MULTI-FUNCTION DISPLAY AND OPERATING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING SUCH A SYSTEM HAVING OPTIMIZED GRAPHICAL OPERATING DISPLAY

• US 20110227718A1
• Filed: 10/14/2009
• Published: 09/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Original Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Inventors: MISCHKE, Michael, WÄLLER, Christoph
• Granted Patent: US 8,907,778 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/461
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/11 Instrument graphical user interfaces or menu aspects
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/141 Activation of instrument input devices by approaching fingers or pens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/164 Infotainment
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/186 Displaying information according to relevancy
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/48 Sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/22 Display screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/28 characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/29 Instruments characterised by the way in which information is handled, e.g. showing information on plural displays or prioritising information according to driving conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0489 using dedicated keyboard keys or combinations thereof

Abstract

The invention relates to a multi-function display and operating system (2) in a motor vehicle (1) and to a method for operating such a system. The multi-function display and operating system (2) comprises at least one display device (6) for displaying information, a control unit (3) controlling the representation of information on a display surface (7) of the display device (6), at least two operating units for capturing user inputs, wherein the control unit (3) is designed to control the representation of the information displayed to support the user inputs on the display surface (7) of the display device (6) by means of different operating displays (21, 23) which are each adapted to one of the at least two operating units via which a user input is captured or for which an operating intention for a user input is captured.

Claims

1-21. -21. (canceled)

22. A multifunction display and operator control system, particularly for use in a motor vehicle, comprising

at least one display apparatus for displaying information,

a control unit which controls the presentation of the information on a display panel of the display apparatus,

at least two operator control devices for capturing user inputs, characterized in that

the control unit is designed to control the presentation of the information which is displayed on the display panel of the display apparatus for the purpose of assisting the user inputs using various operator control presentations which are each in a form matched to that of the at least two operator control devices which is used to capture a user input or for which an operator control intention for a user input has been captured.

23. The multifunction display and operator control system as claimed in claim 22, characterized in that an appropriate one of the various operator control presentations respectively has the presented information in optimized form for capture of the user input by means of that of the at least two operator control devices which is used to capture a user input or for which an operator control intention for a user input has been captured.

24. The multifunction display and operator control system as claimed in claim 23, characterized in that the control unit has at least one sensor unit coupled to it for the purpose of capturing an operator control intention from a user for one of the at least two operator control devices before the one of the at least two operator control devices is operated for the purpose of user input.

25. The multifunction display and operator control system as claimed in claim 24, characterized in that the at least one sensor unit and/or at least one further sensor unit are designed to additionally capture an operator control intention for at least one further one of the at least two operator control devices before said further operator control device is operated for the purpose of user input.

26. The multifunction display and operator control system as claimed in claim 24, characterized in that the at least one operator control device has the at least one sensor unit associated with it, and the at least one further operator control device has the at least one further sensor unit associated with it, in each case for the purpose of capturing the operator control intention.

27. The multifunction display and operator control system as claimed in claim 26, characterized in that the at least one sensor unit is integrated in the at least one operator control device and/or the at least one further sensor unit is integrated in the at least one further operator control device.

28. The multifunction display and operator control system as claimed in claim 22, characterized in that at least one of the at least two operator control devices is in the form of a touch-sensitive position-finding unit.

29. The multifunction display and operator control system as claimed in claim 28, characterized in that positions on the operator control device in the form of a touch-sensitive position-finding unit are associated with positions on the display panel.

30. The multifunction display and operator control system as claimed in claim 22, characterized in that at least one of the at least two operator control devices is in the form of a rotary push control or keypad with preferably a plurality of operator control keys.

31. The multifunction display and operator control system as claimed in claim 22, characterized in that virtual operator control devices and/or operator control device associations are presented in the at least two operator control presentations in each case in a form matched to a geometric design of that of the at least two operator control devices which is used to capture a user input or for which an operator control intention for a user input has been captured, and as a result the relevant operator control presentation is displayed.

