FR3100205A1 - Interface for controlling at least one function of a motor vehicle component - Google Patents

Abstract

Electrical heating device and associated heating and / or ventilation and / or air conditioning installation The invention relates to an interface for controlling at least one function of a motor vehicle component, comprising at least one control component (2) comprising at least one movable gripping element (2a), movable in rotation about an axis (X), at least one conductive index (10) carried by the element (2a) and movable therewith, a guide ( 2b), and a touch screen (3) being configured to determine a spatial coordinate (4s), and a processing unit (6) connected to the screen (3), characterized in that the processing unit (6) is configured to convert the spatial coordinates (4s, 5s) into angular coordinates (4a, 5a) and to index predetermined angular positions (12) of the element (2a) by counting the crossings of angular ranges (14) being arranged in a circle around the axis (X) facing a trajectory (t) of at least one index co inductor (10) during a rotation of the element (2a). Figure for the abstract: Fig. 2

Description

Interface for controlling at least one function of a motor vehicle component

The present invention relates to the field of interfaces for controlling at least one function of a motor vehicle component.

In the automotive field, the control of electrical components, such as the air conditioning or navigation system, is generally carried out by means of a control component such as a mechanical rotary button. This generally comprises a mobile gripping element, such as a wheel, mounted on a guide. The guide supports and guides in rotation the mobile gripping element whose angular positioning is determined for example by an optical sensor or by an electric rotary switch.

On such a mechanical rotary button, specific functions are associated with predetermined angular positions of the button. The indexing of these predetermined angular positions is generally perceived haptically during manipulation of the control device, such as a jerk during the rotation of a button comprising mechanical notches.

Other means allow the control of electrical components. It has been proposed more recently to associate a control unit with a touch screen. The control device is generally arranged on the screen. In this type of system, a capacitive touchscreen of the screen detects the position of at least one conductive index carried by the mobile gripping element of the control device. The detection of the position of a conductive index allows a processing unit to subsequently select a particular command as a function of the angular position of the movable gripping element and to command, for example, an audio system, a heating system , ventilation or any other system.

This system makes it possible in particular to program the display of the touch screen in order to provide visual information concerning the various functions to be controlled by the user. Thus a multitude of different controls can be associated with the same control member. The screen can, for example, be programmed to display the position of the flaps and the temperature of the air conditioning system or even be used to display the adjustment of parameters of the vehicle's audio system. The rotation of the mobile gripping element notably allows the user to scroll through an element in a list or to increment/decrement a variable, the selection thus made being able to be displayed on the screen. Once the element has been selected or the value of the variable has been modified, the choice can then be validated by touching the touch screen.

However, certain information such as the direction of rotation or even the speed of rotation of the metal index(es) of the control member are not readily available.

An object of the present invention is to provide a simple, effective and economical solution to this problem.

To this end, the subject of the invention is an interface for controlling at least one function of a motor vehicle component, comprising:

- at least one control device comprising:

a mobile gripping element, mobile in rotation around an axis of rotation,

at least one conductive index carried by the mobile gripping element and mobile with the latter,

a guide, the movable gripping element being supported and guided in rotation by the guide, and

- a touch screen on which the guide of the control member is fixed, the touch screen being configured to determine a spatial coordinate corresponding to a position of the conductive index carried by the mobile gripping element with respect to the touch screen ,

- a processing unit connected to the touch screen,

the processing unit being configured to convert the spatial coordinates determined by the touch screen into angular coordinates with respect to the coordinates of the axis of rotation of the mobile gripping element and to index predetermined angular positions of the mobile gripping element gripping by counting the crossings of angular ranges by the angular coordinates of the at least one conductive index, the angular ranges being arranged in a circle around the axis of rotation of the mobile gripping element opposite a trajectory of the at least one conductive index during a rotation of the movable gripping element.

The conversion of the spatial coordinates of the positions of the conductive index into angular coordinates makes it possible to express the information related to the positions of the conductive index in a way that is more suitable for determining the movement parameters of the mobile gripping element.

The crossing of an angular range by the at least one conductive index during a rotation is interpreted by the processing unit as a positioning of the mobile gripping element on one of these predetermined angular ranges. Thus the positions of the mobile gripping element can be indexed without using an encoder.

