WO2024099627A1

WO2024099627A1 - Method for operating at least one display unit in a vehicle and device

Info

Publication number: WO2024099627A1
Application number: PCT/EP2023/075824
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jens Mueller; Wira Tirta LAKSONO; Armin KROENER; Shruti GOSAVI
Original assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
Priority date: 2022-11-09
Filing date: 2023-09-19
Publication date: 2024-05-16
Also published as: DE102022129624A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for operating at least one display unit in a vehicle, wherein at least one control unit accesses data from at least one data store and based on the accessed data actuates at least one display unit, wherein in an operating state, the at least one display unit reserves a first area for a display of information based on a first part of the data and reserves a second area for a display of information based on a second part of the data when the accessed data have a particular characteristic.

Description

Method for operating at least one display unit in a vehicle and device

In modern vehicles, at least one display unit, often several display units, is usually arranged in the interior. The at least one display unit is used, for example, to display information relevant to the journey and is provided in particular in the field of vision of the vehicle user. The at least one display unit can be, for example, a combination instrument or instrument cluster. The at least one display unit can be used to display information known from analog instruments relating to a vehicle state, for example an rpm or a speed, but also, for example, information about the range still available or the charge level of an energy storage device in the vehicle.

The at least one display unit can also be used to display graphic information. For example, at least a section of a schematic map view can be displayed, which graphically represents the surroundings of the vehicle and possibly also shows a current position of the vehicle in the map section. If a route from a start to a destination is planned by a navigation unit of the vehicle, a section of the route can also typically be graphically highlighted in the schematic map display on the at least one display unit and in particular the course of the route section can be displayed in the map view. In this way, a user of the vehicle can see the further course of the route in the immediate vicinity of the vehicle.

It is also known that there are maneuver points along a planned route at which the vehicle informs the driver of special features of the planned route. These instructions can refer to a branching off of the route from a route currently being traveled or to driving off a road currently being traveled. It is also known that the instructions are displayed before a suggested maneuver is to be carried out by the user to continue the route. This is done to prepare the vehicle user for the upcoming maneuver.

When approaching a manoeuvre point, a graphically adapted view of the schematically displayed surroundings of the vehicle can also be selected to provide the user with Vehicle better orientation. When approaching a maneuvering point, the surroundings of the vehicle can be shown enlarged (zoomed) in the schematic map view. A schematic three-dimensional representation of the surroundings of the vehicle can also be shown on the at least one display unit in order to enable the vehicle user to match the displayed 3D view with the actual surroundings of the vehicle and thus be able to carry out the planned driving maneuver in a timely and safe manner.

To assist the driver, graphic elements can also be displayed on at least one display unit, which represent, for example, road signs or a preview of the expected road signs that must be followed in order to follow the route. If a maneuvering point on the route is passed, the view on the at least one display unit is typically set to a display referred to below as "normal view", which is used when the vehicle does not enter an approach area around a maneuvering point or is not located at a maneuvering point.

The problem now arises that, with complicated or complex routes, a large number of maneuvering points must be approached in order to follow the route. In particular, the change between the operation of the at least one display unit at/when approaching a maneuvering point, the "maneuvering view", and the normal view can be perceived as disruptive when driving past several maneuvering points one behind the other along the planned route. The invention therefore sets itself the task of solving this problem.

The invention therefore provides a solution according to the independent claims. Further developments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

In a first aspect, a method is provided for operating at least one display unit in a vehicle, wherein at least one control unit retrieves data from at least one data storage device and controls at least one display unit based on the retrieved data, wherein the at least one display unit reserves a first area for a display based on a first part of the data in an operating state and reserves a second area for a display based on a second part of the data if the retrieved data has a specific feature. The at least one display unit may maintain the reservation for the first area and/or the second area if the retrieved data does not include the first part and/or the second part of the data.

The specific feature may identify the retrieved data as part of a chain of events, in particular as part of a sequence of maneuver points.

The display based on the first part of the data may be a predetermined map view and/or a lane selection, lane change and/or turn recommendation.

The display based on the second part of the data may be an enlarged map view and/or a 3D view of the current position of the vehicle.

The vehicle may have at least two display units, wherein a first display unit of the at least one display unit may reserve the first area and a second display unit of the at least one display unit may reserve the second area.

The at least one display unit can be an instrument cluster, a central information display unit, a head-up display unit and/or a projection unit. A display unit of the at least one display unit can preferably be a display that is also projected onto a window of the vehicle.

