Human-machine interface for controlling a close-range comfort element.

Abstract

The invention relates to a human-machine interface (1a, 1b, 1c, 1d) designed to equip and control a close-in comfort element of a motor vehicle passenger compartment, the element being of the type designed to regulate, as a function of a modifiable setpoint (TC), a comfort parameter in the environment specific to a passenger seated in the passenger compartment in the vicinity of the close-in comfort equipment, the interface (1a, 1b, 1c, 1d) comprising at least one control (2a, 2b), operable by a user, designed to modify at least the setpoint (TC), in order to change the regulation of the comfort parameter of the element, the interface (1a, 1b, 1c, 1d) comprising display means (3) designed to display a visual signal intended for the user of the interface (1a, 1b, 1c, 1d) and indicative of the setpoint (TC). The invention also relates to equipment comprising a close-in comfort element and such an interface. The invention finally relates to a passenger compartment comprising such equipment.(Figure 1).

Description

Title of the invention: Human-machine interface for controlling a close-range comfort element.

[0001] The technical field concerns human-machine interfaces designed to regulate a comfort element close to a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle, close comfort equipment comprising such an interface and motor vehicles equipped with such equipment.

[0002] Car manufacturers pay great attention to the comfort of their vehicle's passengers. Among the essential comfort criteria is obviously the management of the air inside the passenger compartment, in particular the control of temperature, humidity level and air quality.

[0003] Electric vehicles are experiencing growing interest from customers, while their ranges are constantly being improved by car manufacturers. To achieve this, the industrial players involved have invested heavily in the development of new technologies to offer ever more efficient batteries, i.e. batteries offering increased charging speeds, constantly increasing capacities and high energy densities. In parallel with the improvement of technologies, car manufacturers are also focusing on optimizing the electrical consumption of their vehicles. However, the air conditioner, which regulates the temperature and humidity of the air inside a vehicle, consumes a lot of energy taken from the vehicle's electric batteries.This consumption is not negligible since, when the air conditioner is in operation, the autonomy of electric vehicles is reduced considerably, up to 25% in hot or cold climates. Also, the heating of the passenger compartment in cold climates has a significant negative impact on the autonomy of the electric vehicle. Thus, there is a need to quickly provide a feeling of comfort to passengers while limiting energy consumption. To this end, vehicles are now equipped with close comfort elements that can heat, or cool, a particular area of ​​a passenger by contact or radiation. Such a close comfort element is generally located in contact or at a distance of the order of a few centimeters from the passenger. While they meet the needs of comfort and preservation of autonomy, the control of close comfort elements can be complicated for a passenger of the vehicle.In fact, the various close comfort elements are generally controlled from the dashboard: for each passenger, you must first select the close comfort element(s), then... change their settings. In addition, rear passengers sometimes have to ask for help from passengers in the front seats to change the settings of their nearby comfort elements.

[0004] Thus, there is a need for a solution that allows each passenger to have the ability to control each of their nearby comfort elements in a simple and intuitive manner.

[0005] The present invention aims to overcome the problems set out above. In this technical context, one aim of the present invention is to provide a human-machine interface making it possible to control an individual close comfort element intuitively.

[0006] To this end, the present invention relates to a human-machine interface designed to equip and control a close comfort element of a motor vehicle passenger compartment, the element being of the type designed to regulate, as a function of a modifiable setpoint, a comfort parameter in the environment specific to a passenger seated in the passenger compartment in the vicinity of the close comfort equipment, the interface comprising at least one control, manipulable by a user, designed to modify at least the setpoint, in order to change the regulation of the comfort parameter of the element, the interface comprising display means designed to display a visual signal intended for the user of the interface and indicative of the setpoint.

[0007] The invention also relates to equipment comprising a close-range comfort element for a motor vehicle passenger compartment, designed to regulate, as a function of a setpoint, a comfort parameter in the environment specific to a passenger seated in the vehicle in the vicinity of the passenger compartment element, the equipment comprising an interface according to the invention, associated only with the equipment, making it possible to modify the setpoint of the element.

