FR3044274A1 - MULTIMEDIA MOTOR VEHICLE SYSTEM - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a multimedia system (1) for a motor vehicle, comprising: - a display screen (10), - a memory (30) for storing data, and - a computer (20) adapted to read the stored data. in the memory for controlling the display on the display screen of animated scenes representing, seen from a virtual camera, a moving motor vehicle relative to said virtual camera according to a determined trajectory. According to the invention, the memory stores, in a first record, a three-dimensional mesh (12) of the outer casing (11) of the motor vehicle, and, in a second recording, said determined trajectory, and the computer is adapted to control the display on the display screen of a flow of images representing, seen from the virtual camera, said outer envelope moving according to said determined trajectory.

Description

Technical field to which the invention relates

The present invention generally relates to man-machine interfaces used in motor vehicles.

It relates more particularly to a multimedia system for a motor vehicle, comprising: - a display screen, - a data storage memory, and - a computer adapted to read the data stored in the memory to control the display on the screen display of animated scenes representing, seen from a virtual camera, a moving motor vehicle relative to said virtual camera according to a determined trajectory.

Technological background

It is known to equip a motor vehicle with a multimedia system acting as an interface between the driver of the motor vehicle (or his passenger) and the various functionalities offered by the vehicle (ABS management, video playback, module geolocation and navigation ...).

Such a multimedia system is for example marketed by the applicant under the reference R-Link2.

To illustrate some of the features offered by the vehicle, this multimedia system stores in its memory animated scenes in the form of short videos illustrating the motor vehicle moving in a given trajectory relative to a camera.

These videos are compiled and stored in the storage memory of the multimedia system, the place of manufacture of this multimedia system (that is to say, well before the mounting of the multimedia system in the motor vehicle).

The same multimedia system can be installed on vehicles of different shapes, it is necessary to store a large number of videos representing the various vehicles on which the multimedia system is likely to be installed. Thus, when the driver selects a feature on the multimedia system screen and a video associated with this feature is displayed, this video represents the model of the vehicle on which the multimedia system is installed, and not a different vehicle model. .

A first drawback of this multimedia system is that it must have a large storage memory in order to be able to record all these videos. This memory must be even greater than the system is intended to be installed on a large variety of vehicles.

A second disadvantage is that it is then difficult to make changes to the multimedia system insofar as, due to their large size, the videos must be recorded in the multimedia system within the production plant of this system, in compiled form. It is therefore necessary to provide very early videos that the multimedia system will have to store, which turns out to be difficult in practice and which may reveal information still confidential.

Object of the invention

In order to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks of the state of the art, the present invention proposes to store the animated scenes not in the form of videos, but in another form.

More particularly, the invention proposes a multimedia system as defined in the introduction, in which the memory stores, in a first recording, a three-dimensional mesh of an envelope of the motor vehicle, and, in a second recording distinct from the first record, said determined trajectory, and wherein the computer is adapted to control, as a function of said three-dimensional mesh and of said determined trajectory, the display on the display screen of a representative image stream, seen from the virtual camera, said envelope moving according to said determined trajectory.

Thus, the aspects of the vehicles are stored in a form requiring a storage space in the memory which is very small. Thanks to the invention, only the three-dimensional meshes differ from one vehicle to another. As a result, the storage space to be provided in the memory of the multimedia system may have a relatively small size, to the benefit of its cost.

In addition, it is no longer necessary to develop new videos for each new model of vehicle using the multimedia system, which represents a cost and time saving. It is only necessary to mesh the appearance of the vehicle, which has generally already been done during the design of the motor vehicle model. The management of the diversity of shapes and colors of vehicles, regardless of the model, is also better.

Due to its small size, the vehicle mesh can also be recorded quickly in the memory of the multimedia system, which allows this recording to the vehicle assembly site.

Therefore, it is possible to store in the memory of the multimedia system only the three-dimensional mesh corresponding to the vehicle on which the multimedia system is installed.

It is also possible to record this three-dimensional mesh in the memory of the multimedia system closer to the confidentiality lifting date (in the case where this mesh represents a new vehicle model), which limits the risk of leakage.

