Checking a vehicle display device during a malfunction

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for controlling a vehicle display device, the method comprising the following steps: - detection (201) of a failure in at least one vehicle module; - upon detection of said failure, control (202) of the display device such that said display device alternates between at least a first state and a second state; wherein the first state is defined by a first brightness level of the display device and the second state is defined by a second brightness level of the first display device, the second brightness level being strictly lower than the first brightness level. FIG. 2

Description

Title of the invention: Control of a vehicle display device during a failure

[0001] The present invention belongs to the field of control of a display device for a motor vehicle following the detection of a failure of a module of the motor vehicle.

[0002] Motor vehicles are now equipped with one or more display devices, including: - a display device located behind the steering wheel of the vehicle in front of the driver, also called a digital instrument cluster, and generally used to communicate information relating to the operation of the vehicle and the driving situation; - a display device in the central position of the vehicle, capable of displaying information to the user, including information relating to the driving situation, such as map information, and / or information from a menu or infotainment system of the vehicle.

[0003] The term "embedded system" of the vehicle means all the hardware and software modules cooperating to perform vehicle functions, which may be infotainment functions, driving assistance functions, safety functions, functions for controlling elements of the passenger compartment, etc.

[0004] In the event of failure of a module and / or a function of the vehicle's embedded system, a display device can be put into a safety state, called "safe State" in English, in which the display device has zero light intensity, therefore displays a black screen.

[0005] Although such a security state indicates that a system failure has been detected, it poses several problems: - a black screen provides no information or indication as to whether the display device is still operational or powered, or not, which can lead to confusion, particularly in situations where visual feedback on the display device is essential; - a black screen can be wrongly interpreted as a total failure of the vehicle's on-board system, or a power outage, which is not always the case; - if the display device is broken, or has problems with blackness, the user cannot differentiate between a normal situation and a failure situation; - finally, the display of a black screen makes diagnosing the fault complex for an operator / technician in charge of the repair.

[0006] Thus, there is a need to improve the signaling of a failure of a vehicle module, on a display device inside the vehicle's passenger compartment.

[0007] The present invention improves the situation.

[0008] To this end, a first aspect of the invention relates to a method for controlling a vehicle display device, the method comprising the following steps: - detection of a failure of at least one module of the vehicle; - upon detection of said fault, control of the display device so that said display device alternates between at least a first state and a second state; in which the first state is defined by a first brightness level of the display device and the second state is defined by a second brightness level of the first display device, the second brightness level being strictly lower than the first brightness level.

[0009] An alternation of states corresponding to distinct intensity levels causes the display device to flash, such flashing being commonly perceived as a fault or warning signal. Furthermore, the information displayed on the display device can still be consulted by the user during the periods when the first state is displayed, thus improving safety while driving the vehicle, as it prevents any confusion for the driver. The driver can also determine that such a fault is not related to a power failure in the vehicle or a total system failure, since the first display device appears to be at least partially functional.

[0010] According to some embodiments, the second level of brightness can be zero light intensity.

[0011] Thus, the contrast associated with the blinking indicating the failure is strong.

[0012] Alternatively, the second brightness level can be a non-zero light intensity.

[0013] Thus, the readability of the information displayed on the display device is improved compared to a blinking comprising a totally dark state.

[0014] According to embodiments, the alternation of the first state and the second state may include a display according to the first state during a first period T1, then a display according to the second state during a second period T2, the first period T1 and the second period T2 being less than a given threshold.

[0015] Thus, a switching frequency between the first state and the second state is greater than a given threshold, which makes it possible to produce a blinking effect commonly interpreted as indicating a failure or an alert.

[0016] In addition, the given threshold may be less than one second.

[0017] Thus, a switching frequency between the first state and the second state is greater than one Hertz, which makes it possible to produce a blinking effect commonly interpreted as indicating a failure or an alert.

[0018] According to embodiments, the first period T1 can be between 80% and 120% of the second period T2.

