Method and device for controlling a vehicle passenger compartment ventilation system

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and device for controlling a vehicle passenger compartment ventilation system (10) comprising a primary touchscreen (131) and a secondary touchscreen (132). The primary touchscreen is configured to display initial graphic content comprising a set of primary graphic objects associated with control commands for at least one ventilation system vent. The method then includes controlling the display of at least one secondary graphic object on the secondary touchscreen, associated with a primary graphic object from the set of primary graphic objects.Data representing a touch press on a second graphic object (from among at least one other graphic object) is received, and data representing the control command associated with the first graphic object associated with said second graphic object is determined and transmitted to a ventilation system controller. Figure 1 for the abbreviation.

Description

Title of the invention: Method and device for controlling a vehicle passenger compartment ventilation system. Technical field

[0001] The invention relates to methods and devices for controlling a ventilation system in the passenger compartment of a vehicle, in particular but not exclusively a motor vehicle. The invention relates in particular to a method and a device for controlling and displaying information relating to the vehicle's passenger compartment ventilation system. Technological background

[0002] Many contemporary vehicles integrate a touch display screen in their passenger compartment to control and operate the vehicle's infotainment system, also called the IVI system (from the English "In-Vehicle Infotainment" or in French "Infodivertissement étoilé").

[0003] Touchscreen displays are also increasingly used to display graphical interfaces that replace certain control panels dedicated to the control and operation of on-board vehicle systems, for example, the air conditioning system. Thus, the physical control panel for the air conditioning system is now, in some vehicles, presented as a graphical interface that appears on a display screen at the request of the driver or a passenger, for example, via a selection from a menu or the home page of the graphical interface displayed on the screen.

[0004] Controls of a ventilation or air conditioning system may include, for example, selecting a setpoint temperature for the air in the vehicle's interior, selecting a power level for automatic air conditioning in the vehicle's interior, activating / deactivating a vent, activating / deactivating a defrosting of the front and / or rear windshield of the vehicle, activating / deactivating the recirculation of the interior air of the vehicle's interior without outside air intake, selecting a ventilation zone inside the vehicle's interior, or selecting a power level for the ventilation of the vehicle's interior air.

[0005] There are known ventilation system control solutions which are described as physical, tactile or hybrid.

[0006] Physical solutions were historically the first to be used in the automotive industry. These solutions involved using buttons to control a ventilation system. While the ergonomics of these solutions were acceptable, their use in In contemporary vehicles, the use of multiple buttons on a dashboard-mounted air vent is no longer practical due to the ever-increasing number of controls. The use of multiple buttons on the front panel of a dashboard vent is no longer feasible because of the growing size and complexity of these panels.

[0007] More recently, touchscreen control solutions have been implemented in the automotive industry. These solutions involve using a main touchscreen positioned on the vehicle's dashboard, providing users with quick visual feedback. However, these touchscreen solutions, integrated into a main screen that often groups numerous functions managed by the infotainment system, require complex manipulations to control the ventilation system. Thus, the user must navigate through various menus to access the desired control interface, taking their eyes off the road and spending time manipulating the touchscreen.

[0008] A problem then arises of defining a solution to control an air conditioning system with ever more numerous controls with quick access, simple and intuitive commands. Summary of the present invention

[0009] One object of the present invention is to solve at least one of the problems of the technological background described above.

[0010] One object of the present invention is, for example, to make access to the ever-increasing number of controls of an air conditioning system simple and intuitive.

[0011] Another object of the present invention is to improve the comfort of vehicle users.

[0012] An object of the present invention is also to minimize the loss of driver attention and to improve vehicle safety.

[0013] According to a first aspect, the present invention relates to a method for controlling a ventilation system in the passenger compartment of a vehicle, the vehicle having a display system comprising a main touchscreen and a secondary touchscreen, the main touchscreen being configured to display first graphic content comprising a set of first graphic objects, a first control command for at least one vent of the ventilation system being associated with each first graphic object of the set of first graphic objects, the method being implemented by a processor and comprising the following steps: - display control of a second graphic content comprising at least one second graphic object on the secondary touch screen, each at least one second graphic object being associated with a first graphic object from the set of first graphic objects; - reception of initial data representative of a touch press on a second graphic object among at least one second graphic object; - determining second data points representing a second control order based on the first data points, the second control order corresponding to the first control order associated with the first graphical object to which the second graphical object is associated; and - transmission of the second data to a ventilation system controller.