Finally, it is possible to install the multimedia system on motor vehicles still unknown at the time of conception of the multimedia system, without any particular modification (in particular without modifying the data recorded in the multimedia system, at the place of manufacture of this multimedia system ). The manufacture of the multimedia system does not have to evolve according to the models on which it is installed, its manufacturing cost is reduced. Other advantageous and non-limiting features of the multimedia system according to the invention are the following: the memory stores several determined trajectories, distinct from one another; the memory stores several three-dimensional meshes relating to motor vehicles of different shapes; - said envelope is the outer casing of the motor vehicle; the memory stores a second three-dimensional mesh of the interior passenger compartment of the motor vehicle and the computer is adapted to control, as a function of said second three-dimensional mesh and of said determined trajectory, the display on the display screen of a flow representative images, seen from the virtual camera, said moving cabin according to said determined trajectory; and the memory stores, in a third recording, an environment (bottom, road, panel, etc.), and in which the computer is adapted to control the display on the display screen of said moving envelope according to said determined trajectory in said environment. The invention also proposes a method of controlling the display of an animated scene on the display screen of a multimedia system as mentioned above, during which: the computer reads in the memory a determined trajectory and a three-dimensional mesh, the computer calculates successive images of the envelope of the moving motor vehicle according to the determined trajectory, taking into account said three-dimensional mesh and of said determined trajectory, and the computer controls the display of these successive images on the display screen.

Preferably, the computer reads an environment in the memory and the computer controls the display of said successive images in superposition of said environment. The invention also proposes a method of storing data in the memory of a multimedia system as mentioned above, during which: - specific trajectories are compiled, - at the place of manufacture of the multimedia system, stored in said memory the determined trajectories compiled, then - on the place of assembly of the motor vehicle, stores in said memory the three-dimensional mesh of the envelope of the motor vehicle.

Detailed description of an example of realization

The following description with reference to the accompanying drawing, given by way of non-limiting example, will make it clear what the invention is and how it can be achieved.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a schematic view of a multimedia system according to the invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the multimedia system 1 comprises a display screen 10, a data storage memory 30, and a computer 20 adapted to read the data stored in the memory 30 to control the display of images on the display screen 10. It will be considered here that the memory 30 is dissociated from the computer, but in practice, it can be integrated with the latter.

Such a multimedia system 1 is designed to be installed in the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle, on the central console of the latter, so as to be accessible to the driver of the motor vehicle.

It preferably forms a block in one piece, which is installed in the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle, within the assembly plant of this vehicle.

On the other hand, it is manufactured in a separate manufacturing plant at this assembly plant.

It is then intended to be connected to the vehicle electrical network within the assembly plant, so as to communicate with different organs on the motor vehicle (power steering engine, suspension system, geolocation module ... ).

This multimedia system 1 then forms an interface between the driver of the motor vehicle and these various bodies. The display screen 10 is here formed by a touch screen. It allows the driver to enter data. Alternatively or additionally, a keyboard or buttons could be provided to allow the driver to enter this data.

The computer 20 includes a processor (CPU), a random access memory (RAM), and different input and output interfaces.

Thanks to its input interfaces, the computer is adapted to read the data that is stored in the memory 30 and is adapted to receive data from different bodies or sensors of the vehicle. By way of example, thanks to pressure sensors fitted to the tires of the vehicle, the computer 20 is able to receive the values of the pressure measured in each of the tires.

Thanks to its output interfaces, the computer is adapted to control the display screen 10 and to transmit control signals to different bodies of the vehicle.

The memory 30 is a read-only memory (ROM). Therefore, this memory 30 is a nonvolatile memory (i.e. a memory that does not fade when the multimedia system 1 is no longer powered). The contents of this memory 30 are fixed during its programming in manufacturing and assembly plant, and it can not be changed (except possibly by a technician involved in the vehicle after-sales service).

The memory 30 notably stores data used in the context of the method described below.

The memory 30 thus stores computer software, consisting of computer programs comprising instructions whose execution by the processor allows the implementation by the computer 20 of the method described below.

This computer software includes various applications selected by the driver. For example, one application allows music playback while another allows to monitor the pressure in the tires.

Some of these applications are intended to be illustrated on the display screen 10 by animated scenes representing, seen from a virtual camera, a moving motor vehicle relative to said virtual camera, according to a determined trajectory.

