Method and device for controlling a vehicle fog light system

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and device for controlling a vehicle's fog light system, comprising a touchscreen (12). For this purpose, data representing the detection of fog in the road environment in which the vehicle is traveling are received. A fog light system control button is displayed on the touchscreen (12) according to a first graphic representation (320). A command to activate the fog light system is transmitted by pressing the control button. (See Figure 3 for the abstract.)

Description

Title of the invention: Method and device for controlling a vehicle fog light system technical field

[0001] The invention relates to methods and devices for controlling a fog light system on a vehicle, particularly, but not exclusively, a motor vehicle. The invention relates in particular to a method and device for controlling the display of a trigger button for a vehicle's fog light system. Technological background

[0002] Modern vehicles are equipped with a fog light system to improve the driver's visibility and the visibility of their own vehicle to other drivers in adverse weather conditions, such as dense fog, heavy rain, or heavy snowfall. Each vehicle is therefore equipped with a rear fog light and may also be equipped with one or two front fog lights.

[0003] The fog light system is controlled, for example, by manually operating a control device generally located on the vehicle's center console, in the form of a physical button for activating the rear fog light and another physical button for activating the front fog light. Pressing one of these buttons activates the rear fog light and / or the front fog light. The fog light system can also be controlled using another control device in the form of a rotary ring on a stalk located under the steering wheel; this same ring is generally used to control the high and low beam headlights.

[0004] Manually controlling the fog light system via the physical buttons or the rotary ring on the stalk is sometimes complicated and unintuitive, as the visibility of the control element on the stalk is reduced due to its location behind and / or below the steering wheel, and the physical fog light control buttons can be easily confused with other physical buttons. In heavy fog, for example, visibility is reduced, requiring the driver to pay closer attention to the road. The driver, who must pay closer attention to the road as visibility decreases, may find it difficult to quickly use the control element to activate the fog light system.

[0005] Manipulating the physical buttons or the rotary ring of the stalk control also generates safety risks for the vehicle, as the driver's attention is focused on Activating fog lights via the fog light system may be reduced due to this complexity and / or low visibility.

[0006] Similar difficulties are encountered in the case of a touch-sensitive trigger button on a vehicle's touchscreen HMI (Human-Machine Interface). This button is generally located in a submenu and requires several successive clicks on the screen to activate it. If the button is located on the HMI's home screen, it is usually situated among other touch buttons of similar size and shape, requiring greater precision to click the button. Summary of the present invention

[0007] One object of the present invention is to solve at least one of the problems of the technological background described above.

[0008] An object of the present invention is, for example, to facilitate the control or command of a vehicle's fog light system.

[0009] Another object of the present invention is, for example, to minimize the time lost by the driver in finding the control button for the fog light system.

[0010] According to a first aspect, the present invention relates to a method for controlling a fog light system of a vehicle, the vehicle having a display system comprising a touch screen, the method being implemented by a processor and comprising the following steps: - receipt of initial data indicating the presence of fog in a road environment in which the vehicle is traveling, - Display control of a fog light system control button on a main display area of ​​the touchscreen according to a first graphical representation based on initial data, the size of the control button according to the first graphical representation being greater than a first determined threshold, - Reception of second data representing a touch press on the control button, - transmission of third data representing a command to activate the fog light system to a fog light system controller, the transmission being triggered by the reception of the second data.

[0011] Detecting the presence of fog in the road environment in which the vehicle is traveling allows for significant responsiveness depending on driving conditions, increasing vehicle safety. Displaying a fog light system control button on the touchscreen with a large size, i.e., greater than a predetermined threshold, allows for quick and intuitive pressing compared to a small physical or touch button, without the driver needing to take their eyes off the road to search for the button, thus enabling to improve driver attention on the road, and thus improve the safety of the vehicle and other road users.

[0012] According to one variant, the first threshold represents a ratio between the size of the control button and a total size of a main display area of ​​the touch screen.

[0013] According to one variant, the first threshold is equal to 90%.

[0014] According to another variant, the first threshold is configurable via an HMI (Human-Machine Interface) Man-Machine) of the vehicle.

[0015] According to yet another variant, the activation command corresponds to: - an activation command for one or more front fog lights of the vehicle when the first graphic representation depicts a symbol of a front fog light of the vehicle, or - a command to activate a rear fog light on the vehicle when the first graphic representation depicts a vehicle rear fog light symbol, or - an activation command for one or more front fog lights and a rear fog light of the vehicle when the first graphic representation represents a symbol combining a vehicle front fog light symbol and a vehicle rear fog light symbol.

