Managing the display of interactive visual content by tactile interaction with a digital instrument cluster of a motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for managing the operation of a digital and tactile instrument cluster (2) of a motor vehicle (1) on the screen of which at least one pictogram (3) providing the current speed of the vehicle is displayed. The invention also relates to a device (100) implementing such a method, as well as a motor vehicle (1) comprising such a device. Figure for the abstract: 1

Description

Title of the invention: Management of the display of interactive visual content by tactile interaction with a digital instrument cluster of a motor vehicle Technical field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of vehicle instrument clusters. The invention relates in particular to a method for managing the operation of a digital and tactile instrument cluster of a motor vehicle, which is arranged behind the steering wheel of the vehicle and on the screen of which at least one pictogram providing the current speed of the vehicle is displayed. The invention also relates to a device implementing such a method, as well as a motor vehicle carrying such a device. The invention applies to motor vehicles such as land motor vehicles, in particular cars. State of the prior art

[0002] Some modern motor vehicles are equipped with a digital instrument cluster comprising a screen arranged behind the steering wheel on which the analog needle dials of traditional instrument clusters are represented by graphic elements and, most often, a value of the vehicle speed is indicated on the screen, for example in the center of the latter, by means of a pictogram. However, the quantity of information that must be displayed on the relatively restricted space of the screen of such a cluster may force one to choose to display certain information to the detriment of other information which is nevertheless relevant to assist the driver in driving. In particular, known digital instrument clusters do not allow detailed information relating to speed regulations or speed histories to be displayed.Likewise, they do not provide any means to facilitate the reading of information elements that elaborately explain the vehicle's speed. From this point of view, these well-known digital instrument clusters lack ergonomics. Summary of the invention

[0003] The invention seeks to overcome this drawback. In particular, it aims to provide a solution to enable a driver of a motor vehicle to obtain, in a simple and practical manner, elaborate information which explains the speed of the vehicle, in particular by means of a digital instrument cluster. In this way, the invention aims to improve the ergonomics of motor vehicles.

[0004] In order to achieve these aims, the invention relates, according to a first aspect, to a method of management, by a computer device on board a motor vehicle, of the operation of a digital and tactile instrument cluster of the vehicle, which is arranged behind the steering wheel of the vehicle and on the screen of which at least one pictogram providing the current speed of the vehicle is displayed, the method comprising the steps of: • determine whether a first tactile interaction with the pictogram is carried out; and, when it is established that this is the case, • cause the display on the screen of a first interactive visual content containing at least one informative element.

[0005] According to a variant, the first visual content may comprise a first interactive zone allowing the specification by tactile interaction of at least one setting of a display parameter of the instrument cluster.

[0006] According to another variant, the first visual content may comprise at least one second interactive zone making it possible to cause the display of a second visual content by tactile interaction.

[0007] According to yet another variant, the method may comprise the steps of: • determining whether a second pre-established tactile interaction is performed in an area of ​​the instrument cluster while the first visual content is displayed; and, when it is established that this is the case, • cause the first visual content to disappear.

[0008] According to a second aspect, the invention relates to a device for managing the operation of a digital and tactile instrument cluster of a motor vehicle, which is arranged behind the steering wheel of the vehicle and on the screen of which at least one pictogram providing information on the current speed of the vehicle is displayed, the device comprising at least one information processing unit, comprising at least one processor, and a data storage medium, which are configured to implement a method as described above.

[0009] According to a third aspect, the invention relates to a computer program comprising program code instructions for executing the steps of a method as described above when said program is executed by at least one processor.

[0010] According to a fourth aspect, the invention relates to a medium usable in a computer on which a program as described above is recorded.

[0011] According to a fifth aspect, the invention relates to a motor vehicle comprising a device as described above. Brief description of the figures

[0012] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on examining the detailed description below, and the appended figures, in which:

[0013] [Fig.l] is a diagram illustrating a motor vehicle according to the invention;

[0014] [Fig.2] is a functional diagram of a device according to the invention;

[0015] [Fig.3] is a flowchart illustrating the steps of a method according to the invention;

[0016] [Fig.4] illustrates the implementation of at least one step of the method according to the invention; and

[0017] [Fig.5] illustrates the implementation of at least one step of the method according to the invention. Detailed description of the invention

[0018] [Fig. 1] schematically illustrates a motor vehicle 1 according to the invention. This is equipped with a digital and tactile instrument cluster 2, which is arranged behind the steering wheel of the vehicle and on the screen of which a pictogram 3 providing the current speed of the vehicle is displayed.Advantageously, the vehicle 1 according to the invention also includes a device 100 for managing the operation of a digital and tactile instrument cluster of a motor vehicle, which is arranged behind the steering wheel of the vehicle and on the screen of which at least one pictogram indicating the current speed of the vehicle is displayed, as described below, which implements a method for managing the operation of a digital and tactile instrument cluster of a motor vehicle, which is arranged behind the steering wheel of the vehicle and on the screen of which at least one pictogram indicating the current speed of the vehicle is displayed, as briefly summarized below and described in detail below.

[0019] When implementing the method, the driver can control the display of visual contents explaining the speed of the vehicle in an elaborate manner, and this in a manner that could not be more ergonomic since it consists of carrying out a simple tactile interaction with the pictogram 3, for example a short press, a long press, two successive short presses, etc. Once he has become aware of these contents, the driver can just as easily control the return to the nominal display of the instrument cluster by carrying out a new tactile interaction, for example a short press or a lateral movement. As will be seen below, it is in this way that the invention contributes to improving the ergonomics of the instrument cluster 2 of the vehicle 1 according to the invention compared to known digital instrument clusters.

