FR3056779A1 - INTERFACE MODULE FOR A VEHICLE - Google Patents

Abstract

The subject of the invention is an interface module, in particular for a vehicle cabin, comprising: a first touch interface (3), with which a user is intended to interact to control functions, a second touch interface (5), ), with which a user is intended to interact to control functions, located under a lower edge of the first touch interface (3) at an angle with said first touch interface (3), so as to provide a support surface for a part of the body of the user when he interacts with the first touch interface (3), characterized in that it further comprises a proximity sensor configured to inhibit the second touch interface (5) in case of detection of a parameter making it possible to deduce an intention of interaction with the first interface (3).

Description

Holder (s): VALEO COMFORT AND DRIVING ASSISTANCE Simplified joint-stock company.

Extension request (s)

Agent (s): VALEO COMFORT AND DRIVING ASSISTANCE.

INTERFACE MODULE FOR VEHICLE INTERIOR.

FR 3 056 779 - A1 _ The subject of the invention is an interface module, in particular for the passenger compartment of a vehicle, comprising:

- a first touch interface (3), with which a user is intended to interact to control functions,

- a second touch interface (5), with which a user is intended to interact to control functions, located under a lower edge of the first touch interface (3) forming an angle with said first touch interface (3), so as to providing a support surface for a part of the user's body when he interacts with the first touch interface (3), characterized in that it further comprises a proximity sensor configured to inhibit the second touch interface (5 ) in the event of detection of a parameter making it possible to deduce an intention to interact with the first interface (3).

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The present invention relates to an interface module, as used to control and adjust various functions, and in particular for a passenger compartment of a vehicle.

In vehicle interiors, the proliferation of functions to be controlled such as air conditioning, radio and navigation systems has led to a multiplication of interface elements such as knobs, buttons and touch screens.

It is known to produce interface modules with a display screen, covered by a transparent touch screen to allow navigation in interface menus to control the functions of the vehicle. These interface modules are compact and allow controlling many vehicle functions with a single interface element.

During prolonged use, the position of the user with the arm outstretched proves to be uncomfortable to maintain, so that the lower edges of the interface modules are configured to form a bearing surface, on which the user presses the base of the closed fist to press a stretched finger (usually the index finger) on the touch screen located just above.

If this support surface relieves the user when using the interface module, said support surface represents a lost surface as regards the interface elements since it is a priori impossible to implant keys or an additional touch screen. Indeed, by pressing his hand on the support surface, the user very likely risks actuating the touch screen or the keys forming said support surface, whereas the primary intention of the user was to interact. with the touch screen.

In order to at least partially solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention relates to an interface module, in particular for a passenger compartment, comprising:

-2- a first touch interface, with which a user is intended to interact to control functions,

- a second touch interface, with which a user is intended to interact to control functions, located under a lower edge of the first touch interface forming an angle with said first touch interface, so as to provide a bearing surface for a part of the user's body when interacting with the first touch interface, characterized in that it further comprises a proximity sensor configured to allow a control unit to inhibit the second touch interface in the event of detection of a parameter making it possible to deduce an intention to interact with the first interface.

The interface module thus produced makes it possible to combine in the same element functions of an additional interface element and a support surface for an arm or a hand of a user.

Said control member may have one or more of the following characteristics, taken alone or in combination.

The proximity sensor is disposed on the second touch interface, on the side opposite the lower edge of the first interface.

The proximity sensor includes a capacitive sensor configured to allow a control unit to estimate a detected volume of the object approaching the second interface, and the interface module is configured to deactivate the second interface when the detected volume is greater at a threshold value.

The second interface has capacitive keys.

The first interface includes a display screen and a touch screen.

-3The second interface has an upper surface comprising a rim which covers covers the proximity sensor.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly on reading the following description, given by way of illustrative and nonlimiting example, and the appended drawings among which:

FIG. 1 schematically shows an interface module according to a first embodiment, FIG. 2 schematically shows a second interface for an interface module, FIG. 3 is a flow diagram showing the steps of the method associated with the interface module, the FIGS. 4 and 5 show two cases of approach of a user hand of an interface module, FIG. 6 is a graph showing the signals emitted by the detectors of FIGS. 4 and 5.

In all the figures, the same references relate to the same elements.

