Method for displaying and controlling a function of a motor vehicle

Abstract

A method for displaying and controlling a function of a motor vehicle comprises the steps of: displaying (33, 35) on an area of the touch screen a pictogram symbolizing the function; detecting (37) a touch on the area; displaying (38) a pop-up window by the touch screen, said pop-up window comprising information on the function and / or areas for controlling the function by touch. A system for displaying and controlling a function of a motor vehicle and a motor vehicle comprising the system are also described. Figure to be published with the abstract: Fig 3

Description

Title of the invention: Method for displaying and controlling a function of a motor vehicle Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for displaying and controlling a function of a motor vehicle, a computer program product, a system for displaying and controlling a function of a motor vehicle and a motor vehicle comprising such a system. State of the art

[0002] Currently, a motor vehicle includes a handset associated with a switch and various buttons to enable driving. By handset, we mean the part grouping the dials and indicators and giving the driver the main information relating to the operation of the vehicle. The handset includes in particular the tachometer, pedometer, fuel gauge, or even the indicators.

[0003] However, with the development of different functions and driving aids, this system becomes complex for the driver to master. He often has difficulty knowing which function corresponds to which indicator and where the button is located to control this function. This is particularly difficult for functions that are used infrequently.

[0004] An example of this type of function is the adjustment of the headlights and, more particularly, their vertical orientation depending on the load of the vehicle. Indeed, a vehicle with a heavily loaded trunk will have a rearward tilting attitude and therefore the headlights will be directed upwards, which risks dazzling oncoming drivers. It is therefore necessary to have a manual or automatic device allowing the height of the headlight line to be adjusted (also called "headlight leveling").

[0005] However, since this device is generally used infrequently, the driver does not know where the control is located or which pictogram on the instrument panel it corresponds to.

[0006] There is therefore a real need for a method and a system for displaying and controlling a function of a motor vehicle which resolves all or part of the aforementioned drawbacks. Description of the invention

[0007] To resolve one or more of the drawbacks cited above, according to a first embodiment, a method for displaying and controlling a function of a motor vehicle, said vehicle comprising an interfacing touch screen making handset function, and said method comprises the steps of: • display on an area of the touch screen of a pictogram symbolizing the function; • detection of a touch on the area; • displaying a pop-up window by the touch screen, said pop-up window comprising information on the function and / or areas for controlling the function by touch.

[0008] Thus, the user has rapid access to a function for an adjustment or for an explanation.

[0009] Particular characteristics or embodiments, usable alone or in combination, are: • the pictogram has two display modes, a first mode corresponding to normal operation of the function and a second mode corresponding to a fault in the function; • the pop-up window displayed is different depending on the mode in which the pictogram is viewed when pressed; • the function corresponds to the height adjustment of the vehicle's headlight line; • the contextual screen associated with the first mode comprises two touch zones, one zone being associated with a raising of the headlight line and one zone being associated with a lowering of the headlight line; and / or • the pop-up screen also includes a touch area to switch the function between automatic and manual mode.

[0010] In a second embodiment, a computer program product comprises program code instructions for implementing the above method when the program product is executed on a computer.

[0011] In a third embodiment, a system for displaying and controlling a function of a motor vehicle comprises an interfacing touch screen (5) acting as a handset connected to a computer (9) and adapted for: • display on an area of the touch screen a pictogram symbolizing the function; • detect a touch on the area; and • display a pop-up window, said pop-up window including information about the function and / or areas for controlling the function by touch.

[0012] In a fourth embodiment, a motor vehicle comprises a system according to the third embodiment. Brief description of the figures

[0013] The invention will be better understood on reading the following description, given solely by way of example, and with reference to the appended figures in which: • [Fig.l] represents a top view of a vehicle comprising a system for displaying and controlling a function according to one embodiment; • [Fig.2] represents two forms of a pictogram used in the system of the [Fig.l]; • [Fig.3] represents a flowchart of a display and control process of a function associated with the system of [Fig.l]; and • [Fig.4] represents two contextual screens of the system of [Fig.l]. Methods of implementation

[0014] The embodiments presented below refer to a motor vehicle, a car. However, those skilled in the art understand that these are also usable with other types of vehicle such as vans, vans, etc.

[0015] The terms “front”, “rear”, “top”, “bottom”, “transverse” are understood in relation to the vehicle.

[0016] With reference to [Fig.l], a motor vehicle 1 comprises a system 3 for displaying and controlling a function of a motor vehicle comprising at least one screen 5.

[0017] This screen 5 is a touch screen for interfacing with the driver which acts as a handset. Thus, in particular, it comprises one or more display zones for pictograms associated with vehicle functions.

[0018] In order to exemplify the system 3 and its operation, the remainder of this description focuses on the function of vertical adjustment of the line of headlights.

[0019] Thus the screen 5 includes a zone 7 associated with this function, the pictogram of which is represented in [Fig.2] in its “normal” version 21 and in its “device faulty” version 23.

[0020] The system 3 comprises a computer 9 connected to the screen 5.

[0021] The computer 9 can, for example, be integrated into the vehicle control system 1, as an advanced driver assistance system, commonly called AD AS (for “Advanced driver-assistance Systems” according to English terminology) which makes all driving decisions based on the environment and the programmed destination. The motor vehicle is then referred to as an autonomous motor vehicle. But it can also be a centralized vehicle management system including, or not, driving aids.