[0020] The device 100 according to the invention is illustrated in [Fig. 2]. It is essentially a computer device, which comprises at least one information processing unit 101, with one or more processors, a data storage medium 102, on which is recorded in particular a program which comprises program code instructions for the execution of the steps of the method according to the invention described below, and an input and output interface 103 allowing the reception and transmission of data.

[0021] Preferably, the device 100 according to the invention is integrated into an independent computer and it interacts via its input and output interface 103 and by means of a wired communication network of the vehicle (e.g. CAN, Ethernet, MOST) - shown in [Fig.l] by the two-way arrow - with the instrument cluster 2. Alternatively, the device 100 according to the invention is partially or entirely part of the instrument cluster 2. Consequently, the device 100 according to the invention can, in particular, determine whether a tactile interaction with the pictogram 3 is carried out. It can also cause the display of visual content on the screen of the instrument cluster 2.

[0022] According to the invention, all the elements described above combine to enable the implementation of a method for managing the operation of a digital and tactile instrument cluster of a motor vehicle, which is arranged behind the steering wheel of the vehicle and on the screen of which at least one pictogram providing the current speed of the vehicle is displayed, as described below in particular in connection with Figures 3-4.

[0023] [Fig. 3] illustrates in the form of a flowchart the steps of the method according to the invention.

[0024] According to a first step 301 of the method according to the invention, the device 100 according to the invention determines whether a first tactile interaction with the pictogram 3 is carried out. In other words, the device 100 according to the invention determines whether one is in a situation like that illustrated in [Fig.4] in which the driver carries out a tactile interaction, for example a short press, on the pictogram 3 which is displayed on the screen of the instrument cluster 2. And when it establishes that this occurs, the device 100 according to the invention carries out the following step of the method according to the invention described below.

[0025] According to a second step 302 of the method according to the invention, the device 100 according to the invention causes, as illustrated in [Fig.5], the display on the screen of the instrument cluster 2 of a first interactive visual content 501 which contains at least one informative element 502.

[0026] Preferably, this first visual content 501 thus displayed at this stage takes the form of a window displayed in the foreground (i.e. superimposed), and it preferably comprises a first interactive zone 503 which allows the specification by tactile interaction of at least one setting of a display parameter of the instrument cluster 2, as well as a second interactive zone 504 making it possible to cause by tactile interaction the display of a second visual content.

[0027] According to an exemplary embodiment, the informative element 502 preferably provides information on the current speed of the vehicle as well as its unit of measurement, the latter speed limit sign detected, the regulations of a visited country, a pictogram relating to a regulator and / or a speed limiter, a history of the speed of vehicle 1 in the form of a graph, the average speed over a journey, etc.

[0028] According to another exemplary embodiment, the second interactive zone 504 visually provides information, for example in the form of text, images and / or pictograms, adapted to the current driving context, for example according to the current location of the vehicle in order to inform the driver about a road regulation which applies. The device 100 according to the invention preferably establishes this information by interacting with a navigation system of the vehicle which is of the connected type, that is to say that it regularly receives data (e.g. mapping, real-time traffic, applicable road legislation, weather conditions, etc.) by means of a radiofrequency signal communication system.

[0029] According to an advantageous alternative, the device 100 according to the invention then performs an additional step during which it determines whether a second pre-established tactile interaction (e.g. short press outside the visual content, lateral swipe gesture, etc.) is performed in an area of ​​the instrument cluster while the first visual content 501 is displayed on the screen of the instrument cluster 2. Then, when it establishes that this occurs, the device 100 according to the invention performs another additional step during which it causes the visual content 501 to disappear. The driver can thus, when he wishes, easily return to the nominal display of the instrument cluster 2 with a simple gesture.

[0030] Consequently, by means of the method and device according to the invention described above, a solution is provided to enable a driver of a motor vehicle to obtain in a simple and practical manner elaborated information which explains the speed of the vehicle, in particular by means of a digital instrument cluster. By these means, the invention therefore notably improves in this respect the ergonomics of digital instrument clusters of motor vehicles.

Claims

Claims

1. Method for managing, by a computer device (100) on board a motor vehicle (1), the operation of a digital and tactile instrument cluster (2) of the vehicle, which is arranged behind the steering wheel of the vehicle and on the screen of which at least one pictogram (3) providing the current speed of the vehicle is displayed, characterized in that the method comprises the steps of: • determining whether a first tactile interaction with the pictogram (3) is carried out; and, when it is established that this is the case, • causing the display on the screen of a first interactive visual content (501) containing at least one informative element (502).

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the first visual content (501) comprises a first interactive zone (503) allowing the specification by tactile interaction of at least one setting of a display parameter of the instrument cluster (2).

3. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first visual content (501) comprises a second interactive zone (504) making it possible to cause the display of a second visual content by tactile interaction.

4. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the method comprises the steps of: • determining whether a second pre-established tactile interaction is carried out in an area of ​​the screen of the instrument cluster (2) while the first visual content (501) is displayed; and, when it is established that this is the case, • causing the disappearance of the first visual content (501).

5. Device (100) for managing the operation of a digital and tactile instrument cluster (2) of a motor vehicle (1), which is arranged behind the steering wheel of the vehicle and on the screen of which at least one pictogram (3) providing the current speed of the vehicle is displayed, characterized in that the device comprises at least one information processing unit (101), comprising at least one processor, and a data storage medium (102), which are configured to implement a method according to any one of the preceding claims.

6. A computer program comprising program code instructions for executing the steps of a method according to any one of claims 1 to 4 when said program is executed by at least one processor.

7. Support usable in a computer, characterized in that a program according to claim 6 is recorded therein.

8. Motor vehicle (1), characterized in that it comprises a device (100) according to claim 5.

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