[0014] Such a method then makes it possible to control the ventilation system from a second touch screen in a manner similar to the control of this ventilation system via the first touch screen.

[0015] The use of the second touch screen makes it possible to free the first touch screen from controlling the ventilation system and thus allows other functions to be assigned to the first touch screen.

[0016] Furthermore, the use of the secondary screen facilitates access to the ventilation system controls by reducing the number of functions managed by each screen. Reducing the number of menus and submenus thus decreases the number of interactions required to access the human-machine interface (HMI) for controlling the ventilation system.

[0017] According to one variant of the method, at least one aerator comprises at least one actuator belonging to a set of actuators comprising: - a fan, - a valve, - a flap, - a linear motor or actuator controlling vertical vanes, and - a linear motor or actuator controlling horizontal vanes.

[0018] According to yet another variant of the method, a control command is representative of: - a rotation speed, and / or - an air flow rate, and / or - a temperature, and / or - an orientation, and / or - spatial coordinates, and / or - an opening rate, and / or - a stroke.

[0019] According to a further variant of the method, a graphical representation of a second graphical object is similar to a graphical representation of the first graphical object to which the second graphical object is associated.

[0020] According to yet another variant of the method, the first graphic content is not displayed on the main touch screen when the second graphic content is displayed on the secondary touch screen.

[0021] According to one variant of the method, the touch press belongs to a set of touch presses comprising: - a short touch press, - a long touch press, and - a touch swipe.

[0022] According to a second aspect, the present invention relates to a control device for a ventilation system in the passenger compartment of a vehicle, the device comprising a memory associated with a processor configured for the implementation of the steps of the process according to the first aspect of the present invention.

[0023] According to a third aspect, the present invention relates to a vehicle, for example of the automobile type, comprising a device as described above according to the second aspect of the present invention.

[0024] According to a fourth aspect, the present invention relates to a computer program which includes instructions adapted for carrying out the steps of the process according to the first aspect of the present invention, in particular when the computer program is executed by at least one processor.

[0025] Such a computer program may use any programming language, and be in the form of source code, object code, or an intermediate code between source code and object code, such as in a partially compiled form, or in any other desirable form.

[0026] According to a fifth aspect, the present invention relates to a computer-readable recording medium on which is recorded a computer program comprising instructions for carrying out the steps of the process according to the first aspect of the present invention.

[0027] On the one hand, the recording medium can be any entity or device capable of storing the program. For example, the medium can include a storage means, such as a ROM, a CD-ROM or a microelectronic circuit-type ROM, or a magnetic recording means or a hard disk drive.

[0028] On the other hand, this recording medium can also be a transmissible medium such as an electrical or optical signal, such a signal being able to be transmitted via an electrical or optical cable, by conventional or radio frequency, by self-directing laser beam, or by other means. The computer program according to the present invention can, in particular, be downloaded from an Internet-type network.

[0029] Alternatively, the recording medium may be an integrated circuit in which the computer program is incorporated, the integrated circuit being adapted to execute or to be used in the execution of the process in question. Brief description of the figures

[0030] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the description of the specific and non-limiting embodiments of the present invention below, with reference to the attached Figures 1 to 6, in which:

[0031] [Fig-1] schematically illustrates part of a vehicle passenger compartment, according to a example of a particular embodiment of the present invention;

[0032] [Fig.2] schematically illustrates a first vehicle display device the [Fig.1], according to a particular and non-limiting example of the present invention;

[0033] [Fig.3] schematically illustrates a second vehicle display device the [Fig.1], according to a first particular and non-limiting example of the present invention;

[0034] [Fig.4] schematically illustrates the second display of the vehicle of [Fig.1], according to a second particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention;

[0035] [Fig. 5] illustrates a device configured to control a ventilation system of the passenger compartment of the vehicle in [Fig. 1], according to a particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention; and

[0036] [Fig.6] illustrates a flowchart of the different stages of a control process of a vehicle passenger compartment ventilation system of [Fig.1], according to a particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention. Description of examples of achievements

[0037] A method and a device for controlling a ventilation system in the passenger compartment of a vehicle will now be described in what follows with joint reference to Figures 1 to 6. The same elements are identified with the same reference symbols throughout the description that follows.

