Method and device for controlling an electric window lift system of a vehicle

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and device for controlling a vehicle's power window system, including a touchscreen (12). For this purpose, data representing a set of opening conditions for a set of the vehicle's power windows is received. A power window control button is displayed on the touchscreen (12) according to a specific graphic representation (320) determined after the initial data is received, the size of the control button being greater than a predetermined threshold. A command to open at least one power window of the set of power windows is transmitted following a touch press (321) on the control button. The control request is a function of the number of fingers simultaneously in contact with a touchscreen interface on the touchscreen (12) during the touch press (321) and the current open state of at least one power window.Figure for the abbreviation: Figure 3.

Description

Title of the invention: Method and device for controlling an electric window regulator system of a vehicle. Technical field

[0001] The invention relates to methods and devices for controlling an electric window lift system of a vehicle, in particular but not exclusively a motor vehicle. The invention also relates to a method and device for controlling the opening and / or closing of one or more electric windows of the vehicle. Technological background

[0002] Many modern vehicles are equipped with an electric window system configured to electrically control the opening and closing of the vehicle's electric windows. The opening and closing of each electric window is controlled electrically from inside the vehicle via control devices, for example, buttons, located on the doors or on the center console. The driver typically has a control panel on the front door to operate the opening and closing of each electric window. Such a control panel sometimes also includes buttons for adjusting the position of the vehicle's electric exterior mirrors.When the vehicle driver wishes to partially or fully open or close one or more of the vehicle's electric windows by operating the associated control button(s), the driver must search for which control button(s) to operate while maintaining their attention on the road, which generates errors in operation and / or reduced attention to the road.

[0003] The driver's attention may thus be disturbed when the driver has to search for the manual control button(s) to operate to open / close the electric window(s), which presents a safety risk for the vehicle, its passengers and other road users. Summary of the present invention

[0004] One object of the present invention is to solve at least one of the problems of the technological background described above.

[0005] An object of the present invention is, for example, to facilitate the control or command of an electric window lift system of a vehicle.

[0006] Another object of the present invention is, for example, to minimize the loss of attention of the driver in the use or control of the electric window lift system.

[0007] According to a first aspect, the present invention relates to a method for controlling an electric window lift 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: - receiving initial data representative of a set of conditions for opening or closing a set of electric windows of the vehicle; - display control of an electric window lift system control button on a main display area of ​​the touch screen according to a determined graphic representation, a size of the control button according to the determined graphic representation being greater than a determined threshold, the display control being triggered by the reception of the first data; - reception of second data representing a touch press on the control button, the second data including information representing a number of fingers simultaneously in contact with a touch interface of the touch screen during the touch press; - transmission of third data representing a command of the electric window lift system to open or close at least one electric window of the set of electric windows, the command being a function of the information and of fourth data representing a current open state of at least one electric window.

[0008] Using data associated with the detection of a set of conditions that may necessitate opening or closing the vehicle's power windows allows for the automatic display of a power window control button on the touchscreen, for example, to open or close one or more of the vehicle's power windows. The display is designed to be large, i.e., larger than a predetermined threshold, which makes operation easier for the driver compared to control via a complex or small control device. The driver does not need to take their eyes off the road to locate the control module and operate the power window system, for example, to open or close the vehicle's power windows.Since the driver no longer has to search for the power window control button, their attention on the road is increased, which improves the safety of the vehicle and other road users.

[0009] According to one variant, the current open state belongs to a set of open states comprising: - an open state; and - a closed state.

