Method and device for controlling a vehicle display system comprising a clock system

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and device for controlling a vehicle display system comprising a clock system, the display system comprising a touchscreen (13). For this purpose, initial data representing current time information is received. A graphic object (21) representing the current time information is displayed in a first area (211) of the touchscreen (13). Second data representing a touch on the graphic object (21) is received. The display of graphic content (31) comprising a set of additional graphic objects representing additional information and / or functions controlled via the clock system is controlled according to the second data such that the graphic content (31) is displayed in a second area (212) of the touchscreen (13) different from the first area (211). Figure 3

Description

Title of the invention: Method and device for controlling a vehicle display system comprising a clock system. Technical field

[0001] The invention relates to methods and devices for controlling a display system in a vehicle, particularly but not exclusively in a motor vehicle. The invention specifically relates to a method and device for controlling the display of information related to a vehicle's clock system. Technological background

[0002] Contemporary vehicles include, for some of them, several screens to display information useful to the driver for driving the vehicle as well as comfort information, such as, for example, information to interact with the infotainment system, also called IVI system (from the English "In-Vehicle Infotainment" or in French "Infodivertissement étoilé"), of the vehicle.

[0003] Among these screens, it is known to include one or more LCD type screens (from the English "Liquid Crystal Display" or in French "Affichage à cristals liquide"), for example of type TFT (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").

[0004] The integration of such screens makes it possible, for example, to control, via a graphical Human-Machine Interface (HMI) displayed on such screens, the operating status of the systems on board the vehicle, for example AD AS systems (from the English "Advanced Driver-Assistance System" or in French "Système d'aide à la conduite avancé").

[0005] The increasing number of embedded systems in the vehicle and the proliferation of means for controlling these systems lead to a greater complexity in the vehicle's interface. Users interact with these embedded systems to control them, resulting in a proliferation of icons, displayed messages, and command shortcuts, the control and management of which are consequently complicated for the user. This degrades the user experience and can reduce the driver's attention when various messages are displayed on the onboard screen(s), thereby diminishing their focus and disrupting their control of the vehicle.

[0006] For example, many vehicle HMIs provide for the display of a set of diverse and varied pictograms, each representing a particular piece of information or function, in a banner, also called a status bar, at the top of a screen. vehicle. The size of these pictograms is reduced as the number of pictograms displayed increases, making reading and accessing the associated information or function difficult while driving the vehicle.

[0007] Thus, when the driver of a vehicle wonders about the meaning of these pictograms and / or seeks to modify one or more parameters associated with the display of one of these pictograms, the attention required to obtain the information sought entails safety risks for the vehicle and other road users, as the driver's attention is diverted from the road and control of the vehicle's operation may then be impaired. Summary of the present invention

[0008] One object of the present invention is to solve at least one of the problems of the technological background described above.

[0009] Another object of the present invention is, for example, to improve the user experience with respect to an on-board clock system of a vehicle.

[0010] Another object of the present invention is to minimize the loss of driver attention and to improve vehicle safety.

[0011] According to a first aspect, the present invention relates to a method for controlling a vehicle display system, the vehicle having a clock system, the display system comprising a touch screen, the method being implemented by a processor and comprising the following steps: - receiving initial data representing current time information; - display control of a graphic object representing current time information in a first area of ​​the touch screen; - reception of second data representing a touch press on the graphic object; - control of display of graphic content based on second data, the graphic content comprising a set of additional graphic objects representing additional information and / or functions controlled via the clock system, the graphic content being displayed in a second area of ​​the touch screen different from the first area.

[0012] Direct use of the graphic object representing the current time to request the display of graphic content including information relating to the vehicle's clock system allows the driver to obtain information simply and on demand, by simply touching this graphic object. This reduces the time spent searching for information and / or the effort required to understand what this graphic object refers to and / or to obtain additional information. The driver is thus less distracted by searching for information and their attention on controlling the vehicle's trajectory is maximized, which improves safety. of the vehicle and other road users. All content is displayed on a single screen, which facilitates access to information and minimizes the time spent searching for it. This improves driver alertness, as well as the safety of the vehicle and its passengers.

[0013] Centralizing controls on a single screen also eliminates the need for physical buttons to control the clock system, thus reducing vehicle design and manufacturing costs.

[0014] According to one variant, the graphic content corresponds to: - initial graphic content when the second data points represent a touch press lasting less than a certain duration; and - a second graphic content different from the first graphic content when the second data represents a touch press lasting longer than the threshold.

