EP3479201A1

EP3479201A1 - Control method and control interface for a motor vehicle

Info

Publication number: EP3479201A1
Application number: EP17732477.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jean-Marc Tissot
Original assignee: Dav SA
Current assignee: Dav SA
Priority date: 2016-06-29
Filing date: 2017-06-28
Publication date: 2019-05-08
Also published as: WO2018002189A1; FR3053489A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a sensory feedback control method for a control interface, in particular fpr a motor vehicle, said control interface comprising a touch-sensitive surface (2), characterised in that the method comprises the following steps: detecting the movement of a pointing element (3) towards a target boundary (6); when the pointing element (3) is detected at a threshold distance (d) from the target boundary, generating at least one sensory feedback, such that the sensory feedback is perceived by a user of the interface (1) substantially at the moment at which the target boundary (6) is crossed, preventing a time lag between the perception of the sensory feedback and the crossing of the target boundary (6). The invention relates to a control interface (1) for a motor vehicle, configured to carry out the aforementioned control method at least partially.

Description

Control method and control interface for a motor vehicle

The present invention relates to a control method in particular for a motor vehicle for generating at least one sensory feedback to a user via a control interface such as a human-machine interface. The invention also relates to an interface configured for implementing at least some steps of such a control method.

In recent years, motor vehicles, especially cars, have become easier to handle with the emergence of new emerging technologies (eg power steering, ABS, cruise control, reversing radar etc ..) resulting in an increase the number of functions to be controlled while driving.

The car has become a real living space, perceived as a personal and interconnected communication center: with for example MP3 player, GPS, connection with mobile phones. The introduction of these new features results in an increase in the number of buttons on the dashboard of a car cockpit. However, the number of buttons can not be increased to infinity, especially because of the complexity generated, limited space, accessibility or cognitive load. In addition, the interaction of the driver with the on-board systems in the car can result in an attention-overload situation in which the driver may not be able to handle all the information of the driving task at best, resulting in errors and delays. longer detection.

One possibility is to centralize the buttons by replacing them at least in part by a touch surface such as a touch screen or a touch screen. This makes it possible to continue to increase the number of functions, these becoming programmable and reconfigurable and exposed temporarily or permanently depending on the context or the activated function. The touch surface thus includes a possibility of multifunctionality, while dematerializing the buttons. Touch screens are more customizable. In addition, the touch screens have three other major advantages: they allow on the one hand a direct interaction (the co-implementation of the display and input), on the other hand they are flexible (the display can be easily configured for a number of functions), and finally they are intuitive (familiar interaction method such as "point"). However, unlike the case of a push button, when the driver interacts with a touch surface such as a touch screen, it receives no feedback directly related to its action on the interface, other than the mere touch of his finger crashing on the touch surface.

In order to compensate for the loss of information caused by the substitution of conventional mechanical control members by tactile surfaces such as touch screens, it is known to add one or more sensory feedbacks, such as a haptic feedback, to provide feedback. from the system to the user. This return makes it possible to avoid the possible ambiguity of taking into account the action of the user by the system, likely to favor the appearance of dangerous situations.

Thus, it is known to vibrate a tactile surface to make a haptic feedback informing for example the user of the consideration of a command.

A possible application of a haptic feedback is for example to vibrate the touch surface when crossing a target boundary. By "target boundary" is meant a delineation of the non-detectable touch surface haptiquement between two functional areas.

As an example, a first zone may be provided for controlling a first function, such as for example lowering the volume of an audio system, and a second adjacent zone for controlling a second function, for example increasing the volume.

As the touch surface is smooth, the passage between the two areas is not detectable by the finger of a user.

To overcome this drawback, it is possible to generate on the tactile surface a haptic feedback intended to materialize the target boundary between the two zones, so that the user can orientate himself on the tactile surface even without looking at it.

To visually materialize the border between two areas, the touch surface is generally associated with a screen disposed behind the touch surface and which displays pictograms associated with the control areas. It is therefore important that the haptic feedback is synchronized with the passage of the control finger between the two zones.

However, between the detection of the user's finger and the actual generation of a haptic feedback signal there is a hardly compressible delay of about 20ms. As a result, when the finger or the stylus in contact with the touch surface moves, this delay can induce a difference between the passage of the target border at a time ti and the place where the haptic feedback is then felt when the user has continued his movement at the moment.