[0008] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle interior comprising at least one item of equipment according to the invention.

[0009] The invention finally relates to a motor vehicle having a passenger compartment according to the invention.

[0010] Thus, the human-machine interface according to the invention makes it possible to control the regulation of a close comfort element individually. Indeed, the equipment according to the invention associates each close comfort element with a single human-machine interface. Each equipment according to the invention being by nature arranged close to a passenger, the latter therefore has direct access to its human-machine interface. The display means display a visual signal, intended for the user of the interface, which allows the latter to have an indication of the setpoint. Thus, the adjustment of each equipment according to the invention is simple, intuitive and within the reach of its passenger.

[0011] According to one embodiment, the interface comprises a first command designed to increase the setpoint and a second, separate command designed to decrease the setpoint.

[0012] According to one possibility, the display means comprise at least one luminous surface designed to display at least one predetermined color according to the instruction.

[0013] Advantageously, each control is arranged on a luminous surface.

[0014] According to one embodiment of the interface, at least one control is designed to enable the close comfort element to be switched on and / or off.

[0015] According to one possibility, at least one command makes it possible to automatically modify the setpoint according to at least one climatic parameter.

[0016] According to one possibility of the equipment, the close comfort element is designed to radiate or diffuse heat towards the passenger from at least one radiating surface, the setpoint making it possible to regulate the temperature of each radiating surface.

[0017] The invention will be better understood on reading the detailed description which follows, given solely by way of non-limiting example and made with reference to the appended drawing in which:

[0018] [Fig-1] [Fig.l] represents a schematic view of human-machine interfaces each set with a different instruction.

[0019] A human-machine interface 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d according to the invention, shown diagrammatically in several states in [Fig.l], is designed to equip and control a comfort element close to a motor vehicle passenger compartment, not illustrated.

[0020] The close comfort element is of the type designed to regulate, as a function of a modifiable TC setpoint, shown diagrammatically in [Fig.l], a comfort parameter in the environment specific to a passenger seated in the passenger compartment near the close comfort element. For example, such a close comfort element is an element of the passenger compartment designed to radiate or diffuse heat towards the passenger from at least one radiating surface. By proximity, it is understood to be located in the immediate environment of the passenger, that is to say an object in contact with the latter or located a few centimeters from at least one part of his body. For example, the close comfort equipment is designed to heat and / or cool. For example again, a close comfort element is a heated steering wheel, a heated door panel or a heated armrest.

[0021] The interface 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d comprises at least one control 2a, 2b, operable by a user, designed to modify at least the TC setpoint, in order to change the regulation of the comfort parameter of the element. As illustrated in [Fig.l], the interface 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d has, for example, a first control 2a designed to increase the TC setpoint and a second, separate control 2b designed to decrease the TC setpoint. For example, the first setpoint 2a has a key or touch area with a “-” symbol while the second setpoint 2b has a key or touch area with a “+” symbol.

[0022] Advantageously, a control 2a makes it possible to turn off the close comfort element, for example when the TC setpoint is set to a minimum value of an interval of possible settings for the TC setpoint, and a control 2b makes it possible to turn on the close comfort element when the latter is turned off. Advantageously again, a control 2a, 2b, or in this case a combination of controls 2a, 2b makes it possible to put the close comfort element in an automatic mode in which the TC setpoint is automatically, that is to say without user intervention, modified as a function of at least one climatic parameter. Such a climatic parameter is, for example, the air temperature in the passenger compartment. The combination of controls 2a, 2b is, for example, a simultaneous press on the two controls 2a, 2b.

[0023] Thus, the close comfort element is designed, for example, to radiate or diffuse heat towards the passenger from at least one radiating surface, the TC setpoint making it possible to regulate the temperature of each radiating surface.

[0024] Equipment according to the invention comprises a close comfort element associated with a human-machine interface 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, solely associated with the close comfort element, so that a modification of the TC setpoint by a command causes a modification of the regulation of the comfort parameter by the element. For this purpose, the equipment has, for example, a control unit.