The event chain can define a sequence of navigation events that can be followed along a planned route to track the planned route.

In a further aspect, the invention provides a device for a vehicle, the device comprising at least one control unit, at least one data memory and at least one display unit, the control unit being configured to retrieve data from the data memory and to control the at least one display unit based on the retrieved data, the at least one display unit being configured to reserve a first area for a display based on a first part of the data and to reserve a second area for a display based on a second part of the data if the retrieved data has a specific feature. The at least one display unit may be configured to maintain the reservation for the first area and the second area when the retrieved data does not include the first part and/or the second part of the data.

In yet another aspect, the invention provides a vehicle having a device as described herein adapted to carry out the method as described herein.

The invention will now be described with reference to the figures. They show:

Fig. 1 is a schematic and exemplary view of a

Display unit in a first operating state;

Fig. 2 a schematic and exemplary view of the

Display unit in a second operating state;

Fig. 3 schematically shows an operation mode for the display unit according to the prior art;

Figs. 4a-4b schematically show an operation mode for the display unit according to the invention; and

Fig. 5 shows schematically a device according to the invention.

Fig. 1 shows an example of a display unit D in a first operating state, which exemplifies the normal view A. The normal view A is configurable in particular by the user of a vehicle F (cf. Fig. 5) and is essentially displayed by at least one display unit D when the vehicle F is not at a maneuvering point M1, M2, M3, M4 or is moving towards a maneuvering point M1, M2, M3, M4, e.g. along a planned route.

The display unit D is connected directly or indirectly to a data storage device M (see Fig. 5) and at least one control unit SE (see Fig. 5) of the vehicle F. The control unit SE of the vehicle F is in particular the so-called main control unit or head unit of the vehicle F. It is to be understood that the control unit SE can also consist of several directly and/or indirectly connected control units, or can be part of a control unit. In particular, the control unit SE provides information for the display unit D on the basis of navigation data, on the basis of which information the at least one display unit D displays the respective view, preferably the normal view A and/or a maneuver view B. In particular, the display unit D accesses the data memory M in order to retrieve data on graphic elements, scene views and/or views at a maneuver point. The data can in particular be basic graphic elements which are then dynamically adapted on the basis of further data, e.g. navigation data, by the at least one control unit SE and/or by the at least one display unit D before they are displayed by the at least one display unit D.

Fig. 2 shows schematically and exemplarily the maneuver view B of a display which can be displayed by the at least one display unit D at or when approaching a maneuver point M1, M2, M3, M4.

It can be seen that in the second operating state, a first area B1 and alternatively or additionally a second area B2 are provided, which can include additional information relevant to a maneuver to be carried out and which can be displayed by the at least one display unit D. In the example shown, the area B1, which is displayed by the at least one display unit D, has one or more graphic elements G1, G2, G3, which give a vehicle user information on how to continue to follow the planned route. The graphic elements G1, G2, G3 can graphically represent road signs.

The area B2 has, by way of example, a particularly advantageous view VA of the situation at the maneuvering point M1, M2, M3, M4, which makes it easier for the driver to follow the planned route. In particular, this can be an enlarged view of the surroundings of the vehicle F as a schematic map representation or a road situation at the maneuvering point M1, M2, M3, M4. Here it can also be shown how the planned route runs through the maneuvering point M1, M2, M3, M4 and its exits or junctions. It is also possible to display a 3D representation at the maneuvering point M1, M2, M3, M4 or a 3D representation of the surroundings of the vehicle F. It should be understood that the display of the first area B1 and/or the second area B2 can also be shown elsewhere on the display unit D and/or the areas can also be shown swapped. It is also to be understood that if the vehicle F has more displays than the at least one display unit D, the first area B1 and/or the second area B2 can also be displayed on another display unit of the vehicle F. Fig. 3 shows schematically the operation of the at least one display unit D according to the prior art. The vehicle F is shown schematically, following a driving route, generally a route R. Four maneuvering points M1 to M4 are shown schematically along the route R, which was planned in particular by a navigation system of the vehicle. If the vehicle F approaches a first maneuvering point M1, for example, or is located at the first maneuvering point M1, the at least one display unit D changes from the first operating state with normal view A to the second operating state of the maneuvering view B. After passing the first maneuvering point M1, the at least one display unit D changes back to the first operating state with the normal view A. Here, therefore, the view changes from a maneuvering point to the normal view A.

