Method and device for controlling an electric parking brake system

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and device for controlling an electric parking brake system of a vehicle, comprising a touchscreen (12). For this purpose, data representing a set of activation or deactivation conditions for the vehicle's electric parking brake are received from at least one sensor installed in the vehicle. A control button for the electric parking brake system is displayed on the touchscreen (12) according to a first graphic representation (320). A command to activate or deactivate the electric parking brake is transmitted by pressing the control button. (See Figure 3 for the abstract.)

Description

Title of the invention: Method and device for controlling an electric parking brake system technical field

[0001] The invention relates to methods and devices for controlling an electric parking brake system of a vehicle, particularly, but not exclusively, a motor vehicle. The invention also relates to a method and device for controlling the activation and / or deactivation of an electric parking brake of a vehicle. The invention further relates to a method and device for controlling the display of a release button for an electric parking brake system of a vehicle. Technological background

[0002] An increasing number of contemporary vehicles are equipped with an electric parking brake system in order to facilitate the activation and deactivation of the parking brake, also called the handbrake or parking brake.

[0003] Unlike a manual parking brake where the vehicle driver operates a lever, usually located between the front seats, to engage or disengage the parking brake, the electric parking brake is engaged and disengaged by the driver using a physical control button located on the dashboard or center console in the passenger compartment, for example. The electric parking brake system is thus controlled by manually operating this control button, which transmits a command to a controller, such as a computer, for the electric parking brake system.Depending on the actuation of the control unit, a command is transmitted to an electric motor to compress the brake discs and pads of the vehicle's wheels (or only the rear wheels for some vehicles) when the electric parking brake is activated, and a command is transmitted to the electric motor to release the brake discs and pads of the wheels when the electric parking brake is deactivated.

[0004] The location of the manual control element for the electric parking brake system varies from one vehicle to another, sometimes making parking brake operation complicated and unintuitive. Furthermore, the visibility of the control element is sometimes reduced due to its placement among other control elements for other on-board vehicle systems, and this element of Physical control can therefore be confused with other physical control devices located nearby.

[0005] The driver's attention may thus be disturbed when the driver has to search for the control device to activate or deactivate the electric parking brake, which presents a safety risk for the vehicle, its passengers and other road users.

[0006] Similar difficulties are encountered in the case of a touch-sensitive trigger button on a vehicle's touchscreen HMI (Human-Machine Interface). This control 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 an electric parking brake system of a vehicle.

[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 electric parking brake system.

[0010] According to a first aspect, the present invention relates to a method for controlling an electric parking brake 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: - reception of initial data representative of a set of activation or deactivation conditions of an electric parking brake of the vehicle from at least one sensor on board the vehicle; - display control of an electric parking brake system control 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 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 or deactivate the electric parking brake to a controller of the electric parking brake system, the transmission being triggered by the reception of the second data.

[0011] The detection of a set of conditions designed to activate (or engage) and / or deactivate (or disengage) the electric parking brake automatically triggers the display of an electric parking brake system control button on the touchscreen. The display is designed to be large, i.e., larger than a predetermined size, making it easier for the driver to operate compared to a small physical or touchscreen button. The driver does not need to take their eyes off the road to search for the control button. Since the driver no longer has to search for the parking brake system control button, their attention on the road is increased, thereby improving 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 first data belong to a dataset comprising: - representative data of zero velocity; - representative data from an engine running; - representative data for selecting a specific mode of an automatic gearbox; - representative data for the neutral position of a manual gearbox; - representative data of the actuation of a brake pedal, an accelerator pedal or a clutch pedal; - representative arrival data at a destination entered into a navigation system; and - representative data from a voice command.

[0016] According to yet another variant, the method further includes a display control step of the control button of the electric parking brake system 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 an electric parking brake system of a vehicle, the device comprising a memory associated with a processor configured for the implementation of the steps of the process according to the first aspect of the present invention.