The embodiments described with reference to the figures are examples. Although the description refers to one or more embodiments, this does not necessarily mean that each reference relates to the same embodiment, or that the characteristics apply only to a single embodiment. Simple features of different embodiments can also be combined or interchanged to provide other embodiments.

In FIG. 1 is shown schematically an interface module 1, in particular for the passenger compartment of a vehicle, according to a first embodiment of

-4l'invention.

The interface module 1 comprises two distinct tactile interfaces: a first interface 3 and a second interface 5, both tactile, and with which a user is intended to interact in order to control functions of the vehicle in the case of a module interface 1 for vehicle interior. The vehicle functions are, for example, the vehicle air conditioning, a multimedia audio device, a navigation assistant.

The first interface 3 here comprises a transparent touch screen 7 covering a display screen 9. The display screen 9 displays menus and icons to which correspond specific selection areas of the touch screen 7. The display screen 9 may include a liquid crystal screen, a plasma screen, a light emitting diode screen, an OLED organic diode screen or even a simple backlit pattern. The touch screen 7 can be a resistive or capacitive touch screen.

The second interface 5 is located at a lower edge of the first interface 3, below it relative to the vertical. The second interface 5 has an upper surface 11 forming an angle with the first interface 5, interface means 13 and an approach sensor 15.

The upper surface 11, located above the interface means 13 and the proximity sensor 15, allows a user to press his hand U on the second interface 5 when he interacts with the first interface 3, in particular so prolonged. The upper surface 11 is substantially horizontal so that the user can press his hand U and thus rest his arm. The terms "above", "below", "on", "under" etc. are defined with respect to a normal N to said upper surface 11 oriented towards the user.

In figure 1 the user presses the hypothenar eminence of his hand L / on the upper surface 11, but in the general case the user can also press

-5the anterior side of his wrist, the base of his palm and / or part of his folded fingers, while he stretches one or more fingers, generally the index and possibly the thumb or middle finger, towards the tactile surface 7 of the first interface 3 to interact with the touch screen 7 of the first interface 3.

The interface means 13 can comprise one or more tactile surfaces, capacitive keys, switches or pressure sensors, and make it possible to control by application of a pressure or a contact one or more functions, in particular functions of the vehicle in the case of an interface module 1 for the passenger compartment of the vehicle.

The proximity sensor 15 is configured to detect if the user approaches an object, generally his hand or else a pointer, towards the second interface 5 in order to interact with said second interface 5 or else if he approaches his hand or the pointer of the first interface 3 to interact with said first interface 3 by pressing the base of his hand on the upper surface 11 to relieve his arm.

In particular, the proximity sensor 15 defines a detection space E situated above the second interface 5, represented in FIG. 1 in the form of a cone. Interface modules 1 with identical functioning are obtained by placing the proximity sensor or sensors 15 on the first interface 3, in particular by placing a proximity sensor 15 at the edges of the first 3 and second interface elements 5 which are facing each other.

Within the framework of the embodiment of interface module 1 of FIG. 1, the proximity sensor 15 comprises a capacitive approach sensor, which supplies an increasing electrical signal S with a detected volume V _det in the detection space E so as to make it possible to estimate the detected volume V _det of an object entering the detection field E.

The proximity sensor 15 can also include, for example, an opto-electronic, capacitive approach detector or a radar or a sonar. In

-6alternatively or in addition, the proximity sensor 15 may include an optical camera and a shape recognition unit for analyzing images from the optical camera and for distinguishing the position of the hand of the user U in said images of the optical camera in order to detect if the user approaches his hand U with at least one finger stretched towards the second interface 5. The use of a metallic or magnetic pointer makes it possible to use magnetic proximity sensors or induction.

The touch screen 7, the display screen 9, the interface means 13 and the proximity sensor 15 are connected to a control unit 17 which receives the signal S emitted by the proximity sensor 15. The control 17 comprises in particular calculation means, such as one or more processors, and at least one electronic memory which are either dedicated or integrated and shared in a global electronic network of the vehicle.

The control unit 17 can in particular control the power supply and the operation of various pieces of equipment of the vehicle by means of transistors (for example metal-oxide with field effect MOSFET), microprocessors and / or specific applied integrated circuits (ASIC "Application specifies integrated circuits").

FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of an embodiment of the second interface 5.