[0016] According to yet another variant, the method further includes a display control step of the fog light system control button on the touch screen according to a second graphic representation, a size of the control button according to the second graphic representation being less than a second threshold, the second threshold being less than the first threshold.

[0017] According to another variant, the display of the control button according to the second graphic representation is carried out on a secondary display area of ​​the touch screen.

[0018] According to a second aspect, the present invention relates to a control device for a vehicle fog light 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.

[0019] 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.

[0020] 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.

[0021] 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.

[0022] 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.

[0023] 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.

[0024] 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.

[0025] 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

[0026] 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 7, in which:

[0027] [Fig-1] schematically illustrates part of a vehicle's passenger compartment, according to a example of a particular embodiment of the present invention;

[0028] [Fig.2] schematically illustrates a screen of the vehicle of [Fig.1], according to a first particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention;

[0029] [Fig.3] schematically illustrates the vehicle screen of [Fig.1], according to a second particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention;

[0030] [Fig.4] schematically illustrates the vehicle screen of [Fig.1], according to a third particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention;

[0031] [Fig.5] schematically illustrates the vehicle screen of [Fig.1], according to a fourth particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention;

[0032] [Fig.6] illustrates a device configured to control a traffic light system fog of the vehicle of [Fig.1], according to a particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] [Fig.7] illustrates a flowchart of the different stages of a control process of a vehicle fog light 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 device for controlling a fog light system of a vehicle will now be described in what follows with joint reference to Figures 1 to 7. The same elements are identified with the same reference signs throughout the description that follows.

[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 fog light system is implemented by one or more vehicle computers, in particular by one or more processors of this or these computers. The vehicle also includes a display system comprising a touchscreen interface, referred to as a touchscreen, controlled by a computer, for example the computer of the vehicle's infotainment system, referred to as the IVI computer (from the English "In-Vehicle Infotainment" or in French "Infodivertissement étoilé").

[0037] Initial data representing fog detection in a road environment in which the vehicle is traveling are received. This initial data corresponds, for example, to sensor data from the vehicle indicating the presence of fog. Following the receipt of this initial data, the control unit adjusts the display of the fog light system control button according to a first graphical representation. The size of the control button in this initial graphical representation is greater than a predetermined threshold to make the control button more easily visible and accessible to a vehicle user. Secondary data representing a touch press on the control button is received from the touchscreen interface, for example, when a user touches the touchscreen at the location where the control button is displayed.In response to this second data, third data representing a command to activate the fog light system is transmitted to a fog light system controller, for example to trigger the fog lights.

[0038] 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.

[0039] 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.

[0040] The vehicle 10 advantageously incorporates a fog light system configured to control the switching on and off of the rear fog light and the front fog light(s) of the vehicle 10, depending on the type of fog light installed on the vehicle 10.

[0041] In one embodiment of the present invention, the vehicle 10 includes a central console having a set 11 of physical buttons, configured to control various functions and / or different systems of the vehicle 10, for example the switching on / off of the hazard lights, the activation or not of the air conditioning.

[0042] According to one example, one physical button among the set of physical buttons 11 allows the rear fog light to be switched on and off, and another physical button among the set of physical buttons 11 allows the front fog light(s) to be switched on and off.

[0043] The vehicle 10 includes a display system comprising a touch screen 12 and a computer configured to control the display of content(s) of a graphical human-machine interface, known as an HMI, on the touch screen 12. 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 12 corresponds for example to an LCD type screen (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").

[0045] [Fig.2] schematically illustrates the touch screen 12, according to a particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention.

[0046] According to one embodiment, the touchscreen 12 consists of a main display area 21 and a secondary display area 22. For example, the main display area 21 is used to display a set of information for the driver and / or passengers of the vehicle 10, for example, navigation information, or information relating to the operating status of the vehicle 10. According to an embodiment illustrated in [Fig. 2], the display area secondary 22 is used to display various touch control buttons for vehicle systems 10, for example a fog light system control button displayed according to a second graphic representation 220.

