Insertion of a visual interface into a series of visual interfaces for functions of a motor vehicle

Abstract

The present invention relates to a human / machine interface (110) with functions of a motor vehicle, comprising: - a touch control screen (112); - a remote screen (114); - a control system (116) configured to: display, on the remote screen (114), a series of visual interfaces (VUI1-4) for at least some of the functions (F1-4); detect, on the control screen (112), a command for inserting, on the remote screen (114), a visual interface (VUI5) for another of the functions (F1-5), referred to as the visual interface to be displayed (VUI5), into the series of visual interfaces (VUI1-4) already displayed; define widths for, respectively, the visual interfaces already displayed and the visual interface to be displayed, on the basis of weightings, at least two visual interfaces having different weightings; and display the series of visual interfaces with the visual interface to be displayed inserted and with the defined widths.

Description

Description Title of the invention: INSERTION OF A VISUAL INTERFACE INTO A SERIES OF VISUAL INTERFACES FUNCTIONS OF A MOTOR VEHICLE Technical field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a human / machine interface with functions of a motor vehicle, a motor vehicle comprising such a human / machine interface, a method for controlling a human / machine interface with functions of a motor vehicle and a corresponding computer program.

[0002] More specifically, the present invention relates to the insertion of a visual interface into a series of visual interfaces for functions of a motor vehicle. Technological background

[0003] We know of a prior art human-machine interface with the functions of a motor vehicle, this human-machine interface comprising: - a touch control screen; - a remote screen; - a control system for the control screen and the remote screen.

[0004] In the current state of the art, a predefined number of slots are allocated on the remote screen to display visual interfaces for the vehicle's functions. These slots have fixed widths. However, some visual interfaces require more space than others, for example, because they need to display a lot of information.

[0005] It may therefore be desirable to provide a human / machine interface that makes it possible to overcome at least some of the aforementioned problems and constraints. Summary of the invention

[0006] Therefore, a human-machine interface with the functions of a motor vehicle is proposed; this human-machine interface includes: - a touch control screen; - a remote screen; - a control system for the control screen and the remote screen, the control system being designed to: • display on the remote screen a series of visual interfaces for at least some of the functions of the motor vehicle, • detect on the control screen an insertion command, on the remote screen, of a visual interface with another of the functions of the motor vehicle, referred to as the visual interface to be displayed, in the sequence of visual interfaces already displayed, • define widths for the visual interfaces already displayed and the visual interface to be displayed, respectively, based on weights associated with the visual interfaces already displayed and the visual interface to be displayed, with at least two visual interfaces having different weights, and • display the sequence of visual interfaces with the visual interface to be displayed inserted, with the widths defined.

[0007] The invention may further include one or more of the following optional features, in any technically feasible combination.

[0008] Optionally, each width is defined by '■ L n = P n IYi Prf W est un index identifying the visual interfaces already displayed in the suite and the visual interface of the selected function, is the width of the index visual interface n , P n is the weighting associated with the visual index interface n .

[0009] Optionally, the control system is also designed to detect the command to insert the visual interface to be displayed, in order to: - display tiles on the control screen, the tiles being respectively associated with the functions; - detect on the control screen a slide starting at an initial contact point on one of the displayed tiles to select it and ending at a final contact point; - select one of several available locations on the remote screen where the visual interface can be displayed, from a position of the final contact point relative to the initial contact point, the available locations being possible insertion locations in the sequence.

[0010] Optionally, the available location selected is also selected from an angle between a line passing through the initial contact point and the final contact point and a predefined line.

[0011] Optionally, the control system is also designed to: - follow a current point of contact of the sliding motion, the final point of contact being the current point of contact where the contact ceases; and - display and move a target between available locations based on the position of the current contact point relative to the initial contact point.

[0012] Optionally, the target is also moved between available locations based on an angle between a line passing through the initial contact point and the current contact point and the predefined line.

