DE102020205855A1 - Operating and communication module for a vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

The control and communication module (10) according to the invention for a vehicle has a display unit (11) for displaying control elements, it being possible to assign different functions of the vehicle to the control elements by reprogramming. A detection unit (15, 23) is used for acoustic and / or optical detection of a user in front of the operating and communication module. A communication unit is used to transmit audio and / or video data based on acoustic and / or optical detection to at least one further user and to receive audio and / or video data based on acoustic and / or optical detection from the at least one other users. The audio and / or video data received are output with an output unit (24, 26).

Description

The present invention relates to an operating and communication module for a vehicle.

The increasing number of different functions and components in the vehicle as well as their ever increasing complexity has led to a large number of operating elements. In addition to new operating concepts, such as voice or gesture controls, mechanical operating elements in the form of buttons, buttons and switches are still used.

This results in the large number of different labels for different vehicle functions and components as well as the different designs of the different vehicle manufacturers and models, on the one hand in a large number of variants of these mechanical control elements, which among other things causes additional effort in production and storage and thus additional costs. On the other hand, the lettering or logos and also the haptic feel of mechanical buttons are predefined by the vehicle manufacturer or standard organizations such as ISO, so that personalization and adaptation of mechanical buttons is not possible.

Furthermore, at least when the large number of vehicle functions and components are operated exclusively or predominantly by mechanical operating elements, their number continues to increase. In addition to the variety of functions, this is especially the case because, to ensure ease of use and operational safety, a key typically only has one function, namely the one displayed on it, and some of the keys can only be used under certain conditions, such as switching on / off a cruise control only while driving or switching the handbrake on / off only when the vehicle is stationary. Likewise, the use of a large number of mechanical operating elements can be disruptive in the design of the vehicle interior or complicate it.

In order to reduce the number of mechanical operating elements, these can be designed in such a way that several different functions can be assigned to them by reprogramming. Likewise, displays of the function assigned to a key can be changed by means of an image or symbol or haptic feedback from a key depending on the assigned functionality of the key.

the DE 10 2018 204 471 A1 discloses a module for a vehicle with a plurality of such operating elements, each of which has an actuation unit for generating an electrical control signal for the vehicle component and an electronic display unit for displaying a display assigned to the operating element. Furthermore, an actuator is provided for generating haptic feedback to a vehicle user in response to an actuation of the actuation unit.

Furthermore describes the US 2010/0259375 A1 a vehicle instrument panel that can be customized and reconfigured while providing the tactile feel of physical buttons, sliders and buttons. For this purpose, the instrument control panel comprises one or more control components for a graphical user interface, which are not permanently connected to the display of the graphical user interface, but can be attached to it, wherein the control components can communicate with control components arranged behind the display. For example, separate fields can be shown on the display for the various loudspeaker outputs of an audio system, on which a user can place a removable operating component in the form of a rotary knob in order to individually adjust the volume of the corresponding loudspeaker.

It is an object of the invention to provide a module for a vehicle that, in addition to operating vehicle functions, also provides further functionalities.

This object is achieved by an operating and communication module for a vehicle with the features of claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

The invention is based on the knowledge that, in particular for large vehicles, there is a need to provide a communication option among the users of the vehicle in addition to operating vehicle functions. This is necessary, for example, in order to be able to coordinate the tasks of the crew members and thus to guarantee the desired work efficiency and quality.

• - eine Anzeigeeinheit zur Darstellung von Bedienelementen, wobei den Bedienelementen durch eine Umprogrammierung unterschiedliche Funktionen des Fahrzeugs zugeordnet werden können;
• - eine Erfassungseinheit zur akustischen und/oder optischen Erfassung eines vor dem Bedien- und Kommunikationsmodul befindlichen Nutzers;
• - eine Kommunikationseinheit zur Übermittlung von auf der akustischen und/oder optischen Erfassung basierenden Audio- und/oder Videodaten an mindestens einen weiteren Nutzer und zum Empfang von Audio- und/oder Videodaten basierend auf einer akustischen und/oder optischen Erfassung von dem mindestens einen weiteren Nutzer; und
• - eine Ausgabeeinheit zur Ausgabe der empfangenen Audio- und/oder Videodaten.