[0038] The terms "first," "second" (or "firsts," "seconds"), etc., are used in this document by arbitrary convention to allow for the identification and distinction of different elements (such as operations, means, etc.) implemented in the embodiments described below. Such elements may be distinct or correspond to a single element, depending on the embodiment.

[0039] According to a particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention, the control of a vehicle's passenger compartment ventilation system (also called an air conditioning system) is implemented by one or more computers of the vehicle, in particular by one or more processors of this or these computers. The vehicle also includes a display system comprising a touch screen, called a touch screen, controlled by a computer, for example the computer of the vehicle's infotainment system, called an IVI computer (from the English "In-Vehicle Infotainment" or in French "Infodivertissement étoilé").

[0040] Fig. 1 schematically illustrates a part of the passenger compartment of vehicle 10, according to a particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention.

[0041] Vehicle 10 corresponds, for example, to a vehicle with an internal combustion engine, with electric motor(s), or even a hybrid vehicle with an internal combustion engine and one or more electric motors. Vehicle 10 thus corresponds, for example, to a land vehicle, for example a car, a truck, a bus.

[0042] The vehicle 10 advantageously incorporates a ventilation or air conditioning system configured to ventilate, that is, to generate one or more airflows in the passenger compartment from one or more motorized vents, for example via the action of one or more fans generating an airflow passing through the vents, the airflow then being directed into the passenger compartment by means of flaps or valves positioned upstream or at the inlet of the vents. The vents include, for example, vanes controlled by means of motors or linear actuators to define the direction of the airflow passing through them.

[0043] First ventilators 161 are, for example, directed towards the driver of the vehicle 10 sitting in the driver's seat 151, while second ventilators 162 are directed towards the front passenger sitting in the passenger seat 152. Obviously, according to other particular embodiments, the ventilation system includes other ventilators and / or ventilators placed differently, for example to ventilate the rear part of the passenger compartment of the vehicle 10.

[0044] The airflow generated through the aerators is, for example, generated by a fan common to all the aerators 161, 162. Valves are then arranged so as to regulate an airflow through each aerator 131, 132 independently.

[0045] Following another particular embodiment, each aerator has its own fan so as to generate its own airflow.

[0046] Each vent, for example, has vanes that direct the airflow passing through it. The vanes are arranged in two directions, a vertical direction and a horizontal direction, thus forming a hinged grid. Linear motors or actuators then orient the vanes in both directions, directing the airflow into the passenger compartment opposite a vent outlet. It is therefore possible to direct the airflow towards a part of an occupant's body near the vent, depending on the position of the vanes.

[0047] According to another particular embodiment, the fins are fixed together, the assembly of fins thus formed is then directed by rotation of this assembly in two distinct planes using linear motors or actuators.

[0048] For the various examples, the motors are, for example, electric motors whose control is received via an electrical signal.

[0049] All the motors, linear actuators, fans, valves and / or flaps are, for example, managed by a computer associated with the ventilation system. This computer defines the position or speed of each actuator according to the airflow to be generated and directed.

[0050] It should be noted that, according to a particular embodiment, the ventilation system includes a compressor for conditioning the air, for example, cooling and dehumidifying it. Thus, the actuator assembly further includes a compressor or a means for activating the compressor.

[0051] Thus, the ventilation system on board the vehicle 10 makes it possible, for example, to improve the comfort of a passenger by conveying fresh or hot air, or to improve the visibility of the driver by blowing air on the windshield in order to defrost it, that is to say to remove the fog present on its surface.

[0052] The vehicle 10 includes a display system comprising a main touchscreen 131 and at least one computer is configured to control the display of content(s) of a graphical human-machine interface, referred to as an HMI, on this main touchscreen 131. The computer corresponds, for example, to the IVI computer of the vehicle 10. The main touchscreen 131 is, for example, positioned in the middle of the dashboard 11 so as to be accessible and visible to the occupants of the vehicle 10.