[0013] Optionally, the control system is also designed to: - define as many angle intervals, preferably adjacent, as there are available locations, these intervals being respectively associated with the available locations, preferably in the same order as the possible insertion locations in the displayed sequence; and in which the target is moved to the possible insertion location associated with the interval in which the angle is located.

[0014] A motor vehicle incorporating a human / machine interface according to the invention is also proposed.

[0015] A method for controlling a human-machine interface with the functions of a motor vehicle is also proposed; this human-machine interface comprises a touchscreen control panel and a remote display; this method comprises: - display on the remote screen a series of visual interfaces with some of the functions of the motor vehicle; - detect on the control screen an insertion command on the remote screen of a visual interface of another of the functions of the motor vehicle, called visual interface to be displayed, in the series of visual interfaces already displayed; - define widths for the visual interfaces already displayed and the visual interface to be displayed, respectively, based on weights associated with the visual interfaces already displayed and the visual interface to be displayed, with at least two visual interfaces having different weights; and - display the sequence of visual interfaces with the visual interface to be displayed inserted, with the widths defined.

[0016] Also proposed is a computer program downloadable from a communication network and / or recorded on a computer-readable medium, characterized in that it includes instructions for executing the steps of a process according to the invention, when said program is executed on a computer. Brief description of the figures

[0017] The invention will be better understood with the aid of the following description, given solely by way of example and made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: - Figure [1] is a view from inside the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle, in which the invention is implemented, - Figure 2 is a block diagram of a method according to the invention for controlling a touchscreen control panel and a remote display. - Figure 3 represents the control screen during a command selection by swiping, - Figure [Fig. 4] illustrates the remote screen when a target is displayed, in the absence of a previously displayed visual interface. - Figure [Eig.5] illustrates the remote screen when a target is displayed, in the presence of visual interfaces already displayed, - Figure 6 illustrates the remote screen after the insertion of a new visual interface, - Figure 7 is a block diagram of a method for controlling the control screen, to open a displayed tile, - Figure [Eig.8] illustrates a command to open a displayed tile, - Figure [Eig.9] illustrates the display of an enhanced tile in response to the open command, - Figure 10 illustrates a scrolling of the displayed tiles, including the enhanced tile, and - [Fig.1 1] is a functional diagram of a computer system that can implement a human / machine interface control system. Detailed description of the invention

[0018] With reference to [Fig.1], an example of a motor vehicle passenger compartment 100 in which the invention is implemented will now be described.

[0019] The passenger compartment 100 includes firstly a steering wheel 102 and a driver's seat 104 located behind the steering wheel 102. The passenger compartment 100 also includes a passenger seat 106 located next to the driver's seat 104, as well as a dashboard 108. The passenger compartment 100 also includes a windscreen 109 and two pillars 109A, 109B extending from the dashboard 108 and to which the windscreen 109 is fixed.

[0020] The passenger compartment 100 also includes a human-computer interaction (HCI) 110, allowing a user of the motor vehicle, in particular a driver seated in the driver's seat 104, to interact with various functions of the motor vehicle, for example, five FI.5 functions in the illustrated example. The FI.5 functions include, for example, one or more of the following: a mapping service; an audio playback system; a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system; a charge status and / or adjustment interface for a motor vehicle battery; and a weather service.

[0021] The human-machine interface 110 includes, in particular, a touchscreen control display 112 and a remote display 114, which can be either touchscreen or non-touchscreen. The human-machine interface 110 also includes a control system 116 for the control display 112 and the remote display 114.

[0022] The control screen 112 is located so as to be accessible in particular by the driver of the motor vehicle from the driver's seat 104, and preferably also by a passenger sitting in the passenger seat 106. The control screen 112 is for example located between the driver's seat 104 and the passenger seat 106, for example on a central leg of the dashboard 108.

[0023] The remote screen 114 is preferably in the form of a band, i.e., with a width greater than its height, preferably at least five times greater than the height. The remote screen 114 is, for example, located in front of the steering wheel 102 and extends across the entire width of the passenger compartment 100 (as illustrated), for example, from less than 10 cm from one of the pillars 109A, 109B to less than 10 cm from the other pillar 109A, 109B. Alternatively, the remote screen 114 may extend over only a portion of the width of the passenger compartment 100.

