DE102021207897A1 - Operating unit for the exterior mirrors of a vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an operating unit (10) for controlling the exterior mirrors of a vehicle, and to a vehicle with such an operating unit (10). The operating unit (10) is formed with a central selection element (12) for selecting any one of at least two input levels and at least two setting elements (14) which are arranged in the periphery (16) of the selection element (12) and are used to control a selected function . The functionality of the operating unit (10) is only displayed and/or made available when a user (20) approaches, and the number and/or position of the setting elements (14) depends on the selected input level.

Description

The invention relates to an operating unit for controlling the exterior mirrors of a vehicle, and to a vehicle with such an operating unit. The operating unit is formed with a central selection element for selecting any one of at least two input levels and at least two setting elements which are arranged around the selection element and are used to control a selected function. The functionality of the operating unit is only displayed and/or made available when a user approaches, and the number and/or position of the setting elements depends on the selected input level.

Nowadays, the exterior mirrors of vehicles are regularly controlled via separate devices for adjusting their orientation, for heating them and/or for folding and unfolding. For example, a control element for aligning the exterior mirrors is provided, which can be compared to a rotating joystick. The exterior mirror to be aligned is selected by rotating the joystick and the tilting of the selected exterior mirror is changed by tilting the joystick in any direction. These operating devices are usually provided in and/or on the vehicle door.

The various devices take up a lot of installation space and must be arranged and coordinated with one another and with other operating devices in the installation space of the vehicle door. Their design draws attention to themselves and can therefore be perceived as annoying. Their design can also be perceived as old-fashioned.

Some solution approaches already provide for modernizations in the design using touch-sensitive operating elements, but their design and positioning can lead to undesirable operating errors. Even with more modern solutions, the controls remain separate for adjusting the mirror alignment, heating and folding and unfolding the exterior mirrors.

One object of the invention should therefore be to provide an operating unit for the exterior mirrors of a vehicle that combines as many of the functions of an exterior mirror that are to be controlled as possible. It should preferably be designed in such a way that it does not distract a user's attention unless he wishes to access it.

The object of the invention is achieved with an operating unit according to claim 1 and a vehicle according to claim 10. Further preferred refinements of the invention result from the other features mentioned in the dependent claims.

A control unit according to the invention for the exterior mirrors of a vehicle is formed with at least two input levels, the control unit being formed with a central selection element for selecting any one of the at least two input levels and at least two setting elements which are arranged around the selection element and for control within the selected input level are provided, and the functionality of the operating unit is only displayed and/or provided when a user approaches, and the number and/or position of the setting elements that are displayed and/or their functionality is provided depends on the selected input level.

The operating unit for operating the exterior mirrors of a vehicle should make it possible to carry out various operating actions for the exterior mirrors of the vehicle with just this one operating unit. Therefore, at least two input levels are provided in the control unit. In each of the input levels, a user can be offered one or different operator actions. The term operating levels is expressly not to be understood in a hierarchical manner, but is to be understood as meaning that each of the operating levels offers input and/or selection options for operating the exterior mirrors, which the user can operate. Selection options that belong together or that can be sensibly combined are preferably combined in the at least two input levels.

A central selection element is provided in the operating unit in order to be able to switch between the input levels. With this selection element it should be possible to switch between the at least two input levels. Actuating the selection element changes from one input level to the next. If all input levels have been switched through, provision can optionally be made for the next actuation of the selection element to start again at the first input level, but it can also be provided that the input levels are now switched through in reverse order. By repeatedly actuating the selection element, any of the at least two available input levels can be selected.

At least two adjustment elements are also provided. These controls are used to control the functions offered there within an input level. According to the invention, the at least two setting elements are arranged in the vicinity of the selection element. This means that the at least two setting elements are arranged around the selection element, that is to say adjacent to or in the immediate vicinity of it. For example, a large number of setting elements can form a circular ring around the selection element. If four setting elements are provided, they can be arranged correspondingly evenly around the selection element, which can be illustrated graphically with the four cardinal points.

