FR3055988A1 - DEVICE FOR ASSISTING A VEHICLE DRIVER FOR THE CONTROL OF TASKS BY TEMPORARILY EMBEDDED COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT. - Google Patents

Abstract

A device (DA) assists the driver of a vehicle (V) comprising equipment performing controllable tasks via an interface (IH) and a screen (EA) for displaying information representative of a selected task. This device (DA) is installed in a communication equipment (EC) comprising a touch screen (ET), and comprises: - clean control means, in case of activation following the installation of the communication equipment ( EC) in a dedicated location (ED) of the vehicle (V) accessible to the driver, to trigger the establishment of a communication with the interface (IH), and - own processing means, in case of establishment of this communication, to determine actions performed by the driver's fingers on the touch screen (ET), then to transform each determined action into a command of the selected task, and to trigger the transmission of this command to the interface (IH) via communication.

Description

Holder (s): PEUGEOT CITROEN AUTOMOBILES SA Société anonyme.

Extension request (s)

Agent (s): PEUGEOT CITROEN AUTOMOBILES SA Public limited company.

ASSISTANCE DEVICE FOR A VEHICLE DRIVER FOR THE CONTROL OF TASKS BY A TEMPORARILY ON-BOARD COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT.

FR 3 055 988 - A1 ttV / A device (DA) makes it possible to assist the driver of a vehicle (V) comprising equipment performing controllable tasks via an interface (IH) and a screen (EA) for displaying information representative of a selected task. This device (DA) is installed in communication equipment (EC) comprising a touch screen (ET), and includes:

- own control means, in the event of activation following the installation of the communication equipment (EC) in a dedicated location (ED) of the vehicle (V) accessible to the driver, to trigger the establishment of a communication with the interface (IH), and

own processing means, in the event of establishment of this communication, in determining actions performed by the driver's fingers on the touch screen (ET), then in transforming each determined action into a command of the selected task, and to initiate the transmission of this command to the interface (IH) via communication.

i

ASSISTANCE DEVICE FOR A VEHICLE DRIVER, FOR THE CONTROL OF TASKS BY A TEMPORARILY MOUNTED COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT.

The invention relates to vehicles, possibly of the automobile type, and more specifically assistance devices which are intended to allow passengers to control tasks (or functions or applications) that can be carried out by equipment on board these vehicles.

Certain vehicles, generally of the automobile type, include at least one piece of equipment performing at least one task (or function or even application) which can be controlled manually in a predefined area of their passenger compartment. This is, for example and not limited to, the case of the heating and / or air conditioning installation or of the navigation aid device or of the telephony or of the multimedia device (car radio and / or video).

As the control of the function is done manually, when the driver wants to carry out such a control he is forced to look temporarily towards the zone where the man / machine interface which allows to control it is located, then he must perform at least one action with one of his hands on this man / machine interface. This results in a momentary distraction from the driver's attention, which can be dangerous, especially when an event suddenly occurs in front of the vehicle. This danger is further increased when the action to be carried out by the driver is relatively far from him (for example because it must be carried out on the touch screen of the central instrument panel installed in the dashboard of the vehicle) and / or complex and / or requires fairly high precision with one hand or fingers.

It has certainly been proposed to use a smart phone (or "smartphone") temporarily on board the vehicle to control certain tasks or functions offered by the latter. More specifically, such a smart phone includes an application responsible for displaying on its touch screen an almost identical representation of the man / machine interface controlling the selected task or function. Unfortunately, the various control elements that are displayed are very small and therefore require great precision of gesture which is almost impossible for a driver, even a trained one, taking into account the fact that he must simultaneously monitor the road.

It has also been proposed to equip the vehicle with a touchpad (or "touchpad" - pointing device sometimes used in a laptop instead of the mouse), to control certain tasks or functions offered by this vehicle. Unfortunately, the use of such a touchpad controlling a cursor requires great visual attention in addition to important practice, which is incompatible with safe driving. In addition, this solution does not offer a didactic aspect because it does not allow to display information facilitating or explaining the actions to be carried out. In addition, if the touchpad malfunctions, it must be replaced, which is expensive and generally requires several disassembly operations.