[0010] According to another variant, the command corresponds to: - a command to open a driver's side window of the vehicle when the information represents a number of fingers equal to 1 and when the open state of the driver's side window corresponds to the closed state; - a command to close the driver's window of the vehicle when the information represents a number of fingers equal to 1 and when the open state of the driver's window corresponds to the open state; - a command to open a front passenger window of the vehicle when the information represents a number of fingers equal to 2 and when the open state of the front passenger window corresponds to the closed state; - a command to close the front passenger window of the vehicle when the information represents a number of fingers equal to 2 and when the open state of the front passenger window corresponds to the open state; - a command to open a rear left passenger window of the vehicle when the information represents a number of fingers equal to 3 and when the open state of the rear left passenger window corresponds to the closed state; - a command to close the rear left passenger window of the vehicle when the information represents a number of fingers equal to 3 and when the open state of the rear left passenger window corresponds to the open state; - a command to open a right rear passenger window of the vehicle when the information represents a number of fingers equal to 4 and when the open state of the right rear passenger window corresponds to the closed state; - a command to close the rear right passenger window of the vehicle when the information represents a number of fingers equal to 4 and when the open state of the rear right passenger window corresponds to the open state; - a command to open all the electric windows of the vehicle when the information represents a number of fingers equal to 5 and when the open state of all the electric windows corresponds to the closed state; - a command to close all the electric windows of the vehicle when the information is representative of a number of fingers equal to 5 and when the open state of at least one electric window of the set of electric windows corresponds to the open state.

[0011] According to a further variant, the command corresponds to: - a command to fully open at least one electric window when the information represents a number of fingers equal to 1 and when the open state of at least one electric window corresponds to the closed state; - a command to fully close at least one electric window when the information represents a number of fingers equal to 1 and when the open state of at least one electric window corresponds to the open state; - a partial opening command for at least one electric window to a first level of opening equal to 50% of the total opening when the information is representative of a number of fingers equal to 2; - a partial opening command for at least one electric window to a second opening level equal to 25% of the total opening when the information is representative of a number of fingers equal to 3; - a partial opening command for at least one electric window to a third opening level equal to 75% of the total opening when the information is representative of a number of fingers equal to 4; - a partial opening command of at least one electric window to a fourth of opening equal to 90% of the total opening when the information is representative of a number of fingers equal to 5.

[0012] According to another variant, the first data belong to a dataset comprising: - data representative of air quality outside the vehicle; - representative data of air quality in a vehicle's passenger compartment; - representative temperature data outside the vehicle; - representative temperature data inside the vehicle's passenger compartment; - data representative of a sound level outside the vehicle; - data representative of the sound level in the vehicle's passenger compartment; - data representative of a current activation state of a vehicle's air conditioning system; - data representing the location of the vehicle; and - data representing a voice command.

[0013] According to yet another variant, the determined threshold represents a ratio between the size of the control button and a total size of the main display area of ​​the touch screen.

[0014] According to another variant, the determined threshold is equal to 90%.

[0015] According to another variant, the determined threshold is configurable via an interface The vehicle's man-machine interface.

[0016] According to a second aspect, the present invention relates to a control device for an electric window lift 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.

[0017] 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.

[0018] 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.

[0019] Such a computer program may use any programming language, and be in the form of source code, object code, or an intermediate form between source code and object code, such as in a partially compiled form, or in any other desirable form.

[0020] 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.

[0021] 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.

[0022] 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.

[0023] 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

[0024] 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:

[0025] [Fig-1] schematically illustrates part of the passenger compartment of a vehicle equipped with a electric window lift system, according to a particular embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] [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;

[0027] [Fig.3] schematically illustrates the vehicle screen of [Fig.1], according to a second particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention;

[0028] [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;

[0029] [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;

[0030] [Fig.6] illustrates a device configured to control the electric window lift system of the vehicle of [Fig.1], according to a particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] [Fig.7] illustrates a flowchart of the different stages of a process for controlling the electric window lift system of the vehicle of [Fig.1], according to a particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention. Description of examples of achievements

[0032] A method and a control device for an electric window lift 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 following description.

[0033] 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.

[0034] According to a particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention, the control of an electric window regulator 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.