The radius should only describe the spatial proximity, not the geometric design or arrangement of the setting elements. These can also be arranged in such a way that they form a polygonal base area. The setting elements and the selection element thus together form the input surface of the operating unit and are visually perceived only in their entirety as one operating unit.

According to the invention, the functionality of the operating unit is only displayed and/or made available when a user approaches. A user is a vehicle occupant who wants to adjust the exterior mirrors, particularly the driver. As long as the user has no desire to use it, ie the exterior mirrors should not be operated, the functionality of the operating unit should not be visible and/or not usable. The functionality includes the possible operating actions of the operating unit for controlling the exterior mirrors, which are and/or should be available through them. If the user wants to make a setting on the exterior mirrors and interact with the operating unit, the available functionalities should be displayed and/or made available.

The user's intention to use the operating unit can be recognized by the movement of his hand in the direction of the operating unit, in the broadest sense an approach of the user to the operating unit. If this is the case, the functionality is displayed, for example by illuminated symbols that illustrate the input level and/or identify setting elements.

Alternatively or additionally, the provision of the function can be triggered by the approach. This can best be compared to switching on the operating unit. The operating unit should therefore not be able to carry out any functions before a user approaches. The at least two setting elements and the selection element are therefore present, but not actively usable, but only when or after the user approaches.

The number and/or the position of the setting elements should depend on the selected input level. The same number of setting elements is not required in each of the available input levels and for the function(s) selected with them. Therefore, depending on the input level selected with the selection element, the number of setting elements required for this should be displayed and/or provided. Alternatively or additionally, the position of the setting elements should be dependent on the selected input level, ie they should be positioned individually associating with their input level, so that they can be actuated meaningfully and intuitively to operate them. The number and/or the position of the setting elements can therefore also vary between each input level.

With the control unit according to the invention, all the elements that are required to operate or control the exterior mirror of a vehicle are combined in one device. This reduces the space requirement and simplifies integration into a vehicle environment. This also achieves improved integration into the overall design of the vehicle and in particular into its interior. A major advantage lies in the improved user perception and the intuitive operation of the control unit.

A first preferred embodiment of the operating unit provides that the operating unit can be used to influence at least the alignment of the exterior mirrors, heating of the exterior mirrors and/or the folding and unfolding of the exterior mirrors. Influencing means the selection and control of the respective functionality.

The alignment of the exterior mirrors describes their inclination around a horizontal axis and/or a vertical axis. The user can align the mirrors in such a way that he can easily observe the surrounding traffic and, in particular, the following traffic. If the alignment of the exterior mirrors is controlled with the operating unit according to the invention, it can be provided, for example, that an input level is available for aligning the mirror on the driver's side and a further input for aligning the mirror on the passenger side. Four setting elements are then provided within these two input levels, for example, which can control or bring about a tilting of the selected exterior mirror about the vertical axis and the horizontal axis.

Alternatively or additionally, the operating unit can be used to influence the heating of the exterior mirrors. In this case, only the switching on or starting of the heating can be provided by means of an adjustment element or an adjustment element to end the heating. The heating can be time-limited, so that it ends automatically after a predetermined time.

Also alternatively or additionally, the folding and unfolding of the exterior mirrors can be influenced with the operating unit. It may be desirable to fold in the exterior mirrors when driving through narrow driveways or in car washes, for example. It can therefore be advantageous if the driver of a vehicle can manually trigger their folding. It can also be helpful to open them again afterwards. A separate input level with setting elements for folding in and out can be provided for this purpose, or just a single setting element which, depending on the position of the exterior mirrors, causes them to open or fold.

In a second embodiment of the invention, the approach of the user can be detected with a proximity sensor and/or an interior monitoring system of the vehicle. The approach of a user, in particular his hand, to the operating unit can be detected with a proximity sensor system. The detection range depends on the selected sensors and the performance parameters set in them. The proximity sensors can be designed as capacitive sensors, optical sensors and/or as ultrasonic proximity sensors.