The invention therefore aims in particular to improve the situation.

To this end, it proposes in particular an assistance device intended to assist a driver of a vehicle comprising equipment capable of performing tasks that can be controlled via an interface and a display screen capable of displaying information representative of a selected task.

This assistance device is characterized by the fact that it includes:

- control means suitable for being installed in communication equipment comprising a touch screen, and, in the event of activation following installation of this communication equipment in a dedicated location of the vehicle accessible to the driver, to initiate recovery of communication with the interface, and

- processing means suitable for being installed in the communication equipment and, if this communication is established, determining actions performed by the driver's fingers on the touch screen, then transforming each determined action into one command of the selected task, and to trigger the transmission of this command to the interface via this communication.

Thus, the touch screen of the communication equipment is temporarily transformed into a remote and easily accessible task command supply means.

The assistance device according to the invention may include other characteristics which can be taken separately or in combination, and in particular:

its control means may be capable of triggering the establishment of communication with the interface, by exchanging messages by waves between a first communication module of the vehicle and a second communication module of the communication equipment ;

its processing means can be specific to determining each action in a group comprising (at least) a movement of a finger in a direction in one direction and representative of a movement of a cursor on the display screen or of a movement of an item of information displayed on the display screen, a separation of two fingers representative of a request to enlarge an area displayed on the display screen, a reconciliation of two fingers representative of a request to reduce an area displayed on the display screen, a short press representative of a selection, a long press representative of an activation, and a double click to return to a home page ;

- Its processing means may be capable of triggering an operation of means of vibration of the communication equipment in the event of determination of at least one of the actions carried out by the driver on the touch screen;

- Its processing means can be adapted to control a light intensity and / or a color of the display of the touch screen according to a level of need for control of the interface;

its processing means may be capable of triggering a display on the touch screen of a pictogram and / or at least one cursor and / or of an animation representative of an action to be carried out or just carried out ;

> its processing means may be capable of triggering the display on the touch screen during a driver learning phase.

The invention also provides a vehicle, possibly of the automobile type, and comprising:

- equipment capable of performing tasks that can be controlled via an interface,

- a display screen suitable for displaying information representative of a selected task,

a first communication module coupled to this interface, and

- a dedicated location, suitable for accommodating communication equipment comprising an assistance device of the type presented above, and equipped with a means of action capable of inducing the triggering by this assistance device of the establishing communication between a second communication module of the communication equipment and the interface.

For example, this vehicle may include a central console installed in a passenger compartment between a first seat dedicated to a driver and a second seat dedicated to a passenger, and comprising its dedicated location.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on examining the detailed description below, and the attached drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 schematically and functionally illustrates an example of a motor vehicle comprising a dedicated location in which is installed EC communication equipment comprising an exemplary embodiment of an assistance device according to the invention, and

- Figure 2 schematically and functionally illustrates an example of communication equipment comprising an embodiment of an assistance device according to the invention.

The object of the invention is in particular to propose a DA assistance device intended to equip portable (or mobile) EC communication equipment temporarily installed in a vehicle V, and to assist the driver of this vehicle V in the supply of commands for tasks (or functions or applications) performed by equipment of this vehicle V.

In what follows, it is considered, by way of nonlimiting example, that the vehicle is of the automobile type. This is for example a car. However, the invention is not limited to this type of vehicle. It relates in fact to any type of vehicle comprising at least one piece of equipment ensuring at least one function that can be controlled manually, and in particular land, sea (or river), and air vehicles.

îo There is schematically and functionally shown in Figure 1 a motor vehicle V (here a car) comprising equipment (not shown) suitable for performing tasks (or functions or applications), a dashboard PB in which is installed, in central position, a central handset CO provided with a display screen EA and an IH interface, and a first communication module MC1 coupled to the IH interface (directly or indirectly (for example via an on-board communication network, possibly multiplexed)).

This EA display screen is suitable for displaying information which is representative of a selected task. It is possibly digital

0 (or tactile or even sensitive). It should be noted that it may also be capable of displaying information which is representative of operating parameters of the vehicle V, useful to the driver for driving the latter (V). It should also be noted that this EA display screen may not be part of the central CO handset.

