DE102021120999A1 - Means of transportation and user interface for a means of transportation - Google Patents

Abstract

A means of transportation (10) and a user interface (1) for a means of transportation (10) are proposed. The user interface (1) comprises a touch-sensitive input surface (2) and a display unit (3) located in front of or behind the input surface (2), the display unit (3) being set up to have a first button (5) at a first position (4) and to display a second button (7) at a second position (6) that differs from the first position (4), wherein the user interface (1) is set up to apply a force applied by the user (8) in the course of a user input to the input surface ( 2) to compare with a first force threshold and to trigger a function associated with the first button (5) when the first force threshold is reached at the first position (4), and none with the second button (7) to trigger associated function.

Description

The present invention relates to a means of transportation and a user interface for a means of transportation. In particular, the present invention relates to a possibility of displaying buttons of different priorities or security relevance classes on one and the same touch-sensitive display unit.

Touch screens based on capacitive, surface-capacitive or resistive technologies are known from the prior art. The latter are hardly ever used in high-quality touch displays. When operating touch screens (display unit with an overlying touch-sensitive input surface (digitizer)), there is usually no possibility of distinguishing accidental inputs from intended inputs. In other words, an operation of buttons displayed on the touch screen is usually not force-sensitive, but a light touch on a button or the digitizer overlying it is already sufficient to trigger the function associated with the button. This increases user comfort, but can have the disadvantage that a user accidentally swiping over the touch screen or digitizer triggers functions that he actually did not want to trigger. In the prior art, this has sometimes led to the fact that user interfaces always have keys (hard keys), although these are usually more expensive and more error-prone and foreign bodies and moisture can get into the gaps usually required for the function.

It is an object of the present invention to alleviate or avoid the aforementioned disadvantages of the prior art.

According to the invention, a user interface for a means of transportation with the features according to claim 1 is therefore proposed. The user interface includes a touch screen, which has a touch-sensitive input surface and a display device located behind the input surface. The order of the input interface and the display unit from the user's point of view is not decisive for the function of the present invention. Rather, it is necessary to determine a force acting normally on the input surface or the display unit and to compare it with at least one predefined threshold value. The display unit is set up to display a first button in a first position and a second button in a second (different) position. In other words, two buttons are displayed on the display unit at the same time and are kept ready to receive a user input. The means of transportation can be, for example, a car, van, truck, motorcycle, aircraft and/or water vehicle. The user interface is set up to compare a force exerted by the user on the input surface in the course of a user input with a first force threshold. In other words, the user interface can use sensors to determine a parameter that represents the force exerted by the user. This can include, for example, the use of a force sensor and/or a pressure sensor. A similar effect can be achieved by taking into account the elasticity of the input means (eg human tissue) by quantitatively evaluating the surface contacted by the input means (eg a user's fingertip). If the area is small, the user exerts a small force on the input surface, while an increased force can be assumed for a larger area. When the first force threshold is reached, the user interface can trigger a function which is assigned to a first button displayed at the first position. In other words, a first button that is associated with a predefined function is displayed in the first position. If the user interacts with the position or with the first button in such a way that the first force threshold is reached or exceeded, the function associated with the button is triggered. For example, the function can be a primary function of the button. In other words, not only a secondary function like a configuration step (e.g. moving or deleting the button, displaying a mouse-over event, etc.) is triggered, but reaching the first force threshold triggers a with the first button associated operating function, which would also correspond to a left-click on a button in operating systems for personal computers, while the secondary functions would be called up, for example, by right-clicking with the mouse. According to the invention, when the first force threshold is reached at the second position at which the second button is displayed, no corresponding function is triggered which corresponds to a primary function of the second button. In other words, it is avoided that the second button is considered “actuated” if a normal force acts on the second button by the user, in which case a function associated with the first button would already be triggered at the first position. The probability of inadvertent actuation of the second button is thus reduced compared to the first button. Safety-relevant functions can thus be protected against accidental triggering due to careless touching of the second Button are protected against accidental triggering, while the ease of use for less safety-related functions (which are assigned, for example, the first button) maintained or improved over the first button.

The dependent claims show preferred developments of the invention.

Optionally, the user interface can also be set up to compare a force exerted by the user on the input surface in the course of a user input with a second force threshold that is different (for example higher) than the first force threshold. If the second force threshold is exerted or registered at the second position at which the second button is located, the function associated with the second button is triggered. Because the second force threshold is higher than the first force threshold, accidental operation of the second button can be prevented, particularly in the event that the accidental operation only reaches the first force threshold but not the second force threshold.

In order to support a user who has not yet learned how to operate the user interface according to the invention, it can also be provided that when the first force threshold is reached at the second position, a message is output that a higher one is required to operate the second button Force required to trigger a (primary) function associated with the second button. In other words, although the user interface according to the invention can detect that the first force threshold has been reached in order to provide feedback to the user about the basic operation of the user interface, it can, however, give the user feedback that the second button is used to trigger the associated (primary -) Function requires a second/higher force. The user can thus adapt his operating habits quickly and intuitively and operate the user interface according to the invention even more precisely in the future.