The proximity sensor system should be set in such a way that it detects the approach early enough to display and/or provide the functionality of the control unit in good time when the user comes into contact with the control unit, but without any unintentional approach or passing of a body part being evaluated as an intention to use it will.

Alternatively or additionally, the approach of a user to the operating unit can be detected by the interior monitoring system of the vehicle, if available. Vehicles of today's design often have such an interior observation or monitoring in order to detect the intentions of the vehicle occupants to act and to react accordingly. Such an interior monitoring is usually designed with a number of cameras that record the interior of the vehicle as comprehensively as possible and the recordings are evaluated according to predetermined criteria. It can therefore also be recognized when a user moves his hand in the direction of the operating unit and consequently the functionality of the operating unit is displayed and/or made available.

In particular, by evaluating recordings from an interior surveillance system, an intention to use can also be recognized and differentiated from a movement that is not aimed at the operating unit. This can be done, for example, using an outstretched index finger of the hand moving towards the control unit, which is intended to actuate the selection element or a setting element there.

The selection element and/or the setting elements should preferably be designed to be touch-sensitive. The selection element and/or the at least two setting elements should therefore not be embodied as mechanical switches, but rather react to the touch by the user. The touch-sensitive operation can be designed as a capacitive, resistive, optical, ultrasound-based and/or pressure-sensitive operation. In this way, surfaces for the setting elements and/or the selection element can be designed that visually integrate well into the entire surface around the operating unit and do not disturb or distract the user. If the user is not interacting with the operating unit or has no intention of using it, elements designed in this way can also be switched off until the user approaches the operating unit again.

In a further embodiment of the operating unit according to the invention, the display and/or the provision of the functionality of the operating unit is terminated when not in use. If the operator action on the operator control unit is completed and/or the operator control unit is not actuated within a specified time window, the display of the functionality of the operator control unit and/or its provision should be terminated, ie switched off. The non-use thus includes a period of inactivity in the interaction between the user and the control unit, regardless of whether a control action was completed or not continued. In this way it can be achieved that the user is not distracted by the operating unit, in particular when its functionality is (was) displayed. Likewise, accidental operation can be avoided.

A particularly advantageous embodiment of the operating unit according to the invention is achieved when it is designed with an illumination device in order to display the selection element and/or the setting elements and/or to provide visual feedback on an operating action. A lighting device should at least include an illuminant that can be controlled in such a way that it displays a setting element and/or the selection element, for example by backlighting a symbol or sign that characterizes the setting element and/or the selection element. The setting element and/or the selection element can also be displayed solely by the light source and thus without a symbol or identification. The primary purpose of the lighting device is to indicate that the functionality of the selection element and/or the setting element is available and/or active or where it is/are to be actuated.

The lighting device can also be provided to provide the user with visual feedback on an operator action on the operator control unit. Thus, during or after the operator action, lighting up of the at least one light source can indicate that the operator action has taken place successfully. A color change in the light emitted by the lighting device can also be such visual feedback. The visual feedback can also be given in the event of incorrect operation or when an end point is reached within an operator action, for example when the maximum tilting of the exterior mirror about its vertical axis has been reached.

The at least one light source can preferably be an LED or an OLED.

Another preferred embodiment of the operating unit is when the selection element and/or the setting elements can be perceived haptically and/or provide haptic feedback.

A haptic perceptibility alone or in combination with touch-sensitive selection and adjustment elements can help to detect the position of the selection element and/or the adjustment elements and their relation to one another simply by touching them, so that operation without eye contact is possible. The haptic perceptibility can be achieved, for example, by a surface shape that, to put it simply, "guides" the user's finger or fingers. This can be done, for example, by indentations in which a finger is moved and is thus guided directly to an adjustment element or the selection element. If, for example, four setting elements are arranged uniformly around the selection element, they can be arranged in a circumferential depression in the form of a circular ring around the selection element or in a square depression surrounding the selection element around the selection element.