We speak of a "virtual camera" in the sense that the images were not filmed by a camera. This virtual camera is therefore located at a point at which a camera would have been positioned to film the aforementioned animated scene. This virtual camera thus forms a point of view. By way of example, as shown in FIG. 1, the display screen 10 can display a realistic view of the outer casing 11 of the motor vehicle, represented from an outside point of view. The point of view according to which the motor vehicle is seen therefore depends on the position of the virtual camera with respect to the motor vehicle. The display screen can then change its point of view by means of an animation in which the motor vehicle is going to be moving relative to the virtual camera. This movement may be derived from a movement of the vehicle relative to this virtual camera, or conversely from a movement of the virtual camera with respect to the vehicle.

The movement of the motor vehicle relative to the virtual camera is then identified by data that will form what we will call here a "trajectory".

Each trajectory assigned to an application is here predetermined, in that its characteristics are elaborated during the design of the multimedia system and are recorded in the memory 30, within the manufacturing plant of this multimedia system 1.

Here, if this trajectory remains the same regardless of the model of the motor vehicle on which the multimedia system is installed, it is not the same for the image of the motor vehicle represented, which must be adapted to the model of the motor vehicle on which the multimedia system is installed.

So, for the multimedia system 1 to be able to display animated scenes illustrating this model of a moving motor vehicle according to the path associated with the application selected by the driver, the memory 30 stores: in a first recording, a three-dimensional mesh 12 of the outer casing 11 of the motor vehicle, and, in another record, at least one predetermined trajectory.

The computer 20 is then adapted to control, as a function of this three-dimensional mesh 12 and of this predetermined trajectory, the display on the display screen 10 of a stream of images representing, seen from the virtual camera, the outer casing 11 of the moving vehicle along said predetermined path.

More precisely, as shown in FIG. 1, the memory 30 stores here two registers 31, 32 of the database.

The first register 31 comprises at least one record. Each record is associated with a motor vehicle model and thus stores at least one three-dimensional mesh, namely a three-dimensional mesh 12 of the outer casing 11 of the motor vehicle model with which the recording is associated. Here, each record also stores a three-dimensional mesh of the passenger compartment of this model of a motor vehicle. Indeed, for some applications, it is desired to represent the interior of the motor vehicle. At this stage, we can define what is a three-dimensional mesh.

A mesh is defined as a spatial discretization of a continuous medium. It is in principle to define a surface not by all the points constituting it, but by a determined number of points, to characterize the shape of this surface. These points are connected to each other by segments of line or curves, called "meshes". The higher the number of points used, the better the approximation of the shape of the surface, but the greater the amount of data to be stored in the memory 30.

In Figure 1, there is shown, for illustrative purposes, a portion of the three-dimensional mesh 12 of the outer casing 11 of the motor vehicle model. The use of several records in the first register 31 stores the shapes of different models of motor vehicles, which allows to install the multimedia system 1 on these different models of vehicles.

Alternatively, one could provide to store the shape of a motor vehicle model, in which case the first register 31 will include only one record.

The second register 32 comprises several records, each of which is associated with a particular computer application. Each record of this second register 32 stores in particular a predetermined trajectory, corresponding to an animated scene illustrative of the selected application.

Here, each record of this second register 32 also stores an environment in which the motor vehicle can be represented. It could be a simple color, an image, or a more complex file. This environment will thus constitute the background of the image, in superposition of which will be represented the motor vehicle. It could for example represent a road, a panel, ...

The method implemented by the computer 20 to stage these animations will then be the following.

When the driver selects a computer application using the display screen 10 of the multimedia system 1, the computer 20 implements the various steps of the software to operate this application.

In particular, it controls the display of an animated scene on the display screen 10, corresponding to the selected application. For example, the driver can select an application allowing him to view the values of the pressure in each of the tires of the vehicle. It is recalled that these values were previously measured by ad hoc sensors and were stored in the random access memory of the computer 20.

To clearly display this information, the computer will then for example be able to implement an animated scene during which the virtual camera will turn around the motor vehicle and will stop in front of each tire, displaying each time the pressure value associated with this tire.

To display this animated scene (or any other animated scene), the computer 20 will look in the second register 32 the record corresponding to the selected application, then it will read the predetermined trajectory and the environment stored therein.

The computer 20 will then search in the first register 31 the record corresponding to the model of the motor vehicle in which the multimedia system 1 is installed. The computer 20 can then read the three-dimensional mesh 12 characterizing the shape of the outer casing 11 (and / or cabin) of the motor vehicle.

During a next step, the computer 20 calculates successive images of the outer casing 11 of the moving motor vehicle according to the determined trajectory. This calculation is performed according to the three-dimensional mesh 12 and the determined trajectory.