[0035] Initial data representing a set of conditions for opening or closing a set of electric windows of the vehicle are received. This initial data is received, for example, from vehicle sensors and / or controllers (e.g., one or more control units) of the vehicle's on-board systems. This initial data corresponds, for example, to data associated with a situation suitable for opening one or more electric windows, fully or partially, or conversely, for closing one or more electric windows, fully or partially, for example, when the air quality inside the vehicle is poor or when the air quality outside the vehicle is poor. Following the receipt of this initial data, the control unit controls the display of the electric window control button according to A specific graphical representation is used, with the size of the control button exceeding a predetermined threshold to ensure it is more easily visible and accessible to a vehicle user, such as the driver. Secondary data representing a touch input on the control button is received from the touchscreen interface when the user touches the touchscreen at the button's display location. This second data includes information indicating the number of fingers simultaneously in contact with the touchscreen interface during the touch input.In response to this second set of data, a third set of data representing a command from the power window system to open or close one or more power windows of the vehicle's power window system is transmitted to a power window system controller. The command is based on information representing the number of fingers used. A fourth set of data represents the current open state of the power window(s). The current state of a power window is either open when the window is at least partially open or closed when the window is fully closed.

[0036] 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.

[0037] 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.

[0038] The vehicle 10 advantageously incorporates an electric window control system configured to control the opening and closing of all the electric windows of the vehicle 10, for example, the electric window of the driver's door (referred to as the driver's electric window), the electric window of the front passenger door (referred to as the front passenger electric window), the electric window of the left rear passenger door (referred to as the left rear passenger electric window), and the electric window of the right rear passenger door (referred to as the right rear passenger electric window). The electric window control system is thus configured to control the transition from an open to a closed state, or conversely from a closed to an open state, of each electric window (also called an electric window) of the vehicle 10.

[0039] Such an electric window lift system, whether mounted or detached, is controlled by the driver of the vehicle 10 via a manual control device or module, for example a steering wheel control device 11 having a set of physical buttons, configured to control various functions and / or different parameters of the electric window lift system. The control device is according to another example a graphical human-machine interface (HMI) displayed on the touch screen 12 of vehicle 12, the user, for example the driver, of vehicle 10 controlling the electric window lift system by touching virtual buttons of the HMI displayed on the touch screen 12.

[0040] Such an electric window system comprises one or more manual control elements (typically a control button), a control unit for the vehicle's onboard network 10, and an electric motor for opening and closing each electric window of the vehicle 10. A control panel 11 is, for example, located in the driver's door so that the driver can control the opening and closing of each electric window by activating a physical or touch control button associated with each electric window from the driver's seat, using the hand located on the driver's door side. Such a control panel 11 typically includes a control button for each electric window of the vehicle 10. In one embodiment, the control panel 11 is arranged on a front or center console of the vehicle 10.

[0041] The vehicle 10 also includes a display system comprising a touch screen interface, referred to as touch screen 12, and a computer configured to control the display of content(s) of a graphical human-machine interface, referred to as HMI, on the touch screen 12. The computer corresponds, for example, to the computer of the infotainment system, referred to as the IVI computer (from the English "In-Vehicle Infotainment" or in French "Infodivertissement étoilé") of the vehicle 10.

[0042] The touch screen 12 corresponds for example to an LCD type screen (from the English "Liquid Crystal Display" or in French "Display 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").

[0043] The power window system and the display system are interconnected and communicate with each other via one or more data buses of the vehicle's embedded network 10, which connects the computers or controllers that control, in particular, the power window system and the display system, as well as the sensors of the vehicle 10 and other computers controlling the ADAS (Advanced Driver-Assistance System) of the vehicle 10. The computers form, for example, a multiplexed architecture for providing various services useful for the proper functioning of the vehicle 10 and for assisting the driver and / or passengers in controlling the vehicle 10. These computers communicate and exchange data with each other via one or more computer buses, for example, a CAN data bus (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 (according to the ISO 17458 standard) or Ethernet (according to the ISO / IEC 802-3 standard).