This shift can be disconcerting for the user because there is more correspondence between the visual displayed on the screen and the haptic feedback.

In other words, the finger or the stylus is located elsewhere than where the haptic feedback signal is felt, for example elsewhere than on a boundary delimiting a virtual key or a virtual control button, when the haptic feedback signal is issued. This time shift can be even greater than the speed of movement of the finger or the stylus is important.

To improve the situation, one solution would be to use faster electronic processing means, to minimize the time difference between the position of the finger or the stylus on a target border of the tactile surface, for example a border crossing. between two areas of the tactile surface, and the perception of the sensory feedback signal such as a haptic feedback. However such a solution would be too expensive for the automotive industry.

An object of the present invention is therefore to provide a control method and an associated control interface, to at least partially overcome the aforementioned drawbacks by generating sensory feedback perceived at a convenient time.

For this purpose, the subject of the present invention is a sensory feedback control method for a control interface, in particular for a motor vehicle, the control interface comprising a tactile surface, characterized in that the control method comprises the following steps:

detecting the displacement of the pointing element towards a target boundary, when the pointing element is detected at a threshold distance from the target boundary, generating at least one sensory feedback, so that the sensory feedback is perceived by a user of said interface substantially at the time of crossing the target boundary, avoiding a time lag between the perception of sensory feedback and the crossing of the target boundary.

This solution can be independent of the speed of displacement of the pointing element, and makes it possible to reduce costs by fictitiously delimiting a sensory feedback activation threshold distance upstream of the target boundary characteristic of the change of the sensing element. real area. We anticipate the crossing of the target boundary such as a boundary between two zones or delimiting a given zone, which makes it possible to generate the sensory feedback at the right moment, that is to say when the pointing element such as the the user's finger is actually on the target border. We are thus closer to what the user is waiting for and there is a concordance between the visual and the sensory for the user. The user experience, in other words the perception of a sensory feedback characteristic of a change of zones, is improved.

The control method may further comprise one or more of the following features taken alone or in combination:

the threshold distance is predetermined and fixed with respect to the target boundary;

at least one displacement parameter of the pointing element is evaluated on the tactile surface in time, and as a function of said displacement parameter, the threshold distance is adjusted with respect to the target boundary;

the parameter of displacement of the pointing element on the touch-sensitive surface in time is at least one variable chosen from the speed of displacement of the pointing element and a function of the speed such as the acceleration of the element of pointing;

the control method is for the generation of at least two sensory feedbacks of a different nature, and the generation of each sensory feedback is controlled simultaneously or shifted in time.

The invention also relates to a control interface for a motor vehicle configured to implement at least partially a control method according to any one of the preceding claims, the control interface comprising:

a touch surface configured to determine the position and movement of a pointing element on the touch surface, and

a sensory feedback module configured to generate at least one sensory feedback,

characterized in that the control interface further comprises a processing unit configured to:

detect the displacement of the pointing element towards a target boundary,

generating, at a threshold distance between the pointing element and the target boundary, at least one sensory feedback, so that the sensory feedback is perceived by a user of said interface substantially at the time of crossing the target boundary, avoiding a temporal shift between the perception of sensory feedback and the crossing of the target border.

Such an interface makes it possible to activate the sensory feedback when it is established that the pointing element will change zone and cross or pass on a target boundary to the extent that the pointing element has reached the threshold distance. The interface allows this sensory feedback to be activated so as to be perceived by the user when the pointing element is actually on the target boundary. In addition, such a control interface offers a less expensive solution compared to a solution comprising processing means with very fast response times.

The control interface may further include one or more of the following features taken alone or in combination:

the processing unit is configured to evaluate at least one parameter of displacement of the pointing element on the touch surface over time, and according to the at least one evaluated displacement parameter, adapting the threshold distance with respect to the border target; the sensory feedback module is configured to vibrate the touch surface so as to generate a haptic feedback, and / or generate a sound return and / or generate a visual feedback.

Other advantages and characteristics will appear on reading the description of the invention, as well as on the appended figures which represent a non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the invention and in which:

FIG. 1a schematically represents a control interface such as a human-machine interface for a motor vehicle

FIG. 1b schematically represents a side view of the interface of FIG. 1a; FIGS. 2a to 4d show diagrammatically different examples of display on a tactile surface of the interface of FIGS. 1a and 1b for anticipation. sensory feedback generation,

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the steps of a control method according to the invention for generating at least one anticipatory sensory feedback,

Fig. 6 is a flowchart detailing the steps of the control method.