[0053] The display system includes another screen, the secondary touch screen 132. According to this particular embodiment, this secondary touch screen 132 is positioned below the main touch screen 131. The display of graphic content on the secondary touch screen 132 is managed by a second computer connected to the IVI computer or directly managed by the IVI computer.

[0054] The main touch screen 131 and / or the secondary touch screen 132 corresponds, for example, to an LCD type screen (from the English "Liquid Crystal Display" or in French "Display à cristals liquide"), for example of the TFT type (from the English "Thin-Film Transistor" or in French "Transistor en film mince"), or OLED (from the English "Organic Light-Emitting Diode" or in French "Diode électroluminescente organique").

[0055] The main touchscreen 131 and / or the secondary touchscreen 132 is configured to display content for the driver and passengers of the vehicle 10. The main touchscreen 131 is also configured to allow the driver and / or to allow vehicle passengers to interact with one or more vehicle-mounted systems via an HMI displayed on the main touchscreen 131. For example, the main touchscreen 131 is configured to interact with the IVI system and / or the vehicle cabin ventilation system 10.

[0056] Such a display system comprising the main touch screen 131 and the secondary touch screen 132 is for example provided or configured to increase the available display area and allow the management of certain functions such as the control of the ventilation system via the main touch screen 131 and / or via the secondary touch screen 132 while allowing the display of other graphic content related to other on-board systems of the vehicle 10.

[0057] According to this particular embodiment, the display system includes one or more other screens, for example a screen of a device or system called a head-up display, corresponding for example to a transparent or semi-transparent blade arranged in such a way that a driver sitting in the driver's seat 151 sees the content displayed or projected onto the transparent blade when the driver is driving the vehicle 10. The display system further includes, for example, a display screen called a combination or instrument panel and generally arranged in an area 12 behind the steering wheel 14 in the dashboard 11.

[0058] The vehicle display system 10 is connected in communication with the vehicle cabin ventilation system 10, for example the computer in charge of the display system (for example the IVI computer) is connected in communication to the computer (also called controller) in charge of the ventilation system via one or more data buses of the vehicle 10 on-board network.

[0059] Fig. 2 schematically illustrates a first display device of the vehicle of Fig. 1, according to a particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention, the first display device corresponding to the main touch screen 131.

[0060] The main touch screen 131 is configured to display, among other things, initial graphical content comprising a set of initial graphical objects.

[0061] Thus, the first graphic content includes, for example: • a first graphic object 201 allowing the determination of a desired air temperature in the passenger compartment around the driver, • the first graphic objects 202a, 202b, 202c allowing the determination of an intensity and direction of an airflow on the driver, for example towards the driver's face, around the driver, or an absence of airflow, • the first graphic objects 203a, 2023, 203c allowing the determination of an intensity and direction of an airflow on the front passenger, for example towards the face of the front passenger, around the front passenger, or an absence of airflow, • a first graphic object 204 allowing the determination of a desired air temperature in the passenger compartment around the front passenger, • a first graphic object 205 representing a view of the dashboard 11 with its vents, on which are superimposed first graphic objects 205a, 205b, 205c, 205d representing target directions of airflow from the vents, the airflow generated by the vents also being represented by means of first graphic objects 206a, 206b, 206c and 206d respectively associated with first graphic objects 205a, 205b, 205c, 205d representing target directions of the airflows.

[0062] A display control for graphic content or any graphic object (text, pictogram, icon, etc.) includes rendering the graphic content or graphic object, such rendering corresponding to a set of operations performed by one or more processors on the pixels of one or more images of the graphic content to be displayed on the touchscreen. For example, rendering consists of associating pixel data (for example, color data expressed in an RGB (Red, Green, Blue) color space) with each graphic object.

[0063] The display control of a graphic object, here a first graphic object, thus includes the transmission of control signals to the touch screen to modify the values ​​associated with the pixels of the touch screen, here the main touch screen 131, at the location intended to display the graphic object.

[0064] Each first graphic object in the set of first graphic objects is associated with a first control order of at least one ventilator of the ventilation system.

[0065] Thus, when the IVI computer receives data representing a touch from a user (for example the driver of vehicle 10) on one of the graphic objects listed above, it sends information to the computer associated with the ventilation system so that the latter implements one or more functions associated with the first control order corresponding to the touch.