[0044] Figure [Fig. 2] schematically illustrates the touch screen 12, according to a particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention.

[0045] According to a particular embodiment, the touch screen 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, with, for example, one or more control buttons for the electric window system displayed according to a graphic representation 220 different from that of the control button in the main display area, i.e. with a size smaller than that of the control button.This control button or these buttons are used, for example, to control the opening and closing of all the electric windows of vehicle 10.

[0046] The secondary display area 22 covers a surface of the touch screen 12 with dimensions smaller than those of the surface covered by the main display area 21. The secondary display area 22 is, for example, arranged below the main display area 21. According to other examples, the secondary display area 22 is above the main display area 21 or is formed on a lateral strip on one side or the other of the touch screen 12.

[0047] According to another particular embodiment illustrated in Figures 3, 4 and 5, 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 module of the type of the control pad 11, not requiring the display of such buttons in a secondary display area 22 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, the electric window system of the vehicle 10, and / or other driver assistance systems, known as ADAS systems (of (English "Advanced Driver-Assistance System" or in French "Système d'aide à la conduite avancé").

[0049] The vehicle display system 10 is connected in communication with the electric window lift 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 (also called controller) in charge of the electric window lift system via one or more data buses of the vehicle 10's on-board network.

[0050] A problem that arises then concerns the use of the control pad 11 or the control button(s) integrated into a graphic HMI displayed on the touch screen, when it becomes necessary to manually validate the opening or closing of one or more of the electric windows of the vehicle 10 following the detection of a set of conditions requiring or favorable to the opening or closing of one or more electric windows, or even all of the electric windows of the vehicle 10. The complexity of the control pad 11 or the small size of the physical or touch button(s) (according to the graphic representation 220) requires increased precision from the driver of the vehicle 10, while his attention must be focused on the road.

[0051] A control process for the electric window lift 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 window lift 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 representing a set of opening or closing conditions of a set of electric windows of the vehicle 10. The initial data are received, for example, from one or more sensors of the vehicle 10 and / or from computers controlling one or more on-board systems of the vehicle 10.

[0053] These first data are thus received via one or more data buses of the vehicle's embedded network 10 linking the computer in charge of the process and the sensor(s) or computer(s) controlling the embedded systems.

[0054] According to one embodiment, this initial data corresponds, for example, to all or part of the following data, according to different combinations: - data representative of air quality outside the vehicle 10, received for example from a sensor measuring the quantity of particles in the air or from a "cloud" server connected by wireless communication, such a server collecting data representative of air quality (particles in the air, pollutants, etc.) received from a set of sensors distributed over the territory; - representative data of air quality in a vehicle's passenger compartment, received for example from a sensor measuring the quantity of particles in the air of the vehicle's passenger compartment 10; - representative temperature data outside the vehicle, received for example from an outside temperature sensor; - representative temperature data in the vehicle's passenger compartment, received for example from a temperature sensor arranged in the vehicle's passenger compartment 10; - data representative of a sound volume outside the vehicle, received for example from one or more microphones arranged outside the vehicle 10, for example on the bodywork; - data representative of a sound volume in the passenger compartment of vehicle 10, received for example from one or more microphones arranged in the passenger compartment of vehicle 10; - data representative of a current activation state (activated or deactivated state) of a vehicle air conditioning system, received for example from the computer controlling the vehicle air conditioning system 10; - representative data of the location of vehicle 10, received for example from a geolocation system or determined from data received from a camera mounted in vehicle 10 and configured to acquire images of the external environment of vehicle 10 (for example, a so-called front camera acquiring images of the environment in front of vehicle 10); and - representative data from a voice command.