In these figures, the identical elements bear the same reference numbers.

The following achievements are examples. Although the description refers to one or In several embodiments, this does not necessarily mean that each reference relates to the same embodiment, or that the features apply only to a single embodiment. Simple features of different embodiments may also be combined or interchanged to provide other embodiments.

In the description, it is possible to index certain elements, such as for example first element or second element. In this case, it is a simple indexing to differentiate and name close but not identical elements. This indexing does not imply a priority of one element with respect to another and it is easy to interchange such denominations without departing from the scope of the present description. This indexing does not imply an order in time either.

Control interface called human-machine interface

Figure la represents a control interface for a motor vehicle 1. Such an interface 1 is commonly referred to as a human-machine interface. It is advantageously a man-machine interface that is reconfigurable. The control interface 1 comprises: a tactile surface 2 configured to detect a touch of a user's finger or any other pointing element 3 (for example a stylus or a finger) and its displacement on the tactile surface 2 , and

a sensory feedback module 4 configured to generate at least one sensory feedback.

The control interface 1 may furthermore comprise a display screen 5.

Touch surface

Once mounted in the passenger compartment of the vehicle, the touch surface 2 can thus form an input device allowing the users of the control interface 1 to interact with it through touch.

The touch surface 2 is for example configured to determine the spatial coordinates of the point where the user presses with his finger or another pointing element 3 on the touch surface 2. The touch surface 2 thus makes it possible to locate the position of the element 3 when the pointing element 3 moves, the touching surface 2 is configured to determine successive spatial coordinates corresponding to at least two points successive on the touch surface 2.

According to one embodiment, the tactile surface 2 comprises a capacitive touch screen. According to the example illustrated in FIG. 1b, the capacitive touch panel comprises at least one capacitive sensor 21 for detecting at least one variation of the capacitance at the surface of the capacitive touch-sensitive panel. For this purpose, the capacitive sensor 21 comprises, for example, an array of electrodes, for example made of ITO (indium-tin oxide). The capacitive touch screen may further comprise a front plate 22 (or contact plate), for example polycarbonate or glass. The front plate 22 is arranged on the capacitive sensor 21 and is intended to face the user once mounted in the passenger compartment of the vehicle. This faceplate 22 may be rigid so as to provide the desired rigidity to the capacitive touchscreen. The advantageously flat touch surface 2 of the capacitive touch-sensitive panel is thus formed by the surface of the front plate 22.

According to another example not shown, the touch surface 2 can use pressure sensitive resistors to detect a contact and a displacement of a pointing element such as a finger of the user on the touch surface 2. The touch surface 2 then comprises a pressure sensor, such as using the FSR technology for "Force Sensing Resistor" in English.

The display screen 5 can be offset from the touch surface 2. According to an alternative embodiment, the front plate 22 of the capacitive touch screen can be painted with an opaque color so as to hide the elements arranged behind. The capacitive touch screen can then form what is called a touchpad or "touchpad" in English or a push button or "push" in English.

According to another variant illustrated in FIG. 1b, the display screen 5 is arranged facing and in contact with the touch surface 2 such as a capacitive touch screen, more precisely under this touch surface 2, so as to form a touchscreen. In this case, the display screen 5 is for example fixed by gluing the back of a capacitive sensor support 21 of the capacitive touch screen. By "back" is meant the portion opposite to the portion carrying the capacitive sensor 21. The touch surface 2 is then transparent to display the images of the display screen 5 through the tactile surface 2. In other words according to the example with a capacitive touch screen comprising the capacitive sensor 21 and the front plate 22, the latter are transparent. Sensory feedback module According to an exemplary embodiment, the sensory feedback module 4 can be connected to the touch surface 2 and / or the display screen 5 in the case of a touch screen.

