FR3058963A1 - DEVICE FOR MAINTAINING AN ELECTRONIC PORTABLE DEVICE FOR A VEHICLE COMPRISING A PROTECTION PANEL. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for holding a vehicle, an electronic portable device (2) having a touch screen (8) on its front face, the holding device comprising: - a reception base (4) of the electronic portable apparatus (2), and - a translucent protective plate (6) fixed to the reception base (4), said protective plate (6) being arranged opposite the touch screen (2). ) and covering at least one active area of the touch screen (2), according to the invention, the protection plate (6) comprises a haptic layer, the haptic layer being arranged to transmit tactile commands applied to the protection plate (6) to the portable electronic device (2).

Description

® FRENCH REPUBLIC

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY © Publication number: 3,058,963 (to be used only for reproduction orders) © National registration number: 16 61238

COURBEVOIE © Int Cl ⁸ : B 60 R 11/02 (2017.01), G 06 F 3/041

A1 PATENT APPLICATION

©) Date of filing: 18.11.16. © Applicant (s): FAURECIA INTERIEUR INDUSTRIE (© Priority: Simplified joint stock company - FR. @ Inventor (s): BENCHIKHI ZAKARIA. (© Date of public availability of the request: 25.05.18 Bulletin 18/21. ©) List of documents cited in the report preliminary research: Refer to end of present booklet (© References to other national documents ® Holder (s): FAURECIA INTERIEUR INDUSTRIE related: Joint stock company. ©) Extension request (s): (© Agent (s): LAVOIX.

ELECTRONIC PORTABLE FOR A VEHICLE loA) DEVICE FOR HOLDING AN APPARATUS INCLUDING A PROTECTIVE PANEL.

FR 3 058 963 - A1

The invention relates to a holding device, for a vehicle, of a portable electronic device (2) comprising a touch screen (8) on its front face, the holding device comprising:

- a reception base (4) of the portable electronic device (2), and

- a translucent protective plate (6) fixed to the receiving base (4), said protective plate (6) being disposed opposite the touch screen (2) and covering at least one active area of the touch screen (2),

According to the invention, the protective plate (6) comprises a haptic layer, the haptic layer being arranged to transmit tactile commands applied on the protective plate (6) to the portable electronic device (2).

Device for holding a portable electronic device for a vehicle comprising a protective panel

The present invention relates to a holding device for a vehicle, of a portable electronic device comprising a touch screen on its front face, the holding device comprising:

- a reception base for the portable electronic device, and

- a translucent protective plate fixed to the receiving base, said protective plate being arranged opposite the touch screen and covering at least one active area of the touch screen.

The invention also relates to an assembly comprising such a device.

More and more portable electronic devices with a large number of functionalities are available to users, and in particular vehicle drivers. In particular, devices such as a mobile phone or “smartphone”, personal digital assistant or PDA (“personal digital assistant”), navigation system or the like make it possible, for example, to help a driver to determine a journey, inform about the state of road traffic or assist him in driving his vehicle. Such devices are controlled, for example, by means of a touch screen which must therefore be accessible to the driver without forcing him to take the device in hand, which would constitute a danger for driving the vehicle.

Thus, it is known to provide a device for holding the portable device close to the driver, for example on the dashboard of the vehicle, in order to keep the device there leaving the screen clear to allow it to be controlled. without taking it in hand.

However, the known holding devices do not protect the occupant or occupants of the vehicle in the event of projections of said electronic device, for example during sudden decelerations or an accident. Indeed, in these situations, the electronic device can eject from its support, then strike and injure the occupant (s).

In addition, this type of holding device also does not protect the screen of the electronic device from external aggressions.

It is desirable to provide a device for holding the portable electronic device protecting both the occupant or occupants of the vehicle and the screen from any projection of said device while ensuring optimal interaction between the device and the driver.

Document EP 2 815 926 discloses a device for holding a portable electronic device comprising a base delimiting a window closed by a transparent film arranged to adhere to the screen of the portable electronic device so as to maintain the function touch screen so that the user can control their device.

This device is impractical to use. In fact, it is necessary to correctly superimpose the active surface of the screen against the transparent film so that the entire active surface of the screen is well placed facing the film.

Therefore, the holding device is not suitable for receiving portable electronic devices of different dimensions.

One of the aims of the invention is to overcome these drawbacks by proposing a device for holding the portable electronic device whatever its dimensions, protecting the occupant or occupants from any projection, with the tactile function remaining operational.

To this end, the invention relates to a holding device of the aforementioned type, in which the protective plate comprises a haptic layer.

We understand that the protective plate prevents projection of the portable electronic device on the occupants of the vehicle and thus prevents them from being injured. The plate also preserves the portable electronic device.