[0019] Thus, the first and second periods are close, which allows the user of the vehicle to better perceive the effect of blinking.

[0020] According to embodiments, the first period and the second period can be predetermined.

[0021] Control of the display device is thus facilitated, because a command to activate the alternation between the two states can be predetermined and recorded in a control module of the display module.

[0022] Alternatively, the method further includes a determination of a type of failure, and the first period and / or the second period can be determined according to said type of failure determined.

[0023] Thus, the control module can indicate information about the detected failure to a technician in charge of repairing the faulty module.

[0024] A second aspect of the invention relates to a computer program comprising instructions for implementing the method according to the first aspect of the invention, when these instructions are executed by a processor.

[0025] A third aspect of the invention relates to a control module for a motor vehicle display device, the control module comprising a processor configured to: - detect a failure of at least one module of the vehicle; - upon detection of said fault, check the display device so that said display device alternates between at least a first state and a second state. The first state is defined by a first brightness level of the display device and the second state is defined by a second brightness level of the first display device, the second brightness level being strictly lower than the first brightness level.

[0026] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from an examination of the detailed description below, and the accompanying drawings in which:

[0027] [Fig.1] illustrates a motor vehicle passenger compartment according to embodiments of the invention;

[0028] [Fig.2] is a diagram illustrating the steps of a method for controlling a vehicle display device, according to embodiments of the invention

[0029] [Fig.3a] illustrates a display device for a motor vehicle, in a first state, according to embodiments of the invention;

[0030] [Fig.3b] illustrates a display device for a motor vehicle, in a second state, according to embodiments of the invention;

[0031] [Fig.3c] illustrates a display device for a motor vehicle, in a second state, according to other embodiments of the invention;

[0032] [Fig.4] illustrates the structure of a control module according to embodiments of the invention.

[0033] Fig. 1 illustrates the interior of the passenger compartment of a vehicle 100 according to embodiments of the invention.

[0034] The interior of the vehicle 100 comprises, according to the invention, a control module 101, at least one display device 102 and / or 103 and a diagnostic module 104.

[0035] A first display device 102 is located behind the steering wheel of the vehicle in front of the driver, is also called a digital instrument cluster, and is generally used to communicate information relating to the operation of the vehicle and the driving situation.

[0036] A second display device 103 may be centrally located at the front of the vehicle and may be capable of displaying information to the user, including information related to the driving situation, such as map information, and / or information from the vehicle's infotainment system. The second display device 103 may, in particular, display a vehicle menu, providing access to infotainment system functions, for example, for playing multimedia content, a navigation function for displaying navigation data, or a function for controlling vehicle parameters, including vehicle interior parameters, such as the set temperature of an air conditioning system.

[0037] Each of the display devices 102 and 103 can be a screen. There is no restriction attached to the screen technology, which can be an LCD screen, for "Liquid Crystal Display", an OLED screen for "Organic Light-Emitting Diode", or any other screen technology.

[0038] In addition, the second display device 103 can be a touch screen, of capacitive or resistive type, thus allowing the user to interact by touch input with the graphical interface displayed on the touch screen 103.

[0039] In what follows, the invention is applied to the control of the first display device 102. However, alternatively, the control method described below can be applied to the second display device 103, or to both the first display device 102 and the second display device 103.

[0040] The control module 101 is capable of controlling either of the display devices 102 and 103, for the implementation of the fault signaling method according to embodiments of the invention. In the following example, the control module 101 controls at least the first display device 102.

[0041] In particular, as explained below, the control module 101 is at least capable of controlling the light intensity associated with the display of information on the first display device 102. In addition, according to embodiments, the control module 101 can control the information displayed by the display device 102.

[0042] The control module 101 can be a centralized control device responsible for a plurality of functions of the motor vehicle, or alternatively, it can be dedicated to a single function, namely controlling the brightness of the display device 102, or to a given subset of functions of the embedded system. The control module 101 can be of the ECU type, for "Electronic Control Unit".

