permanently displaying on the screen (31) a first set of determined pictograms associated with so-called security functions to be controlled, and displaying a second set of determined pictograms hierarchically arranged on the screen according to their frequency of use.

10. Computer program product comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer, cause the latter to implement the method according to one of claims 7 to 9.

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