The operating and communication module according to the invention for a vehicle comprises:

• a display unit for displaying operating elements, the operating elements being able to be assigned different functions of the vehicle by reprogramming;
• - A detection unit for acoustic and / or optical detection of a user located in front of the operating and communication module;
• - a communication unit for transmitting audio and / or video data based on the acoustic and / or optical detection to at least one further user and for receiving audio and / or video data based on an acoustic and / or optical detection from the at least one further user ; and
• - An output unit for outputting the received audio and / or video data.

In particular, data can thus be transmitted between the communication unit of the operating and communication module and a communication unit of a further operating and communication module on the part of the at least one further user.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the operating and communication modules are arranged in and / or on the same vehicle.

The communication units of the operating and communication modules are preferably each connected to a common communication bus of the vehicle via a bus interface.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the acquisition unit comprises at least one microphone for acquiring voice inputs from the user located in front of the operating and communication module and the output unit comprises at least one loudspeaker for outputting voice inputs from the at least one other user.

The at least one loudspeaker is advantageously designed as a piezo film loudspeaker.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the detection unit comprises at least one camera for detecting the user located in front of the operating and communication module and the output unit comprises at least one display for outputting the at least one further user detected with a further camera.

The operating and communication module can preferably also include a biometric recognition unit for comparing captured biometric data with stored biometric data, the signals captured by the acquisition unit being fed to the biometric recognition unit.

Furthermore, the operating and communication module can furthermore comprise an actuator for generating a haptic feedback in response to an actuation of an operating element, whereby displays of the function assigned to an operating element and / or haptic feedback can be changed depending on the assigned functionality of an operating element.

Finally, the actuation and display unit can advantageously be designed as a touch-sensitive display, the operating elements being actuated by a user by touching the touch-sensitive display.

• 1 zeigt schematisch das erfindungsgemäße Bedien- und Kommunikationsmodul;
• 2 zeigt eine Explosionsdarstellung für ein Bedien- und Kommunikationsmodul mit Mikrofon und Piezofilm-Lautsprecher; und
• 3 zeigt eine Explosionsdarstellung für ein Bedien- und Kommunikationsmodul mit Mikrofon und herkömmlichen Lautsprechern.

Further features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and the claims in conjunction with the figures.

• 1 shows schematically the operating and communication module according to the invention;
• 2 shows an exploded view for an operating and communication module with microphone and piezo film loudspeaker; and
• 3 shows an exploded view for an operating and communication module with microphone and conventional loudspeakers.

For a better understanding of the principles of the present invention, embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the figures. It goes without saying that the invention is not restricted to these embodiments and that the features described can also be combined or modified without departing from the scope of protection of the invention as defined in the claims.

1 shows schematically an operating and communication module according to the invention 10 that is a display unit 11 with six controls in a 2 x 3 arrangement. Depending on the programming, different functions of the vehicle can be assigned to the operating elements. One or more loudspeakers, one or more microphones and a front-facing camera are integrated in the operating and communication module shown. However, it is also possible to integrate only some of these components into the operating and communication module and, for example, to dispense with the integration of a camera.

The loudspeakers and microphones are not visible from the outside, but are arranged in a protected manner within the housing of the operating and communication module. In the illustrated embodiment, however, are in the front cover 12th of the operating and communication module breadboard 13th in the area of the loudspeakers and breadboard 14th provided in the area of the microphones in order to prevent or at least reduce undesired sound attenuation. Instead of the breadboard you can However, differently shaped cutouts can also be provided, or with suitable loudspeaker or microphone technology, such cutouts can also be dispensed with entirely. Furthermore is for the camera 15th in the front cover 12th the operating and communication module is provided with a recess. Incident light can then fall through this recess onto the front lens of the integrated camera and be processed by the camera. It can also be provided here to arrange a cover in front of the front lens and to enable a person in front of it to be detected by opening the cover only if this is desired.