[0043] The diagnostic module 104 is capable of diagnosing a failure of a vehicle module that is able to implement at least one function of the embedded system. This therefore constitutes a failure of a module of the embedded system. The diagnostic module 104 can be dedicated to a module performing one or more functions, in which case the vehicle 100 comprises several diagnostic modules 104. Alternatively, the diagnostic module 104 is capable of centralizing operating data from the software and hardware modules of the embedded system and determining whether a module is faulty or not.

[0044] The diagnostic module 104 can identify one type of failure from among a plurality of predefined failure types. This could be an infotainment system failure, a hardware failure of the display unit 102, a failure in the power supply to the display unit 102, or any other failure affecting a vehicle module, including the first display unit 102. Each type of failure prevents optimal operation of the module concerned by the failure, for example, the first display unit 102, and may partially or completely prevent the implementation of an on-board system function. The failure of the function may or may not be safety-critical.

[0045] No restrictions are attached to the manner in which the failure, and optionally the type of failure, is identified. Such identification is well known and is not described further in this description.

[0046] Alternatively, the control module 101 and the diagnostic module 104 are one and the same module.

[0047] Figure 2 shows the steps of a method for controlling a display device. to signal a failure, according to embodiments of the invention.

[0048] The process can be implemented by the control module 101 described with reference to [Fig.1].

[0049] At step 200, the control module 101 receives a fault signal from the diagnostic module 104. The fault signal may further indicate a type of fault, from among a predetermined set of fault types. The fault type may, in particular, identify the module, or set of modules, affected by the fault.

[0050] Such a step 200 is not implemented when the control module 101 and the diagnostic module 104 are one and the same module.

[0051] At step 201, the control module 101 determines that a fault is occurring in at least one module of the vehicle's on-board system 100. This determination is based on receiving the fault signal from the diagnostic module 104 at step 200, when the control module 101 and the diagnostic module 104 are separate. The determination may include identifying the type of fault, when indicated in the fault signal received from the diagnostic module 104.

[0052] When the control module 101 and the diagnostic module 104 are one and the same module, the control module 101 is able to determine the failure of a module of the embedded system, for example of the first display device 102. In addition, the control module 101 can determine the type of failure.

[0053] At a step 202, following the determination that a failure is occurring on at least one module of the embedded system, the control module 101 controls the light intensity of the first display device 102, so as to alternate between at least a first state and a second state; - the first state being defined by a first level of brightness of the first display device; - the second state being defined by a second brightness level of the first display device, the second brightness level being strictly lower than the first brightness level.

[0054] Such an alternation comprises a series of switches between at least the first and second states. The first state may be maintained for a first period T1 before switching to the second state, which is maintained for a second period T2, before switching back to the first state, and so on. The first and second periods are preferably equal, or close, i.e., the second period T2 is between 0.8*T1 and 1.2*TL

[0055] Preferably, the periods T1 and T2 are less than a given threshold, so as to create a blinking effect on the first display device 102. The threshold may be, for example, one second. In other words, a blinking frequency is preferably greater than 1 Hz.

[0056] The first brightness level can correspond to a first average value of light intensity of the first lighting device 102, and the second brightness level can correspond to a second average value of average light intensity of the first lighting device 102.

[0057] According to some embodiments, the first brightness level corresponds to the optimal light intensity of the lighting device 102, i.e., the level used by default for displaying information on the first lighting device, particularly in normal operating mode when no fault is detected. The first state is shown in [Fig. 3a], described below.

[0058] In addition, the second brightness level can correspond to zero light intensity from the first lighting device 102. Thus, the contrast associated with the flashing indicating the failure is strong. Such a second state is shown in [Fig. 3b], which is described below.

[0059] Alternatively, the second brightness level may correspond to a lower, but not zero, light intensity than the first brightness level, thereby improving the readability of the information displayed on the first lighting device. Such an alternative embodiment of the second state is shown in [Fig. 3c], described below.