In addition, thanks to the haptic layer of the protective plate, it is not necessary to adhere a film to the screen. This holding device is therefore very easy to use.

In addition, this device allows the use of portable devices of different shapes and sizes. It suffices to provide a plate of sufficient dimensions. The user therefore does not have to worry about the compatibility of the support device with his portable electronic device.

According to other characteristics of the holding device:

- Said holding device comprises a computer connected electronically to the haptic layer and is intended to be connected to the portable electronic device so as to transmit a tactile signal applied on the haptic layer to the portable electronic device;

- The protection plate includes a translucent support, the face of which is placed opposite the receiving base is covered with the haptic layer and the opposite face of which is covered with a translucent protective layer;

- The protective layer is an anti-reflection, and / or anti-glare, and / or anti-trace layer;

the protective plate is movable between a position for holding the portable electronic device, in which the protective plate extends opposite the receiving base, and a position for accessing the portable electronic device, in which the protective plate is spaced from the receiving base;

- The protective plate is movable in translation or in rotation relative to the receiving base;

- The reception base comprises at least two blocking elements of the portable electronic device defining between them a receiving surface of said portable electronic device and at least one blocking element is movable to vary the dimensions of the receiving surface;

said holding device comprises a calibration module between the haptic layer and the portable electronic device, arranged to make a point of application of a tactile signal detected by the haptic layer correspond to a corresponding point on the touch screen of the portable electronic device.

The invention also relates to an assembly comprising a portable electronic device and a holding device as described above, comprising one or more of the following characteristics:

- the portable electronic device is adapted to be received in the reception base;

the protective plate is in its position for holding said portable electronic device, the protective plate extends away from the portable electronic device so as to define an air space between the touch screen of the portable device protection plate.

Other aspects and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the description which follows, given by way of example and made with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of the holding device according to the invention in which the protective plate is in a holding position of the portable electronic device,

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the holding device according to the invention in which the protective plate is in a position of access to a portable electronic device, and

- Figure 3 is a detail view of a protective plate of the holding device according to the cutting plane III-III of Figure 1.

With reference to the figures, a holding device 1 of a portable electronic device 2 is described allowing the occupants of a vehicle to interact with the portable electronic device 2, while protecting them from a projection of the portable device. 2, in particular during a sudden deceleration or an accident.

The holding device 1 is suitable for any type of portable device 2 or “nomadic”, but is more particularly suitable for electronic devices with a touch screen, of the mobile phone or “smatphone” type, digital assistant or PDA (“personal”). digital assistant >>), navigation system or other. This list of devices is given as an example and is in no way limiting.

The holding device 1 is intended to be fixed to a trim element of a vehicle, in particular a dashboard or a central console. In other exemplary embodiments, the holding device can be integrated into the trim element of the vehicle.

Referring to Figure 1, the device 1 comprises a receiving base 4 of the portable device 2 on which the portable device 2 is intended to be fixed.

The holding device 1 further comprises a translucent protective plate 6 which extends, when it is in a holding position of the portable device 2, facing the base 4, as will be described later.

According to the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, the receiving base 4 has a bottom 41 and three locking elements 42, 43, 44 of the portable device 2. In some embodiments, the bottom 41 can be formed by the outer surface of a trim element of the vehicle, in particular when the holding device 1 is integrated into the trim element.

The locking elements 42, 43, 44 define between them a receiving surface of the portable device 2 extending over the bottom 41, and at least one of them is movable to vary the dimensions of the surface reception. Thus, the holding device 1 according to the invention can accommodate portable devices of all sizes.

In the example, each of the locking elements 42, 43, 44 is movable in translation relative to the bottom 41, in corresponding grooves 45, 46, 47 formed in the bottom 41. In other examples, at least one element blocking device is movable in rotation.

As seen in particular in Figure 1, the locking elements 42, 43, 44 are intended to come into contact with the edges of the portable device 2 so as to maintain it. In the example, the locking elements 42, 43, 44 each have a shape complementary to an edge of the portable device 2, of section substantially in the shape of an "L". The user only has to vary the dimensions of the receiving surface to block the portable device in the holding device 1 by applying the locking element against the corresponding edge of the device or release it by spreading the elements blocking.

It is understood that the holding device 1 may include more or less locking elements. For example, two opposite locking elements, one of which is movable, may be sufficient to maintain the portable device.

When the protective plate 6 is in the holding position of the portable device 2, that is to say when it extends opposite the base 4, the protective plate 6 is arranged opposite - touch screen screw 8.

The occupants of the vehicle can thus view the screen 8 of the portable device through the protective plate 6.

As can be seen in more detail in FIG. 3, the protective plate 6 comprises a haptic layer 62, so that the occupants of the vehicle can control the portable device 2 via the protective plate 6. It is understood here by “haptic layer” a layer of materials detecting the touch or tactile signal applied to this layer by a user.