[0047] According to another embodiment, the touch screen 12 consists of a single main display area 21, occupying the entire available display area of ​​the touch screen 12, for example in the case where the vehicle 10 has a control knob and / or a center console comprising a set of physical buttons 11, not requiring the display of such buttons on the touch screen 12.

[0048] The touchscreen 12 is configured to display content for the driver and passengers of the vehicle 10. The touchscreen 12 is also configured to allow the driver and / or passengers of the vehicle 10 to interact with one or more systems embedded in the vehicle 10 via a human-machine interface (HMI) displayed on the touchscreen 12. For example, the touchscreen 12 is configured to interact with the IVI system and / or the fog light system of the vehicle 10.

[0049] The vehicle display system 10 is connected in communication with the vehicle fog light 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 fog light system via one or more data buses of the vehicle 10's on-board network.

[0050] A problem that arises then concerns the driver of the vehicle 10 pressing a control button for the fog lights system, either, for example, a physical button from the physical button assembly 11, or a touch button displayed according to a second graphical representation 220 on the touch screen 12, when it is necessary to switch on a rear fog light, the front fog light(s), or both front and rear fog lights. This small fog light control button requires increased precision from the driver of the vehicle 10, while their attention must be focused on the road, visibility of which is reduced due to the presence of fog.

[0051] A control process for the fog light system of the vehicle 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 fog light system.

[0052] In a first operation of the process, at least one processor of the vehicle 10, for example the IVI computer or a set of computers, receives initial data representative of a detection of the presence of fog in a road environment in which the vehicle 10 is traveling.

[0053] According to one embodiment, this initial data is received, for example, from a fog sensor on the vehicle 10. This fog sensor is, for example, an optical type sensor that emits a light beam and measures the amount of light reflected or scattered to determine the presence of fog. For example, the initial data consists of fog presence information and a fog density calculated by a computer in the vehicle 10 from the fog sensor information. According to another example, the initial data consists of fog presence information and a visibility distance measurement in meters calculated by a computer in the vehicle 10 from the fog sensor information.

[0054] According to one variant, this initial data is for example received from one or more detection cameras of the vehicle 10. The analysis and processing of images received from the camera(s) by a computer of the vehicle 10 makes it possible to determine the presence of fog.

[0055] According to yet another variant, this first data is received from one or more vehicles travelling in the road environment of vehicle 10, the vehicle or vehicles transmitting the first data by means of a wireless communication mode of the vehicle type to any V2X or vehicle to vehicle V2V type.

[0056] Such a V2X (Vehicle-to-Everything) wireless communication mode is, for example, based on the 3GPP LTE-V or IEEE 802.1 lp standards of ITS G5. In such a V2X communication system, each vehicle and / or communication devices of the infrastructure carries a node (or wireless communication system / interface) to enable V2V (vehicle-to-vehicle), V2I (vehicle-to-infrastructure), and / or V2P (vehicle-to-pedestrian) communication, with pedestrians being equipped with mobile devices (for example, a smartphone) configured to communicate with the vehicles.The first data is thus, for example, received from one or more other vehicles circulating in the road environment via a V2V type wireless communication mode or received from the infrastructure in a V2I or I2V communication mode (from the English "infrastructure-to-vehicle" or in French "infrastructure vers véhicule").

[0057] In a second operation of the process, illustrated in [Fig.3], the display of a fog light system control button is controlled in such a way that the button is displayed on the main display area 21 of the touch screen 12 according to a first graphic representation 320, the size of the control button according to the first graphic representation 320 being greater than a first determined threshold.

[0058] The control button is displayed in a determined content of a human-machine interface, called HMI, which content is displayed on the touch screen 12.

[0059] The fact that the size of the control button according to the first graphic representation 320 is greater than a first determined threshold, allows a display easily visible to the driver on the touch screen 12, to quickly trigger the activation of the fog light system.

[0060] According to one embodiment, the first threshold represents a ratio between the size of the control button according to the first graphic representation 320 and the total size of the main display area 21 of the touch screen 12. This ratio is expressed as a percentage of the total size of the main display area 21 occupied by the control button according to the first graphic representation 320.

[0061] A display control of graphic content or any graphic object (text, pictogram, icon, control button, indicator, 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 touch screen 12. 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.

[0062] The display control of the control button according to the first graphical representation thus includes the transmission of control signals to the touch screen 12 to modify the values ​​associated with the pixels of the touch screen 12 at the location intended to display the control button according to the first graphical representation 320 (or any graphical object).