The invention may further comprise one or more of the following aspects taken alone or in combination:

- the predetermined angular positions of the movable gripping element are located in the middle of the angular ranges;

- the interface comprises a haptic actuator configured to generate haptic feedback to the user of the controller when the at least one conductive index crosses an angular range;

- the processing unit is configured to reset the arrangement and the shape of the angular ranges for the control of at least one function of a motor vehicle component different from a function previously controlled by the interface;

- the angular ranges are arranged with regular angular spacing;

- the angular ranges are of the same size;

- the angular ranges are the same size as the angular spacings;

- angular coordinates are polar coordinates;

- the interface comprises a display screen arranged under the touch screen facing a user of the interface;

- the touch screen is a capacitive touch screen, and

- the mobile gripping element and the guide have generally cylindrical or annular shapes.

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

FIG. 1 represents a view of a portion of the interior passenger compartment of a motor vehicle comprising an interface which is installed by way of example at the front of the vehicle;

FIG. 2 represents a schematic view of a detail of the interface of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 represents a detailed schematic view of a first example of arrangement of the angular ranges of the interface of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 represents a second example of arrangement of the angular ranges of the interface of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 represents a third example of arrangement of the angular ranges of the interface of FIG. 1;

In all the figures, identical elements bear the same reference numerals.

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

Illustrated in Figure 1 is a passenger compartment comprising an interface 1 for controlling at least one function of a motor vehicle component, the interface 1 comprising at least one control component 2 and a touch screen 3. interface 1 allows the control of at least one function of a motor vehicle component such as the control of the air conditioning functions, of an audio system, of a telephone system or else of a navigation system. This interface 1 can also be used for window lift controls, for positioning exterior mirrors or even for moving motorized seats or for controlling interior lights, central locking, a sunroof, hazard warning lights or dash lights. 'atmosphere.

Interface 1 allows the user, for example, to scroll through a list, select or validate a selection. It allows the user, for example, to select a destination postal address or a name in a directory, the settings of the air conditioning system or the selection of a musical track from a list. The interface 1 can include several control devices 2, two for example, one for the driver and the other for the passenger.

Figure 2 schematically illustrates an embodiment of interface 1 given solely by way of example. The control member 2 comprises a movable gripping element 2a which is rotatable around an axis of rotation X perpendicular to the touch screen 3, as well as a guide 2b, the movable gripping element 2a being supported and guided in rotation by the guide 2b. The guide 2b of the control device 2 is fixed on the touch screen 3.

The mobile gripping element 2a is for example a knob. The mobile gripping element 2a and the guide 2b have generally cylindrical or annular shapes and are arranged coaxially with each other. A user of the control member 2 can manipulate the mobile gripping element 2a to rotate it clockwise and counterclockwise around the axis of rotation X.

The control member 2 also comprises at least one conductive index 10 carried by the mobile gripping element 2a. During manipulation of the control member 2 by a user, the at least one conductive index 10, movable with the movable gripping element 2a, is driven in rotation around the axis of rotation X and is thus brought to move along a circular or arcuate trajectory. The trajectory t constitutes the set of positions P that the at least one conductive index 10 can take during a complete rotation of the mobile gripping element 2a around the axis of rotation X.

The material of at least one conductive index 10 is for example a conductive plastic material or a metallic material such as iron, copper or aluminum. The conductive index 10 is for example a pellet or a metal tab electrically connected to an external conductive surface of the mobile gripping element 2a intended to be manipulated by the user. According to an example not illustrated, the mobile gripping element 2a comprises for example a coating arranged at the level of the external gripping surface, such as a chrome envelope electrically connected to the at least one conductive index 10.

The touchpad 3 is configured to determine a spatial coordinate 4s corresponding to a position P of the conductive index 10 carried by the mobile gripping element 2a with respect to the touchpad 3. The spatial coordinate 4s corresponds to the place where the at least one conductive index 10 is detected by the touchpad 3. In FIG. 2, the position P of the at least one conductive index 10 on the touchpad 3 is shown schematically at the point of intersection between the two perpendicular dotted lines between they and the curved line schematizing the trajectory t.