Elevations, haptically perceptible symbols or signs can also be used to recognize or identify and use the selection element and/or the at least two setting elements when touched, without requiring eye contact, and to find one of the elements to another starting from one .

Provision can also be made for the selection element and/or the setting elements to provide haptic feedback. The user should therefore be informed without eye contact that an operator action has taken place or possibly could not take place. For this purpose, a vibration device can be provided, for example, which generates a vibration on or near the surface of the selection element and/or the setting elements, which can be perceived and interpreted by the user.

The selection element can be designed with a device for detecting a fingerprint. Based on the fingerprint, the user can be recognized so that his preferred settings for the exterior mirrors can be set automatically. To do this, the user must first register their fingerprint and set their preferred settings for the exterior mirrors. If this information is saved, it can be called up and set after the fingerprint has been recognized. In addition to the specific settings of the exterior mirrors, in particular with regard to their alignment, the use of the lighting device in the operating unit can also be adjusted according to personal preferences, in particular with regard to light intensity and/or light color.

The operating unit according to the invention can preferably be integrated into the armrest of a door and/or into the center console of the vehicle. The usual location of controls for a vehicle's exterior mirrors is on the inside of the vehicle's door, particularly on its trim. The operating unit disclosed here should be integrated in the armrest of a vehicle door, preferably in such a way that a user can reach it without great effort even when his arm is resting on it. Since the functionality of the operating unit is only displayed and/or provided when approaching, the risk of being distracted by the operating unit and/or unintentional incorrect operation is low.

The control unit should be integrated into the armrest, so it should be designed with regard to the selected shape, size, design language, selected materials so that it is in the inactive condition is not or hardly noticed. In addition to the structural arrangement in or on the armrest, integration also means design integration.

The control unit can also be integrated into the center console of the vehicle. This is particularly advantageous if other operating options for the vehicle are also provided there and the user is thus provided with a central control point for his vehicle.

The operating unit according to the invention is characterized by the configurations explained above. It goes without saying that their detection elements and actuators, such as the lighting device or the vibration device, interact with a control device that stores the detected information, such as the user's approach, the actuation of the selection element and/or the setting elements, the fingerprint of a user and The like receives, evaluates and transmits corresponding control signals to the actuators, so that the desired actions can be carried out according to the configurations. This control device also acts on the exterior mirrors in accordance with the user's operating actions, for example in order to align them. To do this, control signals must be transmitted to the actuators of the exterior mirrors, which result from the operator actions on the control unit. The control device can be a control device provided specifically for this purpose, but also a control device which is present in the vehicle and interacts with the operating unit according to the invention.

According to the invention, a vehicle is also provided which is designed with an operating unit for controlling its exterior mirrors of the type according to the invention.

With the control unit according to the invention, the adjustment or control of the exterior mirrors of a vehicle is simplified, more intuitive and visually more pleasant for the user. Only selected functions and the associated operating options are always displayed and/or provided, so that a positive perception of use is generated for the user.

Unless stated otherwise in the individual case, the various embodiments of the invention mentioned in this application can advantageously be combined with one another.

• 1 eine perspektivische Ansicht einer beispielhaften Ausgestaltung der erfindungsgemäßen Bedieneinheit, und
• 2 eine Draufsicht auf die Bedieneinheit mit verschiedenen Eingabemöglichkeiten.

The invention is explained below in exemplary embodiments with reference to the associated drawings. Show it:

• 1 a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the control unit according to the invention, and
• 2 a top view of the control unit with various input options.

1 shows an armrest 22 of a vehicle with an exemplary embodiment of the control unit 10 according to the invention. It is designed with a central selection element 12, around which 16 setting elements are provided. Since there is no user interaction, the setting items are not displayed and provided.

The perimeter 16 and the selection element 12 have an approximately square base area that blends into the design environment of the vehicle. In addition, the selection element 12 is in a recess, the periphery 16 is inclined toward the selection element 12 . This haptically perceptible configuration allows a user to actuate the operating unit 10 without eye contact, since he can haptically perceive the position of the selection element 12 and the perimeter 16 with the setting elements and can operate based on this perception. Optionally, elevations in the form of symbols or characters can identify the respective setting elements.

the 2a until 2g show the operating device 10 according to the invention 1 individually in different usage situations. 2a shows the condition before use. Since there is no user in the vicinity of the operating device 10, only the contours of the selection element 12 and the perimeter 16 can be seen.

