Method for manipulating a human-machine interface of a touchscreen in a motor vehicle

Abstract

A method for manipulating a human-machine interface of a touchscreen in a motor vehicle includes the steps of: displaying (201) on the touchscreen an interface element that can be activated by a user's finger; detecting (205) the position of a user's finger near the touchscreen; determining (207) the position of the finger relative to the interface element; and if the finger's position is within a predetermined area surrounding the interface element, and if the finger touches the touchscreen, then the interface element is activated (213). A system for manipulating a human-machine interface of a touchscreen in a motor vehicle and a motor vehicle comprising the system are also described. Figure to be published with the abbreviation: Fig 2

Description

Title of the invention: Method for manipulating a human-machine interface of a touchscreen in a motor vehicle technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for manipulating a human-machine interface of a touchscreen in a motor vehicle, a computer program product, a system for manipulating a human-machine interface of a touchscreen in a motor vehicle, and a motor vehicle comprising such a system. Prior art

[0002] Currently, most motor vehicles are equipped with at least one touchscreen. In particular, the multimedia system includes a touchscreen located in the middle of the dashboard and incorporates an increasing number of functions allowing control of various aspects of the vehicle.

[0003] This is accentuated by the trend towards having streamlined vehicle cockpits devoid of physical buttons.

[0004] Thus, depending on the size of the screen and the number of functions of the vehicle, it regularly happens that, on the same page, the navigation and activation buttons are small so that all the information is displayed on a minimum of pages.

[0005] When the vehicle is stationary, this poses few problems, as the user can concentrate on manipulating the touch screen.

[0006] On the other hand, using the touchscreen becomes difficult when the vehicle is in motion. Indeed, the driver must concentrate on driving, and the position of their finger on the touchscreen becomes less precise, leading, for example, to pressing a button other than the one intended.

[0007] There is therefore a real need for a method and a system for manipulating a person-machine interface of a touch screen of a motor vehicle which resolves all or part of the aforementioned disadvantages. Description of the invention

[0008] To overcome one or more of the aforementioned drawbacks, according to a first embodiment, a method for manipulating a human-machine interface of a touchscreen in a motor vehicle comprises the steps of: • display on the touch screen of an interface element that can be activated by a user's finger press; • detection of the position of a user's finger near the touchscreen; • Determining the position of the finger relative to the interface element; and • if the finger position is within a predetermined area surrounding the interface element, and if the finger touches the touchscreen, then the interface element is activated.

[0009] Thus, the user can manipulate an interface element with imprecise gestures, for example with the finger slightly next to the interface element.

[0010] Specific features or embodiments, usable alone or in combination, are: • the interface element having a display area on the touch screen, the predetermined area is based on an area strictly larger than the display area; • the distance between the outer edge of the zone and the edge of the interface element is variable; • when the finger's position relative to the interface element is inside the area and outside the interface element, the display of the interface element moves to position it under the finger; • The interface element is an actionable button; and / or • The process includes a preliminary step of detecting that the vehicle is in motion.

[0011] In a second embodiment, a computer program product includes program code instructions for implementing the above process when the program product is executed on a computer.

[0012] In a third embodiment, a system for manipulating a human-machine interface of a touchscreen of a motor vehicle comprises: • The touchscreen is configured to display an interface element that can be activated by a user's finger tap and to detect the position of a user's finger near the touchscreen; connected to • a calculator configured to determine the position of the finger relative to the interface element and if the finger's position is within a predetermined area surrounding the interface element, and if the finger touches the touchscreen, activate the interface element.

[0013] In a fourth embodiment, a motor vehicle includes a system according to the third embodiment. Brief description of the figures

[0014] The invention will be better understood upon reading the following description, given solely by way of example, and with reference to the figures in the appendix in which: • [Fig-1] represents a front view of a vehicle dashboard comprising a human-machine interface manipulation system for a touchscreen according to one embodiment; and • [Fig.2] represents a flowchart of a method for manipulating a person-machine interface of a touch screen according to one embodiment. Methods of implementation

[0015] The embodiments presented below refer to a motor vehicle, a car. However, those skilled in the art understand that they are also applicable to other types of vehicles such as vans, trucks, etc.

[0016] The terms "front", "rear", "top", "bottom", "transverse" are understood in relation to the vehicle.

[0017] With reference to [Fig. 1], a motor vehicle 101 includes a system 103 for manipulating a human-machine interface of a touchscreen comprising at least one touchscreen 105 configured to display an interface element actuable by a user's finger press. For example, the touchscreen 105 displays the interface element 107 in the form of a substantially rectangular button. This button 107 is such that, when the user places their finger on it, the button is activated and an action is initiated according to a conventional touchscreen operating mode.

[0018] Furthermore, the touchscreen 105 is configured to be able to detect the position of a user's finger near the touchscreen 105. By "near," it is meant that the finger is not in contact with the surface of the touchscreen, but a few millimeters away from it. The touchscreen thus incorporates, for example, a device such as that described in document EP2183661.

[0019] The system 103 includes a calculator 109 connected to the touch screen 105.