[0060] When the first display device is a backlit LCD screen, the control of the brightness level consists of switching the light intensity of the backlight between at least the first brightness level and the second brightness level.

[0061] For a screen based on LED technology, the average luminous intensity of the first display device 102 can be controlled by setting a duty cycle for each LED powered by pulse-width modulation. Thus, when the first brightness level is not zero, the switching from the first state to the second state, and vice versa, is achieved by the control module 101 by modifying the average duty cycle values ​​applied to the LEDs of the first display device 102.

[0062] Thus, it is made possible to flash the first display device to indicate that a fault is detected for a module of the vehicle's embedded system 100.

[0063] Such a flashing has the following advantages over the prior art described above, in which a black screen is displayed in the event of a failure of a module of the vehicle's on-board system 100: - a flashing of the first display device 102 may alert the user or a technician in charge of the repair that the on-board system is in a state of failure, requiring immediate attention; - while a completely dark screen can be wrongly interpreted as a total failure of the embedded system, or a power failure, a blinking can clearly indicate that, although the embedded system is not fully operational, some functionalities are fully or partially operational; - In addition, such a blinking can be interpreted by a technician in charge of repairing the faulty module, who can differentiate between a variety of failures, such as power supply faults and data transmission errors, thus streamlining the failure diagnostic process; - for the user, a blinking of the first display device 102, rather than a black screen, can reassure that the fault is identified and / or potentially being managed, thus maintaining a level of confidence in the reliability of the system, and avoiding unnecessary checks or resets by the user, who might think that the system is unresponsive or totally faulty; - In addition, a flashing light is interpreted as an SOS, universally recognized as a signal of failure or alert.

[0064] According to embodiments, the control module 101 determines the flashing frequency, the first brightness level and / or the second brightness level, depending on the type of failure determined in step 201. It is thus made possible to indicate the type of failure to an operator in charge of repairing the faulty module, which facilitates diagnosis and repair.

[0065] Step 202 can be carried out by sending a command to the first display device 102, indicating the period T1, the period T2 if it differs from the period T1, the first brightness level, and the second brightness level. Such a command can be a single predefined command, or can be selected from a set of predefined commands depending on the type of failure.

[0066] At a step 203, the control module 101 can determine whether the fault detected at step 201 has been resolved or not. There are no restrictions on such a determination, which can be based on receiving an information signal from the diagnostic module 104, or which can be performed by the control module 101 based on its own diagnostics, when the control module 101 integrates with the diagnostic module 104.

[0067] If the fault is determined to be resolved in step 203, the process proceeds to step 204, in which the control module 101 controls the first display device 102 in a normal display state, which may be the first state 300 described previously. Thus, the flashing is stopped when the fault is resolved.

[0068] Otherwise, if the fault is determined not to be resolved, step 203 is repeated until the fault is resolved, and the flashing of the first display device 102 is maintained.

[0069] Fig. 3a illustrates the first display device 102 for motor vehicle, in a first state 300, according to embodiments of the invention.

[0070] In the first state 300, the first brightness level is applied by the control module to the first display device 102. As previously stated, the first brightness level can be an optimal brightness level, used by default, particularly in the absence of a fault in the on-board system, for displaying information to the driver. Examples of information displayed on the first display device 102 are shown in [Fig. 3a] and are given for illustrative purposes only. The information displayed includes: - a vehicle range level 301 of the vehicle 100; - a current consumption of 302 of the vehicle 100; - a typical speed of 303 for the vehicle 100; - a speed limit of 304 associated with a road on which the vehicle is traveling at 100 km / h; and - other information 305 on driving or operating the vehicle 100.

[0071] Fig. 3b illustrates the first display device 102 for motor vehicle, in a second state 310, according to embodiments of the invention.

[0072] According to the embodiments of [Fig.3b], the second brightness level corresponds to zero light intensity, i.e. no information is displayed and the first display device 102 appears as a black screen.

