MOTOR VEHICLE

• US 20120023440A1
• Filed: 07/21/2010
• Published: 01/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG), Volkswagen AG
• Original Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG), Volkswagen AG
• Inventors: Mueller, Ulrich, Lobato, Marco, Loumidi, Korina
• Granted Patent: US 8,527,900 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/784
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1446 Touch switches
• 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: G06F 3/0338 with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

The invention relates to a motor vehicle having an operator control element for the operator control of a function of the motor vehicle, wherein the operator control element comprises an upwardly directed surface having a touchpad for the operator control of at least a first function of the motor vehicle, and wherein the operator control element can be displaced in one direction essentially parallel to the upwardly directed surface for the purpose of operator control of at least a second function of the motor vehicle.

Claims

1. Motor vehicle having an operator control element for the operator control of functions of the motor vehicle, said operator control element comprising:

an upwardly directed surface having a touchpad for the operator control of at least a first function of the motor vehicle, wherein the operator control element can be displaced in one direction essentially parallel to the upwardly directed surface for the purpose of operator control of at least a second function of the motor vehicle.

2. Motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein displacing the operator control element by a first distance allows operator control of the second function of the motor vehicle, and displacing the operator control element by a second distance allows operator control of at least a third function of the motor vehicle, the second distance being greater than the first distance.

3. Motor vehicle according to claim 2, said motor vehicle comprising:

a display which is physically separate from the operator control element.

4. Motor vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the second function of the motor vehicle comprises a jump from a marked list entry presented by means of the display to an adjacent list entry presented by means of the display.

5. Motor vehicle according to claim 4, wherein the third function of the motor vehicle comprises scrolling through a list presented by means of the display.

6. Motor vehicle according to claim 5, wherein a speed of scrolling through the list presented by means of the display is dependent on the second distance.

7. Motor vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the third function of the motor vehicle comprises scrolling through a list presented by means of the display.

8. Motor vehicle according to claim 7, wherein a speed of scrolling through the list presented by means of the display is dependent on the second distance.

9. Motor vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the first function of the motor vehicle can be indicated by means of the display.

10. Motor vehicle according to claim 2, said motor vehicle also comprising:

a controller for producing haptic feedback when the first distance is exceeded.

11. Motor vehicle according to claim 7, said motor vehicle also comprising:

a controller for producing haptic feedback when a list entry in the list is reached.

12. Motor vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the operator control element can be displaced in another direction essentially parallel to the upwardly directed surface for the purpose of operator control of at least a fourth function of the motor vehicle.

13. Motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the operator control element can be displaced in another direction essentially parallel to the upwardly directed surface for the purpose of operator control of at least a third function of the motor vehicle.

14. Motor vehicle according to claim 1, the operator control element also comprising:

an edge protruding upward beyond the touchpad for the purpose of delimiting the touchpad.

15. Method for the operator control of a motor vehicle with an operator control element, wherein the operator control element comprises a surface having a touchpad;

said method comprising;

operator control of at least a first function of the motor vehicle by touching the touchpad; and

operator control of at least a second function of the motor vehicle by displacing the operator control element by a first distance essentially parallel to the position of the touchpad.

16. Method according to claim 15, said method also comprising:

operator control of at least a third function of the motor vehicle by displacing the operator control element by a second distance essentially parallel to the position of the touchpad, the second distance being greater than the first distance.

17. Method according to claim 16, said method also comprising:

indication of the first function of the motor vehicle by means of a display which is physically separate from the operator control element.

18. Method according to claim 15, said method also comprising:

indication of the first function of the motor vehicle by means of a display which is physically separate from the operator control element.

19. Method according to claim 16, said method also comprising:

production of haptic feedback when the first distance is exceeded.

20. Method according to claim 19, wherein the third function of the motor vehicle comprises scrolling through a list presented by means of a display which is physically separate from the operator control element;

said method also comprising;

production of haptic feedback when a list entry in the list is reached.

21. Method according to claim 16, wherein the third function of the motor vehicle comprises scrolling through a list presented by means of a display which is physically separate from the operator control element;

said method also comprising;

production of haptic feedback when a list entry in the list is reached.