The operating elements of the operating and communication module can be shown on a single display and through several bars on the front cover 12th physically separated from each other despite a continuous display area. This simplifies operation for the vehicle user without having to look at the operating and communication module, since the subdivision can then also be perceived haptically. This can be helpful in particular for the driver of a vehicle, since then the view does not have to be turned away from the road for operation while driving. Likewise, the front cover can also have a large opening without interruptions in order to present a user interface that belongs together and to maximize the available display area. Instead of a single display on which several operating elements are shown, the operating and communication module can also consist of several mechanically separate operating elements that are combined to form a component, in which case each of the operating elements can also be programmed and controlled separately. In this case, the individual operating elements of the operating and communication module are arranged in a module housing which has rails which interact on the guides located on the outside of the operating element housing in such a way that they are fastened without play.

In principle, any arrangement and number of control elements can be provided both in the case of a single display with a representation of several operating elements and in the case of several mechanically separate operating elements. However, a matrix-like arrangement with one or more control elements next to one another and one or more control elements one above the other is often expedient.

The operating and communication modules are preferably installed in the interior of the vehicle. For example, an operating and communication module can be located in an area that is easily accessible by the driver of the vehicle, such as in the area of the center console. Likewise, an operating and communication module can also be arranged in the outer skin of the vehicle.

The operating and communication module enables a large number of different functions. On the one hand, different symbols for different functions can be displayed depending on the current driving mode and the user can operate different functions in the vehicle by pressing the corresponding symbols, whereby the different functions and symbols can be reprogrammed.

The operating and communication module can also be used for additional safety measures to protect the vehicle itself or people or objects through the additional components for capturing or outputting audio and / or video data, for example in connection with voice recognition and / or face recognition to be able to secure better in the vehicle.

If several operating and communication modules are installed in a vehicle, they can in particular also be used for communication by several vehicle occupants, such as, for example, the crew members of an emergency medical service vehicle. For example, an operating and communication module can be arranged in the driver's cab of an emergency vehicle and one or more additional operating and communication modules can be arranged in a crew room of the emergency vehicle.

The use of several operating and communication modules allows direct communication between crew members in a secure environment within a vehicle. This enables tap-proof communication. Furthermore, it can be ensured in this way that communication is always possible, in contrast to communication via a cellular network, which is dependent on network availability. With the camera, the crew members can communicate face to face, for example between a driver or front passenger in the driver's cab and other crew members in a crew room.

In this way, the operating and communication modules according to the invention allow both communication between users of the vehicle and operation of vehicle functions integrated in a single device, with the communication and operation possibly also being able to take place in parallel.

2 shows schematically an exploded view for an embodiment of the operating and communication module from 1 . The front cover 12th of the operating and communication module divides the display area into six separate areas in order to give the impression of six operating elements in the form of separate "buttons". Behind the front cover 12th is a display 11 arranged, both with an optically transparent adhesive layer 20th are connected. the display 11 is preferably designed as a touch-sensitive display, a so-called touchscreen, so that it can then be determined by evaluating the signals of the touch-sensitive surface of the display which of the operating elements shown was selected by the user. The use of touchscreens has the advantage that, on the one hand, there is a high level of reliability and user acceptance for them and, on the other hand, any image symbols can be displayed as required. Here, for example, an LCD or OLED display is provided with a touch-sensitive surface that uses resistive or capacitive techniques to determine the position of the display at which it is touched. However, other display types that have a small installation depth are also suitable. The display preferably enables an RGB color display, but a monochrome display is also conceivable. Furthermore, the display has a sufficient number of pixels in order to be able to show different symbols in a clearly recognizable manner.

Another layer of glue 21 connects the display to a circuit board 22nd on which two microphones 23 are arranged. The use of several microphones makes it possible to optimize the noise suppression, but in principle audio signals, such as voice inputs in particular, can also be recorded with just one microphone. In order to be able to capture the audio signals as undamped as possible by the microphones, the front cover has 12th of the operating and communication module in the area in front of the microphones each have a breadboard 14th on.

To output audio signals is behind the circuit board 22nd a piezo film speaker 24 arranged, which can in particular have a combination of a piezoelectric actuator with a special resin film. How the piezo film speaker works 24 is based on the fact that parts of the operating and communication module are so flexibly connected to one another that they can move relative to one another. By using the piezo film speaker 24 is controlled to generate sound, these moving parts of the operating and communication module can be set in vibration and thus function as a loudspeaker membrane.