In 2 B a user 20 approaches the control unit 10. His approach is detected by a proximity sensor in the control unit 10 (not shown) and as a result the functionality of the selection element 12 is provided and two setting elements 14.1 and 14.2 are displayed to the right and left of the selection element 12 and their functionality provided. This constellation forms a first input level.

The setting elements 14.1 and 14.2 are identified by symbols that are each backlit with a lighting device 30.1 and 30.2. Setting element 14.1 is used in this input level to fold in the exterior mirrors, while setting element 14.2 in this input level is used to heat the exterior mirrors. If the user 20 actuates one of the two setting elements 14.1, 14.2, the desired action is triggered.

If the user presses 20 as in 2c the central selection element 12 becomes the input level changed to a second input level. This is provided for aligning the left-hand exterior mirror of the vehicle, as illustrated by the backlit symbol 30.3 now displayed in the selection element 12. Four setting elements 14.1, 14.2, 14.3 and 14.4 are provided in the perimeter 16 and are symbolized by outwardly pointing triangles ( 2d ). These are also backlit (not marked). By actuating the four setting elements 14.1, 14.2, 14.3 or 14.4, the user 20 can align the left-hand exterior mirror as he wishes.

If he wants to adjust the right-hand exterior mirror, the user 20 operates the central selection element 12 again to change the input level ( 2e ). This is now intended for the alignment of the right-hand exterior mirror and is identified by the corresponding symbol on the selection element 12 ( 2f ).

it's over 2 It can be seen that the type, number and position of the setting elements can be changed depending on the selected input level. Since the selection element 12 and setting elements 14 are in the form of touch-sensitive input surfaces, variable setting options can be displayed and made available on the operating unit.

If the user 20 does not operate the operating unit 20 for some time, the display and provision of the functionality of the operating unit 10 is switched off and the operating unit 10 is as in 2g shown, again only recognizable by its contours and shape, which means that it does not distract the user's attention and blends inconspicuously into the environment.

Reference List

10

operating unit

12

selection item

14

adjustment element

16

perimeter

20

user

22

armrest

24

vehicle door (inside)

30

lighting device

Claims (10)

Operating unit (10) for the exterior mirrors of a vehicle with at least two input levels, wherein the operating unit (10) is formed with a central selection element (12) for selecting any one of the at least two input levels and at least two setting elements (14) that are located in a perimeter (16 ) of the selection element (12) are arranged and provided for control within the selected input level, the functionality of the operating unit (10) is only displayed and/or provided when a user (20) approaches, the number and/or position of the setting elements (14) that is displayed and/or the functionality of which is provided depends on the selected input level. Operating unit (10) after claim 1 , characterized in that the operating unit (10) can be used to influence at least the alignment of the exterior mirrors, heating of the exterior mirrors and/or the folding in and out of the exterior mirrors. Operating unit (10) after claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the approach of the user (20) is detected with a proximity sensor and / or an interior monitoring of the vehicle. Operating unit (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the selection element (12) and/or the setting elements (14) are designed to be touch-sensitive. Operating unit (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the display and/or the provision of the functionality of the operating unit (10) is terminated when not in use. Operating unit (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is designed with an illumination device (30) in order to display the selection element (12) and/or the setting elements (14) and/or to provide visual feedback on an operator action. Operating unit (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the selection element (12) and/or the setting elements (14) can be perceived haptically and/or provide haptic feedback. Operating unit (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the selection element (12) is designed with a device for detecting a fingerprint. Operating unit (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is integrated into the armrest (22) of a door and/or into the center console of the vehicle. Vehicle with an operating unit (10) for controlling its exterior mirrors according to one of the preceding claims.

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