If the display unit D is now again signaled by the at least one control unit SE of the vehicle F that a second maneuvering point M2 is approaching, the at least one display unit D changes from the first operating state with the normal view A to the second operating state with the maneuvering view B with the first area B1 and the second area B2. After passing the second maneuvering point M2, the display changes back to the first operating state and to the normal view A. The at least one display unit D behaves analogously when approaching or at the third maneuvering point M3 by changing to the second operating state with the maneuvering display B and after passing the third maneuvering point M3 by changing to the normal view A. At the fourth maneuvering point M4, the at least one display unit D changes again from the first operating state to the second operating state, i.e. from the normal view A to the maneuvering view B.

The behavior described with regard to Fig. 3 shows that, particularly in the case of a rapid succession of maneuver points along the planned route R, there is a frequent change between normal view A and maneuver view B. This is perceived as disturbing by the vehicle user.

The behavior according to the invention will now be described with reference to Fig. 4. In this case, essentially the same designations are used as were used with reference to Fig. 3. It should be noted that the maneuver points M2 to M4 are stored in the data memory, which is connected to the at least one display unit D, in such a way that it is defined from the stored data on the basis of a feature that the Maneuver points M2 to M4 represent a so-called linked maneuver LM.

In the schematic representation in Fig. 4a, it can be seen that after passing the first maneuvering point M1, the at least one display unit D changes from the second operating state with the maneuvering view B to the first operating state with the normal view A. However, if the second maneuvering point M2 is approached by the vehicle F, it can be seen that the at least one display unit D changes again to the second operating state with the maneuvering view B and the areas B1 and B2, but that on the basis of the data that the at least one display unit D receives from the data memory M or from the control unit SE of the vehicle F, it is known by means of a feature that the maneuver at the second maneuvering point M2 is related to the maneuvers at the third maneuvering point M3 and the fourth maneuvering point M4. Accordingly, after passing through the second maneuver point M2, the at least one display unit D does not change from the second operating state with the maneuver view B to the first operating state with the normal view A, but remains with the maneuver view B until the last maneuver of the linked maneuvers LM has been passed through. It goes without saying that at the maneuver points M2 to M4, a maneuver view B is selected that is suitable for the corresponding maneuver point, so that the display of the areas B1 and B2 is selected appropriately according to the situation before or at the maneuver points M2, M3, M4.

With regard to Fig. 4b, it is now described that the maneuver view B and in particular the division for the areas B1 and B2 is retained even if the data retrieved from the data storage M indicate that no information is available that can be displayed in the first area B1 and/or the second area B2. For example, the data retrieved from the data storage at the second maneuver point M2 only includes the part of the data that determines how the or which graphic elements G1, G2, G3 are to be displayed by the at least one display unit D in the first area B1. In contrast, the part of the data that is to determine the display for the second area B2 is not present in the data retrieved from the data storage M. Thus, the division in the maneuver view B between the areas B1 and B2 is still retained. At the third maneuver point M3, the retrieved data only includes the part that defines which view is to be displayed for the second area B2. While no part of the data from the data store M is available for the first area B1, the division between the Areas B1 and B2 are retained and only the data available for the second area B2 is displayed.

At the fourth maneuver point M4, the data retrieved from the data storage by the at least one display unit D comprises both a part that defines the display in the first area B1 and a part that defines the display in the second area B2. Accordingly, information based on the retrieved data is then displayed in the first area B1 and the second area B2 in the maneuver view B.

It is to be understood that the normal view A and the maneuver view B are shown in different ways in the figures merely for illustration purposes. The normal view A and the maneuver view B can also be essentially graphically identical. If the at least one display unit D comprises, for example, several, in particular at least two display units, then, for example, a view with a route preview can be shown on one of the display units, while another display unit has a view that includes the first area B1 and/or the second area B2. It is also possible that at or when approaching a maneuver point M2, M3, M4 that is part of a connected maneuver LM, no switching from one view to another view takes place and thus at the maneuver point essentially the normal view A, the maneuver view B or another view is displayed by the at least one display unit D. The areas B1, B2 can also be reserved in the normal view A or the other view and the information can be displayed based on the retrieved data in the first area B1 and the second area B2. The reservation of the first area B1 and/or the second area B2 is then preferably carried out analogously to the procedure described with regard to Fig. 4.