[0024] The control system 116 is specifically designed to display tiles—five TI_5 tiles in the illustrated example—on the control screen 112. Each TI_5 tile is associated with one of the vehicle's FI.5 functions. In [Fig. 1], three TI_3 tiles associated with FI.3 functions are visible. Preferably, at least one of the TI_5 tiles is active and thus presents a local GUI (graphical user interface) with the associated FI_5 function. In the illustrated example, it is assumed that all TI_5 tiles are active. Thus, the local graphical interface GUL _5 of each Ti _5 tile combines a local touch user interface, allowing the user to enter commands and / or information by touching certain areas of the Ti _5 tile, and a local visual user interface allowing the display of information in the Ti _5 tile.If applicable, the other inactive tile(s) only present a local visual interface.

[0025] The Ti_5 tiles are displayed side by side along a first alignment line L A , for example, straight and / or roughly horizontal. As will be explained later, the Ti_5 tiles can be scrolled along this first alignment line L A .

[0026] The control system 116 is further designed to display, on the remote screen 114, so-called remote visual interfaces VUL_5, each with the functions Fi.5 of the motor vehicle, side by side along a second line E alignment B , preferably substantially parallel to the first alignment line L A , for example, roughly horizontal.

[0027] With reference to [Fig.2], an example of a control method 200 for the human / machine interface 110 will now be described.

[0028] During a step 202, the control system 116 detects on the control screen 112 an initial contact at an initial contact point PI and a first part of a slide from this initial point PI to a first current contact point, called intermediate contact point PT.

[0029] Hereafter, "A" will denote an angle between a straight line passing through the initial point of contact PI and the current point of contact, with respect to a predefined straight line, for example the scroll line L A .

[0030] During a step 204, the control system 116 determines the angle A for the intermediate contact point PT.

[0031] During a step 206, to determine the command associated with the first part of the sliding, the control system 116 detects, among predefined intervals, the predefined interval containing the angle A for the intermediate contact point PT.

[0032] For example, with reference to [Fig. 3], predefined intervals may include a sending interval I ENV to "send" a function F k on remote screen 114, that is, to display the remote visual interface VUI k of this function F k on remote screen 114. E's sending interval I ENV extends around a sending direction D ENV directed to remote screen 114. This improves ergonomics because the user will spontaneously try to swipe to remote screen 114 to send the F function k to the latter. For example, the sending direction D ENV is in the middle of the sending interval I ENVPreferably, the sending direction D ENV is perpendicular to the scroll line E A For example, as in the illustrated example, the sending interval I ENV extends from 45° to 135° relative to the scroll line E A .

[0033] Predefined intervals may include a withdrawal interval. REI to "remove" a function F k displayed on remote screen 114, that is, to stop displaying the remote visual interface VUI k of this function F k on the remote screen 114. E' withdrawal interval I RET extends around a withdrawal direction D RkT directed in the opposite direction to the remote screen 114, for example in the opposite direction to the sending direction D| v This improves ergonomics because the user will spontaneously try to swipe away from the distant screen 114 to remove the F function kof the latter. For example, the withdrawal direction D RET is in the middle of the withdrawal interval I RET Preferably, the withdrawal direction D REI is perpendicular to the scroll line E A . For example, as in the illustrated example, the withdrawal interval I R | T extends from 225° to 315° relative to the scroll line L A .

[0034] The predefined intervals can include at least one scroll interval Ii>u _i>- IDEF_G to scroll the TI_5 tiles on the control screen 112. For example, each scroll interval IRE T extends around the scroll line L A , on one side (called the right side) for the scroll interval I DEF _D, called right, and on the other side (called left side) for the scroll interval I DEF _G, aka left. Preferably, the scroll line L Ais in the middle of each scroll interval I DEF > D , I DEF > G. For example, the right scroll interval I DEF _D extends from 315° (-45°) to 45° and the left scroll interval I DEF _G extends from 135° to 225°.

