Adjusting the positioning of the steering wheel of a motor vehicle using a portable communication device

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for adjusting the positioning of the steering wheel (2) of a motor vehicle (1) with a portable communication device (4) such as a smartphone. The invention also relates to a computer system (3) implementing such a method. Figure for the abstract: 1

Description

Title of the invention: Adjusting the positioning of the steering wheel of a motor vehicle by means of a portable communication device Technical field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of computer systems for motor vehicles. The invention relates in particular to a method for adjusting the positioning of the steering wheel of a motor vehicle by means of a computer system which comprises a portable communication device and a computer on board the vehicle. The invention further relates to a computer system which implements such a method. The invention applies to motor vehicles, in particular land motor vehicles such as cars. State of the prior art

[0002] Most modern vehicles provide means that allow the user to adjust the positioning of the vehicle's steering wheel. Most often, it is by releasing a lever generally arranged under the steering wheel that the user can then manually adjust the positioning of the steering wheel. However, such manual adjustment can be relatively uncomfortable since the user must first bend down to reach the lever that releases the steering wheel and, moreover, imprecise because the user must then precisely adjust the positioning of the steering wheel when it no longer offers any resistance. To avoid these inconveniences, some high-end vehicles are equipped with control buttons that allow the control of electric motors that move the steering wheel.However, this requires the user to know the location of these control means, otherwise there is a risk of not being able to ensure optimal adjustment of the steering wheel position. Consequently, the known solutions that allow the adjustment of the positioning of the steering wheel of a motor vehicle are deficient in terms of ergonomics. Summary of the invention

[0003] The invention aims to remedy this problem. In particular, it aims to provide a solution to enable the positioning of the steering wheel of a motor vehicle to be adjusted in a more ergonomic manner, in particular by means of a portable communication device such as a smartphone. In this way, the invention aims to maximize the comfort and ergonomics of motor vehicles.

[0004] In order to achieve these aims, the invention relates, according to a first aspect, to a method for adjusting the positioning of the steering wheel of a motor vehicle by means of a computer system which comprises a portable communication device and a computer on board the vehicle, the method comprising the steps of: i. provide, through the communication device, a graphical interface allowing the specification of at least one steering wheel positioning adjustment parameter; ii. determine, by the communication device, data characterizing a value of the adjustment parameter as a function of a movement of the communication device; iii. cause, by the communication device, the transmission of the data determined during step ii) to the vehicle; and iv. manage, by the computer, the adjustment of the positioning of the steering wheel according to the data transmitted during step iii).

[0005] According to one variant, the adjustment parameter can define the depth of the steering wheel, the height of the steering wheel, the inclination of the steering wheel and / or the orientation of the steering wheel.

[0006] According to another variant, said movement can be determined by means of a gyroscope integrated into the communication device.

[0007] According to yet another variant, the method may comprise, after step iv), the step of: v) causing, by the computer, the transmission of data characterizing a final positioning of the steering wheel to the communication device.

[0008] According to yet another variant, the method may comprise, after step v), the step of: vi) causing, by the communication device, the display of an informative visual content established as a function of said final positioning of the steering wheel.

[0009] According to a second aspect, the invention relates to a system for adjusting the positioning of the steering wheel of a motor vehicle, said system being a computer system which comprises a portable communication device and a computer on board the vehicle, which are configured to jointly implement a method as described above. Brief description of the figures

[0010] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on examining the detailed description below, and the appended figures, in which:

[0011] [Fig-1] is a diagram illustrating a system according to the invention; and

[0012] [Fig.2] is a flowchart illustrating the steps of a method according to the invention. Detailed description of the invention

[0013] [Fig.l] schematically illustrates the context of the invention. It shows a motor vehicle 1, which conventionally comprises a steering wheel 2, and a system 3 for adjusting the positioning of the steering wheel of a motor vehicle according to the invention, which is composed of a portable communication device 4 and a computer 5 on board the vehicle 1. The communication device 4 and the computer 5 communicate (i.e. exchange data) by means of conventional wireless communication networks and protocols (e.g. 3 / 4 / 5G; ITS-G5; C-V2X, Bluetooth, etc.) and radiofrequency signal communication equipment 6 on board the vehicle 1.

[0014] According to the invention, all the elements of the system 3 according to the invention described above contribute to implementing a method for adjusting the positioning of the steering wheel of a motor vehicle, as described below in connection with [Fig.2].

[0015] [Fig.2] illustrates by means of a flowchart the steps of the method according to the invention.