It should also be understood that the reservation of the first area B1 and/or the second area B2 can be made on all or part of the display units of the at least one display unit D and that information can be displayed there based on the retrieved data in the first area B1 and/or the second area B2. The display of the views displayed on the display units of the at least one display unit D can be identical or different. If, for example, one display unit of the at least one display unit D is a head-up display, this display unit can display a route preview, for example, while another

Display unit of the at least one display unit D a view is shown which comprises the areas B1, B2, or vice versa. At least one view can then be Maneuver points M2, M3, M4 of a linked maneuver remain essentially unchanged and serve only to display the information based on the retrieved data and in particular maintain the reservation for the areas B1, B2.

In another example, the maneuver points M2, M3, M4 are part of a connected maneuver LM. The data to be displayed in the display areas B1 and B2 is available for M2 and M4, but not available for maneuver point M3. This would mean that a first view would generally be shown when approaching maneuver point M2, then a second view when approaching maneuver point M3, and finally the first view again when approaching maneuver point M4. This would result in multiple switching between the first view and the second view, which have little in common in the central area of the display. This is particularly distracting for the driver, especially when he has to carry out various driving maneuvers in close proximity.

The solution provided by the invention consists in reserving a central display area of the at least one display unit D for the first or second view for the entire period from approaching M2 to passing M4. The areas B1 and B2 are then added to this, while the rest of the display otherwise remains essentially unchanged. During the approach to the maneuvering point M2 until passing the maneuvering point M2, as well as during the approach to the maneuvering point M4 until passing the maneuvering point M4, the information is displayed in the display areas B1 and/or B2 based on the retrieved data.

Thus, a change in view at the maneuver points M2, M3, M4 is essentially limited to a change in the area B1, B2, resulting in a lower distraction potential for the vehicle user.

Fig. 5 shows a schematic overview of the device according to the invention. Shown is at least one display unit D, which is connected to a data storage M and at least one control unit SE. The at least one control unit SE retrieves data directly or indirectly from the data storage M. In particular, the data supplied to the at least one display unit D can be preprocessed by the at least one control unit SE. It can also be provided that the at least one display unit D does not receive the data directly from the data storage M, but rather forwards the relevant data from the at least one control unit SE to the at least one Display unit D can be supplied. The at least one display unit D and the at least one control unit SE can be part of the vehicle F. The data memory M can consist of several data memories. The data memory M can be part of the vehicle F and/or at least partially part of a remote, vehicle-external computer system.

Claims

Expectations

1. Method for operating at least one display unit (D) in a vehicle (F), wherein

- at least one control unit (SE) retrieves data from at least one data memory (M) and controls at least one display unit (D) based on the retrieved data, wherein the at least one display unit (D) in an operating state reserves a first area (B1) for a display based on a first part of the data and reserves a second area (B2) for a display based on a second part of the data if the retrieved data have a specific feature.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one display unit (D) maintains the reservation for the first area and/or the second area if the retrieved data does not include the first part and/or the second part of the data.

3. Method according to one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the specific feature identifies the retrieved data as part of a chain of events, in particular as part of a sequence of maneuver points (M2, M3, M4).

4. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the display based on the first part of the data is a predetermined map view and/or a lane selection, lane change and/or turn recommendation.

5. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the display based on the second part of the data is an enlarged map view or a 3D view for the current position of the vehicle (F).

6. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the vehicle (F) has at least two display units, wherein a first display unit (D) of the at least one display unit (D) reserves the first area and a second display unit of the at least one display unit reserves the second area.

7. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one display unit (D) is an instrument cluster, a central information display unit, a head-up display unit and/or a projection unit.

8. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the event chain defines a sequence of navigation events followed along a planned route to track the planned route.

9. Device for a vehicle (F), the device comprising at least one control unit (SE), at least one data memory (M) and at least one display unit (D), the control unit (SE) being configured to retrieve data from the data memory (M) and to control the at least one display unit (D) based on the retrieved data, the at least one display unit (D) being configured to reserve a first area (B1) for a display based on a first part of the data and to reserve a second area (B2) for a display based on a second part of the data if the retrieved data have a specific feature.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the at least one display unit (D) is configured to maintain the reservation for the first area and the second area when the retrieved data does not include the first part and/or the second part of the data.

11. Vehicle (F) with a device according to claim 9, which is designed to carry out the method according to claim 1.