Interactive display device for displaying control information in a motor vehicle's passenger compartment

Abstract

Interactive display device for displaying control information in the passenger compartment (PC) of a motor vehicle (MV), comprising a control module (CM) configured to define at least one specified projection support zone (PTZ1) for at least one control information, said projection support zone being selected by a user (UCZ) of said device from among a specified number of projection support zones (PTZ1-PTZ6) arranged respectively at specified locations in the passenger compartment (PCZ) of said vehicle, projection means (PJ1) for said information in said selected zone, and detection means (MD1) capable of detecting a touch contact by the user in the selected zone, wherein said control module is configured to be capable of projecting one or more pictograms selected by the user from a library (LBL) of predefined pictograms, representative of said vehicle functionality,in the selected area. (Figure 1)

Description

Title of the invention: Interactive display device for control information in a motor vehicle passenger compartment

[0001] The present invention relates generally to HMIs (Human Machine Interfaces) arranged in the cockpits, or passenger compartments, of motor vehicles and is more particularly concerned with an interactive presentation device for control information in a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle exploiting the projection of control information relating to a functionality of the vehicle, to different locations in the passenger compartment: the locations and the associated projected information being configurable by the occupants of the vehicle.

[0002] Today, the activation and adjustment of vehicle features is done via physical controls, on a touch screen or by using control buttons of the switch type or "toggle switch" in Anglo-Saxon terminology, or other.

[0003] These physical controls are fixed in a precise and fixed location in the passenger compartment, generally on the dashboard and / or the central console, and are identified by a single graphic representation: a pictogram symbolizing the function to be controlled.

[0004] These physical controls take up space in the passenger compartment (a location for each function to be controlled) and require physical integration on appearance parts with which they coexist inside the passenger compartment.

[0005] The invention aims to provide an alternative to these fixed information presentation arrangements, both in their representation and positioning, and to the resulting interaction between vehicle occupants and this information. The invention allows the driver, primarily, but also other occupants of the passenger compartment, to personalize the vehicle's control interface by choosing the positioning of controls in different predefined areas of the passenger compartment and the associated pictograms, selected from a pictogram library: the same vehicle function, associated with a specific area, can be represented by different pictograms with different designs and colors, ...

[0006] To this end, the present invention has as its first object an interactive display device for control information in a motor vehicle passenger compartment, comprising a control module configured to define at least one specific projection area for at least one control information related to a vehicle function, said projection area being selected by a user of said device, from among a determined number of projection support areas arranged respectively in determined locations in the passenger compartment of said vehicle, means for projecting said information into said selected area, and detection means capable of detecting a touch contact of the user in the selected area, in which said control module is configured to be capable, after receiving an initial command instruction from the user relating to said functionality, of projecting one or more pictograms selected by the user from a library of predefined pictograms, representative of said vehicle functionality, into the selected area.

[0007] According to one feature, the device includes a screen arranged in the vehicle's passenger compartment and coupled to the control module, capable of displaying a page dedicated to the projection configuration, allowing the user to select one or more pictograms to be projected and the area selected for the projection.

[0008] According to another feature, a portable electronic terminal held by the user, paired with the vehicle and coupled to the control module, includes a screen capable of displaying a page dedicated to the user's configuration of the projection allowing the selection of one or more pictograms to be projected and the selection of the area selected for the projection.

[0009] According to another feature, the locations of the projection support areas correspond to structural parts of the passenger compartment that are substantially smooth and without a control button or an air conditioning / ventilation unit outlet nozzle.

[0010] According to one feature, the locations of the projection support areas are in particular located on the dashboard, the roof or the door panels of the vehicle.

[0011] The present invention relates, as a second object, to a method implemented by the device as described above, consisting, in a preliminary step of configuring the projection of control information in the passenger compartment, of a user selecting at least one projection area for the control information, and of said user selecting one or more specific pictograms corresponding to the vehicle functionality to be controlled, from among several pictograms available from a pictogram library, and, in a first step, of projecting the selected pictogram(s) into the selected area and, after a second step consisting of detecting a touch by the user in the selected area, targeted by the projection means associated with the selected area, in a third step, of generating a control action related to the detection of a user's touch on a specific pictogram within the designated area among the pictograms.

[0012] According to one feature, the order of the pictograms in the selected area is recognized and taken into account by the control module at the time of detection of the user's touch contact in the selected area by the detection means, in coordination with the projection means associated with the selected area.

[0013] According to another feature, the method consists of projecting information into the selected area in the passenger compartment following a user command instruction relating to a vehicle function.