[0020] The computer 109 can, for example, be integrated into the vehicle control system 101 as an advanced driver-assistance system, commonly called ADAS (for "Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems"), which makes all driving decisions based on the environment and the programmed destination. The motor vehicle is then described as an autonomous vehicle. But it can also be a centralized vehicle management system that may or may not include driver assistance features.

[0021] Data transfer between the different elements is preferably carried out by a CAN (for "Controller Area Network") or LIN (for "Local Interconnect Network") type data bus.

[0022] The calculator 109 is configured to determine the position of the finger relative to the interface element and to, if the position of the finger is in an area predetermined 111 surrounding the interface element, and if the finger touches the touch screen, activate the interface element as detailed below.

[0023] The operation of system 103 is as follows, [Fig.2].

[0024] At step 201, the touch screen 105 displays button 107.

[0025] The user wishing to activate the function associated with button 107 brings his finger close to the touch screen, step 203.

[0026] The touch screen 105 detects, step 205, the approach of the finger and its position relative to the screen.

[0027] The calculator 109 determines, step 207, the position of the finger relative to the button 107.

[0028] In step 209, it compares this position with respect to button 107 and then defines three situations: • The finger is positioned above the button, step 211. When the finger touches the touchscreen, the button is activated according to a classic process well known to those skilled in the art; • The finger is located within a predetermined area 111 surrounding the button, an area having a surface area greater than the display surface of the button, step 213, the computer then considers that the user wants to activate the button 107 and this is done as soon as the finger touches the touch screen 105; or • the finger is outside the predetermined area 111 and, step 215, no action is performed by the computer when the finger touches the touch screen.

[0029] Thus, this makes it possible to virtually enlarge the surface of the button 107 and allow the user to activate it even if his finger does not rest exactly on the button 107.

[0030] Figure 1 illustrates a system according to certain embodiments. The breakdown presented is for pedagogical purposes to highlight the different functions. However, it is understood that each block can be implemented using different means or combinations thereof, such as hardware components, software, one or more computers, and / or electronic circuits. Each component may include at least one computer or a control unit. At least one memory may be included in each component. The memory may include computer program instructions or software code.

[0031] The computers can be implemented by any type of data processing device, such as a central processing unit, a signal processing unit, a specific application integrated circuit, a programmable gate network, etc. The computers can be implemented in the form of a single controller, or a plurality of controllers or computers.

[0032] The different modules are connected to each other by data links adapted to the environment. These can be wired or wireless.

[0033] For the software, the implementation may comprise 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 memories, hard drives, RAM, flash memory, etc.

[0034] The software product can be downloaded from a communication network and / or stored on a computer-readable medium. It can 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.

[0035] Thus the program instructions stored in 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.

[0036] The computer program instructions stored in memory are such that, when executed by the computer, the latter carries out one or more of the steps of the processes described above.

[0037] The invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and the preceding description. This description is to be considered illustrative and given by way of example and not as limiting the invention to this single description. Numerous embodiments are possible.

[0038] In a first variant, when the computer detects that the finger is above the predetermined area 111 and therefore outside the surface of the button 107, the computer instructs the touch screen 105 to move the button 107 so that it is positioned under the user's finger, thus sending visual information to the user that the future press has been taken into account.

[0039] In a second embodiment, the distance between the outer edge of the predetermined area 111 and the surface of the button 107 is variable. This has the advantage of allowing consideration of the arrangement of the various interface elements displayed on the touchscreen and thus avoiding, for example, an overlap of the predetermined area with another button.

[0040] In a third variant, the method is only implemented when the vehicle is in motion, that is, when the user is required to be less precise in their movements. Thus, when stationary, the touchscreen behaves normally, without disrupting the user's habits.

Claims

Demands

1. A method for manipulating a person-machine interface of a touchscreen of a motor vehicle comprising the steps of: • displaying (201) on the touchscreen an element of the interface actuable by a user's finger press; • detecting (205) the position of a user's finger near the touchscreen; • determining (207) the position of the finger relative to the interface element; and • if the position of the finger is within a predetermined area surrounding the interface element, and if the finger touches the touchscreen, then the interface element is activated (213).

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the interface element having a display area on the touch screen, the predetermined area is based on an area strictly larger than the display area.

3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the distance between the outer edge of the zone and the edge of the interface element is variable.

4. A method according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein, when the position of the finger relative to the interface element is inside the area and outside the interface element, the display of the interface element moves to position it under the finger.

5. Method according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein the interface element is an actuable button.

6. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a preliminary step of detecting that the vehicle is in motion.

7. Computer program product characterized in that it includes 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 (103) for manipulating a person-machine interface of a touch screen (105) of a motor vehicle (1) comprising: • the touch screen (105) configured to display an element of the interface (107) actuable by a user's finger press and detect the position of a user's finger near the touch screen; connected to • a computer (109) configured to determine the position of the finger relative to the interface element and whether the finger's position is within a predetermined area (111) surrounding the interface element, and if the finger touches the touch screen, activate the interface element.

9. Motor vehicle (101) comprising a system according to claim 8.

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