The sensory feedback module 4 can in particular be configured to generate a haptic feedback by vibrating the touch surface 2. The term "haptic", a return by touch. In this case, the sensory feedback module 4 may comprise at least one actuator 41, 42 connected to the touch surface 2, and configured to drive the touching surface in motion, so as to generate the haptic feedback as a function of a signal of ordered. Two actuators 41, 42 are shown schematically in FIG. The haptic feedback is a vibratory signal such as a vibration produced by a sinusoidal control signal or by a control signal comprising one or a succession of pulses, sent to actuator 41 and / or 42. The vibration can be directed in the plane of the tactile surface 2 or orthogonally to the plane of the tactile surface 2 or in a combination of these two directions. In the case of several actuators 41, 42, these can be arranged under the touch surface 2, in different positions (in the center or on one side) or in different orientations (in the direction of the support on the surface or in a other axis). Such actuators 41, 42 are known and will not be described in more detail in the present description. A parameter of the haptic feedback can be chosen from among the intensity of the acceleration, the frequency, the amplitude, the duration, the duration between two identical signals, the phase. For example, it is possible to simulate different textures of the tactile surface 2, such as different surface roughnesses.

As a variant or as an accompaniment to the haptic feedback, the sensory feedback generation module 4 can be configured to generate a sound feedback to the user. A sound return parameter can be chosen from the intensity of the volume, the phase, the frequency, the duration, the duration between two identical signals.

In addition, it is possible to display on the display screen 5 one or more patterns corresponding to the haptic and / or sound return. Thus, advantageously in the case of a touch screen, an image displayed on the touch screen can represent marked patterns, such as microbosses, at the position of the pointing element 3. In this case we speak back visual. The visual feedback can also be generated by the sensory feedback module 4.

The sensory feedback module 4 can be configured to generate all the sensory feedbacks, that is to say, haptic and / or sound and / or visual, at the same time. On the contrary, the return module Sensory 4 can be configured to generate one or the other of the returns in a time-shifted manner with respect to another return. In other words, as a nonlimiting illustrative example when a haptic feedback is generated, a sound feedback can be generated before, at the same time or after the generation of the haptic feedback. Indeed, so that the user perceives at the same time a haptic feedback and a sound return, it is better not to generate them at the same time but in an advanced or delayed manner with respect to each other. It is the same for the generation of a visual feedback that can be generated before, at the same time or after the generation of a haptic feedback and / or a sound return.

In particular, with reference to FIGS. 2a, 2b, the sensory feedback module 4 is configured to generate one or more sensory feedbacks, of the same nature or of a different nature, when the pointing element 3, here the finger 3, passes or crosses a target boundary 6. Since the touch surface is smooth, this target boundary 6 is not materialized haptically on the touch surface 2.

It may be a border 6 separating two zones ZI, Z2 from the display screen 5, for example from the touch screen, as illustrated in FIG. 2a. It may also be a boundary 6 indicating that one enters an area or that one leaves an area, as schematized in Figure 2b schematically showing the finger 3 leaving the zone Z2 . In particular, thanks to a haptic feedback, it is possible to simulate on the tactile surface 2, a texture at this target boundary 6 between two zones Z1, Z2 for example, or delimiting an entry or a zone exit.

Processing unit

The control interface 1 further comprises a processing unit 7 shown schematically in FIGS. 1a and 1b. The processing unit 7 is configured to exchange information and / or data with the touch surface 2 and also with the sensory feedback module 4.

This processing unit 7 may comprise one or more processing means such as one or more microcontrollers or computers, having memories and programs particularly adapted to receive position and displacement or sliding information of the pointing element 3, this information having been detected in particular by the tactile surface 2. The processing unit 7 is for example the on-board computer of the motor vehicle. As told previously, the touch-sensitive surface 2 can detect successive spatial coordinates corresponding to support points, and can transmit this information with the coordinates to the processing unit 7. The processing unit 7 therefore comprises at least one reception means information transmitted by the tactile surface 2.

The processing unit 7 further comprises one or more processing means such as a control circuit configured to drive the sensory feedback module 4 in order to generate at least one sensory feedback such as a haptic and / or sound return and / or visual. The control circuit may include means for transmitting a sensory feedback generation command to the sensory feedback module 4.

With reference to FIG. 1b, the control interface 1 may further include a measuring device 9 shown very schematically in this FIG. The measuring device 9 comprises for example one or more pressure sensors configured to measure the pressure exerted on the tactile surface 2. This is for example one or more strain gauges. The strain gauge or gauges are arranged in direct connection with the touch surface 2 and are cleverly distributed as required. By way of non-limiting example, it is possible to provide a strain gauge substantially in the middle of the tactile surface 2, for example in the case of a tactile pad called "Touchpad". Advantageously, one or more strain gauges are arranged on one or more edges of the tactile surface 2. For example, four strain gages may be provided, each placed at an angle of the touch surface 2. The or each gauge stress can be arranged at dampers provided under the touch surface 2 so as to measure the displacement of the touch surface 2 during contact and sliding of the pointing element 3 on the touch surface 2.