[0015] According to another variant, when the graphic content corresponds to the first graphic content, the set of additional graphic objects represents a set of additional information comprising: - an initial piece of information representative of a current date; and / or - a second piece of information representing at least one appointment recorded in a calendar of the clock system; and / or - a third piece of information representing at least one charging moment recorded in a charging schedule for a vehicle battery associated with the clock system when the vehicle corresponds to a plug-in electric vehicle; and / or - a fourth piece of information representing at least one thermal preconditioning moment for a vehicle interior recorded in a thermal preconditioning schedule associated with the clock system.

[0016] According to yet another variant, when the graphic content corresponds to the second graphic content, the set of additional graphic objects represents a set of functions comprising: - a first function for changing the display format of the current time information; and / or - a second alarm control function; and / or - a third function for controlling the display of a set of time zones; and / or - a fourth appointment scheduling function in the calendar; and / or - a fifth function for managing the vehicle's battery charging schedule when the vehicle is a plug-in electric vehicle; and / or - a sixth function for controlling the thermal preconditioning planner; and / or - a seventh function for updating current timetable information.

[0017] According to a further variant, the first area corresponds to an upper band of the touch screen.

[0018] According to yet another variant, the graphic content is displayed in a pop-up window occupying the second area.

[0019] According to a second aspect, the present invention relates to a control device for a vehicle display system, 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.

[0020] 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 or a system as described above according to the third aspect of the present invention.

[0021] 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.

[0022] 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.

[0023] 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.

[0024] 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.

[0025] 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.

[0026] 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

[0027] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the description of the particular and non-limiting embodiments of the present invention below, with reference to the attached Figures 1 to 6, in which:

[0028] [Fig-1] schematically illustrates part of a vehicle's passenger compartment, according to a example of a particular embodiment of the present invention;

[0029] [Fig.2] schematically illustrates a display device for the vehicle of [Fig.1], according to a first particular and non-limiting example of the present invention;

[0030] [Fig.3] schematically illustrates the display device of the vehicle in [Fig.1], according to a second particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention;

[0031] [Fig.4] schematically illustrates the display device of the vehicle in [Fig.1], according to a third particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention;

[0032] [Fig.5] illustrates a device configured to control a display system of the vehicle of [Fig.1], according to a particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] [Fig.6] illustrates a flowchart of the different stages of a control process of a vehicle display system of [Fig.1], according to a particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention. Description of examples of achievements

[0034] A method and a control device for a vehicle display system will now be described in what follows with joint reference to Figures 1 to 6. The same elements are identified with the same reference signs throughout the following description.

[0035] 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.

[0036] According to a particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention, the control of a display system embedded in a vehicle is, for example, implemented by one or more vehicle computers, for example via one or more processors. The vehicle also includes a clock system configured to display the current time.

[0037] To this end, initial data representing current time information is received. The current time information corresponds to the time (expressed, for example, in hours and minutes), which is continuously updated. The display of a graphic object representing the current time information is controlled so that this graphic object is displayed in a first area of ​​a touchscreen of the vehicle's display system. The graphic object corresponds, for example, to a pictogram indicating the time at any given moment, for example in a format such as HH:MM (where HH represents hours and MM represents minutes). The graphic object is, for example, permanently displayed on the screen, the first area corresponding, for example, to a top bar of the touchscreen in which a set of pictograms are displayed.

[0038] Second data representing a touch press on the graphic object are received from the touch interface, for example when a user makes a touch press on the touch screen at the display location of the graphic object.

[0039] Following the reception of the second data, the computer controls the display of graphic content comprising a set of additional graphic objects representing additional information and / or functions controlled via the clock system in a second area of ​​the touch screen different from the first area, depending on the second data.

[0040] Such a method makes it possible to control, via a voluntary action, the display of a set of graphic contents including information relating to the clock system.

[0041] Fig. 1 schematically illustrates part of the passenger compartment of a vehicle 10, according to a particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention.

[0042] 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.

[0043] The vehicle 10 advantageously incorporates a display system comprising a touchscreen 13 and a computer configured to control the display of content(s) from a graphic HMI on the touchscreen 13. The computer corresponds, for example, to the computer of the infotainment system, known as the IVI computer (from the English "In-Vehicle Infotainment" or in French "Infodivertissement étoilé") of the vehicle 10.

[0044] The touch screen 13 corresponds, for example, to an LCD screen (from the English "Liquid Crystal Display" or in French "Affichage 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").