[0073] Fig. 3c illustrates the first display device 102 for motor vehicle, in a second state 320, according to other alternative embodiments.

[0074] In these embodiments, the second state 320 is not associated with zero light intensity, but with a reduced light intensity compared to the first brightness level of the first state 310 described above. Thus, according to these embodiments, the information displayed in the first state is also displayed in the second state, but with reduced brightness.

[0075] According to other embodiments, the control module 101 controls, during step 202 described above, the first display device 102 so as to alternate between at least three states, including the first and second states previously described, as well as a third state associated with a third brightness level different from the first and second brightness levels. The third state can be maintained for a third period T3, which is advantageously equal to or close to the period T1, for example between 0.8*T1 and 1.2*T1.

[0076] Figure 4 shows the structure of the control module 101 according to embodiments of the invention.

[0077] The control module 101 includes a processor 401 configured to communicate unidirectionally or bidirectionally, via one or more buses or via a direct wired connection, with a memory 402 such as a Random Access Memory (RAM), a Read Only Memory (ROM), or any other type of memory (Flash, EEPROM, etc.). Alternatively, the memory 402 comprises several memories of the aforementioned types.

[0078] The memory 402 is capable of storing, permanently or temporarily, at least some of the data used and / or resulting from the implementation of the process described with reference to [Fig.2].

[0079] In particular, memory 402 can store the predefined command(s) described above.

[0080] The processor 401 is capable of executing instructions, stored in memory 402, for the implementation of the steps of the process according to the invention, described with reference to [Fig. 2]. Alternatively, the processor 401 can be replaced by a microcontroller designed and configured to perform the steps of the process according to the invention, described with reference to [Fig. 2].

[0081] When the vehicle 100 includes several diagnostic modules 104, the control module 101 may include a first interface 403 for each diagnostic module 104.

[0082] The control module 101 includes a first interface 403 capable of communicating with the diagnostic module 104, particularly during step 200 described above. In the embodiment in which the control module 101 integrates the diagnostic module 104, the control module 101 does not include the first interface 403.

[0083] The control module 101 may further include at least one second interface 404 capable of communicating with at least one display device, in particular with the first display device 102 in the example described above, for sending the predefined command during step 202.

[0084] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above by way of example; it extends to other variants.

Claims

Demands

1. A method for controlling a display device (102; 103) for a vehicle (100), the method comprising the following steps: - detection (201) of a failure of at least one module of the vehicle; - upon detection of said failure, control (202) of the display device so that said display device alternates between at least a first state (300) and a second state (310; 320); in which the first state is defined by a first brightness level of the display device and the second state is defined by a second brightness level of the first display device, the second brightness level being strictly lower than the first brightness level.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the second brightness level is zero light intensity.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the second brightness level is a non-zero light intensity.

4. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the alternation of the first state (300) and the second state (310; 320) comprises a display according to the first state for a first period T1, then a display according to the second state for a second period T2, wherein the first period T1 and the second period T2 are below a given threshold.

5. Method according to claim 4, wherein the given threshold is one second.

6. A method according to any one of claims 4 or 5, wherein the first period T1 is between 80% and 120% of the second period T2.

7. A method according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the first period and the second period are predetermined.

8. A method according to any one of claims 4 to 6, further comprising a determination (201) of a type of failure, and wherein the first period and / or the second period is determined as a function of said determined type of failure.

9. Computer program comprising instructions for carrying out the method according to any one of the preceding claims, when such instructions are executed by a processor (401).

10. Control module (101) of a display device (102; 103) for a vehicle (100), the control module comprising a processor (401) configured to: - detect a failure of at least one module of the vehicle; - upon detection of said failure, control the display device so that said display device alternates between at least a first state and a second state; in which the first state is defined by a first brightness level of the display device and the second state is defined by a second brightness level of the first display device, the second brightness level being strictly lower than the first brightness level.

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