The IH interface is designed to control the tasks that can be performed by the equipment of vehicle V. It provides equipment, in particular, with the commands that are provided by the driver (possibly indirectly) and that concern them.

The equipment (not shown) can be of any type and can

0 each perform at least one task (or function or application) of any type. Thus, it could be a heating / air conditioning installation, a navigation aid device, a wireless communication device (preferably offering access to the Internet), a multimedia device (capable of broadcasting radio and / or television programs received and / or playing videos and / or sound recordings (such as songs from musical albums) and / or making it possible to play a video game and / or navigate on the Internet), a driver assistance device (s) (or ADAS ("Advanced

Driver Assistance System >>)), an exterior or interior lighting system, an audible warning, a direction change indicator, or the on-board computer, for example and not limited to. It is important to note that equipment is not necessarily permanently installed in vehicle V. In fact, it can be temporarily on board, such as a smart phone (or “smartphone”) or an electronic tablet or even a video game console. Consequently, equipment can be produced in the form of software modules (or computer or "software"), or electrical or electronic circuits or components (or "hardware"), or even a combination of electrical circuits or components or electronic and software modules.

As mentioned above, the invention provides a DA assistance device intended to be installed in EC communication equipment, temporarily installed in vehicle V and comprising

0 a touch screen AND and a second communication module MC2, and to assist the driver of this vehicle V in the supply of task commands provided by equipment of this vehicle V.

To this end, the vehicle V comprises, as illustrated in FIG. 1, a dedicated location ED which is suitable for accommodating the communication equipment EC and accessible to the driver, and which is equipped with a means of action MA suitable for induce the triggering by the assistance device DA of the establishment of a communication between this communication equipment EC and the interface IH.

In other words, the correct placement of the equipment

0 EC communication in the dedicated location ED launches an application controlled by the DA assistance device and which begins with the establishment of this communication.

In the example illustrated without limitation in FIG. 1, the dedicated location ED is part of the central console CC of the vehicle V which is installed in the passenger compartment H between a first seat S1, dedicated to the driver, and a second seat S2 , dedicated to a passenger. It will be noted that this dedicated ED location can be defined in one (and therefore be an integral part of) part of the central console CC, or else can be defined in equipment which is attached to or in the central console CC. But in a variant not illustrated, the dedicated location ED could be defined in other equipment of the vehicle V, such as for example its dashboard PB, as soon as this definition is made in a place which is easily accessible to the driver (i.e. without being forced to move his trunk and turn his head).

The means of action MA, which is installed in the dedicated location ED, can, for example, be a lug intended to establish an electrical contact in a connector of the communication equipment EC. This contact then allows the circulation of a current which constitutes an activation signal for the DA assistance device. As a variant, the means of action MA can constitute an electronic device for detecting proximity of the radio emissive type, such as for example a "beacon" (positioning beacon) or equipment for recharging by induction.

0 In the following, it is considered, by way of nonlimiting example, that the EC communication equipment is a smart phone (or smartphone). However, the invention is not limited to this type of EC communication equipment. It relates to any communication equipment with a touch screen and a communication module. So it could also be a tablet or a connected watch, for example.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, a DA assistance device according to the invention comprises MCT control means and MT processing means. Note that it can be produced in the form of modules

0 software (or computer or software), or a combination of electrical or electronic circuits or components (or hardware) and software modules.

The MCT control means are suitable for being installed in the EC communication equipment and, in the event of activation following the installation of this EC communication equipment in the dedicated ED location, to trigger the establishment of a communication with the IH interface.

For example, the control means MCT may be able to trigger the establishment of this communication with the interface IH, by exchange of messages by wave between the first communication module MC1 of the vehicle V and the second communication module MC2 of EC communication equipment. In this case, communications are preferably made by short-range waves, for example using the Bluetooth or WiFi communication standard or even near field transmission (or NFT ("Near Field Transmission")).

Alternatively, however, communication with the IH interface could be done by wire. However, this would require that the dedicated ED location include a connector connected by wire to the communication network of vehicle V or directly to the interface IH or to the central handset CO, and to which the communication equipment EC is connected when it is installed correctly in the dedicated ED location.