[0066] The representative data of the touch press are for example received via one or more data buses linking the touch interface of the main screen 131 (or a computer controlling such a touch interface where applicable) and the IVI computer.

[0067] Touch support corresponds to: • a short or brief touch contact in which the duration of contact on the indicator is less than a threshold duration (for example, equal to 500 or 1000 ms), • a long touch press where the duration of the press on the indicator exceeds the threshold duration (e.g., equal to 500 or 1000 ms), or • a touch scan corresponding to a long touch press combined with a movement of the area in contact with the user.

[0068] Note that a control command associated with a graphic object is sometimes different depending on the type of touch input, or even that only certain types of touch input are taken into account depending on the target graphic object, i.e., the graphic object on which the user presses. In other words, the target graphic object is determined as the one displayed in the area of ​​the touchscreen in contact with the user.

[0069] Obviously, the invention is not limited to these types of tactile feedback and extends to any type of tactile feedback, in particular those obtained by several simultaneous contacts with the user. The control commands associated with these different tactile feedbacks are, for example, themselves different.

[0070] Thus, a control order is then representative: • of a rotation speed, for example of a fan, and / or • of an airflow rate, either overall or through an aerator, and / or • of a temperature, for example a setpoint temperature for a zone in the passenger compartment or a setpoint temperature for the air passing through a vent, and / or • of an orientation, for example of an airflow through a vent, and / or • spatial coordinates, for example the spatial coordinates of a target for the airflow passing through a fan, and / or • an opening rate, so as to regulate the amount of air passing through a ventilator, and / or • of a stroke, for example of a linear actuator connected to vanes.

[0071] Nevertheless, the main touchscreen 131 is often used to manage different functions and / or display different information associated with the various on-board systems of the vehicle 10. Thus, the main touchscreen 131 is configured to generate graphical content associated with different on-board systems, for example, the display of: • Information and / or controls relating to an audio system, for example the title of a song or the name of a radio station or volume control, and / or • A map and route information for a navigation system and / or controls enabling route planning, and / or • information relating to a hands-free telephone system such as incoming calls or a contact list and / or commands to select a contact and call them, and / or • menus allowing the configuration of a user interface or certain functionalities, and / or • safety alerts and / or visual assistance received from driver assistance systems.

[0072] This list is not exhaustive, however, and highlights the number of graphic content items that the main touchscreen 131 can display. Therefore, in order to increase the number of graphic content items displayed simultaneously by the system Vehicle display 10, the display system includes the secondary touch screen 132. The presence of this secondary touch screen 132 then makes it possible to relieve part of the load on the main touch screen 131, that is to say, to display part of the graphic content that can be displayed by the main touch screen 131 on the secondary touch screen 132.

[0073] A process for controlling the vehicle's passenger compartment ventilation system 10 is advantageously implemented by one or more processors, for example one or more processors of the IVI computer and / or one or more processors of the computer or controller in charge of the ventilation system via the secondary touch screen 132.

[0074] In a first operation, the display of a second graphic content on the secondary touch screen 132 is controlled, for example by the IVI computer. The second graphic content comprises at least one second graphic object, each at least one second graphic object being associated with a first graphic object from the set of first graphic objects.

[0075] It should be noted that, according to a particular embodiment, the first graphic objects of the set of first graphic objects are not displayed on the main touchscreen 131 when at least a second graphic object is displayed on the secondary touchscreen 132. In other words, when the ventilation system control process is implemented using the secondary touchscreen 132, then the main touchscreen 131 cannot be used to control the ventilation system. Thus, only one touchscreen is used to control the ventilation system, and the main touchscreen 131 remains available to display other graphic content related to other systems embedded in the vehicle 10.

[0076] Figures 3 and 4 schematically illustrate a second display device for the vehicle of [Fig. 1], according to two specific embodiments. The second display device corresponds to the secondary touchscreen 132, and the second graphic content displayed on this secondary touchscreen 132 differs in these two examples.