In the case of such a measuring device 9, the processing unit 7 comprises at least one processing means for receiving measurement signals from the measuring device 9, in particular the or each pressure sensor. The pressure measurement (s) are advantageously taken into account. By way of non-limiting example, the pressure measurements make it possible to identify the way in which the user presses on the tactile surface 2 by means of the pointing element 3, so as to generate the appropriate signal for the simulation accordingly. texture.

In addition, the processing unit 7 is advantageously configured to anticipate that the pointing element 3 will subsequently cross a target boundary 6 of the touch surface 2, and to control the sensory feedback module 4 before the actual crossing of the target boundary 6, in order to generate at least one sensory feedback perceived by the user when the pointing element 3 actually crosses the target boundary 6.

This avoids a temporal shift between the perception of the sensory feedback and the passage of the pointing element 3 on the target boundary 6.

The processing unit 7 is therefore configured to anticipate the crossing of a target boundary 6 when a displacement is detected on the touch surface 2, and not when a single point of support is detected. We will now describe with reference to FIG. 2a, a particular embodiment. According to this embodiment, the processing unit 7 anticipates the crossing of the target boundary 6 when the pointing element 3 is at a threshold distance d, of activation of at least one sensory feedback, with respect to the target border 6.

More specifically, the processing unit 7 is configured to:

detecting the displacement of the pointing element 3 in the direction of a target boundary 6 of the tactile surface 2,

when the pointing element 3 is located at the threshold distance d, generating at least one sensory feedback via the sensory feedback module 4.

In order to set the threshold distance d, it is possible to determine, for example by experiments, an average speed of displacement Vmoy of the pointing element on the touch surface 2 and it is possible to determine the delay Tu between the location of the pointing element 3 to a given location and an effective vibration on the touch surface 2 due to activation of the actuators 41 and 42 for example. In that case, According to a first approach, it is possible to set an overall average speed common to all the functions to be controlled. According to a second approach, in particular according to the morphology of the control areas such as their dimensions, their number on the tactile surface, their proximity or their geometry, it is possible to set an average speed for each control function. These average speeds can for example be recorded in a memory of the processing unit 7.

Thus, if the pointing element 3 is at a distance d from the target boundary 6 and moves at the average velocity ν ^, the pointing element 3 will cross the target boundary at moment when one can feel the haptic feedback on the tactile surface 2.

Said at least one sensory feedback is then perceived by a user of said interface 1 when the pointing element 3 crosses the target boundary 6.

Certainly, there may be a difference between the actual traveling speed of the pointing element 3 and the average speed and therefore a slight shift between the actual crossing of the target border 6 and the feeling of haptic feedback, but the anticipation to trigger the generation of the haptic feedback makes it possible to reduce or even cancel the gap between visual and haptic perceptions.

For example, it is possible to define a fictitious delimitation, such as a fictitious line 13, upstream of the target boundary 6 and which is arranged at the threshold distance d of the target boundary 6. The term "upstream" is used here for reference in the direction of displacement of the pointing element 3 on the tactile surface 2. The fictitious delimitation may extend substantially parallel to the boundary 6 with which it is associated.

According to a first variant, the processing unit 7 is therefore configured to generate the sensory feedback substantially at the instant at which the pointing element 3 is detected at the threshold distance d, for example on the imaginary delimitation 13.

The threshold distance d, for example here the distance of the fictitious delineation 13 with respect to the target border 6, can be predefined and fixed.

According to a second variant, the threshold distance d, for example here the distance of the fictitious delineation 13 with respect to the target boundary 6, can be parameterized and can therefore be variable. In other words, it is possible to adapt the threshold distance d with respect to the target boundary 6 as a function of the speed and / or the acceleration of the pointing element 3 on the touch surface 2. To do this, the processing unit 7 comprises one or more processing means for setting or defining the threshold distance d.

For example, the greater the speed of displacement, the farther delineation 13 of the target border 6, 11 and vice versa.