[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 specific 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 the passenger compartment of a vehicle equipped with an electric parking brake system, according to a particular embodiment of the present invention;

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

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

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

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

[0032] [Fig.6] illustrates a device configured to control the braking system of electric parking 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 the electric parking brake system of the vehicle in [Fig. 1], according to a particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention. Description of embodiment examples

[0034] A method and a device for controlling an electric parking brake 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 an electric parking brake system is implemented by one or more vehicle control units, in particular by one or more processors of this or these control units. The vehicle also includes a display system comprising a touchscreen interface, referred to as a touchscreen, controlled by a control unit, for example the vehicle's infotainment system control unit, referred to as an IVI (In-Vehicle Infotainment) control unit.

[0037] Initial data representing a set of activation or deactivation conditions for an electric parking brake of the vehicle are received from at least one sensor on board the vehicle. This initial data corresponds, for example, to data associated with a predicted situation of brake activation. for electric parking or a planned situation where the electric parking brake is deactivated but requires confirmation from the driver (or a passenger) via a manual control. Upon receiving the initial data, the control unit adjusts the display of the electric parking brake system control button according to a first graphic representation. The size of the control button in this initial graphic representation is greater than a predetermined threshold to ensure it is more easily visible and accessible to a vehicle user. Second data points, representing a touch input on the control button, are received from the touchscreen interface, for example, when a user touches the touchscreen at the button's display location.In response to these second data points, third data points representing a command to activate or deactivate the electric parking brake are transmitted to a controller of the electric parking brake system, respectively activating or deactivating the electric parking brake.

[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 an electric parking brake system configured to operate in different modes, including a manual mode in which the brake calipers are electrically controlled by a controller (or computer) of the electric parking brake system following the activation of a control button by a user of the vehicle 10. The control button corresponds, for example, to a physical device located in the passenger compartment of the vehicle 10 and operable by the user to activate and deactivate the electric parking brake. Other operating modes of the electric parking brake system correspond, for example, to: - a parking mode that engages automatically when vehicle 10 is stationary (or manually via the control button), a tilt sensor providing data to the system so that the controller can adjust the braking power; and / or - a hill start mode that detects wheel rollback using the vehicle's ABS system sensors 10 and locks the wheels until the driver engages the clutch or accelerates; and / or - an emergency braking mode configured to slow down the vehicle 10 sharply without abruptly locking the wheels of 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, etc.

[0042] According to one example, a physical button among the set 11 of physical buttons 11 is configured to manually control the activation and deactivation of the electric parking brake of the vehicle 10, by manual actuation of this physical button.

[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 secondary display area 22 is used to display various touch buttons for controlling systems of the vehicle 10, for example an electric parking brake system control button shown according to a second graphic representation 220.

[0047] The secondary display area 22 covers a surface of the touchscreen 12 with dimensions smaller than those of the surface covered by the primary display area 21. The secondary display area 22 is, for example, arranged below the primary display area 21. According to other examples, the secondary display area 22 is above the main display area 21 or is formed on a side strip on one side or the other of the touch screen 12.

[0048] 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.

[0049] 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 electric parking brake system of the vehicle 10.

[0050] The vehicle display system 10 is connected in communication with the vehicle electric parking brake 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 electric parking brake system via one or more data buses of the vehicle 10 on-board network.

[0051] A problem that arises then concerns the pressing of a control button for the electric parking brake system by the driver of the vehicle 10, 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 touchscreen 12, when the conditions are met to activate (engage or apply) or deactivate (disengage or release) the electric parking brake. This small electric parking brake control button requires increased precision from the driver of the vehicle 10, while their attention must be focused on the road.

[0052] A control process for the electric parking brake 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 electric parking brake system.

[0053] 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 first data representative of a set of activation or deactivation conditions of an electric parking brake of the vehicle 10 from at least one sensor on board the vehicle 10.