[0035] Returning to [Fig. 2], if angle A is within the sending interval I ENV and if the initial contact point PI is on a tile T k (as illustrated in [Fig.3]), the following steps 208 to 216 are implemented.

[0036] During step 208, the control system 116 displays a target C on the remote screen 114, at a possible insertion point in the sequence of remote visual interfaces already displayed on the remote screen 114, along the alignment line L B .

[0037] In the absence of a remote visual interface already displayed ([Fig.4]) on the remote screen 114, the rest is empty, and the target C can then, for example, be displayed at an arbitrary predefined location.

[0038] With one or more remote visual interfaces already displayed, for example, VUI4, VUI5, VUI3, in that order, as shown in [Fig. 5], the possible insertion locations are: at one end of the sequence of remote visual interfaces (before VUI4 in [Fig. 5]), at the other end of the sequence of remote visual interfaces (after VUI3 in [Fig. 5]), and, when several remote visual interfaces are displayed, between two consecutive remote visual interfaces in the sequence (between VUI4 and VUI5, and between VUI5 and VUI3 in [Fig. 5]). Target C can therefore be displayed at any of these possible insertion locations.

[0039] The human / machine interface 100 allows the user to choose the possible insertion location where the target C is displayed, and therefore where to display the remote visual interface of the selected tile function.

[0040] For this purpose, during a step 208-2, the control system 116 detects a second sliding part from the intermediate contact point PT and follows the current contact point PC along this second sliding part.

[0041] During a step 208-4, the control system 116 moves the target C between possible insertion locations according to the angle A of the current contact point PC.

[0042] For example, the 116 command system defines as many angle intervals, preferably adjacent, as there are possible insertion locations, these angle intervals being respectively associated with the possible insertion locations, preferably in the same order as the possible insertion locations in the displayed sequence. For example, four angle intervals I M Four possible insertion locations are illustrated in [Fig. 5]. The control system 122 then moves the target C to the possible insertion location associated with the interval in which angle A lies.

[0043] During a step 210, the control system 116 detects an end of contact on the control screen 112. The current contact point PC at the end of contact is therefore a final contact point PF of the sliding.

[0044] In response, during a step 212, the control system 116 selects the possible insertion location associated with the interval in which angle A is located.

[0045] During step 214, the control system 116 displays on the remote screen 114 the remote visual interface of the selected function at the selected available location.

[0046] To achieve this, during step 214-2, the control system 116 defines widths for the already displayed remote visual interfaces and the remote visual interface to be displayed, respectively, based on weights associated with the already displayed remote visual interfaces and the remote visual interface to be displayed. The width of a remote visual interface is, for example, a dimension of the visual interface along the line L BThus, the remote visual interfaces already displayed are resized in width to allow for the display of the remote visual interface to be inserted. The defined widths are larger the higher the weighting. Preferably, the widths are defined so that the remote visual interfaces already displayed and the remote visual interface to be displayed occupy a predefined total width on remote screen 114, for example, the entire available width on remote screen 114. For example, the length of each remote visual interface is defined proportionally to the weightings: L n = P n / ^ P fi Or n is an index identifying the remote visual interfaces already displayed as well as the remote visual interface to be displayed (that of the selected function), is the width of the distant visual interface index n (as a percentage of the predefined total width), Pn is the weighting associated with the distant visual interface index n .

[0047] During a step 214-4, the 116 command system displays the remote visual interfaces already displayed and the remote visual interface to be displayed with the defined widths.

[0048] For example, using the example in [Fig. 5], if the three remote visual interfaces VUI4, VUI5, and VUI3 already displayed have respective weights of 2, 2, and 1, these remote visual interfaces VUI4, VUI5, and VUI3 occupy, before the insertion of the remote visual interface VUIi to be displayed, 40%, 40%, and 20% of the predefined total width, respectively. If the remote visual interface VUIi to be displayed has a weight of 3, then the remote visual interfaces VUI4, VUI5, and VUI3 already displayed will have widths of 25%, 25%, and 12.5%, and the remote visual interface VUIi to be displayed will have a width of 37.5%, as illustrated in [Fig. 6].