The user interface can determine the force applied by the user in the course of the user input, for example by means of a force sensor and/or a capacitive sensor and/or an optical sensor. For example, the pixels of the display device touched by the tissue of the user's finger or cells of the digitizer can be counted and an associated normal force can be assumed as a function of the number of pixels/cells. However, the underlying active principle for determining the normal force is irrelevant for the function of the proposed method or the user interface and the means of transportation.

The sensor used can only be set up to measure the force at the first position. In this case, another force sensor is required to measure the force at the second position. Alternatively or additionally, however, one and the same sensor can also be used to measure the normal force exerted by the user in the first position and in the second position. For example, the input surface and/or the display unit in the user interface can be suspended elastically via a force sensor, which means that a force feedback function can also be implemented. However, at least one force sensor can determine the normal force acting on the elastically suspended input surface or display unit and, depending on the location of the finger, assign the normal force applied by the user to the first position or the first button or the second position or the second button and the respective primary functions either trigger or not trigger.

For example, the first button can be assigned to a non-safety-related function, while the second button is assigned to a safety-related function. The ease of use in connection with the first button and the functions assigned to it can thus be kept at a high level, while accidental triggering of the second button or the functions associated with it is avoided.

• - Medienwiedergabe (z.B. Medium, Titelwahl, Play/Pause, Stopp, Fast Forward, Bildeinstellungen, o.ä.)
• - Komforteinstellungen (z.B. Heizung, Klimaanlage, Sitzheizung/- Klimatisierung, Massagefunktion, Beduftung)
• - Sitzeinstellungen (z.B. Sitzhöhe, Lehnenneigung, Kopfstützenhöhe, Sitzflächenlänge, Massagefunktion, Fahrdynamische Sitzeinstellung, etc.)
• - Kommunikationseinstellungen (z.B. Telefon- oder Nachrichtenfunktion wählen, Internetbrowsing, Telefon verbinden, etc.)

In this case, the first button can be assigned to a first category of functions or function families and the second button can be assigned to a second category of functions or function families. The first category can include one or more of the following functions or function families:

• - Media playback (e.g. medium, title selection, play/pause, stop, fast forward, image settings, etc.)
• - Comfort settings (e.g. heating, air conditioning, seat heating/air conditioning, massage function, scenting)
• - Seat settings (e.g. seat height, backrest angle, headrest height, seat surface length, massage function, dynamic seat adjustment, etc.)
• - Communication settings (e.g. select phone or message function, internet browsing, connect phone, etc.)

• - Fahrdynamik-Regelung (ABS, ESP, ASR, Längsführung/Querführung, etc.)
• - Fahrerassistenz (Müdigkeitserkennung, Emergency Break, etc.)
• - Notruf (englisch: Emergency Call, etc.)

The second category, which is assigned to the second button, can be assigned, for example, to one of the following functions or function groups, preferably representing several of the functions or function groups mentioned below:

• - Vehicle dynamics control (ABS, ESP, ASR, longitudinal/lateral guidance, etc.)
• - Driver assistance (fatigue detection, emergency break, etc.)
• - Notruf (English: Emergency Call, etc.)

In this way, functions that could trigger stress or cause difficulties for the user in the event of accidental activation can be secured against accidental activation by the higher force threshold.

In principle, the user interface can be designed flexibly, so that the positions at which the first and the second or further (third) button are displayed does not have to be stationary. For example, the second button can be displayed at the first position instead of the first button at a later point in time in order to adapt the user interface to changed user needs. For example, a different graphical user interface (GUI) template may be responsible for the second button now appearing in the first position. In this case, the user interface is set up to take into account the unchanged priority or the unchanged security level of the second button by not triggering the function associated with the second button when the first force threshold is reached in the first position. In other words, the force threshold is associated with the second button such that the position at which the second button is displayed does not determine which force threshold the primary function of the second button is associated with. To put it another way, the display unit according to the invention or the input interface according to the invention is set up to define the force threshold as a function of the button displayed at the position under consideration. Conversely, it can therefore be provided that a third button is displayed at a later point in time at the second position instead of the second button, with the user interface being set up for this case or in this operating state, when the first force threshold is reached at the second position to trigger the function associated with the third button. The third button can be identical to the first button or represent a different function. A particularly flexible configuration of the user interface according to the invention can thus be ensured.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a means of transportation (e.g. a car, van, truck, motorcycle, aircraft and/or water vehicle) is proposed which has a user interface according to one of the preceding claims. The user interface can be integrated completely, in particular stationary and permanently, into the means of transportation. For example, the display device and the input interface can be arranged as a touchscreen in the dashboard and/or in the instrument cluster of the means of transportation. It is thus particularly simple and safe to have the vehicle functions available via the user interface according to the invention with suitable force thresholds or to secure them against accidental operation.