The second interface 5 of FIG. 2 is in the form of a strip covered by the upper surface 11, a strip which can be made of flexible material, in particular in the form of a flexible printed circuit, easily transported and assembled. The strip of the second interface 5 comprises interface means 13 and a proximity sensor 15, advantageously incorporated in the mass of the strip, for example during molding.

The interface means 13 here comprise capacitive keys, of rectangular shape and aligned lengthwise of the second

-7interface 5. These capacitive keys 13 can be used in addition to the touchscreen 7 of the first interface 3, for example as a shortcut for direct access to the menus corresponding to the main functions of the vehicle (air conditioning, hi-fi system, navigation assistant) .

The proximity sensor 15 here comprises a capacitive antenna, linear in shape and arranged lengthwise of the second interface 5. The upper surface 11 is then produced in the form of a plastic plate and may have markings, ribs or profiles which delimit the keys and indicate the associated functions.

The capacitive antenna 15 is disposed on the side opposite the lower edge of the first interface 3 in the assembled state. Indeed, in this configuration, the hand of a user U, or the pointer, is forced to pass through the detection field E as well to interact with the first interface 3 as to interact with the second 5.

The control unit 17 can then deactivate the interface means 13 when the capacitive antenna 15 does not detect a user L / in its detection field E and activate said interface means 13 only in the event of detection of approach of a hand or a pointer in order to interact with the second interface 5, which saves energy.

The upper surface 11 may then include a cover, in particular made of plastic, forming a rim which covers the capacitive antenna 15, and which can in particular be tinted in black or gray or else chrome-plated to be integrated discreetly or aesthetically in a passenger compartment. vehicle. Alternatively, the capacitive antenna 15 can be inserted directly behind a wall of the passenger compartment of the vehicle.

FIG. 3, to be considered with FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, illustrates the operation of the embodiment of interface module 1 of FIG. 1 with a second interface 5 as for example in FIG. 2. FIG. 3 is

An organization chart showing the main steps of the management method 100 of an interface module 1.

The first step 101 is the detection of an approach: the control unit 17 interrogates the proximity sensor 15. If the proximity sensor 15 detects an object in its detection space E, case p positive in FIG. 3, the method 100 goes to the next step 103. If the proximity sensor 15 does not detect an object in its detection space E, case n negative in FIG. 3, the method 100 is reset and, after a predetermined waiting time, the control unit 13 again interrogates the proximity sensor 15.

The predetermined waiting time is typically from a few milliseconds ms to a few hundred milliseconds, and for example stored in the control unit 17.

During the second step 103, the control unit 17 compares the signal S which it receives from the proximity sensor 15 with a threshold value S _o , to distinguish the two situations represented in FIGS. 4 and 5.

In FIG. 4, the user approaches his hand U from the second interface 5 with the index finger stretched towards the first interface 3 in order to interact with said first interface 3 while pressing the base of his hand U on the upper surface 11 .

The volume detected V _of t by the proximity sensor 15 then corresponds to the volume of the portion of the hand of the user U which is in the detection space E (hatched portion of the hand U shown in FIG. 4), which here includes the palm, the folded fingers and the thumb. The proximity sensor 15 then emits a variable signal Si (t) to the control unit 17 corresponding to the detected volume Vjet In FIG. 5, the user approaches his hand to the second interface 5 with the index finger stretched towards the second interface 5 in order to interact with said second interface 5.

The volume detected V _of t by the proximity sensor 15 here also corresponds to the volume of the portion of the hand of the user U which is in the detection space E (hatched portion of the hand U shown in FIG. 5 ), and which here includes the stretched index finger and only part of the folded fingers. In particular, the detected volume V _det here in the case of FIG. 5 is lower than the detected volume V _det of FIG. 4. The proximity sensor 15 then emits a variable signal S ₂ (t) intended for the unit of control 17 of value less than the signal Si (t) sent in the case of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a graph showing diagrammatically two examples of signals S1, S2 corresponding to the two situations of the respective figures 4 and 5.

In FIG. 6 is shown the signal S emitted by the proximity sensor 15, for example in millivolts (mV for an analog signal) over time t when a user interacts with the two interfaces 3 and 5.

The first signal represented Si (t) increases rapidly and then stabilizes at a high value Si corresponding to the detected volume V _det of FIG. 4 (closed fist, wrist base, palm). The first signal Si (t) then decreases rapidly and returns to zero. Said signal Si (t) corresponds to the entry and withdrawal of the hand of the user U in the detection space E with the fist closed where at least the base of the wrist and / or the eminence thenar or hypothenar enter first: the detected volume V _det increases rapidly and stabilizes quickly at a high value Si, then it decreases just as rapidly.