[0054] According to one embodiment, this initial data corresponds, for example, to all or part of the following data, according to different combinations: - representative data of zero speed, for example received from a sensor of the vehicle's odometer 10; - data representative of an engine running, for example received from a flywheel sensor detecting top dead center (TDC), a sensor detecting the positive signal after ignition or a sensor detecting an engine ignition signal (electric or thermal depending on the type of vehicle 10); - representative data for selecting a specific mode of an automatic gearbox, for example parking mode (denoted P), neutral mode (denoted N), driving mode or forward or driving mode (denoted D, from the English "Drive") or reverse mode (denoted R, from the English "Rear"); - representative data for the neutral position of a manual gearbox; - representative data of the actuation of a brake pedal, an accelerator pedal or a clutch pedal; - representative arrival data at a destination entered into a navigation system, such data being received from the navigation system by associating with the receiver of the satellite positioning system (e.g., the GPS system) providing the position of the vehicle 10 at any given time, the destination corresponding to a final destination or an intermediate stopping point of a journey undertaken with the vehicle 10 according to a route calculated by the navigation system; and - data representative of a voice command, received for example from a microphone type sensor and interpreted by a vehicle voice recognition system 10 as corresponding to a command to activate the electric parking brake or deactivate the electric parking brake.

[0055] A set of conditions for activating the electric parking brake includes, for example, one or more of the following conditions: - engine running (or switched on) and zero speed (vehicle 10 at a standstill); and / or - engine running (or switched on) and selection of P or N mode for the automatic transmission, or neutral for the manual transmission; and / or - arrival at an intermediate point (stage) or a final point (destination) of a route calculated by the navigation system, entered at the beginning of the route; and / or - voice command (desire to immobilize vehicle 10) spoken by a user, for example the driver, of vehicle 10.

[0056] The above conditions are provided by way of illustration and the list of conditions is not exhaustive.

[0057] A set of conditions for deactivating the electric parking brake includes, for example, one or more of the following conditions: - electric parking brake activated, engine running (or switched on) and foot detection on the brake pedal (brake pedal engaged); and / or - electric parking brake activated, engine running (or switched on), zero speed (vehicle stationary) and foot detection on the accelerator pedal (accelerator pedal engaged); and / or - electric parking brake activated, engine running (or switched on) and out of P or N mode of the automatic transmission, or neutral of the manual transmission; and / or - electric parking brake activated and navigation system started with a new route to be followed; and / or - electric parking brake activated and voice command (desire to move vehicle 10) spoken by a user, for example the driver, of vehicle 10.

[0058] The above conditions are provided by way of illustration and the list of conditions is not exhaustive.

[0059] In a second operation of the process, illustrated in [Fig.3], the display of an electric parking brake 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.

[0060] 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.

[0061] 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 or deactivation of the electric parking brake.

[0062] 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.

[0063] A display control for graphic content or any graphic object (text, pictogram, icon, control button, indicator, etc.) includes rendering the graphic content or graphic object, such rendering corresponding to a set of operations performed by one or more processors on the pixels of one or more images of the graphic content to be displayed on the touchscreen 12. For example, rendering consists of associating pixel data (for example, color data expressed in an RGB color space) with a set of pixels in an image. the English "Red, Green, Bine" or in French "rouge, vert, bleu")) associated with each graphic object.

[0064] 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).

[0065] 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 possibility of activating or deactivating the electric parking brake based on the detection of a set of associated conditions. Another advantage is that it allows the driver to press the control button without looking at the touchscreen 12, while keeping their attention on the external environment around the vehicle 10.

[0066] 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 keeping a display area available on the main display area to show other information useful to the driver for ensuring control and supervision of the vehicle 10, for example, navigation information.

[0067] According to an additional embodiment, the first graphic representation 320 represents a parking brake symbol corresponding to the letter P surrounded by parentheses.

[0068] According to one variant, the electric parking brake system transmits data to the IVI system indicating the current state of the electric parking brake, the current state belonging to a set of states including the activated state (brakes applied) and the deactivated state (brakes released), this data being transmitted for example via one or more data buses linking the IVI computer and a control computer for the electric parking brake system.

[0069] 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.

[0070] 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 ​​screen 12 is available to display other information.

[0071] 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.

[0072] 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.