The size and position of the piezo film speaker 24 is to be understood here only as an example and is selected in such a way that the best possible sound quality is guaranteed. Furthermore, the arrangement of the piezo film loudspeaker 24 and the microphones to each other selected so that that of the piezo film loudspeaker 24 generated sound influences the microphone signals as little as possible. Electronic compensation can also be provided here.

The use of such a piezo film speaker 24 brings a number of advantages. A piezo film loudspeaker is much thinner and lighter than a conventional loudspeaker, but offers a similar sound quality. Furthermore, the entire front cover 12th of the operating and communication module can be used as a loudspeaker membrane, since no additional space is required for loudspeakers in the front area of the operating and communication module. This enables both a high sound level and the display size to be maximized. Another advantage of using the piezo loudspeaker film is that it does not require any breadboard or similar cutouts, so that problems caused by the ingress of water or dust can be avoided, as can design requirements for front covers without a breadboard or with only a narrow frame or can be met without any framework.

Behind the piezo film loudspeaker 24 The rear conclusion is then found 25th of the operating and communication module, in which further electronics are arranged if necessary. The complete operating and communication module can then be accommodated in a housing (not shown) that is then firmly connected to the vehicle.

Furthermore, a communication unit (not shown) is provided in the operating and communication module. This enables the operating and communication module to exchange information with the vehicle via a bidirectional interface, for example a CAN interface. On the one hand, information about which vehicle functions are operated by the user using the operating and communication module can be sent to a control unit of the vehicle, for example using CAN messages, and then executed. For this purpose, a CAN message can be sent to a central control unit of the vehicle (not shown) and executed by it, or it can be forwarded to a control unit for a serviced vehicle component for further processing, provided that it is also connected to the CAN bus. On the other hand, communication with takes place via this interface other control and communication modules of the vehicle.

Finally, a piezo actuator, not shown, optionally in combination with a lever mechanism, also not shown, can be used to output haptic feedback to the user. The haptic feedback can be changed depending on the assigned functionality of a control element. It can also be provided that the haptic feedback is adapted to external factors. For example, bad or uneven road conditions can be detected by sensors in order to increase the intensity of the haptic feedback in such a case. Likewise, the haptic feedback can also be made time-dependent by switching between a day and night mode using an in-vehicle clock, possibly in combination with a location service. The haptic feedback can also be adapted as a function of the brightness, which can be measured with a light sensor, for example in order to switch between a light and a dark mode.

3 shows schematically an exploded view of a further embodiment of the operating and communication module from 1 . This embodiment is largely identical to the embodiment 2 and so far represents a modification of the embodiment 2 so that a repeated description of the corresponding components is dispensed with here.

In this further embodiment of the operating and communication module, there are now two conventional loudspeakers instead of a piezo film loudspeaker 26th intended. These conventional loudspeakers consist of a membrane, a drive unit and elements connecting this membrane and drive unit. For example, so-called moving coil loudspeakers can be used in which the membrane is set in motion by a centrally mounted voice coil, a magnet being provided to drive the coil, in the field of which the coil vibrates.

One advantage of using such conventional loudspeakers is that conventional loudspeakers, compared to piezo film loudspeakers, are already very mature and have been used for a long time in the vehicle sector and, at least at present, are still lower in procurement costs.

The conventional loudspeakers 26th are in the illustrated embodiment together with two microphones 23 on the circuit board 22nd arranged. But it can also be provided for the loudspeakers 26th on the one hand and the microphones 33 on the other hand to be arranged on a separate circuit board.

In this further embodiment, the front cover 12th of the operating and communication module next to the perforated grid 14th In the area in front of the microphones there is also a breadboard 13th in the area in front of the speakers.

In yet another embodiment of the operating and communication module, in addition to the loudspeakers and microphones, a front-facing video camera is also integrated into it. This enables visual communication in the vehicle using the operating and communication module. Furthermore, in combination with a biometric recognition unit for comparing recorded biometric data with stored biometric data, such as face recognition in particular, additional security measures can be implemented.