[0063] According to one particular embodiment, the first threshold is equal to 90%. Thus, the control button will be displayed with a size greater than 90% of the size of the main display area 21, as illustrated in [Fig. 3]. A first threshold of 90% informs the driver of the urgent need to activate the fog light system because visibility is reduced. Another advantage is that it allows the driver to press the control button without looking at the touchscreen 12, while keeping their eyes fixed on the road.

[0064] According to another particular embodiment, the first threshold is equal to 50%. Thus, the control button will be displayed with a size greater than 50% of the size of the main display area 21, as illustrated in Figures 4 and 5. For example, a first threshold of 50% makes it easier for the driver to touch the control button, while maintaining a display area available on the display area. main to display other information useful to the driver to ensure control and supervision of the vehicle 10, for example navigation information.

[0065] According to an additional embodiment, the first graphic representation 320 represents a rear fog light symbol, or a front fog light symbol, or a symbol combining a vehicle front fog light symbol and a vehicle rear fog light symbol.

[0066] Thus the symbol displayed on the first graphic representation 320 is a function of the type of fog lights to be lit, for example if the first data include an indication of fog with high density, the first graphic representation 320 symbolizes a front fog light and a rear fog light.

[0067] According to one embodiment, the fog light system transmits data to the IVI system indicating the number and type of fog lights installed on the vehicle 10. This data is transmitted, for example, via one or more data buses connecting the IVI control unit and a fog light system control unit. For example, the data indicates that only one rear fog light is installed. According to this example, the first graphic representation 320 represents only a rear fog light symbol.

[0068] According to an embodiment illustrated by [Fig.4], the first graphic representation 420 occupies the left part of the main display area of ​​the touch screen 12, and the right part of the main display area of ​​the touch screen 12 is available to display other information.

[0069] According to an embodiment illustrated by [Fig.5], the first graphic representation 520 occupies the upper part of the main display area of ​​the screen 12, and the lower part of the main display area of ​​the screen 12 is available to display other information.

[0070] According to another embodiment, the first threshold represents dimensions in pixels of a height and a width of a minimum rectangular area on which to display the control button.

[0071] According to one embodiment, the first threshold is configurable via a vehicle HMI (Human-Machine Interface) 10. For example, the first threshold is configurable by selecting its value from a menu or page of the HMI. The driver selects a threshold according to their preferences, for example, a high threshold if the driver wants to make pressing the control button easier, as shown in the first graphic representation 320, 420, or 520.

[0072] In a third operation of the process, second data representing a touch press on the control button displayed according to the first graphical representation 320, 420 or 520 are received, following a touch press by a user (by example the driver of vehicle 10) on the control button displayed on the touch screen 12.

[0073] A touch press on the control button displayed according to the first graphic representation 320, 420 or 520 sends information to the IVI computer so that the latter implements one or more functions associated with the command corresponding to the touch press.

[0074] The second data representing a touch press are for example received via one or more data buses linking the touch interface of the screen (or a computer controlling such a touch interface where applicable) and the IVI computer.

[0075] A touch press corresponds to a short or brief touch press in which the duration of the press on the control button is less than a threshold duration (for example, equal to 500 or 1000 ms). According to one embodiment, a touch press corresponds to a long touch press in which the duration of the press on the control button is greater than the threshold duration (for example, equal to 500 or 1000 ms).

[0076] In a fourth operation of the process, the IVI computer transmits third data representing a command or request to activate the fog light system to the fog light system controller, the transmission of the third data being triggered by the reception of the second data by the IVI computer.

[0077] These third data are for example transmitted via one or more data buses linking the IVI computer and a fog light system control computer.

[0078] The activation command or request enables the fog light system to be activated, and triggers the fog lights to be switched on.

[0079] According to one embodiment, the activation command is a function of the graphical representation of the button and corresponds to: - a command to activate one or more front fog lights of the vehicle when the first graphic representation 320 depicts a symbol of a front fog light of the vehicle, or - a command to activate a rear fog light of the vehicle 10 when the first graphic representation 320 depicts a symbol of a rear fog light of the vehicle, or - an activation command for one or more front fog lights and a rear fog light of the vehicle 10 when the first graphic representation 320 represents a symbol combining a vehicle front fog light symbol and a vehicle rear fog light symbol.