[0045] The touchscreen 13 is configured to display content for the driver and passengers of the vehicle 10. The touchscreen 13 is also configured to allow the driver and / or passengers of the vehicle to interact with one or more systems embedded in the vehicle via a human-machine interface (HMI) displayed on the touchscreen 13. For example, the screen 13 is configured to interact with the IVI system and / or a clock system of the vehicle 10.

[0046] According to a 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 seat 15 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.

[0047] According to a particular embodiment, the display system including the touch screen 13 is for example provided or configured to reduce the number of screens present in the vehicle 10, allowing for example the removal of the display screen(s) called instrument cluster or instrument panel.

[0048] According to a particular embodiment, the vehicle 10 carries one or more embedded systems, each controlled by one or more computers. These computers, together with the IVI computer, form, for example, a multiplexed architecture for providing various services useful for the proper functioning of the vehicle and for assisting the driver and / or passengers of the vehicle in controlling the vehicle 10 via the control of the embedded system(s) in the vehicle 10.Computers communicate and exchange data with each other via one or more computer buses, for example a CAN (Controller Area Network), CAN FD (Controller Area Network Flexible Data-Rate), FlexRay (according to ISO 17458), LIN (Local Interconnect Network), or Ethernet (according to ISO / IEC 802-3) type communication bus.

[0049] An embedded system in the vehicle 10 corresponds to a clock system, which system is, for example, controlled by a dedicated computer connected in communication to the IVI computer. The display system of the vehicle 10 is thus connected in communication with the clock system of the vehicle 10, for example the computer in charge of the display system (for example the IVI computer) is connected in communication to the computer in charge of the clock system via one or more data buses of the vehicle's on-board network 10. According to one variant, the computer controlling the clock system corresponds to the IVI computer.

[0050] The clock system includes an electric clock providing a signal to the IVI computer so that the latter displays the current time, for example in a digital format such as HH:MM or HH:MM:SS, where HH represents the hours (from 01 to 12 or from 01 to 24 depending on a 12-hour or 24-hour display), MM represents the minutes (from 00 to 59) and SS represents the seconds (from 00 to 60).

[0051] According to particular embodiments, the clock system is further configured to implement additional services or functions, in addition to providing the current time, such as: - an electronic calendar for recording appointments at later dates and times via the calendar display on the touchscreen 13 of vehicle 10, for example, the calendar being configured so that a user of vehicle 10 enters the date and time of the appointment, the reason, the appointment reminder time(s), the type of reminder (reminder with display on the touchscreen and / or reminder with sound generation and / or reminder with speech rendering of the date, time and reason by text-to-speech); and / or - an alarm for recording later dates and times for the generation and rendering of an alarm or wake-up call with, for example, the rendering of specific graphic content on the touchscreen of vehicle 10 and / or the rendering of a specific sound or voice message via the speakers of vehicle 10; and / or - a charging schedule for a traction battery of vehicle 10 when vehicle 10 is a plug-in electric vehicle, the charging schedule being configured to enter and record one or more time slots during which the traction battery will be charged, the schedule triggering the opening of the electrical power supply to the charger of vehicle 10 at the beginning of each scheduled time slot and triggering the closing of the electrical power supply to the charger at the end of each scheduled time slot, or when the charge rate of the traction battery has reached a predetermined upper charge limit (which upper limit is, for example, configurable via the human-machine interface (HMI) of the charging schedule, such as the beginning and / or end of each time slot); and / or - a vehicle cabin thermal preconditioning planner 10, the thermal preconditioning planner being configured to enter and record one or more time slots during which the vehicle's air conditioning system should be activated to heat and / or cool the vehicle until a setpoint temperature is reached, for example (which setpoint temperature is by example configurable via the human-machine interface (HMI) of the thermal preconditioning scheduler, such as the start and / or end of each time slot); for example, the thermal preconditioning scheduler is set by a user of vehicle 10 to automatically trigger the air conditioning system of vehicle 10 at a set time from Monday to Friday so that the temperature in the passenger compartment has reached the set temperature when the user uses vehicle 10, for example to go to their place of work.

[0052] A control process for an on-board display system in the vehicle 10 is advantageously implemented by one or more processors of the display system, for example by a computer of the vehicle 10 such as the IVI computer, i.e. by one or more processors of the computer.

[0053] In a first operation of the process, initial data representative of current time information are received, for example from the computer controlling the clock system or from the vehicle's electric clock 10, for example via one or more data buses of the on-board network linking the computer implementing the process to the clock or to the computer of the clock system.