[0055] A set of conditions that may necessitate opening or closing the electric windows of vehicle 10 includes, for example, one or more of the following conditions: - poor outdoor or indoor air quality, i.e. below a threshold (for example, when the quantity of particles in the air exceeds a determined threshold value), poor outdoor air quality which may require closing all the electric windows of vehicle 10 and poor indoor air quality which may require opening one or more electric windows of vehicle 10; and / or - outside temperature below a first threshold temperature or above a second threshold temperature that may require the opening of one or more electric windows; and / or - interior temperature below a third threshold temperature that may require the closure of one or more electric windows or above a fourth threshold temperature that may require the opening of one or more electric windows; and / or - external noise level exceeding a threshold that may necessitate closing the vehicle's electric windows 10; and / or - Air conditioning system activated, which may require the vehicle's electric windows to be closed; and / or - location of vehicle 10 corresponding to an entry onto a motorway or into a built-up area which may require the closing of the electric windows of vehicle 10; and / or - voice command (desire to open or close one or more electric windows) spoken by a user, for example the driver, of vehicle 10 and detected by a voice recognition system.

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

[0057] In a second operation of the process, illustrated in Figures 3, 4 and 5 according to different embodiment examples, the display of a control button of the electric window lift system is controlled in such a way that the control button is displayed on the main display area 21 of the touch screen 12 according to a determined graphic representation 320, the size of the control button according to this determined graphic representation 320 being greater than a 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 determined graphic representation 320 is greater than a determined threshold, allows a display easily visible to the driver on the touch screen 12, to control the electric window lift system, for example requesting the closing or opening of one or more electric windows of the vehicle 10.

[0060] According to one embodiment, the threshold represents a ratio between the size of the control button according to the determined 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 determined graphic representation 320.

[0061] 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.

[0062] The display control of the control button according to the determined graphical representation 320 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 determined graphical representation 320 (or any graphical object).

[0063] According to one particular embodiment, the 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 threshold of 90% allows the driver to be informed of the possibility of controlling the vehicle's power window system 10 upon detection of conditions requiring (or favorable to) opening or closing the vehicle's power windows 10, for example, to require the full or partial opening of one or more specific power windows of the vehicle 10 as described below. Another advantage is that it allows the driver to perform a touch command on the control button without looking at the touchscreen 12, while keeping their attention on the external environment around the vehicle 10.

[0064] According to another particular embodiment, the 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 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 21 to display other information useful to the driver for ensuring the control and supervision of the vehicle 10, for example, navigation information.

[0065] According to a particular embodiment illustrated in [Fig.4], the determined graphic representation 320 occupies the left part of the main display area 21 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.

[0066] According to another particular embodiment illustrated in [Fig.5], the determined graphic representation 320 occupies the upper part of the main display area 21 of the touch screen 12, and the lower part of the main display area 21 of the touch screen 12 is available to display other information.

[0067] According to another embodiment, the threshold represents dimensions in pixels of a height and a width of a minimum rectangular area on which to display the control button.

[0068] According to one embodiment, the threshold is configurable via a Human-Machine Interface (HMI) of the vehicle 10. For example, the threshold is configurable by The driver selects a value from a menu or page in the user interface. The driver chooses a threshold according to their preferences, for example, a high threshold if they want the control button to be easier to press as shown in the graphic representation. Alternatively, the threshold can be adjusted by tapping a corner of the control button and continuously dragging that corner until the button size matches the user's desired size.

[0069] The control button, according to the graphic representation 320 illustrated respectively in [Fig. 3], 4 or 5, is represented by a pictogram depicting a vehicle door with a window, a first upward-pointing arrow illustrating the closing of the electric window, and a second downward-pointing arrow illustrating the opening of the electric window. Of course, the graphic representation of the control button is not limited to such an example and extends to any graphic representation illustrating an electric window of a vehicle door, or a text describing the function associated with the control button.

[0070] In a third operation of the process, second data representing a touch press 321 (also called a touch command) on the control button displayed according to the determined graphic representation 320, as illustrated in [Fig.3], are received, following a touch command, corresponding to the touch press, from a user (for example the driver of the vehicle 10) on the control button displayed on the touch screen 12. The second data advantageously includes information representing a number of fingers simultaneously in contact with a touch interface of the touch screen during the first touch press.