[0014] According to another feature, the projected information consists of pictograms selected by the user from a library of pictograms representing the functionality of the vehicle or settings of said functionality.

[0015] The present invention has as its third object, a motor vehicle comprising a device as described above.

[0016] The present invention has the advantage of providing a solution tailored to the preferences of the vehicle's occupants, as well as to their height and position within the passenger compartment, thus improving the ergonomics of the HMI inside the vehicle's cabin. For the driver, the invention notably allows for the creation of an interaction zone that is closer to them and at eye level, in particular to reduce lapses in attention while driving.

[0017] Other advantages and features of the present invention will become clearer from the following description, given solely by way of non-limiting example and with reference to the drawings in which:

[0018] [Fig.1] illustrates a schematic interior view of a front part of a motor vehicle passenger compartment comprising an interactive display device for control information according to the invention;

[0019] [Fig.2] illustrates a preliminary configuration method for implementing the device according to the invention;

[0020] [Fig.3] illustrates the application of the configuration of [Fig.2] in the passenger compartment, put in work by the device according to the invention; and

[0021] [Fig.4] illustrates a flowchart of the main steps of a process implemented by the device according to the invention.

[0022] Figure 1 schematically illustrates the front part of a vehicle's HAB passenger compartment equipped with an interactive control information display device according to the invention, configured to project light beams FL1-FL6 into the vehicle's HAB passenger compartment via projection means PJ1-PJ3. These beams are configured to display information control devices with which the driver and / or passengers, hereinafter referred to as users or occupants of the vehicle OCC, can interact.

[0023] The projection means PJ1-PJ3 respectively comprise optical means associated with one or more light sources to create the light beams FL1-FL6 carrying control information and which are arranged in the passenger compartment HAB in such a way that the projected control information appears arranged on the surface of the dashboard PDB or other parts of the passenger compartment HAB such as the headliner PAV or the front left and right door panels PPT, in determined areas ZT1-ZT6 serving as projection supports, with sufficient clarity for the occupant OCC to read the projected control information in these areas ZT1-ZT6 and interact with it.

[0024] The ZT1-ZT6 projection support zones in the HAB passenger compartment are advantageously arranged to be able to be associated with the MD1-MD6 detection means at so-called "neutral" locations. A "neutral" location is understood to be a location free of any structural element or asperity that would disrupt the projection of information in the ZT1-ZT6 projection support zones and that would hinder the reading of the information by the OCC occupant of the VHL vehicle.

[0025] In particular, a portion of the dashboard PDB, headline PAV, door panel PPT, ... having a substantially smooth surface (without roughness) and devoid of a control button, air conditioning / ventilation unit outlet nozzle or screen, conforms to this definition of neutral location.

[0026] The projection support areas ZT1-ZT6 are respectively equipped with touch detection means MD1-MD6 of the capacitive, piezoelectric, etc. type, arranged on or just below the surface of the structural part constituting the passenger compartment sections. When the detection means MD1-MD6 detect an interaction due to touch contact by an occupant (OCC), they immediately transmit a detection signal to a vehicle control module (MCO) of the vehicle (VHL).

[0027] The surface of the projection support areas ZT1-ZT6 can also be finished with fabric, leather, wood, decorative pieces, ...

[0028] In the embodiment illustrated in [Fig.1], the orientation of certain projectors, here projectors PJ2 and PJ3, is controlled by instruction from the MCO control module of the VHL vehicle so that their respective light beams FL2, FL3 and FL4, FL5 are respectively projected onto one of the zones ZT2 or ZT3 and ZT4 or ZT5.

[0029] The selection of a specific area from among other selectable areas for projecting information into the passenger compartment (HAB) can be performed by default by the MCO module, depending on the type of control information to be projected, or depending on a selection made by an occupant (OCC) from among the different Selectable zones ZT1-ZT6 distributed across various predetermined locations in the H AB passenger compartment.

[0030] For this, the OCC occupant can select the zone of his choice from the selectable zones ZT1-ZT6 according to his location, from a menu dedicated to the configuration of the projection of control information which he will have previously consulted and configured.

[0031] Such a menu appears for example on a screen page of a central touch screen, or multimedia screen ECT, arranged on the dashboard PDB, or the central console of the VHL vehicle, coupled to the MCO control module, or even from a portable electronic terminal, not shown, such as a smartphone, tablet or other, held by the occupant or OCC user, coupled to the MCO control module, via a dedicated application; the smartphone having been previously paired with the VHL vehicle.