The touch screen 3 is also configured to assign a spatial coordinate 5s to the axis of rotation X. In Figure 2, the spatial coordinate 5s is indicated by the point of intersection O at the center of the controller 2.

Interface 1 also includes a processing unit 6 connected to touch screen 3 (Figure 3). The processing unit 6 is configured to convert the spatial coordinates 4s of the at least one conductive index 10 determined by the touchpad 3 into angular coordinates 4a with respect to the coordinates of the axis of rotation X of the mobile gripping element 2a . The processing unit 6 is for example the on-board computer of the motor vehicle.

An angular coordinate system is particularly suitable for simply expressing quantities such as the position and the speed of an object which rotates around an axis, as is the case here of at least one conductive index 10 and of the mobile gripping element 2a.

Thus, for example, a movement of rotation of the mobile gripping element 2a in the clockwise direction can be conventionally associated with an incrementation of the value of the angular coordinate 4a, while a rotational movement of the mobile gripping element 2a counterclockwise can be associated with a decrement of the value of the angular coordinate 4a.

The angular coordinates 4a and 5a are for example polar coordinates. A position P of at least one conductive index 10 is expressed in this case by a distance d between the conductive index 10 and a point of intersection O, and by an angle θ between a straight line connecting the position P and the point d intersection O and another straight line generating a polar coordinate system passing through the point of intersection O. The example of the polar coordinates is notably illustrated in figure 2.

The angular ranges 14 of the touch screen 3 are arranged in a circle around the axis of rotation X of the mobile gripping element 2a (Figure 3). The angular ranges 14 correspond to specific functions controlled by interface 1.

The angular ranges 14 are located opposite the trajectory t of at least one conductive index 10 during a rotation of the mobile gripping element 2a. The angular ranges 14 are arranged so that the trajectory t followed by the at least one conductive index 10 successively intersects each of the angular ranges 14 during a complete rotation of the mobile gripping element 2a around the axis of rotation X.

The angular ranges 14 are in particular delimited by intervals of angular coordinates. The boundaries of the angular ranges 14 are clearly defined and do not overlap. However, they can be immediately adjacent.

The processing unit 6 is also configured to index predetermined angular positions 12 of the mobile gripping element 2a by counting the crossings of the angular ranges 14 by the angular coordinates of the at least conductive index 10.

The predetermined angular positions 12 define a set of specific positions of the at least one conductive index 10 within a respective angular range 14. These angular positions 12 make it possible, for example, to increment or decrement a parameter or to control a function or to choose a function from a menu.

A crossing of an angular range 14 corresponds to cases where the angular coordinates of at least one conductive index 10 are included in one of the angular ranges 14. Each crossing of an angular range 14 is counted by the processing unit 6 , for example by means of a counter 40 connected to the processing unit 6. This count is used to index the angular positions 12 without having recourse to an encoder.

The duration between the crossings can make it possible to determine the speed of rotation of the at least one conductive index 10. When the at least one conductive index 10 crosses an angular range 14, the processing unit 6 notably triggers the function or functions associated with this angular range 14. Thus, the processing unit 6 does not expect a "perfect" superposition of the position P of the driver index 10 with the angular position 12 to control a function of a motor vehicle component.

A delay can be used between the moment when crossing an angular range 14 is detected by the touchpad 3 and the moment when the position P of at least one conductive index 10 coincides with an angular position 12. The crossing of an angular range 14 is, for example, identified by the touchpad 3 for a determined period of time before the position P coincides with one of the angular positions 12. This delay makes it possible in particular to anticipate the processing carried out by the processing unit 6 to implement a function controlled by interface 1.

In the various embodiments presented below, a single conductive index 10 is carried by the mobile gripping element 2a for simplification. In these different embodiments, the angular ranges 14 have the shape of an arcuate band. Such a shape is particularly suited to the rotational movement of the mobile gripping element 2a. It makes it possible to precisely follow the trajectory t taken by the driver index 10.

According to an example arrangement, the angular positions 12 can all be located at the same place in their respective angular ranges 14. According to another example of arrangement, the location of the angular positions 12 can be different for each angular range 14.