[0080] Thus, the driver can trigger the simultaneous activation of the front and rear fog lights, or only the rear light, for example in the case where the vehicle 10 includes only a rear fog light, or in the case where the first data includes information indicating good visibility (visibility distance greater than a threshold) in front of the vehicle 10. The driver can also trigger only the front fog lights, in the case where the first data includes information indicating low density fog (below a threshold) for which the rear fog lights are unnecessary.

[0081] According to one embodiment, the display time of the control button according to the first graphic representation 320, 420, or 520 on the main display area of ​​the touchscreen 12 is a fixed duration. For example, the display time of the control button according to the first graphic representation 320, 420, or 520 on the main display area of ​​the touchscreen 12 is 10, 15, or 20 seconds. The driver thus has a period of time to decide whether to press the control button, for example, if the vehicle 10 is currently in a turn requiring the driver to control the steering wheel with both hands, and therefore a delay between the appearance of the control button according to the first graphic representation 320, 420, or 520 and the driver's opportunity to press it.

[0082] According to another example, the display time of the control button according to the first graphic representation 320, 420 or 520 on the main display area 21 of the touch screen 12 depends on the initial data. For example, the display time is longer if the initial data indicates a fog density resulting in very low visibility (below a predetermined threshold) in front of the vehicle 10.

[0083] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the control button shown in the first graphic representation 320, 420, or 520 on the main display area of ​​the touchscreen 12 disappears upon receipt of the second data point. This second data point indicates that a touch has been detected on the control button, and it is therefore no longer necessary to display this control button in the first graphic representation 320, 420, or 520. In other words, the receipt of the second data point also triggers a check to end the display of the control button shown in the first graphic representation 320, 420, or 520, the content displayed on the touchscreen 12 then corresponding to the content displayed before the control button in the first graphic representation 320, 420, or 520 was displayed.

[0084] According to one embodiment, the process further comprises a display control operation for the fog light system control button on the touchscreen 12 according to a second graphical representation 220, the size of the control button according to the second graphical representation 220 being less than a second threshold, the second threshold being less than the first threshold. This embodiment makes it possible to maintain a reduced-size control button available on the touchscreen 12, by example when the control button according to the first graphic representation 320, 420 or 520 disappears from the touch screen 12.

[0085] According to one embodiment, the display of the control button according to the second graphic representation 220 is carried out on a secondary display area 22 of the touch screen 12.

[0086] The secondary display area 22 corresponds for example to a lower band of the touch screen 12, representing one or more control buttons commanding the activation of one or more systems of the vehicle 10, one of these control buttons being the control button of the fog light system 10 according to the second graphic representation 220.

[0087] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the second graphic representation 220 represents a rear fog light symbol, or a front fog light symbol, or a symbol combining a vehicle front fog light symbol and a vehicle rear fog light symbol. Similar to the display of the control button according to the first graphic representation 320, 420, 520, the display of the control button according to the second graphic representation can be modified according to the initial data and / or the type of fog lights installed on the vehicle. The activation command transmitted when the control button according to the second graphic representation 220 is pressed depends on the second graphic representation 220, similarly to the activation command transmitted when the control button according to the first graphic representation 320, 420, 520 is pressed.

[0088] Figure 6 schematically illustrates a device 6 configured for controlling a vehicle display system and / or for controlling a vehicle fog light system, for example, vehicle 10, according to specific and non-limiting embodiments of the present invention. The device 6 corresponds, for example, to a device embedded in the vehicle 10, such as a computer.

[0089] Device 6 is, for example, configured to carry out the operations described opposite Figures 1 to 5 and / or the steps of the process described opposite [Fig. 7]. Examples of such a device 6 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 device 6, individually or in combination, can be integrated into a single integrated circuit, into several integrated circuits, and / or into discrete components. Device 6 can be implemented in the form of electronic circuits or software (or computer) modules, or a combination of electronic circuits and software modules.

[0090] The device 6 comprises one (or more) processor(s) 60 configured to execute instructions for carrying out the steps of the process and / or for executing instructions from the software embedded in the device 6. The processor 60 may include integrated memory, an input / output interface, and various circuits known to those skilled in the art. The device 6 further comprises at least one memory 61, 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.

[0091] 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 61.

[0092] According to various particular and non-limiting embodiments, the device 6 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.

[0093] According to a particular and non-limiting embodiment, the device 6 includes a block 62 of interface elements for communicating with external devices. The interface elements of the block 62 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").