[0022] The transfer of data between the different elements is preferably carried out by a CAN type data bus (for “Controller Area Network” in English, or “ controller area network”) or LIN (for “Local Interconnect Network” in English, or “Local interconnected network” in French).

[0023] The operation of system 3 is as follows, [Fig.3] and 4.

[0024] When the vehicle is started, the headlight line height adjustment function is tested, step 31.

[0025] If the function is faulty, screen 5 displays, step 33, the “function faulty” pictogram 23, otherwise it displays, step 35, the “normal” pictogram 21.

[0026] When the driver presses, step 37, on the pictogram, a pop-up window appears, step 38. This window varies depending on the pictogram initially displayed.

[0027] If the “function fault” pictogram 23 was displayed (step 33), the pop-up window 40 displays an explanatory message about the fault, for example with advice to go and have the fault corrected by a garage.

[0028] If the “normal” pictogram 25 was displayed (step 35), the pop-up window 41 contains, [Fig.4], different adjustment zones. Each adjustment zone can be activated by a touch.

[0029] A first zone 42 allows an automatic setting to be selected. It operates alternately with a manual setting zone 43, i.e. pressing one of the two zones selects the corresponding mode and deselects the mode associated with the other zone.

[0030] The manual adjustment zone 43 is itself subdivided into two sub-zones 45, 47. Pressing zone 45 allows the line of headlights to be lowered by an increment, for example 1°. Conversely, pressing zone 47 allows the line of headlights to be raised by the same increment. By judiciously pressing these two zones, the driver can thus adjust the line of headlights.

[0031] At the end of reading or adjustment, the driver closes, step 39, the pop-up window by pressing a close button 49.

[0032] [Fig.l] illustrates a system according to certain embodiments. The breakdown presented has an educational purpose to highlight the different functions. However, it is understood that each block can be implemented using different means or their combinations, such as hardware components, software, one or more computers and / or electronic circuits. Each of the components can include at least one computer or a control-command unit. At least one memory can be included in each component. The memory can include computer program instructions or software code.

[0033] The computers can be implemented by any type of data processing device, such as a central computing unit, a signal processing processor, an application-specific integrated circuit, a programmable gate array, etc. The computers can be implemented as a single controller, or a plurality of controllers or computers.

[0034] The different modules are connected to each other by data links adapted to the environment. These can be wired or wireless.

[0035] For software, the implementation may include modules or units distributed in the form of procedures, functions, etc. The memories may be any type of storage circuit. They may be part of the processor circuit, or separate from it and connected via electrical data links. These may be non-volatile type memories, hard disks, random access memories, flash memories, etc.

[0036] The program product may be downloadable from a communications network and / or recorded on a computer-readable medium. It may be directly executable by a processor or be in the form of a high-level language requiring one or more intermediate operations to be executable.

[0037] Thus the program instructions stored in the memory and processed by the computers can be any type of program code, for example, a compiled or interpreted program written in a suitable programming language.

[0038] The computer program instructions stored in the memory are such that, when executed by the computer, the latter carries out one or more of the steps of the methods described above.

[0039] The invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and the preceding description. This should be considered as illustrative and given by way of example and not as limiting the invention to this description alone. Numerous alternative embodiments are possible.

[0040] For example, the pop-up window may not have a close area. So tapping outside the pop-up window closes it.

[0041] It is also understood that this may apply to other functions of the motor vehicle such as the operating mode of the headlights or fog lights.

[0042] It is also possible to have on the screen 5 just a pictogram corresponding to the function, without differentiating between normal operation and faulty operation.

Claims

Claims

1. Method for displaying and controlling a function of a motor vehicle, said vehicle comprising an interfacing touch screen acting as a handset, and said method comprising the steps of: • displaying (33, 35) on an area of the touch screen a peak togram symbolizing the function; • detecting (37) a touch pressure on the area; • displaying (38) a pop-up window by the touch screen, said pop-up window comprising information on the function and / or areas for controlling the function by touch pressure.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the pictogram has two display modes, a first mode corresponding to normal operation of the function and a second mode corresponding to a fault in the function.

3. Method according to claim 2, in which the displayed pop-up window is different depending on the mode of display of the pictogram when pressed.

4. A method according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the function corresponds to the height adjustment of the line of the vehicle's headlights.

5. A method according to claim 4 as dependent on claim 2 or 3, wherein the contextual screen associated with the first mode comprises two touch zones, one zone being associated with a raising of the headlight line and one zone being associated with a lowering of the headlight line.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the pop-up screen further comprises a touch-sensitive area for toggling the function between an automatic mode and a manual mode.

7. Computer program product characterized in that it comprises program code instructions for implementing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 6 when the program product is executed on a computer.

8. System (3) for displaying and controlling a function of a motor vehicle (1) comprising an interfacing touch screen (5) acting as a handset connected to a computer (9) and adapted for: display on an area of the touch screen a pictogram symbolizing the function; detect a touch on the area; and display a pop-up window, said pop-up window including information about the function and / or areas for controlling the function by touch.

9. A motor vehicle comprising a system according to claim 8.

Images