This calculation is carried out so as to obtain realistic images of the motor vehicle moving along the predetermined trajectory. It uses for this textures which are stored in the memory 30 and which create a faithful and color image of the motor vehicle. One could expect that these textures are stored in a record of another register of the memory 30, so that the computer can use the textures corresponding to the color of the motor vehicle on which the multimedia system 1 is installed.

Finally, the computer 20 controls the display of these successive images on the display screen 10, superimposed on the environment.

In this way, in the example mentioned above, the driver will be able to display on the display screen 10 an animation during which the recreated image of the motor vehicle will rotate, stopping at each tire for display the pressure value measured in this tire.

Finally, it will be possible to briefly describe the process of storing the data in the memory 30 of the multimedia system 1.

The trajectories and environments used do not vary according to the model of motor vehicle on which the multimedia system 1 is installed, they will be developed during the design of the multimedia system, then will be compiled and finally stored in the second register 32 of the memory 30, within the manufacturing plant of this multimedia system 1.

As the models of motor vehicles evolve regularly, and the variety of models on which the multimedia system 1 may be installed is likely to grow, the three-dimensional mesh 12 will however be memorized later.

In practice, each three-dimensional mesh 12 will be recorded in the first register 31 of the memory 30 of the multimedia system 1 on the assembly line of the motor vehicle.

It will thus be possible to record in this first register 31 only the three-dimensional mesh 12 corresponding to the shape of the motor vehicle on which the multimedia system 1 is installed.

When a model vehicle evolves or when the multimedia system 1 will be installed on a new model of a motor vehicle, it will then only be necessary to update the devices used on the assembly line so that they can record in the memories Multimedia systems 1 the three-dimensional meshes 12 corresponding to these new models. On the other hand, it will not be necessary to modify the factory manufacturing process of the multimedia system 1.

Claims (9)

A multimedia system (1) for a motor vehicle comprising: - a display screen (10), - a memory (30) for storing data, and - a computer (20) adapted to read the data stored in the memory Device (30) for controlling the display on the display screen (10) of animated scenes representing, viewed from a virtual camera, a motor vehicle in motion relative to said virtual camera according to a determined trajectory, characterized in that the memory (30) stores, in a first record, a three-dimensional mesh (12) of an envelope (11) of the motor vehicle, and, in a second record distinct from said first record, said determined trajectory, and that the computer (20) ) is adapted to control, according to said three-dimensional mesh (12) and said determined trajectory, the display on the display screen (10) of a representative image stream, seen from the camera vi rtuelle, said envelope (11) in motion according to said determined trajectory. 2. Multimedia system (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the memory (30) stores a plurality of determined paths, distinct from each other. 3. multimedia system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the memory (30) stores a plurality of three-dimensional meshes (12) relating to motor vehicles of different shapes. 4. multimedia system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said casing (11) is the outer casing of the motor vehicle. 5. multimedia system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the memory (30) stores a second three-dimensional mesh of the interior passenger compartment of the motor vehicle and the computer (20) is adapted to control, according to said second three-dimensional mesh and said determined trajectory, the display on the display screen (10) of a flow of images representing, seen from the virtual camera, said moving cabin according to said determined trajectory. 6. Multimedia system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the memory (30) stores, in a third recording, an environment, and wherein the computer (20) is adapted to control the display on the display screen (10) of said envelope (11) superimposed on said environment. 7. A method of controlling the display of an animated scene on the display screen (10) of a multimedia system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein: - the computer (20) reads in the memory (30) a determined trajectory and a three-dimensional mesh (12), - the computer (20) calculates successive images of the envelope (11) of the moving motor vehicle according to the determined trajectory, taking into account said three-dimensional mesh (12) and said determined trajectory, and - the computer (20) controls the display of these successive images on the display screen (10). 8. Control method according to the preceding claim, by means of a multimedia system (1) according to claim 6, wherein the computer (20) reads in the memory (30) an environment and wherein the computer (20) controls the display of said successive images of the envelope (11) in superposition of said environment. 9. A method of storing data in the memory (30) of a multimedia system (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein: - one compiles determined trajectories, - at the place of manufacture of the multimedia system (1), the determined determined trajectories are stored in said memory (30), then - at the place of assembly of the motor vehicle, the three-dimensional mesh (12) of the envelope is stored in said memory (30) (11) of the motor vehicle.