[0094] According to another particular and non-limiting embodiment, the device 6 includes a communication interface 63 which enables communication with other devices (such as other computers in the embedded system) via a communication channel 630. The communication interface 63 corresponds by example to a transmitter configured to transmit and receive information and / or data via communication channel 630. Communication interface 63 corresponds for example to a wired network of type CAN (from the English "Controller Area Network" or in French "Réseau de contrôlers"), CAN FD (from the English "Controller Area Network Flexible Data-Rate" or in French "Réseau de contrôlers à débit de données flexible"), FlexRay (standardized by the ISO 17458 standard) or Ethernet (standardized by the ISO / IEC 802-3 standard).

[0095] According to a particular and non-limiting embodiment, the device 6 can provide output signals to one or more external devices, such as a display screen 640, touch or not, one or more speakers 650 and / or other peripherals 660 (projection system) via output interfaces 64, 65 and 66 respectively. According to a variant, one or more of the external devices is integrated into the device 6.

[0096] Figure 7 illustrates a flowchart of the different steps in a method for controlling a fog light system 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 mounted in vehicle 10 or by device 6 of Figure 6.

[0097] In a first step 71, initial data representative of the detection of the presence of fog in an environment in which the vehicle is traveling are received.

[0098] In a second step 72, the display of a fog light system control button is controlled to display this button on a main display area of ​​the touch screen according to a first graphical representation based on the first data, a size of the button according to the first graphical representation being greater than a first determined threshold.

[0099] In a third step 73, second data representing a touch press on the control button are received.

[0100] In a fourth step 74, third data representing a command to activate the fog light system are transmitted to a fog light system controller, the transmission of the third data being triggered by the reception of the second data.

[0101] According to one variant, the variants and examples of the operations described in relation to one of Figures 1 to 5 apply to the steps of the process in [Fig.7].

[0102] Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above but extends to a method of displaying a button representing the fog light system of a vehicle according to different graphic representations which would include secondary steps without going outside the scope of the present invention. The same would apply to a device configured for the implementation of such a process.

[0103] The present invention also relates to a vehicle, for example an automobile or more generally a land motor vehicle, comprising the device 6 of [Fig.6] or a display system comprising the device 6 of [Fig.6] connected in communication to a touch screen 12.

Claims

Demands

1. A method for controlling a fog light system of a vehicle (10), said vehicle (10) having a display system comprising a touch screen (12), said method being implemented by a processor and comprising the following steps: - receiving (71) first data representing the presence of fog in a road environment in which said vehicle (10) is traveling, - display control (72) of a control button of said fog light system on a main display area (21) of said touch screen (12) according to a first graphical representation (320) as a function of said first data, a size of said control button according to said first graphical representation (320) being greater than a first determined threshold, - receiving (73) second data representing a touch press on said control button,- transmission (74) of third data representing an activation command for said fog light system to a controller of said fog light system, said transmission being triggered by the reception of said second data.

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein said first threshold represents a ratio between said size of said control button and a total size of said main display area of ​​said touch screen (12).

3. Method according to claim 2, wherein said first threshold is equal to 90%.

4. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said first threshold is configurable via a human-machine interface of said vehicle (10).

5. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said activation command corresponds to: - an activation command for one or more front fog lights of said vehicle (10) when said first graphic representation (320) represents a vehicle front fog light symbol, or - an activation command for a rear fog light of said vehicle (10) when said first graphic representation (320) represents a symbol for a rear fog light of a vehicle, or - an activation command for one or more front fog lights and a rear fog light of said vehicle (10) when said first graphic representation (320) represents a symbol combining a symbol for a front fog light of a vehicle and a symbol for a rear fog light of a vehicle.

6. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a display control step of said control button of said fog light system on said touch screen (12) according to a second graphic representation (220), a size of said control button according to said second graphic representation (220) being less than a second threshold, said second threshold being less than the first threshold.

7. Method according to claim 6, wherein the display of said control button according to said second graphic representation (220) is carried out on a secondary display area (22) of said touch screen (12).

8. Computer program comprising program code instructions for implementing the method according to any one of the preceding claims, when said program is executed by a processor.

9. Device (6) for controlling a fog light system of a vehicle (10), said control device (6) comprising a memory (61) associated with at least one processor (60) configured for carrying out the steps of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

10. Vehicle (10) comprising a device (6) according to claim 9.

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