DE102021103676A1 - Method for improving the usability of a motor vehicle, motor vehicle and computer program product - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for improving the usability of a motor vehicle (2), with an input command being generated in the event of a user input on an input device (4) of the motor vehicle (2), with sensor data being generated by means of a sensor device (20) of the motor vehicle (2). are evaluated in a control and evaluation unit (22) of the motor vehicle (2) in such a way that a current input context is determined, and a control command is generated depending on the input command and depending on the current input context.

Description

The invention relates to a method for improving the usability of a motor vehicle. The invention also relates to a motor vehicle and a computer program product.

Motor vehicles of the current generation often have a so-called multifunction steering wheel, ie a steering wheel with additional controls integrated into the steering wheel, such as buttons, setting wheels, or touch-sensitive surfaces, also called touchpads. The number of additional controls has increased more and more. The number of vehicle functions that can be controlled using the additional controls has also increased. However, this can lead to difficulties in operation, especially if the vehicle functions that can be controlled can only be called up via a common program with a so-called menu as user guidance.

For example, when operating while driving, it is necessary to know which operating elements can be found at which position on the steering wheel and/or which operating elements have which control function at which point in the menu. Otherwise, a driver is forced to keep looking away from what is happening on the road and towards the steering wheel. Depending on the positioning of the individual operating elements, it may also be necessary to keep moving your hands away from a recommended, desired or currently optimal hand position for operation. This can also distract or even unsettle a driver. In the case of steering wheels with touch-sensitive surfaces, i.e. so-called touchpads, there is also the fact that due to the typically small size of the surfaces and the location that cannot be read visually, only a few and only simple operations can be implemented, e.g. swipe to the left or swipe to the right to answer a phone call or reject.

The object of the present invention is to specify an advantageous method for improving the usability of a motor vehicle. In addition, it is the object of the present invention to specify an advantageously designed motor vehicle and an advantageous computer program product.

This object is achieved by a method having the features of patent claim 1, by a motor vehicle having the features of patent claim 9 and by a computer program product having the features of patent claim 10. The advantages and preferred configurations listed with regard to the method can also be transferred to the motor vehicle and vice versa. Likewise, the advantages and preferred configurations cited with regard to the method can be transferred to the computer program product and vice versa. Advantageous configurations with expedient developments of the invention are specified in the dependent patent claims.

The method according to the invention is designed to be carried out by a motor vehicle according to the invention. Conversely, a motor vehicle according to the invention is set up to carry out the method according to the invention in at least one operating mode.

The motor vehicle has an input device that is set up to generate an input command in the at least one operating mode of the motor vehicle as a function of a user input by a user or driver of the motor vehicle. A corresponding user input is given here in particular by a squeeze gesture. This means that a user input is made, for example, by a driver gripping a part or element of the input device with one hand and exerting a predetermined minimum pressure on this part or this element with his hand, i.e. squeezing this part or this element.

The motor vehicle also has at least one sensor device, by means of which sensor data are generated in the at least one operating mode of the motor vehicle. In addition, the motor vehicle has a control and evaluation unit that is connected to the sensor device in terms of signals. The control and evaluation unit is set up in such a way that the sensor data is evaluated in the at least one operating mode of the motor vehicle in such a way that a current input context or a current input situation is determined by the control and evaluation unit.

In the course of executing the method according to the invention, an input command is now generated in the case of a user input at the input device of the motor vehicle. At the same time, sensor data is generated by the sensor device of the motor vehicle and evaluated in the control and evaluation unit of the motor vehicle in such a way that a current input context is determined. This input context expediently reflects the context or the situation in which or in which the user input is or was made, that is to say the context of meaning. Depending on the input command and depending on the determined current input context is then a Steuerbe misgenerated. Such a control command, which is triggered by the user input and generated, is therefore context-related. This serves to improve the usability, user-friendliness or user-friendliness of the motor vehicle.