For this, the processing unit 7 can be configured to analyze the displacement of the pointing element 3 so as to anticipate the crossing of the target boundary 6. The processing unit 7 is therefore further configured to evaluate at least one displacement parameter of the pointing element 3 on the touch surface 2 in time. These include the evaluation of the speed of movement of the pointing element 3, or a function of the speed such as the derivative or acceleration.

More specifically, the processing unit 7 may comprise one or more processing means configured for:

evaluate the direction of movement of the pointing element 3 on the touch surface 2, and evaluate at least one displacement parameter of the pointing element 3 on the touch surface 2 in time.

For the evaluation of the direction, the processing unit 7 can analyze the position location information of successive points, transmitted by the tactile surface 2. Thus, with reference to FIGS. 2a and 2b, the processing unit 7 can determine that the pointing element 3 moves in the direction shown schematically by the arrow Fl, which is here horizontal and to the right. Of course, the processing unit 7 can detect rectilinear movements whether they are horizontal or vertical (arrow F2 in FIG. 3b), but also circular (arrow F3 in FIG. 4a) or else at an angle to the touch surface 2 (arrow F4, FIG. 4c), in one direction or the other, for example to the right (arrow Fl in FIGS. 2b, 4b and arrow F4 in FIG. 4c) or to the left (arrow F 5 in Figure 4d). The vertical and horizontal terms, left and right, are here used with reference to the arrangement of the elements as shown in FIGS. 2a to 4d.

In addition, the processing unit 7 may comprise at least one calculation means making it possible to deduce the speed of the pointing element 3 from the location information of successive points, transmitted by the tactile surface 2, and function of an internal clock of the man-machine interface for example. In order to improve the performance, the processing unit 7 may comprise at least one means for calculating the derivative of the speed, and therefore of the acceleration, for example from location location information of points further away between them, transmitted by the tactile surface 2.

Finally, the processing unit 7 may comprise at least one processing means, for example a software part, allowing, starting from at least one characteristic quantity of the evolution of the displacement of the pointing element 3 on the touch surface 2 in time, to adapt the threshold distance cl with respect to the target boundary 6.

Alternatively or in addition, the processing unit 7 may be configured to take into account at least one parameter of displacement of the pointing element on the touch surface in the time evaluated for the determination of the threshold distance cl.

Examples of non-limiting applications:

Thus, in the example of FIG. 2a, on the screen, here the touch screen, at least two zones Z1 and Z2 are displayed. When the pointing element 3, here the finger 3 of the user, is detected in the zone ZI at the threshold distance c1 of the target boundary 6, for example here on the fictitious delineation 13, by moving here horizontally and towards the line along the arrow Fl, the processing unit 7 can anticipate that the finger 3 will cross the target boundary 6 between the two zones ZI and Z2.

The processing unit 7 can generate in advance, as soon as the finger 3 is detected at the threshold distance cl a control signal to the sensory feedback module 4 which generates the sensory feedback (s). When the finger 3 actually arrives on the border 6, the user perceives the sensory feedback or returns.

As illustrated in FIG. 2b, it is possible for the two zones ZI, Z2 to be open zones, that is to say without any boundary between the two zones ZI, Z2, but in this case it is the crossing of one of the borders marked around one of the zones, here Z2, which is anticipated.

Of course, the processing unit 7 makes it possible to anticipate that a pointing element 3 will enter an area (FIG. 2a) but also that it will exit an area (FIG. 2b).

Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples of Figures 2a and 2b. Other applications may be considered. For example, as shown diagrammatically in FIG. 3a, the tactile surface 2 may comprise a succession of distinct zones B1, B2, B3, B4 simulating control buttons, each zone B1, B2, B3, B4 being delimited by a closed surface forming 6. The processing unit 7 is then configured to anticipate whether the pointing element 3 will enter or leave one or other of these areas B1, B2, B3, B4. By way of nonlimiting example, if the pointing element 3 is detected in the zone B2, and if the user moves his finger 3 vertically, downwards with reference to the arrangement of the elements in FIG. 3b and as shown schematically by the arrow F2, the processing unit 7 is configured to determine that the pointing element 3 will leave the zone B2 when it is located at a threshold distance cl of the border 6 at the bottom of the zone B2 in reference to the arrangement of the elements in FIG. 3b, and to activate in advance the generation of a significant sensory feedback from the output of B2. If the pointing element 3 continues its downward movement illustrated by the arrow F2, the processing unit 7 can anticipate if and when the pointing element 3 will enter the next zone B3 when the pointing element 3 is located at a threshold distance c1 of the boundary 6 at the top of the zone B3 with reference to the arrangement of the elements in FIG. 3b, and to order in advance the generation control of at least one sensory feedback associated with the entry into the zone B3. In addition, a different sensory feedback may be provided depending on whether the pointing element 3 enters or leaves a closed zone. In particular, with two distinct haptic feedbacks one can simulate the feeling of a user pressing and releasing a key.