According to a second set of arrangements of the angular ranges illustrated in FIG. 4, the angular positions 12 can be centered or off-centered with respect to the angular ranges 14. An angular position 12 can for example be located at the end of an angular range 14 This configuration makes it possible, for example, to bring the angular positions 12 closer to each other without reducing the size of the angular ranges 14 when the angular positions 12 vary within the angular ranges 14.

In the example of FIG. 4, the angular positions 12 of the angular ranges 14b and 14e are centered with respect to the respective angular ranges 14b and 14e, while the angular positions 12 of the angular ranges 14c and 14d are offset with respect to the angular ranges 14c and 14d respectively.

In this same example layout, the angular ranges 14b 14c, 14d and 14e do not all have the same size. A large size of angular range 14 makes it possible, for example, to allocate a larger surface of the touch screen 3 to a specific function, such as a command to confirm a choice. In the example illustrated in Figure 4, the angular range 14b covers an angular range greater than that of the angular ranges 14c, 14d and 14e.

In the case where the angular ranges 14 are not immediately adjacent, there may be an angular spacing 11 between two neighboring angular ranges 14. The angular spacing 11 separating two consecutive angular ranges 14 can be interpreted as a "dead zone" in which the touch screen 3 "ignores" the presence of the conductive index 10. The processing unit 6 does not trigger any action particular in the case where the conductive index 10 is detected in an angular spacing 11 separating two consecutive angular ranges 14.

The angular spacings 11 do not necessarily all have the same size. Two neighboring angular ranges 14 are for example closer to each other than two other neighboring angular ranges 14. In the example illustrated in FIG. 4, the angular spacing 11b between the angular range 14b and the angular ranges 14c is greater than the angular spacing 11c between an angular range 14c and an angular range 14d.

According to another embodiment visible in FIG. 3, the angular ranges 14 are of the same size. The trajectory portion t traversed by the conductive index 10 within these angular ranges 14 is therefore identical from one angular range 14 to another. Such an arrangement of the angular ranges 14, also illustrated by FIG. 5, is easily programmable within the processing unit 6 because there is no need to individually define each angular range 14. The angular ranges 14 can also be arranged with a regular angular spacing 11.

The regular distribution of the angular ranges 14 around the axis of rotation X ensures uniform detection of the position P of the conductive index 10 by the touch screen 3. a regular indexing of the angular positions 12.

According to a third example of arrangement of the angular ranges 14 of the interface 1, the angular ranges 14 are of the same size as the angular spacings 11. This particular arrangement makes it possible to establish a longer pause time during the indexing of the positions angular 12 than the arrangements described above. Such an arrangement is particularly illustrated in Figure 5.

In the case where the angular ranges 14 are all identical to one another, that the spacing between the neighboring angular ranges 14 is regular and that the angular positions 12 are centered with respect to the respective angular ranges 14, a radial symmetry with respect to the axis of rotation X is identifiable. This arrangement is the simplest to use by the processing unit 6.

Each function of a motor vehicle component can have its own number and its own arrangement of angular positions 12. These arrangements are for example prerecorded in a memory element 16 connected to the processing unit 6.

Memory element 16 may be any type of storage device or medium readable by processing unit 6, such as random access memory ("RAM") or read-only memory ("ROM") of the vehicle's on-board computer. The memory element 16 stores for example instructions executed by the processing unit 6.

The processing unit 6 can be configured to reset the layout and shape of the angular ranges 14 of the touch screen 3 for controlling at least one function of a motor vehicle component different from a function previously controlled by the interface 1. For each distribution of the angular positions 12, a multitude of arrangements of the angular ranges 14 can be envisaged, reflecting the multitude of functions attributable to the interface 1. The number of angular ranges 14 is therefore not necessarily identical one function to another.

When the user wishes to control a function of a motor vehicle component different from the function previously controlled by the interface 1, the processing unit 6 determines which angular positions 12 and which arrangement of the angular ranges 14 to adopt for the touch screen 3.

According to one embodiment of the interface 1, the latter comprises a display screen 15 arranged under the touch screen 3 opposite a user of the interface 1. The display screen 15 is for example a thin film transistor type screen or an LED screen or an LCD screen is in particular configured to display visual information associated with the manipulation of the interface 1.