A number of possible user inputs is therefore typically specified by the configuration of the input device, with these user inputs triggering specified input commands being generated which are usually unambiguously assigned to the enabled user inputs. In addition, a number of input contexts, generally at least two input contexts, are expediently specified, and at least one control command, which is assigned to one of the input commands, is specified for each of these input contexts. As a result, at least one input command is then usually assigned two or more control commands, with the control command being generated from the assigned control commands, triggered by the corresponding at least one input command, which is assigned to the currently determined input context. Thus, with different input contexts, different control commands are generated with the same input command and in particular the same user input.

The number of possible distinguishable user inputs is preferably limited to two or three. These two or three user inputs are also preferably made possible by exactly two input units of the input device.

It is also advantageous if at least two different control commands are specified for two input contexts and if two different vehicle systems of the motor vehicle are controlled by these two different control commands. This means that with the same input command and in particular the same user input, different vehicle systems of the motor vehicle are controlled. Which vehicle system is controlled then depends on the input context.

Depending on the input context, at least two vehicle systems from the following selection of vehicle systems of the motor vehicle are preferably controlled here: drive motor, external lighting device with direction indicators, telephone system, navigation system, brake system, parking assistance system, etc. The motor vehicle then expediently has the corresponding vehicle systems.

It is also expedient if the input device has a handle or hand grip and if an input command is generated in the case of an aforementioned squeezing gesture on the handle or hand grip. In this case, such a pinch gesture or a pressing of the handle corresponds to a user input.

In an advantageous development, the input device is designed as a steering wheel with a steering wheel rim as a handle or hand grip. A corresponding steering wheel rim is typically ring-shaped and surrounds a central part of the steering wheel, which is usually connected to a so-called steering column. Another advantageous embodiment is one in which the steering wheel has the two input units mentioned above. The two input units are then typically spatially separate from each other and integrated into the steering wheel rim, so that two rim sections are specified as separate input areas on the steering wheel rim, at which a user input can be made independently of one another, in particular a pinch gesture.

In the initial state of the steering wheel, one of the two input areas, namely the first input area, is then positioned to the left of the middle part of the steering wheel and the other input area, namely the second input area, is positioned to the right of the middle part of the steering wheel. A first input command is then usually generated by squeezing the first input area and a second input command is generated by squeezing the second input area. Depending on the variant, a further input command is also generated, namely a third input command, if both input areas are squeezed simultaneously, for example one of the input areas with the left hand and the other input area with the right hand.

In particular, an embodiment of the previously described steering wheel with a central part and a steering wheel rim connected thereto is expedient. The steering wheel rim is preferably designed in the shape of a ring and surrounds the central part of the steering wheel. The first input unit and the second input unit are then integrated into the steering wheel rim, with the first input unit and the second input unit being arranged spatially separate from one another, so that two rim sections are specified as separate input areas on the steering wheel rim, at which a user input can be made independently of one another, in particular a squeeze gesture. Each of the two input units preferably has a plurality of pressure sensors which are distributed over the circumference of the steering wheel rim on the one hand and the corresponding rim section on the other. Depending on the variant, the pressure sensors are in the form of electromechanical sensors, capacitive sensors, magnetic sensors, inductive sensors, etc.

In the case of the configurations of the input device described above, the execution of the method described here for improving the usability results in various advantages, in particular compared to using the classic multifunction steering wheels described at the outset. The user inputs to be made tend to be more intuitive. As a result, a driver is less distracted by controlling vehicle functions. It is also typically no longer necessary or necessary less frequently to take your eyes off the traffic situation for the purpose of controlling vehicle functions. In addition, there is no need to change your grip or release your hand to control vehicle functions.

Furthermore, the technical implementation of the above-described configurations of the input device is generally simpler and cheaper, since apart from the two input units described above, no further input units or operating elements are preferably provided for the input device, or at least fewer than in classic multifunction steering wheels. If the input device is designed as a steering wheel, it has at least fewer additional control elements integrated into the steering wheel, such as buttons, setting wheels, or touch-sensitive surfaces, or it has no such additional control elements integrated into the steering wheel. This typically means dispensing with components, in particular for additional (external) mechanics, leading to a more compact/robust structure and/or a structure with sealed/hidden detection of the user inputs.