In the example of FIGS. 3a and 3b, the simulated buttons or control buttons are represented in line or in a corridor. Of course, any other provision can be provided. For example, the virtual keys may be arranged in a circular manner as shown diagrammatically in FIG. 4a. As previously, the processing unit 7 can anticipate from the displacement in a circular motion schematized by the arrow F3, that the pointing element 3 will cross a boundary 6 defining an area, here B2, when the pointing element 3 is for example located on the fictitious delineation 13 along a radius of the circle defined by the virtual keys, so as to control the generation of the sensory feedback or returns so that it (s) is (are) presented (s) to the good moment to the user. In this case, the threshold distance cl is an angular distance.

According to another variant illustrated in FIG. 4b, a list of items A, B, C can be displayed on the display screen 5, for example on the touch screen. In operation, to navigate in the list of items A to C, the user moves the pointing element 3 on the touch surface 2, and when a contact pointing an item, here A, in the list, is detected on the touch-sensitive surface 2, a sub-list of items A1, A2, A3 may be displayed. For example, for each sub-list, yet another sub-list, here A31, A32, A33 can be displayed. Thus, in this example, when the user slides his finger 3 or other pointing element on the tactile surface 2, and when the finger 3 is detected on the item A3 for example, if the direction of movement is to the right as schematized by the arrow Fl, the processing unit 7 can anticipate that the finger 3 will leave the zone corresponding to the item A3 when the finger 3 is located at a threshold distance d from the right boundary of item A3 with reference to the arrangement of the elements in FIG. 4b. Likewise, the processing unit 7 can anticipate that the finger 3 will enter the zone corresponding to the sub-item A31, when the finger 3 is located at a threshold distance d from the left boundary 6 of the sub-item A31. reference to the arrangement of the elements in FIG. 4b. The treatment unit 7 can thus anticipate the appropriate sensory feedback at the right time.

It is also possible to provide, as illustrated in FIG. 4c, a cascading arrangement of windows A, B, C, D. The processing unit 7 can anticipate each window crossing and activate in anticipation the generation of the appropriate sensory feedback at the right moment. .

Alternatively, the processing unit 7 can still anticipate the crossing of successive lines 11 when the pointing element 3 is located at a threshold distance d of a given line 11, and activate in advance the generation of at least one return appropriate sensory associated with the crossing of each line 11. In this example, each line 11 forms a target boundary.

Examples of display on a touch screen have been described here. Of course, the invention also applies when the display is on a remote display screen of the touch surface 2. In this case, in known manner, to each zone of the remote display screen 5 is associated an area on the touch surface 2. Control method

With reference to FIG. 5, a sensory feedback control method for a human-machine interface, in particular for a motor vehicle, is described, the human-machine interface comprising a touch-sensitive surface 2. It is advantageously an interface of control 1 as described above with reference to Figures la to 4d.

The control method comprises a step E1 in which the displacement of a pointing element 3 such as a finger of a user of the control interface 1, or a stylus or a finger, on the tactile surface is detected. 2 in the direction of a target boundary 6 or 11 of the touch surface 2. This detection step El is for example made by the touch surface 2. The control method further comprises a step E2, for example said anticipation step, at which at the threshold distance d, at least one sensory feedback, in particular hap tic, is generated.

Advantageously, at least one parameter of displacement of the pointing element 3 on the touch surface 2 in time, such as the acceleration of the pointing element 3 and / or the speed of displacement of the pointing element 3 can be used for the definition of the threshold distance d with respect to the target border 6 or 11, at this step E2.

A particular embodiment is shown diagrammatically in FIG. 6. According to this embodiment, following step E1, step E2 can comprise substeps E200 to E220.

Advantageously, during a preliminary step E200, the position of the pointing element 3 is located on the touch surface 2, and the direction of movement of the pointing element 3 on the touch surface 2 is evaluated. be implemented by the touch surface 2 and the evaluation of the direction by the processing unit 7.