[0025] The interface 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d comprises display means 3 designed to display a visual signal intended for the user and indicative of the TC setpoint. In the embodiment illustrated in the figure, the display means 3 comprise a luminous surface 4 designed to display at least one predetermined color as a function of the TC setpoint. For example, when the close comfort element is designed to radiate heat from a radiating surface, the luminous surface 4 is designed to display a red color for a TC setpoint between 70°C and 80°C, an orange color when the temperature setpoint is between 60°C and 69°C, a salmon color when the TC setpoint is between 50°C and 59°C, a yellow color when the TC setpoint is between 40°C and 49°C.

[0026] In addition, the display means 3 are advantageously designed to display a specific color indicative that the close comfort element is off. For example, the specific color is a gray color.

[0027] Advantageously and as illustrated in the figure, each control 2a, 2b is arranged on the luminous surface 4. The controls 2a, 2b are, for example, illuminated by a different color to create a contrast between each control 2a, 2b and the luminous surface 4.

[0028] A passenger compartment according to the invention, not illustrated, comprises at least one piece of equipment according to the invention. Thus, each comfort element close to the passenger compartment forms a piece of equipment according to the invention and is therefore provided with its own unique human-machine interface 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d.

[0029] Thus, the human-machine interface 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d according to the invention makes it possible to control the regulation of a close comfort element individually. Indeed, the equipment according to the invention associates each close comfort element with a single human-machine interface 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d. Each equipment according to the invention being by nature arranged close to a passenger, the latter therefore has direct access to its human-machine interface 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d. The display means 3 display a color on the luminous surface 4 in order to give the user an indication of the TC setpoint. Thus, the adjustment of each equipment according to the invention is simple, intuitive and within the reach of its passenger.

[0030] The invention is not limited to the embodiment of the human-machine interface described above, only by way of example, but other embodiments can be designed by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and scope of the present invention.

Claims

Claims

1. Human-machine interface (la, 1b, le, Id) designed to equip and control a close comfort element of a motor vehicle passenger compartment, the element being of the type designed to regulate, as a function of a modifiable setpoint (TC), a comfort parameter in the environment specific to a passenger seated in the passenger compartment in the vicinity of the close comfort equipment, the interface (la, 1b, le, Id) comprising at least one control (2a, 2b), manipulable by a user, designed to modify at least the setpoint (TC), in order to change the regulation of the comfort parameter of the element, the interface (la, 1b, le, Id) comprising display means (3) designed to display a visual signal intended for the user of the interface (la, 1b, le, Id) and indicative of the setpoint (TC).

2. Interface (la, 1b, le, Id) according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a first control (2a) designed to increase the setpoint (TC) and a second, separate control (2b), designed to decrease the setpoint (TC).

3. Interface (la, 1b, le, Id) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the display means (3) comprise at least one luminous surface (4) designed to display at least one predetermined color as a function of the instruction (TC).

4. Interface (la, 1b, le, Id) according to claim 3, characterized in that each control (2a, 2b) is arranged on a luminous surface (4).

5. Interface (la, 1b, le, Id) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that at least one control (2a, 2b) is designed to enable the close comfort element to be switched on and / or off.

6. Interface (la, 1b, le, Id) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that at least one control (2a, 2b) makes it possible to automatically modify the setpoint (TC) as a function of at least one climatic parameter.

7. Equipment comprising a close comfort element for a motor vehicle passenger compartment, designed to regulate, as a function of a setpoint (TC), a comfort parameter in the environment specific to a passenger seated in the vehicle in the vicinity of the passenger compartment element, the equipment comprising an interface (la, 1b, le, Id) according to one of claims 1 to 6, associated only with the equipment, making it possible to modify the setpoint (TC) of the element.

8. Comfort equipment according to claim 7, characterized in that the close comfort element is designed to radiate or diffuse heat towards the passenger from at least one radiating surface, the setpoint (TC) making it possible to regulate the temperature of each radiating surface.

9. Motor vehicle passenger compartment comprising at least one item of equipment according to claim 7 or 8.

10. Motor vehicle having a passenger compartment according to claim 9.

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