[0054] The first data is for example received at regular intervals, for example every 60 s, to update the display of the current time on the touch screen 13. The first data is thus for example representative of a clock signal.

[0055] In a second operation of the process, the display of a graphic object representing the current time information is controlled such that this graphic object is displayed on the touchscreen 13, in a first area 211 of the touchscreen 13, as illustrated in [Fig. 2] according to a particular embodiment. This current time information is, for example, displayed in a specific content of the vehicle's graphical HMI 10 displayed on the touchscreen 13.

[0056] The first zone 211 corresponds, for example, to an upper band (also called the top band) of the touchscreen 13. The first zone 211 corresponds, for example, to an area known as the status bar, which is intended for the display of a set of indicators and information that remain displayed regardless of the content displayed in the rest of the touchscreen 13, i.e., in a part of the screen located below the first zone 211. The indicators displayed in the first zone 211 include, for example, wireless connection indicators of the vehicle 10 (e.g., wireless local area networks such as Wi-Fi® or Bluetooth®) and the information displayed includes, for example, the outside temperature, information on the vehicle's air conditioning system 10, etc.

[0057] The content displayed in the part of the screen located below the first zone 211 includes, for example, a set of information useful to the driver for ensuring the control and supervision of the vehicle 10. The set of information includes for example the instantaneous speed of the vehicle 10 when the latter is in a driving or circulation phase, i.e. in motion, driven by the engine of the vehicle 10, a rev counter, for example the remaining range (expressed for example in kms), the distance traveled, a volume or level of fuel remaining in the tank when the vehicle 10 includes a thermal engine, the charge level of the traction battery when the vehicle 10 carries a traction battery, etc.

[0058] The graphic representation of the graphic object 21 is for example of the numeric (or digital) type, that is to say in the format HH:MM or HH:MM:SS.

[0059] A display control of a pictogram, graphic content or any 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 screen 13. 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 graphic object.

[0060] The display control of the graphic object 21 thus includes the transmission of control signals to the touch screen 13 to modify the values ​​associated with the pixels of the touch screen 13 at the location intended to display the graphic object 21 (or any graphic object), i.e. at a determined position in the first area 211.

[0061] The display of the graphic object 21 is triggered by the reception of the first data indicating the current time so that the current time is displayed continuously, as the time changes.

[0062] In a third operation, second data representing a touch 201 on the graphic object 21 are received, following a touch 201 by a user (for example the driver of the vehicle 10) on the graphic object 21.

[0063] A touch press on the graphic object 21 sends information to the IVI computer so that the latter implements one or more functions associated with the command corresponding to the touch press.

[0064] The second data representing the touch press are received for example via one or more data buses linking the touch interface of the touch screen 13 (or a computer controlling such a touch interface where applicable) and the IVI computer.

[0065] Touch support corresponds, for example, to: - a short or brief touch press whereby the duration of the press on the graphic object 21 is less than a threshold duration (for example equal to 500 or 1000 ms); or - a long touch press whereby the duration of the press on the graphic object 21 is greater than the threshold duration (for example equal to 500 or 1000 ms).

[0066] As described below in various specific embodiments, a short touch press on the graphic object 21 triggers the computer to perform a first action. A long touch press on the graphic object 21 triggers the computer to perform a second action.

[0067] In a fourth operation of the process, the computer in charge of the process, for example the IVI computer, controls the display of a specific graphic content comprising a set of additional graphic objects representing additional information and / or functions controlled via the clock system. The graphic representation of the graphic content is a function of the second set of data.

[0068] The control of displaying the graphic content is triggered, for example, by the reception of the second data.

[0069] The fourth operation includes, for example, the transmission of a request by the IVI computer to the computer controlling the clock system, via one or more data buses, to receive the information necessary for displaying the graphic content.

[0070] The graphic content belongs to a set of graphic content with different graphic representations, particular examples of which are described below with regard to figures 3 and 4. The graphic content is displayed in a second area 212 of the touch screen 13 different from the first area 211 comprising the graphic object 21.

[0071] According to a particular and illustrative embodiment, the second area is located in the center of the touch screen 13.

[0072] In a particular example, the graphic content is displayed in a window occupying part of the display area of ​​screen 13, that is, in the part of the screen located below the first area 211. This window corresponds, for example, to a pop-up window, also called an intrusive or pop-up window. In this example, the graphic content is displayed in a pop-up window occupying the second area 212. This second area 212 is located, for example, below the graphic object 21 to indicate the relationship between the graphic object 21 and the graphic content displayed following a touch press on the graphic object 21.