[0032] Thus, for example, depending on an initial command instruction given by the OCC occupant of the HAB cabin, the MCO control module identifies one or more command information to be projected, in relation to the functionality that the OCC occupant wishes to control, and at least one selected area, corresponding to the choice that has been previously configured by the OCC occupant, via the ECT multimedia screen or the portable terminal of the OCC occupant or user.

[0033] Figure 2 illustrates an example of how an OCC occupant can configure a VHL vehicle function, in this case a "playlist" type function, via a dedicated PGD page displayed on the ECT screen. An identical or similar page can also be displayed on the OCC occupant's or user's smartphone screen.

[0034] The pictograms selected PC1-PC4 by the OCC occupant for this functionality appear on the left of the PGD page.

[0035] A first pictogram PCI allows listing all the titles of a playlist and the second PC2, third PC3 and fourth pictograms PC4, representing control buttons of the type of VCR control buttons, allow navigation among the musical titles of the playlist.

[0036] The PC1-PC4 pictograms projected onto the selected area ZT1 are ordered in a way recognizable by the MCO control module.

[0037] Other pictograms available from a BIB image library and displayed on the ECT screen, here to the right of the ECT screen, may correspond to a function of heating the seats, the HAB passenger compartment, etc. with pictograms of the type "+" and "-" for adjusting the seat temperature, the same for adjusting the light intensity of the ambient lighting inside the HAB passenger compartment, the activation of certain functions such as telephony, wiping, defogging, etc.

[0038] The BIB library can be stored in onboard memory within the VHL vehicle, coupled to the MCO control module, and in which still or animated image files (pictograms) relating to the vehicle's various functionalities are stored. Pictograms for functionalities not present in the vehicle are, for example, grayed out and cannot be activated. The data (pictograms) can be updated remotely, notably via radio waves using an OTA (Over-the-Air) service.

[0039] The BIB library can also be relocated from the VHL vehicle to a remote server and the pictograms can be downloaded into the VHL vehicle via a multimedia device, not shown, of the VHL vehicle communicating wirelessly with the remote server.

[0040] Fig. 3 illustrates the taking into account of the configuration of Fig. 2 following an initial command instruction relating to the "playlist" functionality expressed by an OCC occupant of the VHL vehicle either by voice command or another physical command in the HAB cabin.

[0041] The PH projection means associated with the selected zone ZT1 at the time of configuration via the ECT touch screen, define a light beam FL1 forming a series of pictograms adjacent to the surface of the PDB dashboard, here the four pictograms PC1-PC4, ordered horizontally from left to right such that the MCO control module in coordination with the MD1 detection means associated with the selected zone ZT1, and the PJ1 projection means, are able to adapt the projection of the PC1-PC4 pictograms to the exact location of the MD1 detection means in the selected zone ZT1 by the OCC occupant from the ECT screen.

[0042] The MCO control module is capable of executing a command relating to one of the four pictograms PC1-PC4 corresponding to the precise location of the projection of the selected pictogram, on the surface of the selected area ZT1 following a detection by the detection means MD1, of a contact by an occupant OCC of the cabin HAB on the precise part of the selected area ZT1 corresponding to the selected pictogram.

[0043] Thus, the OCC occupant has a great diversity both in the location of the projection support area and therefore of the control area, and in the number of pictograms available: the same functionality can have several associated pictograms which may differ in terms of color and / or graphics.

[0044] We will not go into detail about the description of the controllable projection means PJ2 and PJ3 which can be made, for example, from a matrix of micromirrors controllable in rotation, capable of deflecting light rays emitted by an associated light source.

[0045] Figure 4 illustrates a flowchart of the main steps of a method for interactively presenting information in a motor vehicle interior, implemented by the device according to the invention. The method is described below with reference to the configuration example in Figure 2.

[0046] The method consists, in a prior step 100 of configuration of the projection of a control information in the passenger compartment HAB, in relation to a functionality of the vehicle VHL, of selecting 110 at least one projection support area ZT1 for the control information, and of selecting 120 one or more specific pictograms PC1-PC4 representative of the functionality from among several pictograms available from a pictogram library BIB.

[0047] The preliminary step 100 of projection configuration is carried out in particular in the VHL vehicle, by an OCC occupant of the VHL vehicle, before the start of the VHL vehicle, from the ECT screen of the VHL vehicle or from a portable terminal within reach of the OCC occupant in the VHL vehicle.

[0048] This preliminary step 100 can also be implemented outside and remotely from the VHL vehicle, by a user, in particular the future OCC occupant of the VHL vehicle, from a portable electronic terminal held by the OCC user.

[0049] The process then consists, in a first step 200, of projecting the selected pictogram(s) PC1-PC4 into the selected area ZT1.