[0077] According to the first example illustrated in [Fig.3], the second graphic content includes, for example: • a graphic object 311 allowing the display of a parameterized airflow in the passenger compartment around the driver, • a second graphic object 312 allowing the determination of a desired air temperature in the passenger compartment around the driver, which is associated with the first graphic object 201 allowing the determination of a desired air temperature in the passenger compartment around the driver, • a graphic object 313 allowing adjustment of the airflow in the passenger compartment, • a second graphic object 314 for determining a desired air temperature in the passenger compartment around the front passenger, which is associated with the first graphic object 204 for determining a desired air temperature in the passenger compartment around the front passenger, and • a graphic object 315 allowing the display of a parameterized airflow in the passenger compartment around the front passenger.

[0078] The content displayed in the rest of the secondary touch screen 132 includes, for example, a set of information or graphic objects useful to the driver for ensuring the control and supervision of the vehicle 10, for example icons 301, 303, 304, 305 allowing access to other control screens associated with other on-board systems, and an icon 302 called the "ventilation icon" allowing access to other functions of the ventilation system through the second graphic content according to the second example.

[0079] According to the second example illustrated in [Fig. 4], the second graphic content includes, for example: • a 401 graphic object, also called a "return," allowing the display of a second graphic content previously shown, specifically the second graphic content according to the first example, if applicable. • an icon 402 representing the ventilation system, similar to icon 302, • a graphic object 311 allowing the display of a parameterized airflow in the passenger compartment around the driver, • Second graphic objects 403a, 403b, 403c, which allow the determination of the intensity and direction of an airflow over the driver, for example, towards the driver's face, around the driver, or an absence of airflow, which are respectively associated with the first graphic objects 202a, 202b, 202c, which allow the determination of the intensity and direction of an airflow over the driver; • Second graphic objects 404a, 404b, 404c, which allow the determination of the intensity and direction of an airflow over the front passenger, for example, towards the front passenger's face, around the front passenger, or an absence of airflow, which are respectively associated with the first graphic objects 203a, 2023, 203c, which allow the determination of the intensity and direction of an airflow over the front passenger. • a second graphic object 405 representing a view of the dashboard 11 with its air vents associated with the first graphic object 205 representing a view of the dashboard 11 with its air vents, on which are superimposed second graphic objects 405a, 405b, 405c, 405d representing target directions of airflow from the air vents, respectively associated with the first graphic objects 205a, 205b, 205c, 205d representing target directions of airflow from the aerators. The airflow generated by the aerators is also represented by means of second graphic objects 406a, 406b, 406c and 406d respectively associated with the first graphic objects 206a, 206b, 206c, 206d representing the airflows generated by the aerators.

[0080] A display control of graphic content or any second graphic object (text, pictogram, icon, etc.) includes a rendering of the graphic content or graphic object, such rendering corresponding to a set of operations performed by one or more processors on the pixels of one or more images of the graphic content to be displayed on the secondary touch screen 132. For example, the rendering consists of associating to a set of pixels of an image pixel data (for example color data expressed in an RGB (Red, Green, Blue) type space) associated with each second graphic object.

[0081] The display control of a second graphic object thus includes the transmission of control signals to the secondary touch screen 132 to modify the values ​​associated with the pixels of the secondary touch screen 132 at the location intended to display the graphic object.

[0082] The two examples correspond, for instance, to two distinct secondary graphic content items displayed consecutively following an action on the secondary touchscreen 132. Thus, when the secondary touchscreen 132 displays the second graphic content item according to the first example, a touch press 98 on the icon 302 labeled "ventilation icon" displays the second graphic content item according to the second example on the secondary touchscreen 132 instead of the second graphic content item according to the first example. Similarly, when the secondary touchscreen 132 displays the second graphic content item according to the second example, a touch press 99 on the graphic object 401 labeled "back" displays the second graphic content item according to the first example on the secondary touchscreen 132 instead of the second graphic content item according to the second example.

[0083] Thus, it is possible to display different second graphic objects allowing control of different functions of the ventilation system by modifying the second graphic content displayed on the secondary touch screen 132.

[0084] According to a particular embodiment, a graphical representation of a second graphical object is similar to a graphical representation of the first graphical object to which the second graphical object is associated. Thus, a user can easily recognize the functions of the different second graphical objects if they know the functions of the first graphical objects.

[0085] In a second operation, initial data representing a touch on a second graphic object are received. This initial data is function of both the second target graphic object, i.e., the one the user pressed, and the type of touch press.