[0071] A touch press on the control button shown according to the graphic representation 320 sends information to the IVI calculator so that the latter implements one or more functions associated with the touch press, the function or functions implemented being a function of the touch press and in particular of the number of fingers simultaneously in contact with the touch interface during the touch press.

[0072] The second data representing the 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.

[0073] The number of fingers simultaneously in contact with the touch interface is equal to 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 fingers. A touch press corresponds, for example, to a short or brief touch press where the duration of pressing the control button is less than a threshold duration (for example, 500 or 1000 ms), the touch press being made with 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 fingers of the driver's hand. In another example, a touch press corresponds to a long touch press where the duration of pressing the control button is greater than the threshold duration (for example, 500 or 1000 ms), the touch press being performed with 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 fingers of a hand of the driver or another passenger of the vehicle 10.

[0074] The simultaneous touch of one or more fingers corresponds to the detection of one or more touch presses in a short time interval (for example equal to 100 or 200 ms), after the first detection of a touch press on the control button according to the graphic representation determined 320. In other words, any touch press detected on the touch interface of the touch screen 12 in this time interval will be associated with the touch press 321, the total number of touch presses corresponding to the number of fingers simultaneously in contact with the touch interface of the touch screen 12.

[0075] In a fourth operation of the process, the IVI control unit transmits third data points representing a command or control request from the power window system to open or close at least one power window of the power window assembly to the power window system controller. The control request is a function of the second data point, and in particular, of the information contained within it. The power window system command is further a function of fourth data points representing the current open state of at least one power window. These fourth data points are, for example, received from the power window system controller, which stores the current open state of each power window in memory. In one embodiment, the fourth data points are received from a power window open detection sensor associated with each power window.

[0076] The current open state belongs to a set of open states comprising: - an open state, according to which the electric window is at least partially open; and - a closed state, according to which the electric window is completely (or totally) closed.

[0077] The control is thus a function of the number of fingers used by the driver of the vehicle 10 to perform the touch press, that is to say that the control varies according to whether the touch press 321 is performed with 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 fingers simultaneously in contact with the touch interface of the touch screen 12.

[0078] The transmission of the third data is triggered by the reception of the second data by the IVI computer.

[0079] These third data are for example transmitted via one or more data buses linking the IVI computer and a computer or controller of the electric window lift system.

[0080] According to a first example of an embodiment, the command thus corresponds, for example, to: - a command to open the driver's window of vehicle 10 when the information represents a number of fingers equal to 1 and when the open state of the driver's window corresponds to the closed state; - a command to close the driver's window of vehicle 10 when the information represents a number of fingers equal to 1 and when the open state of the driver's window corresponds to the open state; - a command to open the front passenger window of vehicle 10 when the information represents a number of fingers equal to 2 and when the open state of the front passenger window corresponds to the closed state; - a command to close the front passenger window of vehicle 10 when the information represents a number of fingers equal to 2 and when the open state of the front passenger window corresponds to the open state; - a command to open the rear left passenger window of vehicle 10 when the information represents a number of fingers equal to 3 and when the open state of the rear left passenger window corresponds to the closed state; - a command to close the rear left passenger window of vehicle 10 when the information is representative of a number of fingers equal to 3 and when the open state of the rear left passenger window corresponds to the open state; - a command to open a right rear passenger window of vehicle 10 when the information is representative of a number of fingers equal to 4 and when the open state of the right rear passenger window corresponds to the closed state; - a command to close the rear right passenger window of vehicle 10 when the information is representative of a number of fingers equal to 4 and when the open state of the rear right passenger window corresponds to the open state; - a command to open all the electric windows (i.e. all the electric windows) of the vehicle 10 when the information is representative of a number of fingers equal to 5 and when the open state of all the electric windows corresponds to the closed state; - a command to close all the electric windows of the vehicle 10 when the information is representative of a number of fingers equal to 5 and when the open state of at least one electric window of all the electric windows corresponds to the open state.