The protective plate 6 further comprises a translucent support 61, which can be transparent or smoked. The face of the support 61 disposed facing the receiving base 4 is covered with the haptic layer 62.

The haptic layer 62 is arranged to transmit tactile commands applied to the protective plate 6 to the portable electronic device 2.

For example, the haptic layer 62 is a transparent capacitive film, known per se. A capacitive film is a conductive film comprising electrical charges distributed over the film. When the user touches the protective plate 6, a certain amount of charge is transferred to the finger, creating a quantifiable charge deficit. Sensors located in the corners of the protective plate 6 make it possible to determine the coordinates of the point of contact with the finger.

The translucent support 61 can be made of glass, polycarbonate (PC), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polyurethane (PU) or any other material which offers suitable optical properties, such as a non-birefringent material for example. The support 61 may also be planar or have a complex shape, for example curved or other. Depending on the material used, the support 61 cannot exceed a certain thickness in order to ensure optimal transmission of the tactile signal to the haptic layer 62. For example, the thickness of the support 61 is of the order of 2 , 5 millimeters (mm) maximum.

According to one embodiment, the other face of the support 61, that is to say the face of the support 61 located on the other side of the receiving base 4, is covered with a protective layer 63, which can be an anti-reflection layer to limit reflections and / or anti-glare to increase readability and / or anti-fingerprint to limit finger stains after handling the protective plate 6. The protective layer 63 can be applied to the support 61 by an appropriate method such as by overmolding, vapor deposition or ink transfer during the molding of the support.

The dimensions of the protective plate 6 are adapted to cover at least the active area of the largest screen model. The term “active zone” means the zone of the touch screen 8 with which the user can interact so as to transmit a touch command to the portable electronic device 2. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the protective plate 6 covers the entire touch screen 8 of the portable device 2. In other examples, the protective plate 6 covers only the active area of the touch screen 8.

Furthermore, as can be seen in FIG. 3, when the protective plate 6 is in its holding position, it extends at a distance from the portable electronic device 2 so as to define an air space 16 between the touch screen 8 of the portable electronic device 2 and the protective plate 6. To obtain the clearest possible image of the screen 8 of the portable electronic device 2, the air gap 16 between the plate protection 6 and the portable device 2 must be minimal. For example, the air gap 16 is less than 1 mm.

To access the portable device 2, the protective plate 6 is movable between the holding position of the portable device 2, and a position of access to the portable device 2, in which the plate is spaced from the base. 4. An intermediate state between these positions is shown in FIG. 2, in which the protective plate 6 does not extend completely opposite the base 4.

In the example shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the holding device 1 comprises two guide surfaces 10, 12 which extend perpendicular to the bottom 41, starting from the bottom 41, and each of which has free ends of the surfaces 10, 12 is bent in the direction of the bottom 41, so as to define a guide groove for the protective plate 6. In this example, the guide surfaces 10, 12 extend perpendicular to the bottom 41, for example vertically. Other embodiments are possible, in particular, these guide surfaces can extend vertically and / or horizontally. The user can therefore slide the protective plate 6 in the guide groove so as to pass from the holding position to the position for accessing the portable device 2, and vice versa.

The holding device 1 further comprises a receiving surface 14 of the protective plate 6, when the latter is in its holding position, extending perpendicularly to the bottom 41 and arranged opposite a edge of the protection plate 6. A locking groove 141 of the protection plate 6 in its holding position is formed in the receiving surface 14.

In other exemplary embodiments, the protective plate 6 is rotatable between the holding position of the portable device 2 and the position of access to said device 2. In this case, one side of the protective plate 6 is connected to the free end of one of the surfaces 10, 12 by a hinge-type connection. Thus, in the holding position of the protection plate 6, the opposite side of the protection plate 6 is received against the other surface 10, 12.

The holding device 1 further comprises a computer 18 electronically connected to the haptic layer 62 and to the portable electronic device 2 so as to transmit the tactile signal applied on the haptic layer 62 to the portable electronic device 2. The device links portable 2 - computer 18 and computer 18 - haptic layer 62 can be wired or wireless. In the case of wireless links, the links are for example of the “Near Field Communication” (NFD), WIFI or Bluetooth type, known per se.

Thus, the user can control his portable device 2 through the protective plate 6. It suffices for the user to transparently touch the area of the protective plate 6 which corresponds to the area of the screen 8 which he wants to activate. For example, if the user wishes to open an application whose icon is displayed on the screen 8 of the portable device 2, he need only touch the point of the protective plate 6 opposite the icon he sees through the protection plate 6.