Note that the IH interface is adapted to participate in communication with the EC communication equipment. This adaptation is preferably of the software type (addition of a program).

The processing means MT are suitable for being installed in the communication equipment EC and, in the event of establishment of the established communication, for determining actions carried out by fingers of at least the driver on the touch screen AND of EC communication equipment. They are also suitable for transforming each determined action into a task command which has been previously selected (for example by the driver), and for triggering the transmission of this command to the IH interface via the established communication.

The IH interface will then preferably trigger the live display on the EA display screen of the result of this command and supply this command to the equipment concerned.

The invention therefore makes it possible to temporarily transform the touch screen AND of the communication equipment EC into a means of providing remote task control (s) which is more easily accessible, for example, than the central part of the dashboard. PB (and in particular its central CO handset). We will understand that it is enough for the driver to perform with his fingers on the touch screen AND transformed into a kind of touch pad (or touchpad), without looking at the latter (ET), actions he has the used to do when using EC communication equipment in everyday life. The driver no longer having to move his trunk to provide his task commands and can now observe the EA display screen at the same time as the road without being hampered by his own hand, this results in a significant improvement in driving safety during task control phases.

Note that when the dedicated ED location is part of the i5 central console CC, the passenger who sits on the second seat S2 can also and advantageously perform actions with his fingers on the touch screen AND to provide task commands .

It will also be noted that the IH interface is adapted so as to provide the assistance device, via its communication equipment EC,

0 data relating to the context of use of the selected task. This adaptation is preferably of the software type (addition of a program).

For example, the processing means MT may be able to determine each action among at least:

- a movement of a finger in one direction and representative of a movement of a cursor on the EA display screen (for example to select a displayed function or bring up a menu on the screen EA display in the case of an "dragged" out of scope from the upper area of the touch screen AND), or a movement of an item of information displayed on the EA display screen ( for example to send

0 content to another application or other equipment than that ensuring the selected task or to control or authorize the exchange and sharing of content between different equipment of vehicle V (and in particular control the audio device when it is individualizable and therefore ίο allows to create sound bubbles for each passenger),

- a separation of two fingers representative of a request for enlargement (or "zoom") of an area displayed on the EA display screen (for example to obtain details on the area displayed (for example a history of '' exchanges with a telephone contact in the list of call logs, or dates of release of music albums or films, or information relating to a piece of music in the media list)),

- a reconciliation of two fingers representative of a request for reduction (or "zoom out") of an area displayed on the EA display screen (for example for a return to an undeveloped (or less) developed list),

- a short press (or "click") representative of a selection or activation,

- a long press representative of a request to switch to edit mode or the opening of a list of choices, and i5 - a double click to return to a home page.

It will therefore be understood that the same action (and therefore the same command) may have several uses depending on the context and the task selected.

It will be noted that the processing means MT can be specific to

0 trigger an operation of vibration means of their EC communication equipment in the event of determination of at least one of the actions carried out by the driver on the touch screen AND. This allows the driver to be warned by haptic feedback that his action has been determined. By way of nonlimiting example, a vibration of the EC communication equipment can be triggered following a long press or two successive short presses or the detection of the exceeding of a length threshold of a slide (or displacement ) finger.

It will also be noted that the processing means MT may be suitable for controlling the light intensity and / or the color of the display of

0 the touch screen AND depending on the level of need for interface control

IH. This level of command need is defined by the IH interface and transmitted in a message to the EC communication equipment via the established communication. For example, the stronger the light intensity of the ET touch screen display, the more we want to draw the driver's attention to the possibility or the need to provide a task command via an action on the touch screen. AND. In this case, a dark display (or no light on the AND touch screen) means that no task command is required. What is described above can also be carried out, as a variant or in combination, using different display colors, such as for example black, white and gray.

It will also be noted that the processing means MT may be able to trigger the display on the touch screen AND of a pictogram and / or at least one cursor and / or of an animation representative of an action to be carried out. or just completed. This option is intended to help the driver to act by a display of help on the touch screen AND and / or to materialize the action resulting from the gesture made by the driver on the i5 touch screen AND and / or to induce different actions available in the specific context concerned (for example a swipe to the right to accept, a swipe to the left to refuse, and a swipe down to edit different possible parameters).