By taking the input context into account, the limitation of dividing the steering wheel into two halves, input pages or input areas for the left hand and the right hand, which is common with classic multifunction steering wheels, can be eliminated by not assigning a permanently valid action to a user input.

As already explained above, a number of input contexts is preferably specified, typically at least two. A corresponding input context is usually defined here by a number of predefined conditions. If it is then determined that all of the conditions from this number of predefined conditions are met, then it is thereby determined that the associated input context is present. This then corresponds to the current input context.

An advantageous input context, also referred to below as an input context for controlling the drive motor, requires, for example, the condition that the drive motor of the motor vehicle is switched off or deactivated. In some cases, at least one other condition must also be met so that the corresponding input context is available, for example that a pressure sensor in the driver's seat detects that the driver's seat is occupied, that the doors of the motor vehicle are closed and/or that the user or driver is looking straight ahead , So in particular looks through the windshield of the motor vehicle. If this input context is specified and this input context is then determined, for example squeezing or pressing the steering wheel with both hands, i.e. simultaneously squeezing the first input area with one hand and the second input area with the other hand, causes the drive motor of the motor vehicle.

Another advantageous input context, also referred to below as the input context for controlling the braking system, requires, for example, the condition that a traffic situation in front of the motor vehicle is determined that makes emergency braking necessary. An alternative or supplementary condition for the existence of the corresponding situation or the corresponding input context is the recognition of a driver reaction that is typical for an emergency situation, for example a so-called startle. If this input context is specified and this input context is then determined, for example squeezing or pressing the steering wheel with both hands causes emergency braking to be triggered or at least braking to be initiated. The corresponding triggering or initiation preferably also takes place when there is no or no actuation of a brake pedal of the motor vehicle.

Another advantageous input context, also referred to below as the input context for controlling the external lighting device with direction indicators, requires, for example, the condition that a head movement and/or an eye movement of the driver is recognized, which is characteristic of a so-called shoulder glance and/or a glance in one of the exterior mirrors of the motor vehicle. If this input context is specified and this input context is then determined, a user input, for example, causes the activation of a direction indicator, also called a blinker. In this case, for example, squeezing the first input area causes the activation of the left turn signal and the squeezing of the second input area causes the activation of the right turn signal.

Another advantageous input context, also referred to below as the first input context for controlling the telephone system, requires for example the condition that an incoming telephone call is detected. If this input context is specified and this input context is then determined, then, for example, a user input via the first input area causes the phone call to be accepted and a user input via the second input area causes the phone call to be rejected. Alternatively, the phone call is accepted by squeezing the second input area and rejected by squeezing the first input area.

A further advantageous input context, also referred to below as the second input context for controlling the telephone system, requires, for example, the condition that a farewell is determined. If this input context is specified and if this input context is then determined, then, for example, a user input causes the telephone call to be ended, ie the call to be hung up. A farewell is preferably determined with the help of speech recognition, for example by recognizing a typical farewell formula such as "Goodbye", "Bye", "See you then", etc.

Irrespective of this, depending on the embodiment variant, two input contexts or at least two conditions for input contexts are specified in such a way that it is recognized with which hand the driver makes an input, i.e. with the left hand (from the driver's perspective) or with the right hand.

In this case, for example, squeezing the first input area causes a first input command to be generated. Depending on the hand with which the input is made, the first input command then generates, for example, a control command from a first selection of control commands or a control command from a second selection of control commands. In addition, when the second input area is squeezed, a second input command is generated and, depending on the hand with which the input was made, a control command from a third selection of control commands or a control command from a fourth selection of control commands is generated. Alternatively, depending on which hand is used for user input, a control command from the first selection or a control command from the second selection of control commands is generated, regardless of which of the two input areas is being squeezed. This means that, for example, the left indicator is activated when the left hand is used and the right indicator is activated when the right hand is used, regardless of whether the first input area or the second input area is used for the user input. Further predetermined conditions then typically decide which control command is generated from the respective selection of control commands.