The monitoring device 1 also comprises a calibration module between the haptic layer 62 and the portable electronic device 2, not shown in the drawings, arranged to match an application point of the tactile signal detected by the haptic layer 62 to a corresponding point on the touch screen 8. In the example, the calibration module is a module integrated into the computer 18. More precisely, the calibration module is a calibration program recorded on the computer.

The calibration procedure notably consists in displaying markers on the touch screen 8 of the portable device 2, which the user must touch through the protective plate 6.

The operation of the holding device 1 will now be detailed according to the embodiment described below.

First of all, in order to insert the portable device 2 into the holding device 1, the user translates the blocking elements 42, 43, 44 so as to enlarge the receiving surface in order to be able to affix the portable device against the bottom 41 and position it resting on the receiving surface 14. Then the user acts on the locking elements 42,

43, 44, so as to translate them relative to the bottom 41 so that they enclose the portable device 2. Under these conditions, the portable device 2 is held firmly on the receiving surface 14, against the bottom 41.

In order to protect the occupants of the vehicle from any projection of the portable device 2, the user lowers the protective plate 6 in the holding position of the portable device 2 by sliding it parallel to the base 2, and more particularly at the bottom 41, until it comes into abutment in the groove 141 of the receiving surface 14. In the blocking position of the protective plate 6, the protective plate 6 is arranged opposite. screw of the base 4 and covers, in the example, the entire touch screen 8 of the portable device 2. In this position of the protective plate 6 and during a first coupling between the haptic layer 62 and the portable device 2, the calibration program is launched so as to define the active area of the protective plate 6 and make a point of application of a tactile signal detected by the haptic layer 62 correspond to a corresponding point of l 8d touch screen e the portable device 2. For example, the computer 18 stores coupling profiles between the portable electronic devices usually used in the vehicle, and the haptic layer 62 so that the coupling step need only be carried out only once for these devices.

In this position, in the event of a sudden deceleration or an accident, the portable electronic device 2 is held between the bottom 41 and the protective plate 6. The vehicle occupants are therefore protected from any projection of the portable device 2 .

To access the portable device 2, it suffices to slide the protective plate 6 in the opposite direction to the receiving surface 14, then to move aside the locking elements 42, 43, 44 of the portable device 2.

The invention further relates to an assembly comprising the portable device 2 and the holding device 1 described above.

Claims (10)

1. - Holding device, for a vehicle, of a portable electronic device (2) comprising a touch screen (8) on its front face, the holding device (1) comprising: - a reception base (4) of the portable electronic device (2), and - a translucent protective plate (6) fixed to the receiving base (4), said protective plate (6) being disposed opposite the touch screen (2) and covering at least one active area of the touch screen (2), characterized in that the protective plate (6) comprises a haptic layer (62), the haptic layer (62) being arranged to transmit tactile commands applied to the protective plate (6) to the portable electronic device (2). 2. - holding device (1) according to claim 1, comprising a computer (18) electronically connected to the haptic layer (62) and intended to be connected to the portable electronic device (2) so as to transmit a tactile signal applied to the haptic layer (62) on the portable electronic device (2). 3. - holding device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the protective plate (6) comprises a support (61) translucent, the face disposed opposite the receiving base (4) is covered with the haptic layer (62) and the opposite face of which is covered with a translucent protective layer (63). 4. - holding device according to claim 3, wherein the protective layer (63) is an anti-reflection layer, and / or anti-glare, and / or anti-trace. 5. - holding device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the protective plate (6) is movable between a holding position of the portable electronic device (2), in which the protective plate ( 6) extends opposite the reception base (4), and an access position to the portable electronic device (2), in which the protective plate (6) is spaced from the reception base (4 ). 6. - holding device according to claim 5, wherein the protective plate (6) is movable in translation or in rotation relative to the receiving base (4). 7. - holding device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the receiving base (4) comprises at least two blocking elements (42, 43, 44) of the portable electronic device (2) defining between them a receiving surface (41) of said portable electronic device (2) and at least one blocking element (42, 43, 44) 5 is movable to vary the dimensions of the receiving surface (41). 8. - holding device according to claim 2, comprising a calibration module between the haptic layer (62) and the portable electronic device (2), arranged to match an application point of a tactile signal detected by the layer 10 haptics (62) at a corresponding point on the touch screen (8) of the portable electronic device (2). 9. - assembly comprising a holding device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8 and a portable electronic device (2), the portable device 15 electronic (2) being adapted to be received in the receiving base (4). 10. - The assembly of claim 9, wherein when the protective plate (6) is in its position for holding said portable electronic device (2), the protective plate (6) extends away from the portable device electronic (2) so 20 to define an air space (16) between the touch screen (8) of the portable electronic device (2) and the protective plate (6). 1/3 141 2/3 141