For example, the processing means MT can be specific to

0 trigger this display on the touch screen AND during a driver learning phase. In this case, it is indeed considered that once the driver is sufficiently used to using the touch screen AND there is no longer any need to help him by displaying aids on the latter (ET).

Note however that the supply of command via the ET touch screen works even if there is nothing displayed on it (ET), provided, of course, that the EC communication equipment is in operation .

In addition to the aforementioned advantages, the invention offers other advantages, in particular:

0 - no equipment to replace in the vehicle, since the assistance device is installed in the communication equipment,

- the availability of the dedicated location to create a pocket space when you do not want to use the communication equipment to provide task commands. In other words, there is no monopolized space in the absence of the communication equipment and there is no risk of annoying interaction with an element placed in the dedicated location unlike what happens with a touchpad,

- the possibility of deactivating at any time the supply of remote commands by switching off the communication equipment or removing it from the dedicated location, unlike a touchpad that remains active all the time (unless you plan to an additional deactivation command),

- great ease of development of the assistance device and easy management of maintenance and updates thereof, thanks to downloads via a communication network.

Claims (10)

1. Device (DA) for assisting a driver of a vehicle (V) 5 comprising equipment capable of performing tasks which can be controlled via an interface (IH) and a display screen (EA) capable of displaying information representative of a selected task, characterized in that it comprises i) control means (MCT) suitable for being installed in communication equipment (EC) comprising a touch screen (ET), and, in the case of activation following installation of said communication equipment (EC) in a dedicated location (ED) of said vehicle (V) accessible to said driver, to trigger the establishment of communication with said interface (IH), and ii) means of processing (MT) suitable for being installed in said communication equipment (EC) and, in the event of establishment of said communication, determining actions performed by fingers of said driver on said touch screen (AND ), then transform each determined action into a command for said selected task, and trigger the transmission of this command to said interface (IH) via said communication. 2 0 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said control means (MCT) are adapted to trigger the establishment of said communication with said interface (IH), by exchange of messages by waves between a first communication module (MC1) of said vehicle (V) and a second communication module (MC2) of said equipment 25 communication (EC). 3. Device according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that said processing means (MT) are suitable for determining each action in a group comprising a movement of a finger in a direction in one direction and representative of 'a movement of a cursor on said Display screen (EA) or of a displacement of an item of information displayed on said display screen (EA), a spacing of two fingers representative of a request to enlarge a displayed area on said display screen (EA), a bringing together of two fingers representative of a request to reduce an area displayed on said display screen (EA), a short press representative of a selection, a long press representative an activation, and a double click to return to a home page. 4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that 5 said processing means (MT) are capable of triggering an operation of vibration means of said communication equipment (EC) in the event of determination of at least one of said actions performed by said driver on said touch screen (ET). 5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said processing means (MT) are capable of controlling a light intensity and / or a color of the display of said touch screen (ET) as a function of 'a level of need for control of said interface (IH). 6. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said processing means (MT) are adapted to trigger a display on is said touch screen (ET) of a pictogram and / or at least one cursor and / or animation representing an action to be carried out or just carried out. 7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that said processing means (MT) are capable of triggering said display on 2 0 the touch screen (ET) during a learning phase of said driver. 8. Vehicle (V) comprising equipment capable of performing controllable tasks via an interface (IH), a display screen (EA) capable of displaying information representative of a selected task, and a first communication module (MC1 ) coupled to said interface (IH), 25 characterized in that it further comprises a dedicated location (ED) suitable for accommodating communication equipment (EC) comprising an assistance device (DA) according to one of the preceding claims, and equipped with a means of action (MA) capable of inducing the triggering by said assistance device (DA) of the establishment of a communication between a second Communication module (MC2) of said communication equipment (EC) and said interface (IH). 9. Vehicle according to claim 8, characterized in that it comprises a central console (CC) installed in a passenger compartment (H) between a first seat (S1) dedicated to a driver and a second seat (S2) dedicated to a passenger , and comprising said dedicated location (ED). 10. Vehicle according to one of claims 8 and 9, characterized in that it is of the automobile type. 1/1