In this embodiment, the touch screen 3 is in particular, for example, bonded to the display screen 15 by an optical glue (called “optical bonding”). The touch screen 3 and the optical glue are in particular configured to allow the visualization of the information displayed through the display screen 15. The touch screen 3 and the optical glue are for example at least partially transparent or translucent.

According to one embodiment, the touchscreen 3 is a capacitive touchscreen configured to measure a variation in capacitance caused by the presence of the conductive index 10. The capacitive touchscreen may for example comprise a capacitive sensor having a matrix of nodes 30 which are shown only fragmentarily in FIG. 3. The matrix of nodes 30 may extend over the entire length and the entire width of the capacitive touch screen. The nodes 30 can each detect a level of capacity which can be affected by the distance between the node 30 and the index conductor 10.

Each node 30 is for example configured to transmit one or more signals to a panel controller 36 which is connected to the processing unit 6. The panel controller 36 is for example configured to interpret these signals in order to determine the location of the at least one conductive index 10 in terms of positions P on the touch screen 3 (FIG. 3).

According to another embodiment of the interface 1 compatible with the embodiments described above, the interface 1 comprises a haptic actuator 17 configured to generate haptic feedback to the user of the control device 2 when the at least a conductive index 10 crosses an angular range 14.

The haptic actuator 17 makes it possible in particular to cause the touch screen 3 or even the control member 2 to vibrate. The haptic feedback can for example be generated for the indexing of the angular positions 12. In other words, each time the position P of the conductive index 10 coincides with an angular position 12, the haptic actuator 17 generates haptic feedback. The crossings of the angular ranges 14 are thus signaled to the user of the interface 1.

Thus this embodiment of the interface 1 makes it possible in particular to imitate the jerks felt by a user of a notched mechanical button by transposing this feeling to the control member of the interface 1 via the actuator haptics 17.

Claims (10)

Interface for controlling at least one function of a motor vehicle component, comprising at least one control component (2) comprising at least one mobile gripping element (2a), mobile in rotation about an axis of rotation (X), at least one conductive index (10) carried by the movable gripping element (2a) and movable with the latter, a guide (2b), the movable gripping element (2a) being supported and guided in rotation by the guide (2b), and a touchpad (3) on which the guide (2b) of the control member (2) is fixed, the touchpad (3) being configured to determine a spatial coordinate (4s) corresponding to a position (P) of the conductive index (10) carried by the movable gripping element (2a) relative to the touch screen (3), and a processing unit (6) connected to the touch screen ( 3), characterized in that the processing unit (6) is configured to convert the spatial coordinates (4s, 5s) determined by the touchpad (3) into angular coordinates (4a, 5a) with respect to the coordinates of the axis of rotation (X) of the movable gripping element (2a) and for indexing predetermined angular positions (12) of the movable gripping element (2a) by counting the crossings of angular ranges (14) by the angular coordinates of at least one conductive index (10), the angular ranges (14) being arranged in a circle around the axis of rotation (X) of the mobile gripping element (2a) opposite a trajectory (t) of the at least one conductive index (10) during a rotation of the mobile gripping element (2a). Interface according to Claim 1, characterized in that the predetermined angular positions (12) of the mobile gripping element (2a) are located in the middle of the angular ranges (14). Interface according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a haptic actuator (17) configured to generate a haptic feedback to the user of the control device (2) when the at least one conductive index ( 10) crosses an angular range (14). Interface according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the processing unit (6) is configured to reinitialize the arrangement and the shape of the angular ranges (14) for controlling at least one function of a motor vehicle different from a function previously controlled by the interface (1). Interface according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the angular ranges (14) are arranged with a regular angular spacing (11). Interface according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the angular ranges (14) are of the same size. Interface according to Claim 5, characterized in that the angular ranges (14) are of the same size as the angular spacings (11). Interface according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the angular coordinates (4a, 5a) are polar coordinates. Interface according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a display screen (15) arranged under the touch screen (3) facing a user of the interface (1). Interface according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the touchscreen (3) is a capacitive touchscreen.