[0073] The graphical representation of the graphical content corresponds to: - a first graphical representation (the graphical content being referred to as first graphical content 31) illustrated in [Fig. 3] when the second data points represent a short touch press, i.e., a duration less than a threshold; - a second graphical representation (the graphical content being referred to as second graphical content 41) illustrated in [Fig. 4] when the second data points represent a long touch press, i.e., a duration greater than the threshold, the second graphic content being different from the first graphic content, at least part of the information contained and displayed in the second graphic content 41 being different from the information contained and displayed in the first graphic content 31.

[0074] As partially illustrated in [Fig. 3], the first graphic content 31 comprises a set of additional graphic objects 311, 312 representing additional information relating to the clock system. These additional graphic objects 311, 312 correspond, for example, to pictograms, text, or a combination of pictograms and text.

[0075] The additional information contained in the first graphic content 31 includes all or part of the following information, in any possible combination: - a first piece of information representing a current date, for example the day, month and year, for example in one of the following formats: DD / MM / YY or DD / MM / YYYY (with DD the day in numbers, MM the month in numbers and YY or YYYY the year in numbers) or in words (such as "Friday, October 18, 2024"); and / or - a second piece of information representing at least one appointment recorded in a calendar of the clock system, with for example the date and time of each appointment and the associated reason (for example "medical visit", "school meeting", "vehicle inspection", etc.); and / or - a third piece of information representing at least one charging moment recorded in a charging schedule for a vehicle battery associated with the clock system when the vehicle corresponds to a plug-in electric vehicle; and / or - a fourth piece of information representing at least one thermal preconditioning moment for a vehicle interior recorded in a thermal preconditioning schedule associated with the clock system.

[0076] This additional information is obtained from or via the clock system.

[0077] As partially illustrated in [Fig. 4], the second graphic content 41 comprises a set of additional graphic objects 411, 412, 413 representing functions controlled by or via the clock system. These additional graphic objects 411, 412, 413 correspond, for example, to pictograms, text, or a combination of pictograms and text.

[0078] The function(s) controllable by or via the vehicle's clock system 10 include all or part of the following functions, in any possible combination: - a first function for changing the display format of the current time information, for example to switch from a 12-hour display format to a 24-hour format or vice versa to switch from a 24-hour display format to a 12-hour format; and / or - a second alarm control function, for example to configure or set an alarm for a future date and time, configure a recurring alarm, configure a rendering type (visual and / or audible), configure the graphic and / or sound appearance, etc.; and / or - a third function for controlling the display of a set of time zones, for example to view time zones on Earth or to know the current time in one or more other time zones; and / or - a fourth appointment scheduling function in the calendar, to add, modify, or delete one or more appointments; and / or - a fifth function for managing vehicle battery charging schedules when the vehicle is a plug-in electric vehicle, to add, modify, or delete one or more traction battery charging time slots; and / or - a sixth function for controlling the thermal preconditioning schedule, to configure one or more upcoming thermal preconditioning cycles (for example, to set the date, time, and / or target temperature); and / or - a seventh function for controlling current time information, for example for setting the current time information (for example when switching to winter or summer time), for synchronization with a reference clock (for example by satellite), etc.

[0079] Thus, a touch press, for example short, on an additional graphic object 411, 412, 413 associated with one of the functions in the list above triggers for example the display of another window or other content of the GUI dedicated to the function associated with this additional graphic object, this other window or this other graphic content comprising a set of third graphic objects each configured to set a parameter of the function.

[0080] Of course, the list of functions configurable via the second graphic content 41 is not limited to the examples listed above but extends to any function controlled by or via a clock system, that is to say any function involving control of a time instant.

[0081] The end of the display of the first graphic content 31 and / or the second graphic content 41 is controlled by the computer in charge of the process automatically or following an action by the driver or a passenger of the vehicle 10.

[0082] The end of the display of the graphic content is thus, for example, automatically controlled after a predetermined display time without any touch action on the The driver or any other user with this graphic content, for example after 5, 10, or 25 seconds of display. According to one variant, the display of the graphic content ends when the driver briefly touches the screen 13 outside the graphic content display area.

[0083] Such a process thus makes it possible to do away with any physical button to control the clock system and allows a more intuitive control of the HMI associated with the wireless communication system than HMIs requiring navigation through different pages or menus before arriving at the specific content of the clock system, via simple touch presses on the graphic object 21 and / or on the different graphic content displayed.