[0081] According to a second embodiment, the command thus corresponds, for example, to: - a command to fully open one or more electric windows of the vehicle 10 when the information represents a number of fingers equal to 1 and when the open state of each electric window concerned by the command corresponds to the closed state, that is to say, each electric window in the closed state is opened totally; according to another example, all the electric windows of vehicle 10 are controlled to be fully open, regardless of their current open state; - a command to fully close one or more electric windows of vehicle 10 when the information represents a number of fingers equal to 1 and when the opening state of each electric window concerned by the command corresponds to the open state, that is to say that each electric window in the open state is fully closed; according to another example, all the electric windows of vehicle 10 are controlled to be fully closed, regardless of their current open states; - a partial opening command for one or more electric windows of the vehicle 10 (for example, all electric windows or only the electric window(s) in the closed state) to a first level of opening equal to 50% of the total opening when the information is representative of a number of fingers equal to 2; - a partial opening command for one or more electric windows of the vehicle 10 (for example, of all the electric windows or only the electric window(s) in the closed state) to a second level of opening equal to 25% of the total opening when the information is representative of a number of fingers equal to 3; - a partial opening command for one or more electric windows of the vehicle 10 (for example, all electric windows or only the electric window(s) in the closed state) to a third level of opening equal to 75% of the total opening when the information is representative of a number of fingers equal to 4; - a partial opening command of one or more electric windows of the vehicle 10 (for example of all the electric windows or only the electric window(s) in the closed state) to a fourth of opening equal to 90% of the total opening when the information is representative of a number of fingers equal to 5.

[0082] According to a particular embodiment, the display time of the control button, as defined by the graphic representation 320 on the main display area of ​​the touchscreen 12, is a fixed duration. For example, the display time of the control button, as defined by the graphic representation 320 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.

[0083] According to another particular embodiment, the control button with the graphic representation determined 320 on the main display area of ​​the touchscreen 12 disappears following the 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 with the representation graphic determined 320. In other words, the reception of the second data also triggers a control of the end of display of the control button according to the graphic representation determined 320, the content displayed on the touch screen 12 then corresponding to the content displayed before the display of the control button according to the graphic representation determined 320.

[0084] Fig. 6 schematically illustrates a device 6 configured for the control of a vehicle display system and / or for the control of a vehicle electric window lift system, for example vehicle 10, according to particular and non-limiting embodiments of the present invention.

[0085] 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.

[0086] 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.

[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 61.

[0088] 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.

[0089] 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").

[0090] 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.

[0091] 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.

[0092] Figure 7 illustrates a flowchart of the different steps in a method for controlling an electric window regulator system of a vehicle, for example vehicle 10, according to a particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention. The method is for example implemented by a device embedded in the vehicle 10 or by the device 6 of [Fig.6].

[0093] In a first step 71, initial data representative of a set of opening or closing conditions of a set of electric windows of the vehicle are received.

[0094] In a second step 72, the display of a control button for the electric window lift system is controlled to display this button on a main display area of ​​the touch screen according to a determined graphical representation, a size of the control button according to the determined graphical representation being greater than a determined threshold, the display control being triggered by the reception of the first data.

[0095] In a third step 73, second data representing a touch press on the control button are received, the second data comprising information representing a number of fingers simultaneously in contact with a touch interface of the touch screen during the touch press.

[0096] In a fourth step 74, third data representing a command from the electric window lift system to open or close at least one electric window of the set of electric windows are transmitted to a controller of the electric window lift system, the command being a function of the information and fourth data representing a current open state of at least one electric window.

[0097] 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].

[0098] 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 window regulator system of a vehicle according to one or more 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.