Optionally, it is also possible to evaluate during this preliminary step E200 at least one characteristic variable of the evolution of the displacement of the pointing element 3 on the tactile surface 2 in time, such as speed and / or acceleration . Evaluation of one or more quantities such as speed and / or acceleration can be implemented by the processing unit 7.

When the threshold distance d is not predetermined in a fixed manner, during a step E210, it is possible to define this threshold distance d, for example it is possible to define the distance between a fictitious delineation 13 upstream of the target boundary 6 according to the direction of displacement of the pointing element 3. The threshold distance d, for example here the location or the position of the imaginary delimitation 13, always upstream of the target border 6 or 11, can be adapted according to of the acceleration and / or the speed of displacement of the pointing element 3. For example, when the pointing element 3 moves very fast, the fictitious delineation 13 of the target boundary can be further removed. 6 or 11, in other words the threshold distance d can be increased with respect to the target boundary 6 or 11. On the other hand, for small speeds of movement, the fictitious delineation 13 of the target border 6 or 11 can be approximated, in other words, we can reduce the distance d from the target boundary 6 or 11. The ranges considered high or small are left to the appreciation of the skilled person according to the application. This step E210 can be implemented by the processing unit 7.

In step E220, when the pointing element 3 arrives at this threshold distance c1, it is detected, for example here, when the pointing element 3 passes the imaginary delimitation 13 and the haptic return is generated. This step E220 can be implemented by the processing unit 7.

Of course, the order of at least some steps can be reversed.

It is thus clear that a control method as described according to one or the other embodiment makes it possible to present to a user at least one sensory feedback at the right moment, that is to say that the user perceives this sensory feedback when it actually changes zone or crosses a target boundary 6 or 11.

Claims

RE VENDI CATIONS

1. Sensory feedback control method for a control interface (1)

in particular for a motor vehicle, the control interface (1) comprising a tactile surface (2), characterized in that the control method comprises the following steps:

detecting the displacement of the pointing element (3) towards a target boundary (6, 11),

when the pointing element (3) is detected at a threshold distance (d) from the target boundary, at least one sensory feedback is generated, so that the sensory feedback is perceived by a user of said interface (1) substantially at the moment of crossing the target boundary (6, 11), avoiding a time lag between sensory feedback perception and crossing the target boundary (6, 11).

A control method according to claim 1, wherein the threshold distance (d) is predetermined and fixed with respect to the target boundary (6, 11).

A control method according to claim 1, wherein:

at least one displacement parameter of the pointing element (3) is evaluated on the touch surface (2) in time, and

according to said displacement parameter, the threshold distance (d) is adapted with respect to the target boundary (6).

Control method according to the preceding claim, wherein the parameter of displacement of the pointing element (3) on the touch surface (2) in time is at least one selected from the speed of movement of the pointing element (3) and a function of the speed such as the acceleration of the pointing element (3).

Control method according to any of the preceding claims, for the generation of at least two sensory feedbacks of different nature, in which the generation of each sensory feedback is controlled simultaneously or shifted in the time.

6. A control interface (1) for a motor vehicle configured to at least partially implement a control method according to any one of the preceding claims, the control interface (1) comprising:

a touch surface (2) configured to determine the position and displacement of a pointing element (3) on the touch surface (2), and

a sensory feedback module (4) configured to generate at least one sensory feedback, characterized in that the control interface (1) further comprises a processing unit (7) configured to:

detecting the movement of the pointing element (3) toward a target boundary

(6, 11),

generating at a threshold distance (d) between the pointing element (3) and the target boundary (6, 11) at least one sensory feedback, so that the sensory feedback is perceived by a user of said interface (1) substantially at the time of crossing the target boundary (6, 11), avoiding a time lag between the perception of sensory feedback and the crossing of the target boundary (6, 11).

Control interface (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the processing unit (7) is configured to:

evaluating at least one parameter of displacement of the pointing element (3) on the touch surface (2) in time, and

according to the at least one evaluated displacement parameter, adapting the threshold distance (d) with respect to the target boundary (6, 11).

Control interface (1) according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the sensory feedback module (4) is configured to:

vibrating the tactile surface (2) so as to generate a haptic feedback, and / or generate a sound and / or

generate a visual return.