Another advantageous input context, also referred to below as the first input context for controlling the parking assistance system, requires, for example, the condition that a pending or ongoing parking process is recognized. In addition, it is preferably required that a user input with the left hand is recognized. If this input context is specified and this input context is then determined, the user input causes, for example, a restriction of the function of the parking assistance system in such a way that only part of the visual and/or acoustic warnings are output, which are intended to make parking easier. Only the part that relates to the left side of the motor vehicle and/or the area surrounding the motor vehicle on the left is then output.

Another advantageous input context, also referred to below as the second input context for controlling the parking assistance system, requires, for example, the condition that a pending or ongoing parking process is recognized. In addition, it is preferably required that a user input with the right hand is recognized. If this input context is specified and this input context is then determined, the user input causes, for example, a restriction of the function of the parking assistance system in such a way that only part of the visual and/or acoustic warnings are issued, which are intended to make parking easier. Then only the part that relates to the right-hand side of the motor vehicle and/or the right-hand surroundings of the motor vehicle is output.

As already explained above, the input context is determined by evaluating the sensor data of the sensor device. In this case, the sensor device is arranged outside the input device in most applications. Depending on the embodiment variant, the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle is monitored by the sensor device, and in particular the driver is monitored by the sensor device. Typical here is in particular a monitoring of the movement of the driver's hands, the movement of the driver's head and/or the movement of the driver's eyes. As an alternative or in addition to this, the surroundings of the motor vehicle are monitored by means of the sensor device, in particular an area in front of the motor vehicle.

Regardless of this, the sensor device typically has at least one of the sensor systems listed below: a microphone device with at least one microphone, a Interior camera, an area camera, a radar system, a LIDAR system, an ultrasound system, an infrared system.

The assignment of control commands to user inputs depending on the input contexts is typically specified, in particular by the manufacturer of the motor vehicle, for example in the form of a preset. Depending on the application, however, an adjustment of the assignment by the driver is possible. In particular, it is expedient in some cases to dive into the functions of the first and second input area for selected input contexts.

As already explained above, the method according to the invention described above is intended for execution in the motor vehicle according to the invention. Conversely, the motor vehicle according to the invention is set up to carry out the corresponding method in the at least one operating mode. The above-described control and evaluation unit of the motor vehicle is then used to carry out at least one method step of the method, for which purpose an executable program is more preferably stored or installed in the control and evaluation unit, which program automatically executes the at least one method step of the method after a start executes The at least one method step is preferably the determination of the current input context by evaluating the sensor data. More preferably, the control and evaluation unit generates the control command as a function of the input command and the current input context.

A corresponding program can also be installed or stored later by means of a computer program product according to the invention if a suitable control and evaluation unit is already present in a motor vehicle. That computer program product is typically a file or a data carrier with a file, the file containing the executable program, ie in particular a suitable program code.

• 1 ein Kraftfahrzeug mit einem Lenkrad in einer Blockschaltbilddarstellung;
• 2 eine Ausgestaltungsvariante des Lenkrads in einer Frontalansicht; und
• 3 die Ausgestaltungsvariante des Lenkrads in einer Schnittdarstellung.

Further advantages, features and details of the invention result from the claims, the following description of preferred embodiments and with reference to the schematic drawings. show:

• 1 a motor vehicle with a steering wheel in a block diagram representation;
• 2 a variant embodiment of the steering wheel in a front view; and
• 3 the design variant of the steering wheel in a sectional view.

A method described below as an example is designed to be executed by an in 1 sketched motor vehicle 2. Conversely, the motor vehicle 2 is set up to carry out the method according to the invention in at least one operating mode.