[0016] According to a first step 201 of the method according to the invention, the communication device 4 provides a graphical interface allowing the specification of at least one parameter for adjusting the positioning of the steering wheel. Thus, the implementation of the method according to the invention advantageously begins by providing on a screen of the communication device 4 a graphical interface by means of which the user can specify at least one parameter for adjusting the positioning of the steering wheel that he wishes to modify (e.g. height of the steering wheel, depth of the steering wheel, inclination of the steering wheel, orientation of the steering wheel). It is possible, for example, to imagine that the communication device 4 is configured so that, following the execution by the user of a dedicated application, such a graphical interface is then provided on the screen of the communication device 4.Alternatively, it is conceivable that the user accesses an online portal using an Internet browser and that the graphical interface is provided via the browser. In any case, the user can advantageously specify at this stage directly on the communication device 4 an adjustment of the positioning of the steering wheel 2 of the vehicle 1 on which he wishes to intervene.

[0017] Then, according to a second step 202 of the method according to the invention, the communication device 4 determines data characterizing a value of the adjustment parameter as a function of a movement of the communication device 4. In other words, it is by performing a simple movement with the communication device 4, in other words with a simple gesture, that the user can specify the value of the adjustment parameter for the positioning of the steering wheel, the one that he specified following the implementation of the previous step of the method. To implement this second step, the communication device 4 preferentially establishes the movement that the communication device 4 performs by using a gyroscope that the latter integrates.Then, a value is assigned to a measured movement, for example by means of a table in which amplitudes of movements around reference axes are defined in correspondence with values ​​of parameters for adjusting the positioning of the steering wheel 2. At the end of this step, the communication device 4 has thus advantageously determined how to adjust the positioning of the steering wheel 2 as a function. of a movement that the communication device 4 has made.

[0018] Then, according to a third step 203 of the method according to the invention, the communication device 4 causes the transmission of the data determined during the previous step to the vehicle 1, which the latter receives by means of its communication equipment 6. Thus, at the end of this third step, data which establish how to adjust the positioning of the steering wheel 2 of the vehicle 1 and which have been defined by means of a simple gesture carried out with the communication device 4 are received on board the vehicle 1.

[0019] Then, according to a fourth step 204 of the method according to the invention, the computer 5 manages the adjustment of the positioning of the steering wheel 2 according to the data which were transmitted during the previous step. In other words, it is at this stage that the computer 5 modifies the positioning of the steering wheel 2 of the vehicle 1 according to the data which it has received from the communication device 4. To do this, it preferentially controls itself according to the data received from the electric motors which move the steering wheel 2. Thus, at the end of this fourth step, the positioning of the steering wheel 2 is modified according to data which have been generated by means of a simple gesture carried out with the communication device 4. This is how an extremely comfortable and intuitive solution is offered for adjusting the positioning of the steering wheel of a motor vehicle.

[0020] According to an advantageous alternative, the computer 5 carries out an additional step during which it causes the transmission of data characterizing a final positioning of the steering wheel to the communication device 4, and the communication device 4 causes the display of an informative visual content established as a function of said final positioning of the steering wheel 2. The user can thus advantageously view directly on the communication device 4 the final positioning of the steering wheel 2 of the vehicle 1, preferably having the possibility of knowing one or more values ​​of parameters for adjusting the positioning of the steering wheel 2 which are defined at the current time.

[0021] Thus, thanks to the method and the system according to the invention described above, a solution is provided to allow the adjustment of the positioning of the steering wheel of a motor vehicle in a comfortable and intuitive manner, in particular by means of a simple gesture carried out with a portable communication device such as a smartphone. In this way, the invention maximizes the comfort and ergonomics of motor vehicles.

Claims

Claims

1. Method for adjusting the positioning of the steering wheel (2) of a motor vehicle (1) by means of a computer system (3) which comprises a portable communication device (4) and a computer (5) on board the vehicle (1), characterized in that the method comprises the steps of: i. providing, by the communication device (4), a graphical interface allowing the specification of at least one parameter for adjusting the positioning of the steering wheel (2); ii. determining, by the communication device (4), data characterizing a value of the adjustment parameter as a function of a movement of the communication device (4); iii. causing, by the communication device (4), the transmission of the data determined during step ii) to the vehicle (1); and iv. managing, by the computer (5), the adjustment of the positioning of the steering wheel as a function of the data transmitted during step iii).

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the adjustment parameter defines the depth of the steering wheel (2), the height of the steering wheel (2), the inclination of the steering wheel (2) and / or the orientation of the steering wheel (2).

3. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said movement is determined by means of a gyroscope integrated into the communication device (4).

4. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the method comprises, after step iv), the step of: v) causing, by the computer (5), the transmission of data characterizing a final positioning of the steering wheel to the communication device (4).

5. Method according to claim 4, characterized in that the method comprises, after step v), the step of: vi) causing, by the communication device (4), the display of an informative visual content established as a function of said final positioning of the steering wheel.

6. System (3) for adjusting the positioning of the steering wheel (2) of a motor vehicle (1), characterized in that said system (3) is a system computer which comprises a portable communication device (4) and a computer (5) on board the vehicle, which are configured to jointly implement a method according to one of the preceding claims.

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