[0049] If angle A is within the IRE retraction interval T , if the initial contact point PI is on a tile and if the remote screen 114 displays the remote visual interface of the function associated with the tile, the following steps 216 to 220 are implemented.

[0050] During a step 216, the control system 116 detects an end of contact on the control screen 112.

[0051] During step 218, in response, the command system 116 ceases to display the remote visual interface of the selected tile's function.

[0052] During a step 220, the command system 116 preferably redefines the widths of the remaining displayed remote visual interface(s), for example as in step 214. Thus, taking the previous example, if one of the remote visual interfaces with a weight of 2 is removed, the remaining remote visual interfaces will have weights of 2, 1 and 3 and therefore widths of 33.3%, 16.7% and 50%.

[0053] If angle A is in one of the scroll intervals, the following step 222 is implemented.

[0054] During step 222, the control system 116 follows the current contact point PC and scrolls the tiles along the scroll line L A following the movement of the current contact point PC.

[0055] With reference to [Fig.7], another 700 control method will now be described.

[0056] During step 702 (illustrated in [Fig. 8]), the control system 116 detects on the control screen 112 a command to open one of the tiles, called the original tile. By "opening," we mean replacing the original tile with an improved tile, as will be described later.

[0057] For example, the local graphical interface GUI1.3 of at least one of the tiles Tj.3 displayed on the control screen 112 has a Z3 area and the opening command involves pressing on this Z1.3 area, for example on the Z2 area on the [Fig.8],

[0058] During a step 704 (illustrated in [Fig.9]), in response to the detection of the opening command, the control system 116 replaces the original tile T2 selected with an improved tile T'2.

[0059] The improved tile T'2 is first of all wider, along the scroll line L A , than the original T2 tile. In addition, the improved T'2 tile features an enhanced GUI'2 graphical interface with more information and / or more touch-activated elements than the local GUI2 graphical interface of the original T2 tile.

[0060] During step 706, the control system 116 detects a scroll command. For example, the preceding steps 202 to 206 are implemented.

[0061] Referring to [Fig. 10], during step 708, in response to the detection of the scroll command, the control system 116 scrolls the tiles, both the T tiles bT3 and the improved tile T'2.

[0062] For example, the previous step 222 is implemented, i.e., the control system 116 follows the current contact point PC and scrolls through the tiles T b T'2, T3 along the scroll line L A following the movement of the current contact point PC.

[0063] With reference to [Fig.11], the control system 116 includes, for example, a computer system comprising a data processing unit 1102 (such as a microprocessor) and a main memory 1104 (such as RAM, from the English "Random Access Memory") accessible by the processing unit 1102. The computer system further includes, for example, a network interface and / or a computer-readable medium, such as a local medium (such as a local hard disk 1106) or a remote medium (such as a remote hard disk accessible via the network interface through a communication network) or a removable medium (such as a USB flash drive, from the English "Universal Serial Bus", or a CD, from the English "Compact Disc" or a DVD, from the English "Digital Versatile Disc") readable by means of an appropriate reader of the computer system (such as a USB port or a CD and / or DVD disc drive).A computer program 1108 containing instructions for the processing unit 602 is stored on the storage medium 1106 and / or downloadable via the network interface. This computer program 1108 is, for example, intended to be loaded into the main memory 1104, so that the processing unit 1102 executes its instructions designed to enable the computer system to implement the steps described above in process 200 and / or process 700.

[0064] Alternatively, all or part of these steps can be implemented by hardware modules, i.e. in the form of an electronic circuit, for example micro-wired, not involving a computer program.

[0065] In conclusion, it should be noted that the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. Indeed, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made to the embodiments described above, in light of the information just provided.