[0086] In a third operation, second data representing a second control order are determined as a function of the first data, the second control order corresponding to the first control order associated with the first graphic object to which the second target graphic object is associated, i.e. the second graphic object which was the subject of the touch press.

[0087] Thus, a short press on the second graphic object 405d, representing the target direction of an airflow exiting a second vent 162, represents a request to stop the ventilation by this second vent 162, while a swipe determines a new target direction. According to another example, a short touch 99 on the second touch object 404c determines the absence of airflow around the front passenger.

[0088] In a fourth operation, the second data is transmitted to a ventilation system controller. Thus, if the second data represents a stoppage of the airflow exiting the second vent 162, then the computer interprets the second data and the fan motor associated with this second vent is stopped or a flap is moved to close the second vent 162. Similarly, if the second data represents a new target direction for an airflow exiting the second vent 162, then the ventilation system controller interprets it and translates a position of the vanes and / or a linear actuator connected to the vanes so as to orient the direction of the airflow exiting the vent according to the command received via the second data.

[0089] The user is thus able to control the vehicle's ventilation system using the secondary touchscreen as he would using the main touchscreen, while allowing the main touchscreen to display graphic content relating to other on-board systems.

[0090] The user can thus act easily and quickly on the ventilation system via the secondary touch screen, which does not require navigating through numerous menus to access the ventilation system control screens.

[0091] Figure 5 schematically illustrates a device 5 configured for controlling a vehicle passenger compartment ventilation system, for example, vehicle 10, according to specific and non-limiting embodiments of the present invention. The device 5 corresponds, for example, to a device embedded in the vehicle 10, such as a control unit like the IVI control unit.

[0092] Device 5 is, for example, configured to carry out the operations described opposite Figures 1 to 4 and / or the steps of the process described opposite [Fig. 6]. Examples of such a device 5 include, but are not limited to, a Embedded electronic equipment such as a vehicle's on-board computer, an electronic control unit such as an ECU (Electronic Control Unit), a smartphone, a tablet, or a laptop computer. The elements of device 5, individually or in combination, can be integrated into a single integrated circuit, into several integrated circuits, and / or into discrete components. Device 5 can be implemented as electronic circuits, software (or computer) modules, or a combination of electronic circuits and software modules.

[0093] The device 5 comprises one (or more) processor(s) 50 configured to execute instructions for carrying out the steps of the process and / or for executing instructions from the software embedded in the device 5. The processor 50 may include integrated memory, an input / output interface, and various circuits known to those skilled in the art. The device 5 further comprises at least one memory 51, corresponding, for example, to volatile and / or non-volatile memory, and / or includes a memory storage device that may include volatile and / or non-volatile memory, such as EEPROM, ROM, PROM, RAM, DRAM, SRAM, flash, magnetic disk, or optical disk.

[0094] The computer code of the embedded software(s) including the instructions to be loaded and executed by the processor is for example stored on memory 51.

[0095] According to various particular and non-limiting embodiments, the device 5 is coupled in communication with other similar devices or systems and / or with communication devices, for example a TCU (Telematic Control Unit), for example via a communication bus or through dedicated input / output ports.

[0096] According to a particular and non-limiting embodiment, the device 5 includes a block 52 of interface elements for communicating with external devices. The interface elements of the block 52 include one or more of the following interfaces: - radio frequency RF interface, for example of the Wi-Fi® type (according to IEEE 802.11), for example in the 2.4 or 5 GHz frequency bands, or of the Bluetooth® type (according to IEEE 802.15.1), in the 2.4 GHz frequency band, or of the Sigfox type using UBN (Ultra Narrow Band) radio technology, or LoRa in the 868 MHz frequency band, LTE (Long-Term Evolution), LTE-Advanced; - USB interface (from the English "Universal Serial Bus" or "Universal Serial Bus" in French); - HDMI interface (from the English "High Definition Multimedia Interface", or "High Definition Multimedia Interface" in French); - LIN interface (from the English "Local Interconnect Network", or in French "Réseau interconnecté local").