[0050] And, after a second step 300 consisting of detecting by the detection means MD1, a touch contact in the selected area ZT1, and aimed by the projection means PJ1 associated with the selected area ZT1, in a third step 400, to generate a control action following the detection of the touch contact on a specific pictogram within the selected area ZT1, among the pictograms PC1-PC4, to control the functionality of the vehicle VHL in relation to the functionality represented by the pictogram.

[0051] The order of the pictograms PC1-PC4 in the zone ZT1 is recognized and taken into account by the control module MCO at the time of the detection of a touch contact in the zone ZT1, by the detection means MD1, in coordination with the projection means PJ1 associated with the selected zone ZT1.

[0052] The 200 projection step of control information into such and such zone ZT1-ZT5 of the HAB cabin is carried out following an initial control instruction from one of the occupants OCC of the HAB cabin.

[0053] This initial occupant control instruction (OCC) can be a voice command, by which the OCC occupant expresses aloud their wish to control such and such a function, or it can be carried out by a control device on the steering wheel, a touch control button on the screen, etc.

Claims

Demands

1. Interactive display device for displaying control information in the passenger compartment (PC) of a motor vehicle (MV), comprising a control module (CM) configured to define at least one specified projection support area (ZT1) of at least one control information related to a function of the vehicle (MV), said projection support area (ZT1) being selected by a user (OCC) of said device from among a specified number of projection support areas (ZT1-ZT6) arranged respectively at specified locations in the passenger compartment (PC) of said vehicle (MV), projection means (PJ1) of said information in said selected area (ZT1), and detection means (MD1) capable of detecting a touch by the user (OCC) in the selected area (ZT1), in which said control module (CM) is configured to be capable,after receiving an initial user command instruction (OCC) related to said functionality, to project one or more pictograms selected by the user (OCC) from a library (BIB) of predefined pictograms, representative of said vehicle functionality (VHL), into the selected area (ZT1).

2. Device according to the preceding claim, comprising a screen (ECT) arranged in the passenger compartment (HAB) of the vehicle (VHL) and coupled to the control module (MCO), capable of displaying a page (PGD) dedicated to the configuration of the projection allowing the user (OCC) to select one or more pictograms (PC1-PC4) to be projected and the selected area (ZT1) for the projection.

3. Device according to claim 1, wherein a user-owned portable electronic terminal (OCC), paired to the vehicle (VHL) and coupled to the control module (MCO), includes a screen capable of displaying a page (PGD) dedicated to the user's (OCC) configuration of the projection allowing the selection of one or more pictograms (PC1-PC4) to be projected and the selection of the selected area (ZT1) for the projection.

4. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the locations of the projection support zones (ZT1-ZT6) correspond to structural parts of the passenger compartment (HAB) substantially smooth and devoid of control button, air conditioning / ventilation unit outlet nozzle.

5. Device according to the preceding claim, wherein the locations of the projection support areas (ZT1-ZT6) are in particular located on the dashboard (PDB), the roof (PAV) or the door panels (PPT) of the vehicle (VHL).

6. A method implemented by the device according to any one of the preceding claims, consisting, in a preliminary step (100) of configuring the projection of control information into the passenger compartment (HAB), of selecting (110) by a user (OCC) at least one projection support area (ZT1) for the control information, and of selecting (120) by said user (OCC) one or more specific pictograms (PC1-PC4) corresponding to the vehicle (VHL) functionality to be controlled from among several pictograms available from a pictogram library (BIB), and, in a first step (200), of projecting the selected pictogram(s) (PC1-PC4) into the selected area (ZT1), and, after a second step (300) consisting of detecting a touch by the user (OCC) in the selected area (ZT1), and targeted by the projection means (PJ1) associated with the selected area (ZT1), in a third step (400),to generate a command action related to the detection of user touch (OCC) on a specific pictogram within zone (ZT1) among the pictograms (PC1-PC4).

7. Method according to the preceding claim, wherein the order of the pictograms (PC1-PC4) in the selected area (ZT1) is recognized and taken into account by the control module (MCO) at the time of detection of the user's touch contact (OCC) in the selected area (ZT1) by the detection means (MD1), in coordination with the projection means (PJ1) associated with the selected area (ZT1).

8. A method according to any one of claims 6 or 7, consisting of projecting information into the selected area (ZT1) in the passenger compartment (HAB) following a user command instruction (OCC) relating to a vehicle function (VHL).

9. 10 Method according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the projected information consists of user-selected pictograms (OCC) from a library (BIB) of pictograms representative of vehicle functionality (VHL) or settings of said functionality.

10. Motor vehicle (VHL) comprising a device according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

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