Here, the motor vehicle 2 has an in 2 Steering wheel 4 shown in more detail as an input device for a driver. Part of the steering wheel 4 is a middle part 8 and a steering wheel rim 8 connected to it. In the exemplary embodiment, the steering wheel rim 8 is ring-shaped and surrounds the middle part 6 of the steering wheel 4. A first input unit 10 and a second input unit 12 are integrated in the steering wheel rim 8, with the first input unit 10 and the second input unit 12 are spatially separated from one another. They form two separate rim sections or input areas 16, 18 on the steering wheel rim 8, at which a user input can be made independently of one another, in particular a pinch gesture. The input areas 16,18 are in 2 marked by dashed frames.

In the exemplary embodiment, each of the two input units 10, 12 has a plurality of pressure sensors 14, which are distributed over the circumference of the steering wheel rim 8 on the one hand and the rim section on the other. The distribution over the perimeter is in 3 implied. Depending on the variant, the pressure sensors 14 are in the form of electromechanical sensors, capacitive sensors, magnetic sensors, inductive sensors, etc.

In the initial state of the steering wheel 4, the 2 is shown, one of the two input areas 16, namely the first input area 16, is positioned to the left of the center part 6 of the steering wheel 4 and the other input area 18, namely the second input area 18, is positioned to the right of the center part 6.

The motor vehicle 2 is now set up in such a way that a first input command is generated by squeezing the first input area 16 and a second input command is generated by squeezing the second input area 18 . Depending on the variant, a further input command is also generated, namely a third input command, if both input areas 16,18 are squeezed simultaneously, for example one of the input areas 16 with the left hand and the other input area 18 with the right hand.

Motor vehicle 2 also has a sensor device 20, by means of which sensor data are generated in the at least one operating mode of motor vehicle 2. In addition, the motor vehicle 2 has a control and evaluation unit 22 which is connected to the sensor device 20 in terms of signals. The control and evaluation unit 22 is set up in such a way that the sensor data is evaluated in the at least one operating mode of the motor vehicle 2 in such a way that a current input context or a current input situation is determined by the control and evaluation unit 22.

In the course of executing the method according to the invention, an input command is then generated by the driver in the event of a user input on the steering wheel 4, ie the first, the second or the third input command. At the same time, the sensor data are generated by the sensor device 20 of the motor vehicle 2 and evaluated in the control and evaluation unit 22 in such a way that a current input context is determined. This input context conveniently reflects the context or situation in which the user input is made. A control command is then generated as a function of the input command and as a function of the determined current input context.

The control command in turn is used to control a vehicle system of motor vehicle 2 . Which control command is generated and which vehicle system is controlled depends on the input context, which is determined as the current input context. In the exemplary embodiment, motor vehicle 2 has the following vehicle systems: a drive motor 24, an external lighting device 26 with direction indicators, a telephone system 28, a braking system 30 and a parking assistance system 32.

In the exemplary embodiment, the sensor device 20 of the motor vehicle 2 comprises a microphone 34 in the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle 2 for speech recognition, an interior camera 36 for monitoring the driver and a surroundings camera 38 for monitoring the surroundings of the motor vehicle 2.

Several input contexts are now specified in the exemplary embodiment. A corresponding input context is usually defined here by a number of predefined conditions. If it is then determined that all of the conditions from this number of predefined conditions are met, then it is thereby determined that the associated input context is present. This then corresponds to the current input context.

A first predefined input context requires the condition that the drive motor 24 of the motor vehicle 2 is switched off or deactivated. If this input context is determined, for example by means of the microphone 34 or by means of a control unit of the drive motor 26, the squeezing of the steering wheel 4 with both hands, i.e. the simultaneous squeezing of the first input area 16 with one hand and the second input area 18 with the other hand, starting or activating the drive motor 24 of the motor vehicle 2.

A second predefined input context requires the condition that the interior camera 36 detects a head movement and/or an eye movement of the driver that is characteristic of a so-called over-the-shoulder look and/or a look into one of the exterior mirrors of the motor vehicle 2. If this input context is determined , for example, a user input requires the activation of a direction indicator of the lighting device 26, also called turn signals. In this case, for example, the squeezing of the first input area 16 causes the activation of the left turn signal and the squeezing of the second input area 18 causes the activation of the right turn signal.