The second signal represented S ₂ (f) increases more slowly and stabilizes at a maximum value S ₂ lower than that of the first signal represented Si and corresponding to the detected volume V _det of FIG. 5 (index finger or fingers extended, possibly with a portion folded fingers). The second signal S ₂ (t) then decreases more slowly and returns to zero. Said signal S ₂ (f) corresponds to the entry and withdrawal of the hand of the user U in the detection space E

-10 with the index finger or a stretched finger, which represents a low volume, first: the detected volume V _det increases slowly and stabilizes slowly at a low value S ₂ , then it decreases just as slowly.

The control unit 17 therefore compares during the second step 103 the signal S which it receives from the proximity sensor 15 to a threshold value So comprised between the high Si and low S ₂ values emitted by the proximity sensor 15 in the cases represented respectively in FIG. 3 and 4. The threshold value S _o therefore corresponds to a detected volume V _det comprised between the volume V _det detected in FIG. 4 and the detected volume V _det in FIG. 5. The threshold value So can in particular be stored in the control unit 17 and / or be calculated or adjusted during a calibration process.

If the value S of the signal received by the control unit 17 is greater than the threshold value S _o , the control unit 17 interprets in the third step 105 the situation as being that of FIG. 4 and deactivates or keeps deactivated the interface means 13 of the second interface 5 so that the user can press the base of his hand L / on the upper surface 11 without actuation of the interface means 13 located under said upper surface 11 being taken into account. account.

If the value S of the signal received by the control unit 17 is less than the threshold value So, the control unit 17 interprets in the fourth step 107 the situation as being that of FIG. 5 and activates or keeps activated the means interface 13 of the second interface 5 so that the user can actuate by contact or by finger pressure the interface means 13 situated under said upper surface 11.

Other embodiments can make a distinction on other parameters of the signal curves Si (t) or S ₂ (t) to distinguish between the cases of FIGS. 4 and 5. For example, the derivative of the signal with respect to the time (incoming volume per second) can be compared to a threshold value, since

In the case of FIG. 5 where a stretched finger first enters the detection space E so that the detected volume V _det first increases slowly compared to the case of FIG. 4 where the closed fist portion of the user, of greater volume, enters the detection space E.

The invention thus makes it possible to use the portion of the interface module 1 situated under the first interface 3 both as a second interface 5 and as a support for supporting a hand during an interaction with the first interface

3. The proximity sensors 15 used to differentiate an approach from the hand of a user U to interact with the first interface 3 from an approach to interact with the second interface 5 can be produced in an economical and compact manner. In particular, a second interface 5 according to the invention forms an easily transportable and manipulable block, which can be assembled at a place of production different from the place of assembly of the complete interface module.

Such a second interface 5 can easily be integrated into a standard interface module 1 to help increase the perceived value of the vehicle by the user.

Claims (6)

1. Interface module, in particular for a passenger compartment, comprising: - a first touch interface (3), with which a user is intended to interact to control functions, - a second touch interface (5), with which a user is intended to interact to control functions, located under a lower edge of the first touch interface (3) forming an angle with said first touch interface (3), so as to providing a support surface for a part of the user's body when he interacts with the first touch interface (3), characterized in that it further comprises a proximity sensor configured to allow a central processing unit (17 ) to inhibit the second touch interface (5) in the event of detection of a parameter making it possible to deduce an intention to interact with the first interface (3). 2. Interface module according to claim 1, characterized in that the proximity sensor (15) is arranged on the second touch interface (5), on the side opposite to the lower edge of the first interface (3). 3. Interface module according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the proximity sensor (15) comprises a capacitive sensor configured to allow said central unit (17) to estimate a detected volume (V _det ) of l object (U) approaching the second interface (5), and in that the interface module is configured to deactivate the second interface (5) when the detected volume (V _det ) is greater than a threshold value. 4. Interface module according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second interface (5) has keys -13 capacitors (13). 5. Interface module according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first interface (3) comprises a display screen (9) and a touch screen (7). 5 6. Interface module according to one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the second interface (5) has an upper surface (11) having a flange which covers covers the proximity sensor (15). ^5k% 100