[0099] 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 window lift system of a vehicle (10), said vehicle (10) having a display system including a touch screen (12), said method being implemented by at least one processor and comprising the following steps: - receiving (71) first data representative of a set of opening or closing conditions of a set of electric windows of said vehicle (10); - display control (72) of an electric window lift system control button on a main display area (21) of said touch screen (12) according to a determined graphic representation (320), a size of said control button according to said determined graphic representation (320) being greater than a determined threshold, said display control (72) being triggered by the reception (71) of the first data;- receiving (73) second data representing a touch press (321) on said control button, said second data comprising information representing the number of fingers simultaneously in contact with a touch interface of said touch screen during said touch press (321); - transmitting (74) third data representing a command of said electric window lift system to open or close at least one electric window of said set of electric windows, said command being a function of said information and fourth data representing a current open state of said at least one electric window.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the current open state belongs to a set of open states comprising: - an open state; and - a closed state.

3. Method according to claim 2, wherein the command corresponds to: - a command to open a driver's window of said vehicle (10) when the information is representative of a number of fingers equal to 1 and when the open state of said driver's window corresponds to the closed state; - a command to close the driver's window of said vehicle (10) when the information represents a number of fingers equal to 1 and when the open state of said driver's window corresponds to the open state; - a command to open a front passenger window of said vehicle (10) when the information is representative of a number of fingers equal to 2 and when the open state of said front passenger window corresponds to the closed state; - a command to close the front passenger window of said vehicle (10) when the information is representative of a number of fingers equal to 2 and when the open state of said front passenger window corresponds to the open state; - a command to open a left rear passenger window of said vehicle (10) when the information is representative of a number of fingers equal to 3 and when the open state of said left rear passenger window corresponds to the closed state; - a command to close the rear left passenger window of said vehicle (10) when the information is representative of a number of fingers equal to 3 and when the open state of said rear left passenger window corresponds to the open state; - a command to open a right rear passenger window of said vehicle (10) when the information is representative of a number of fingers equal to 4 and when the open state of said right rear passenger window corresponds to the closed state; - a command to close the right rear passenger window of said vehicle (10) when the information is representative of a number of fingers equal to 4 and when the open state of said right rear passenger window corresponds to the open state; - a command to open all the electric windows of said vehicle (10) when the information is representative of a number of fingers equal to 5 and when the open state of all the electric windows corresponds to the closed state; - a command to close the entire set of electric windows of said vehicle (10) when the information is representative of a number of fingers equal to 5 and when the open state of at least one electric window of said set of electric windows corresponds to the open state.

4. A method according to claim 2, wherein the command corresponds to: - a command to fully open said at least one electric window when the information represents a number of fingers equal to 1 and when the open state of said at least one electric window corresponds to the closed state; - a command to fully close said at least one electric window when the information represents a number of fingers equal to 1 and when the open state of said at least one electric window corresponds to the open state; - a command to partially open said at least one electric window to a first level of opening equal to 50% of the total opening when the information represents a number of fingers equal to 2;- a partial opening command for said at least one electric window to a second opening level equal to 25% of the total opening when the information represents a number of fingers equal to 3; - a partial opening command for said at least one electric window to a third opening level equal to 75% of the total opening when the information represents a number of fingers equal to 4; - a partial opening command for said at least one electric window to a fourth opening level equal to 90% of the total opening when the information represents a number of fingers equal to 5.

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 air quality outside said vehicle (10); - data representative of air quality inside a passenger compartment of said vehicle (10); - data representative of temperature outside said vehicle (10); - data representative of temperature inside the passenger compartment of said vehicle (10); - data representing a sound level outside said vehicle (10); - data representing a sound level inside said vehicle (10); - data representing a current activation state of an air conditioning system of said vehicle (10); - data representing a location of said vehicle (10); and - data representing a voice command.

6. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said determined threshold represents a ratio between said size of said control button and a total size of said main display area (21) of said touch screen (12).

7. Method according to claim 6, said determined threshold is equal to 90%.

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 window lift system of a vehicle (10), said 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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