A third predefined input context requires the condition that a traffic situation in front of motor vehicle 2 is determined by means of surroundings camera 38, which makes emergency braking necessary. If this input context is determined, then squeezing steering wheel 4 with both hands causes emergency braking to be triggered or at least braking to be initiated. The corresponding triggering or initiation preferably also takes place when there is no or no actuation of a brake pedal of motor vehicle 2 .

A fourth predetermined input context requires the condition that an incoming phone call is detected. If this input context is determined, a user input via the first input area 16 causes the telephone call to be accepted and a user input via the second input area 18 causes the telephone call to be rejected.

A fifth predefined input context requires the condition that a farewell is determined by means of the microphone 34 and by means of speech recognition. If this input context is determined, a user input causes the telephone call to be ended, i.e. to be hung up. A farewell is preferably determined by recognizing a typical farewell formula, such as "Goodbye", "Bye", "See you then", etc.

A sixth predefined input context requires the condition that a pending or ongoing parking process is detected by means of the surroundings camera 38 . In addition, the condition is required that a user input with the left hand of the driver is recognized. If this input context is determined, then the user input causes a restriction of the function of the parking assistance system 32 such that only some of the visual and/or acoustic warnings that are intended to make parking easier are output. Then only the part that relates to the left side of motor vehicle 2 and/or the area around motor vehicle 2 on the left is output.

A seventh predefined input context requires the condition that a pending or ongoing parking process is recognized. In addition, the condition is required that a user input with the right hand is recognized. If this input context is determined, then the user input causes a restriction of the function of the parking assistance system 32 in such a way that only some of the visual and/or acoustic warnings that are intended to make parking easier are output. Then only the part that relates to the right-hand side of motor vehicle 2 and/or the area on the right-hand side of motor vehicle 2 is output.

Reference List

2

motor vehicle

4

steering wheel

6

center part

8th

steering wheel rim

10

first input unit

12

second input unit

14

pressure sensor

16

first input area

18

second input area

20

sensor device

22

Control and evaluation unit

24

drive motor

26

lighting equipment

28

telephone system

30

braking system

32

parking assistance system

34

microphone

36

interior camera

38

environment camera

Claims (10)

Method for improving the usability of a motor vehicle (2), wherein - in the case of a user input on an input device (4) of the motor vehicle (2), an input command is generated, - Sensor data are generated by means of a sensor device (20) of the motor vehicle (2), - the sensor data are evaluated in a control and evaluation unit (22) of the motor vehicle (2) in such a way that a current input context is determined, and - a control command is generated depending on the input command and depending on the current input context. procedure after claim 1 , whereby with two different input contexts two different control commands are generated with the same input command. procedure after claim 2 , wherein two different vehicle systems (26 to 38) of the motor vehicle (2) are controlled by these two different control commands. Procedure according to one of Claims 1 until 3 , wherein the input device (4) has a handle (8) and in the case of a squeeze gesture on the handle (8) an input command is generated as a user input. procedure after claim 4 , wherein the input device (4) is designed as a steering wheel (4) with a steering wheel rim (8) as a handle (8). Procedure according to one of Claims 1 until 5 , wherein the sensor device (20) is arranged outside of the input device (4). Procedure according to one of Claims 1 until 6 , A passenger compartment of the motor vehicle (2) being monitored by means of the sensor device (20). Procedure according to one of Claims 1 until 7 , An area surrounding the motor vehicle (2) being monitored by means of the sensor device (20). Motor vehicle (2) set up to carry out a method according to one of the preceding claims in at least one operating mode. Computer program product containing a program that can be executed on a data processing unit (22), in particular a control and evaluation unit (22) of a motor vehicle (2), wel ches automatically executes a method according to one of the preceding claims after a start.

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