• 1 eine perspektivische Darstellung eines Fahrerarbeitsplatzes mit einem Ausführungsbeispiel einer erfindungsgemäßen Anwenderschnittstelle; und
• 2 ein Kraft-Zeit-Diagramm veranschaulichend Abhängigkeiten der Funktionsauslösung von vordefinierten Kraftschwellen einer erfindungsgemäßen Anwenderschnittstelle.

Further details, features and advantages of the invention result from the following description and the figures. Show it:

• 1 a perspective view of a driver's workplace with an embodiment of a user interface according to the invention; and
• 2 a force-time diagram illustrating dependencies of the function triggering of predefined force thresholds of a user interface according to the invention.

1 shows a driver's workplace of a means of transport 10, which has a user interface 1 with a touch-sensitive input surface 2 and a display unit 3 located behind it in the form of a touchscreen. At a first position 4, a first button 5 is displayed, which represents a comfort function. A user 8 can therefore already trigger a primary function associated with the first button 5 when a first force threshold is reached by a normal force which acts on the first button 5 . In order to trigger a hazard warning light as an example of a safety-related function by making an input at a second position 6 in the form of a second button 7, the user 8' must, on the other hand, exert a higher normal force on the input surface 2 than that required to trigger the first button 5 associated function was required.

2 shows a force-time diagram in which a first normal force F1 applied by the user is shown as a dotted line. The normal force F1 exceeds a first force threshold FS(5), which corresponds to the first button (reference number 5 in 1 ) assigned. This normal force F1 would be at attempting to actuate the second button (reference number 7 in 1 ) only result in a help text being output, which informs the user that the second button must be actuated with a force that reaches or exceeds the second force threshold FS(7) in order to be actuated successfully. The normal force F2 is shown in broken lines and exceeds both the first force threshold FS(5) and the second force threshold FS(7). In response to the second force threshold FS(7) being exceeded, the function associated with the second button (primary function hazard warning lights) is therefore triggered in accordance with the invention, provided this is in the second position (reference number 6 in 1 ) is exercised as long as the second button 7 is displayed in this area.

Reference List

1

user interface

2

touch-sensitive input surface

3

display unit

4

first position

5

first button

6

second position

7

second button

8.8'

user

10

means of transportation

f

Power

F1

first normal force

F2

second normal force

FS(5)

first power threshold

FS(7)

second power threshold

t

Time

Claims (11)

User interface (1) for a means of transportation (10) comprising • a touch-sensitive input surface (2) and • a display unit (3) located in front of or behind the input surface (2), - wherein the display unit (3) is set up to display a first button (5) in a first position (4) and a second button (7) in a second position (6) that differs from the first position (4), - wherein the user interface (1) is set up to compare a force (F) exerted by the user (8) on the input surface (2) in the course of a user input with a first force threshold (FS(5)) and • to trigger a function associated with the first button (5) when the first force threshold (FS(5)) is reached at the first position (4), and • not to trigger any function associated with the second button (7) when the first force threshold (FS(5)) is reached at the second position (6). User interface (1) after claim 1 which is further set up, - a force (F) applied by the user (8) in the course of a user input on the input surface (2) with a second force threshold (FS(7)) different from the first force threshold (FS(5)) to compare and - to trigger a function associated with the second button (7) when the second force threshold (FS(7)) is reached at the second position (6). User interface (1) after claim 1 or 2 , wherein the display device (3) is further set up, when the first force threshold (FS(5)) is reached at the second position (6), to output an indication that a greater force (F) is required to operate the second button (7). is to trigger a function associated with the second button (7). User interface (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein in the course of the user input from the user (8) applied force (F) by means of a - force sensor and/or - capacitive sensor and/or - optical sensor is determined. User interface according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the force (F) exerted by the user (8) in the course of the user input is determined at the first position (4) and at the second position (6) by means of the same sensor or by means of respective sensors. A user interface according to any preceding claim, wherein the first button (5) is associated with a first category of buttons and the second button (7) is associated with a second category of buttons different from the first category. user interface claim 6 , where the first category includes one or more of the following functions or groups of functions: - Media playback - Comfort settings - Seat settings - Communication settings - Heating and air conditioning settings, the second category rie includes one or more of the following functions or function groups: - vehicle dynamics control - driver assistance - emergency call. User interface according to one of the preceding claims, wherein - the first button (5) with a non-security function and - the second button (7) is associated with a safety-related function. User interface (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the display unit (3) is set up - display the second button (7) in the first position (4) instead of the first button (5), the user interface (1) being set up for this case, - not triggering the function associated with the second button (7) when the first force threshold (FS(5)) is reached at the first position (5). User interface according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the display unit (3) is set up - display a third button at the second position (6) instead of the second button (7), the user interface (1) being set up for this case, - To trigger a function associated with the third button when the first force threshold (FS(5)) is reached at the second position (6). Means of locomotion (10) comprising a user interface according to any one of the preceding claims.

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