[0097] According to another particular and non-limiting embodiment, the device 5 includes a communication interface 53 which allows communication to be established with other devices (such as other computers in the embedded system) via a communication channel 530. The communication interface 53 corresponds, for example, to a transmitter configured to transmit and receive information and / or data via the communication channel 530. The communication interface 53 corresponds, for example, to a wired network of the CAN (Controller Area Network) type, CAN FD (Controller Area Network Flexible Data-Rate), FlexRay (standardized by ISO 17458) or Ethernet (standardized by ISO / IEC 802-3).

[0098] According to a particular and non-limiting embodiment, the device 5 can provide output signals to one or more external devices, such as a display screen 540, touch or not, one or more loudspeakers 550 and / or other peripherals 560 (projection system) via output interfaces 54, 55 and 56 respectively. According to a variant, one or more of the external devices is integrated into the device 5.

[0099] Figure 6 illustrates a flowchart of the different steps in a method for controlling a ventilation system in the passenger compartment of a vehicle, for example vehicle 10, according to a particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention. The method is implemented, for example, by a device installed in vehicle 10 or by device 5 of Figure 5.

[0100] In a first step 61, the display on a secondary touchscreen 132 of a second graphic content comprising at least one second graphic object is controlled. Each second graphic object is associated with a first graphic object from a set of first graphic objects included in a first graphic content displayable on a primary touchscreen 131.

[0101] In a second step 62, initial data is received. This initial data represents a touch press on a second graphic object among the at least one second graphic object displayed on the secondary screen 132.

[0102] In a third step 63, second data representing a second control order are determined based on the first data. The second control order corresponds to a first control order associated with the first graphic object to which the second graphic object is associated, each first object graph being associated with a first control order of at least one aerator of the ventilation system.

[0103] In a fourth step 64, the second data is transmitted to a controller of the ventilation system.

[0104] According to one variant, the variants and examples of the operations described in relation to one of Figures 1 to 4 apply to the steps of the process in [Fig.6].

[0105] Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above but extends to a method for displaying graphic content enabling the control of a vehicle's passenger compartment ventilation system according to different graphic representations, which would include secondary steps without departing from the scope of the present invention. The same would apply to a device configured for implementing such a method.

[0106] The present invention also relates to a vehicle, for example an automobile or more generally an autonomous land-powered vehicle, comprising the device 5 of [Fig.5].

Claims

Demands

1. Method for controlling a ventilation system in the passenger compartment of a vehicle (10), said vehicle (10) having a display system comprising a primary touchscreen (131) and a secondary touchscreen (132), said primary touchscreen (131) being configured to display first graphic content comprising a set of first graphic objects, a first control command for at least one ventilator of said ventilation system being associated with each first graphic object of said set of first graphic objects, said method being implemented by a processor and comprising the following steps: - control (61) of displaying second graphic content comprising at least one second graphic object on said secondary touchscreen (132), each at least one second graphic object being associated with a first graphic object of said set of first graphic objects;- reception (62) of first data representing a touch press on a second graphic object from among said at least one second graphic object; - determination (63) of second data representing a second control order as a function of the first data, said second control order corresponding to the first control order associated with the first graphic object to which said second graphic object is associated; and - transmission (64) of said second data to a controller of said ventilation system.

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein said at least one aerator comprises at least one actuator belonging to a set of actuators comprising: - a fan, - a valve, - a flap, - a linear motor or actuator controlling vertical vanes, and - a linear motor or actuator controlling horizontal vanes.

3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a control command is representative of: - a rotation speed, and / or - an air flow rate, and / or - a temperature, and / or - an orientation, and / or - spatial coordinates, and / or - an opening rate, and / or - a stroke.

4. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a graphic representation of a second graphic object is similar to a graphic representation of the first graphic object to which the second graphic object is associated.

5. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first graphic content is not displayed on the primary touchscreen (131) when the second graphic content is displayed on the secondary touchscreen (132).

6. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said touch press belongs to a set of touch presses comprising: - a short touch press, - a long touch press, and - a touch swipe.

7. Computer-readable recording medium on which is recorded a computer program comprising instructions for carrying out the steps of the process according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. Computer program comprising instructions for carrying out the method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, when such instructions are executed by at least one processor.

9. Device (5) for controlling a ventilation system of a vehicle passenger compartment (10), said device (5) comprising a memory (51) associated with at least one processor (50) configured for carrying out the steps of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

10. Vehicle (10) comprising the device (5) according to claim 9.

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