32. The multifunction display and operator control system as claimed in claim 26, characterized in that the at least one operator control device is the at least one sensor unit and/or the at least one further operator control device is the further sensor unit.

33. A method for controlling a multifunction display and operator control system, particularly in a motor vehicle, wherein the multifunction display and operator control system comprises

at least one display apparatus for displaying information,

a control unit which controls the presentation of the information on the display panel, and at least two operator control devices for capturing user inputs,

wherein the method comprises the following steps:

the display apparatus is actuated such that information for assisting the user inputs is displayed on the display panel, characterized in that

the presentation of the information on the display panel of the display apparatus is controlled such that the information displayed on the display panel of the display apparatus for the purpose of assisting the user inputs is presented by means of various operator control presentations which are accordingly each produced in a form matched to that of the at least two operator control devices which is used to capture a user input or for which an operator control intention for a user input has been captured.

34. The method as claimed in claim 33, characterized in that the information in the operator control presentations is respectively presented in a form matched in optimum fashion for a user input using that of the at least two operator control devices which is used to capture a user input or for which an operator control intention for a user input has been captured.

35. The method as claimed in claim 33, characterized in that sensor data from at least one sensor unit are captured and evaluated in order to capture the operator control intention of a user for one of the at least two operator control devices before said operator control device is operated for the purpose of user input.

36. The method as claimed in claim 35, characterized in that the data captured by the at least one sensor unit and/or at least one further sensor unit are evaluated in order to additionally ascertain an operator control intention for at least one further operator control device prior to operation for the purpose of user input.

37. The method as claimed in claim 35, characterized in that the operator control intention for the at least one operator control device is captured by means of the at least one sensor unit and the operator control intention for the at least one further operator control device is captured by means of the at least one further sensor unit.

38. The method as claimed in claim 33, characterized in that the at least two operator control devices are used to capture and/or evaluate various operation actions during capture of the user input.

39. The method as claimed in claim 33, characterized in that at least one of the at least two operator control devices is in the form of a touch-sensitive position-finding unit, and this is used to capture one of the user inputs by ascertaining a position at which the at least one of the at least two operator control devices is touched by an operating element.

40. The method as claimed in claim 33, characterized in that the at least one further one of the at least two operator control devices captures rotary or push operation of an operating element or push or touch operation of an operator control key on a keypad.

41. The method as claimed in claim 33, characterized in that virtual operator control devices and/or operator control device associations in the at least two operator control presentations are presented in a form matched to a geometric design of the operator control device which is used to capture a user input or for which an operator control intention for a user input has been captured.

42. The method as claimed in claim 33, characterized in that the information is displayed in a target operator control presentation or information conveyance presentation if no operator control intention has been recognized and no user input is captured.

43. A multifunction display and operator control system, particularly for use in a motor vehicle, comprising at least one display apparatus for displaying information,

a control unit which controls the presentation of the information on a display panel of the display apparatus, at least two operator control devices for capturing user inputs,

characterized in that the at least two operator control devices are different operator control devices which can be used alternatively to capture the same user inputs, and the control unit is designed to control the presentation of the information which is displayed on the display panel of the display apparatus for the purpose of assisting the user inputs using various operator control presentations which are each in a form matched to that of the at least two operator control devices which is used to capture a user input or for which an operator control intention for a user input has been captured.

44. A method for controlling a multifunction display and operator control system, particularly in a motor vehicle, wherein the multifunction display and operator control system comprises

at least one display apparatus for displaying information,

a control unit which controls the presentation of the information on the display panel, and

at least two operator control devices for capturing user inputs, wherein the different operator control devices can be used alternatively to capture the same user inputs,

wherein the method comprises the following steps:

the display apparatus is actuated such that information for assisting the user inputs is displayed on the display panel,

characterized in that

the presentation of the information on the display panel of the display apparatus is controlled such that the information displayed on the display panel of the display apparatus for the purpose of assisting the user inputs is presented by means of various operator control presentations which are accordingly each produced in a form matched to that of the at least two operator control devices which is used to capture a user input or for which an operator control intention for a user input has been captured.