[0073] In a third operation of the process, second data representing a touch press on the control button displayed according to the first graphic representation 320, 420 or 520 are received, following a touch press by a user (for example the driver of the vehicle 10) on the control button displayed on the touch screen 12.

[0074] 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.

[0075] The second data representing a touch press are received for example 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.

[0076] 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).

[0077] In a fourth operation of the process, the IVI computer transmits third data representing a command or request to activate or deactivate the electric parking brake to the controller of the electric parking brake system, the transmission of the third data being triggered by the reception of the second data by the IVI computer.

[0078] These third data are for example transmitted via one or more data buses linking the IVI computer and a control computer for the electric parking brake system.

[0079] The activation command or request activates the electric parking brake to immobilize the vehicle 10. The deactivation command or request This allows the electric parking brake to be deactivated, enabling vehicle 10 to move. Touching the control button activates the electric parking brake when its current state (at the time of the touch or when the second data is received) is deactivated. Conversely, touching the control button deactivates the electric parking brake when its current state (at the time of the touch or when the second data is received) is activated.

[0080] According to a particular 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.

[0081] According to another particular embodiment, the control button 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. This second data 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 reception of the second data also triggers a check to end the display of the control button 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.

[0082] According to one embodiment, the process further comprises a display control operation for the control button of the electric parking brake system 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, for example, when the control button according to the first graphical representation 320, 420, or 520 disappears from the touchscreen 12.

[0083] 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.

[0084] The secondary display area 22 corresponds, for example, to a lower band of the touch screen 12, representing one or more control buttons the activation of one or more vehicle systems 10, one of these control buttons being the control button for the electric parking brake system 10 according to the second graphic representation 220.

[0085] The second graphic representation 220 represents the same symbol as that of the first graphic representation 320, 420 or 520.

[0086] Figure 6 schematically illustrates a device 6 configured for controlling a vehicle display system and / or for controlling a vehicle's electric parking brake 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.

[0087] 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.

[0088] 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.

[0089] 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.

[0090] According to various specific 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), by for example via a communication bus or through dedicated input / output ports.

[0091] 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").

[0092] 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, for example, to a transmitter configured to transmit and receive information and / or data via the communication channel 630. The communication interface 63 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.

[0093] 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.

[0094] Figure 7 illustrates a flowchart of the different steps in a process for controlling an electric parking brake system of a vehicle, for example the 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 the vehicle 10 or by the device 6 of [Fig. 6].

[0095] In a first step 71, initial data representative of a set of activation or deactivation conditions of an electric parking brake of the vehicle are received from at least one sensor on board the vehicle.

[0096] In a second step 72, the display of a control button for the electric parking brake system 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.

[0097] In a third step 73, second data representing a touch press on the control button are received.

[0098] In a fourth step 74, third data representing an activation or deactivation command of the electric parking brake are transmitted to a controller of the electric parking brake system, the transmission of the third data being triggered by the reception of the second data.

[0099] 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].

[0100] Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above but extends to a method for displaying a button representing the electric parking brake system of a vehicle in various graphic representations, which would include secondary steps without departing from the scope of the present invention. The same would apply to a device configured for implementing such a method.

[0101] 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 an electric parking brake system of a vehicle (10), said vehicle (10) having a display system including a touchscreen (12), said method being implemented by a processor and comprising the following steps: - receiving (71) first data representing a set of activation or deactivation conditions of an electric parking brake of the vehicle (10) from at least one sensor onboard in said vehicle (10), - display control (72) of a control button of said electric parking brake system on a main display area (21) of said touchscreen (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,- reception (73) of second data representing a touch press on said control button, - transmission (74) of third data representing a command to activate or deactivate the electric parking brake to a controller of said electric parking brake 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 first data belong to a data set comprising: - data representative of zero speed; - data representative of an engine running; - representative data of selecting a specific mode of an automatic gearbox; - representative data of neutral in a manual gearbox; - representative data of actuation of a brake pedal, an accelerator pedal or a clutch pedal; - representative data of arrival at a destination entered in a navigation system; and - representative data of a voice command.

6. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a display control step of said control button of said electric parking brake 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 an electric parking brake 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.