[0084] Figure 5 schematically illustrates a device 5 configured for controlling a vehicle display system, for example, vehicle 10, and / or for controlling information and / or functions of the vehicle clock system 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, for example, a computer.

[0085] The 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, 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 the device 5, individually or in combination, can be integrated into a single integrated circuit, into several integrated circuits, and / or into discrete components. The device 5 can be implemented in the form of electronic circuits or software (or computer) modules, or a combination of electronic circuits and software modules.

[0086] 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.

[0087] 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.

[0088] 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.

[0089] 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 802.25.1), 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").

[0090] According to another particular and non-limiting embodiment, the device 5 includes a communication interface 53 which enables communication 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), CAN FD (Controller Area Network Flexible Data-Rate), FlexRay (standardized by ISO 17458) or Ethernet (standardized by ISO / IEC 802-3) type.

[0091] 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-sensitive or not, one or more loudspeakers 550 and / or other peripherals 560 (projection system) via output interfaces respectively 54, 55 and 56. According to one variant, one or the other of the external devices is integrated into device 5.

[0092] Figure 6 illustrates a flowchart of the different steps in a method for controlling a display system embedded in 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 embedded in vehicle 10 or by device 5 of Figure 5.

[0093] In a first step 61, initial data representative of current time information are received.

[0094] In a second step 62, the display of a graphic object representing the current time information is controlled so that this graphic object is displayed in a first area of ​​the touch screen.

[0095] In a third step 63, second data representing a touch press on the graphic object are received.

[0096] In a fourth step64, the display of graphic content comprising a set of additional graphic objects representing additional information and / or functions controlled via the clock system is controlled according to the second data so that the graphic content is displayed in a second area of ​​the touch screen different from the first area.

[0097] 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].

[0098] Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above but extends to a method for displaying graphic objects and graphic content representing a clock system embedded in a vehicle, 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.

[0099] The present invention also relates to a vehicle, for example an automobile or more generally an autonomous land-based motor vehicle, comprising the device 5 of [Fig.5] or a display system comprising the device 5 of [Fig.5] connected in communication to a touch screen 13.

Claims

Demands

1. Method for controlling a display system of a vehicle (10), said vehicle (10) having a clock system, said display system comprising a touch screen (23), said method being implemented by a processor and comprising the following steps: - receiving (61) first data representing current time information; - controlling (62) the display of a graphic object (21) representing said current time information in a first area (311) of said touch screen (23); - receiving (63) second data representing a touch press (201) on said graphic object (21); - controlling (64) the display of graphic content as a function of said second data, said graphic content comprising a set of additional graphic objects (311, 312;411, 412, 413) representing additional information and / or functions controlled via said clock system, said graphic content being displayed in a second area (212) of said touch screen (13) different from said first area (211).;

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said graphic content corresponds to: - a first graphic content (31) when said second data are representative of a touch press (201) of a duration less than a threshold; and - a second graphic content (41) different from said first graphic content (31) when said second data are representative of a touch press (201) of a duration greater than said threshold.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein, when said graphic content corresponds to said first graphic content (31), the set of additional graphic objects (311, 312) is representative of a set of additional information comprising: - a first piece of information representing a current date; and / or - a second piece of information representing at least one appointment recorded in a calendar of said clock system; and / or - a third piece of information representing at least one charging moment recorded in a charging schedule for a vehicle battery associated with said clock system when said vehicle corresponds to a rechargeable electric vehicle; and / or - a fourth piece of information representing at least one thermal preconditioning moment for a vehicle interior recorded in a thermal preconditioning schedule associated with said clock system.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein, when said graphic content corresponds to said second graphic content (41), the set of additional graphic objects (411, 412, 413) is representative of a set of functions comprising: - a first function for changing the display format of said current time information; and / or - a second function for controlling an alarm; and / or - a third function for controlling the display of a set of time zones; and / or - a fourth function for managing appointment scheduling in said calendar; and / or - a fifth function for managing the battery charging schedule of said vehicle when said vehicle corresponds to a plug-in electric vehicle; and / or - a sixth function for controlling said thermal preconditioning scheduler; and / or - a seventh function for controlling the current time information.

5. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said first zone (211) corresponds to an upper band of said touch screen (13).

6. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said graphic content is displayed in a pop-up window occupying said second area (212).

7. 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.

8. Computer-readable recording medium on which a computer program comprising instructions is recorded 19 for carrying out the steps of the process according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

9. Device (5) for controlling a display system of a vehicle (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.