There are a large number of possible applications for the operating and communication module according to the invention, two of which are briefly explained below.

In a first exemplary application, a moving special vehicle inspects the road condition, for example by detecting the road surface behind the vehicle with a mechanical measuring device. This measuring device can be operated by an operator who is located in a separate cargo space of the vehicle, the operator for this purpose directing his or her gaze towards the rear of the road surface. If the road condition now deteriorates while driving, so that the driver of the special vehicle expects the occurrence of vibrations or abrupt movements of the vehicle, which can then lead to impairment of the measurement or damage to the measuring device, he can inform the operator by means of an operating and communication module warn in advance in the cab. Another operating and communication module, which is arranged by the operator in the cargo space of the vehicle, can display a flashing symbol for this, for example, and emit a warning tone. In this way, the operator is warned and can, if necessary, communicate with the driver by voice by means of the further operating and communication module and discuss the further procedure. It can also be provided here that the measuring device is operated by the operator via the further operator control and communication module.

In a second exemplary use case, a crew member of a special vehicle, such as a Money transporter to access a safe located in the special vehicle. The crew member can now, by means of a first operating and communication module, ask another crew member in the driver's cab to authorize the entry of an access code by means of a second operating and communication module. In this case, the crew member in the driver's cab can first use a camera integrated in the first operating and communication module to verify the identity and then to authorize access to the safe.

The invention can be used in a wide variety of vehicles, such as the above-mentioned special vehicles, trucks, mobile homes, buses or cars, but is not restricted to use in vehicles.

List of reference symbols

10

Control and communication module

11

Display unit

12th

Front cover

13th

Hole grid for loudspeakers

14th

Hole grid for microphone

15th

camera

20th

Adhesive layer

21

Adhesive layer

22nd

Circuit board

23

Microphones

24

Piezo film speakers

25th

Rear termination of the operating and communication module

26th

speaker

QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent literature cited

• DE 102018204471 A1 [0006]
• US 2010/0259375 A1 [0007]

Claims (10)

Operating and communication module (10) for a vehicle, with - A display unit (11) for displaying operating elements, with the operating elements being able to be assigned different functions of the vehicle by reprogramming; - A detection unit (15, 23) for acoustic and / or optical detection of a user located in front of the operating and communication module; - A communication unit for transmitting audio and / or video data based on the acoustic and / or optical detection to at least one further user and for receiving audio and / or video data based on an acoustic and / or optical detection from the at least one further user Users; and - An output unit (24, 26) for outputting the received audio and / or video data. Control and communication module according to Claim 1 , wherein data is transmitted between the communication unit of the operating and communication module and a communication unit of a further operating and communication module on the part of the at least one further user. Control and communication module according to Claim 2 , wherein the operating and communication modules are arranged in and / or on the same vehicle. Control and communication module according to Claim 3 , wherein the communication units of the operating and communication modules are each connected to a common communication bus of the vehicle via a bus interface. Control and communication module according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the detection unit comprises at least one microphone (23) for detecting voice inputs from the user located in front of the control and communication module and the output unit comprises at least one loudspeaker (24, 26) for outputting voice inputs from the user includes at least one other user. Control and communication module according to Claim 5 , wherein the at least one loudspeaker is designed as a piezo film loudspeaker (24). Control and communication module according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the detection unit comprises at least one camera (15) for detecting the user located in front of the control and communication module and the output unit comprises at least one display (11) for outputting the at least one captured with a further camera includes another user. Operating and communication module according to one of the Claims 5 until 7th wherein this further comprises a biometric recognition unit for comparing recorded biometric data with stored biometric data and the signals recorded by the recording unit (15, 23) are fed to the biometric recognition unit. Control and communication module according to one of the preceding claims, which further comprises an actuator for generating a haptic feedback in response to an actuation of an operating element and wherein displays of the function assigned to an operating element and / or haptic feedback can be changed depending on the assigned functionality of an operating element . Operating and communication module according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the display unit (11) is designed as a touch-sensitive display and the actuation of the operating elements; takes place by a user by touching the touch-sensitive display.

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