[0066] In the detailed presentation of the invention given above, the terms used shall not be interpreted as limiting the invention to the embodiments set forth in this description, but shall be interpreted to include all equivalents which can be foreseen by a person skilled in the art by applying their general knowledge to the implementation of the teaching which has just been disclosed to them.

Claims

Demands

1. Human-machine interface (110) with functions of a motor vehicle, this human-machine interface (110) comprising: - a touch control screen (112); - a remote screen (114); - a control system (116) for the control screen (112) and the remote screen (114), the control system (116) being designed to: • display on the remote screen (114) a suite of visual interfaces (VUIi.4) of at least some of the functions (Fi.4) of the motor vehicle, • detect on the control screen (112) an insertion command, on the remote screen (114), of a visual interface (VUI5) with another of the functions (Fi_5) of the motor vehicle, called the visual interface to be displayed (VUI5), in the sequence of visual interfaces (VUI1-4) already displayed, • define widths for the visual interfaces already displayed and the visual interface to be displayed, respectively, based on weights associated with the visual interfaces already displayed and the visual interface to be displayed, with at least two visual interfaces having different weights, and • display the sequence of visual interfaces with the visual interface to be displayed inserted, with the widths defined.

2. Human-machine interface (110) according to claim 1, wherein each width is defined by: / = p / p , where n is an index identifying the visual interfaces already displayed in the suite and the visual interface of the selected function, L n is the width of the index visual interface n , P n is the weighting associated with the visual index interface n .

3. Human-machine interface (110) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the control system (116) is further designed, for detect the command to insert the visual interface to be displayed, for: - display tiles on the control screen (112), the tiles being respectively associated with the functions; - detect on the control screen (112) a slide starting at an initial contact point (PI) on one of the displayed tiles to select it and ending at a final contact point (PF); - select one of several available locations on the remote screen (114) where the visual interface can be displayed, from a position of the final contact point (FP) relative to the initial contact point (IP), the available locations being possible insertion locations in the sequence.

4. Human / machine interface (110) according to claim 3, wherein the available location selected is selected from an angle (A) between a straight line passing through the initial contact point (PI) and the final contact point (PF) and a predefined straight line.

5. Human-machine interface (110) according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the control system (116) is further designed to: - follow a current contact point (CP) of the sliding motion, the final contact point (FQ) being the current contact point (CP) where contact ceases; and - display and move a target (C) between available locations based on a position of the current contact point (PC) relative to the initial contact point (PI).

6. Human / machine interface (110) according to claims 4 and 5 taken together, wherein the target (C) is moved between available locations according to an angle (A) between a straight line passing through the initial contact point (PI) and the current contact point (PC) and the predefined line.

7. Human-machine interface (110) according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the control system (116) is further designed to: - define as many angle intervals, preferably adjacent, as there are available locations, these intervals being respectively associated with the available locations, preferably in the same order as the possible insertion locations in the displayed sequence; and in which the target (C) is moved to the possible insertion location associated with the interval in which angle (A) is located.

8. Motor vehicle comprising a human / machine interface (110) according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. A method (200) for controlling a human-machine interface (110) with the functions of a motor vehicle, this human-machine interface (110) comprising a touchscreen control screen (112) and a remote screen (114), this method comprising: - display on the remote screen (114) a series of visual interfaces with some of the functions of the motor vehicle; - detect on the control screen (112) an insertion command on the remote screen (114) of a visual interface of another of the functions of the motor vehicle, called visual interface to be displayed, in the series of visual interfaces already displayed; - define widths for the visual interfaces already displayed and the visual interface to be displayed, respectively, based on weights associated with the visual interfaces already displayed and the visual interface to be displayed, with at least two visual interfaces having different weights; and - display the sequence of visual interfaces with the visual interface to be displayed inserted, with the widths defined.

10. Computer program (1108) downloadable from a communication network and / or stored on a computer-readable medium, characterized in that it includes instructions for carrying out the steps of a process (200) according to claim 9, when said program is executed on a computer.

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