METHOD FOR PROVIDING AN OPERATING DEVICE IN A VEHICLE, AND OPERATING DEVICE FOR A VEHICLE

• US 20140303890A1
• Filed: 08/28/2012
• Published: 10/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Original Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Inventors: Jun, Mi-Ran, Budzynski, Tobias
• Granted Patent: US 9,188,450 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/532
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1438 Touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/1438 Touch screens
• 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: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 9/0076 in which the time in another time-zone or in another city can be displayed at will

Abstract

A method for providing an operating device in a vehicle, wherein graphic data are generated by a control device, targeting a display area such that a graphic object showing at least part of the earth'"'"'s surface is displayed, that the illustration of the displayed part of the earth'"'"'s surface is subdivided into geographic areas in different time zones, and that the position of an actuation object in front of or on the display area is captured. Depending on the captured position of the actuation object relative to the displayed geographic areas in different time zones in the depiction of the graphic object, a geographic area located in one single time zone is selected and is displayed in bold formatting, and the time zone of the selected geographic area is dedicated to at least one timer of the vehicle. Also disclosed is an operating device for carrying out the method.

Claims

1. A method for providing an operating device in a vehicle, the method comprising:

generating, in a control device, graphics data which control a display area in such a manner that a graphical object containing a presentation of at least part of the Earth'"'"'s surface is displayed;

subdividing the presentation of the displayed part of the Earth'"'"'s surface is into geographical areas in different time zones;

detecting the position of an actuating object in front of or on the display area;

selecting and displaying, in highlighted form, a geographical area which belongs to a single time zone depending on the detected position of the actuating object relative to the displayed geographical areas in different time zones in the presentation of the graphical object; and

associating the time zone of the selected geographical area with at least one timer of the vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the control device generates graphics data which control the display area in such a manner that a further graphical object is displayed, which further graphical object identifies some of the countries and/or cities and/or regions included in the selected geographical area.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the control device generates graphics data which control the display area such that a further graphical object is displayed, which further graphical object displays the current time in the selected geographical area.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the control device generates graphics data which control the display area such that a further graphical object is displayed, which further graphical object displays the relative time difference between the selected geographical area and an area in a particular time zone.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein a geographical area is selected and presented in highlighted form if the actuating object touches a touch-sensitive surface of the display area in the region in which the geographical area is displayed, and in that the contents of at least one further graphical object are changed in such a manner that the current time and/or the relative time difference of the selected geographical area is/are displayed, but the selected geographical area is not yet associated with the timer as long as the actuating object is touching the touch-sensitive surface of the display area.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein a geographical area is selected and presented in highlighted form if the actuating object touches a touch-sensitive surface of the display area in the region in which the geographical area is displayed, and in that the selected geographical area is associated with the timer if the touching of the actuating object is removed from the touch-sensitive surface of the display area.

7. An operating device for a vehicle, the operating device comprising:

a display area for graphically presenting information in the vehicle;

a control device which generates graphics data for a graphical object for presentation on the display area with a presentation of at least part of the Earth'"'"'s surface, the presentation of the displayed part of the Earth'"'"'s surface being subdivided into geographical areas in different time zones; and

an input device is coupled to the control device and can be used to detect the position of an actuating object in front of or on the display area,

wherein, depending on the detected position of the actuating object relative to the displayed geographical areas in different time zones, the control device generates graphics data which control the display area in such a manner that a selected geographical area which belongs to a single time zone is displayed in highlighted form, and

wherein the control device generates a control signal for a timer of the vehicle, which control signal is associated with the time zone of the selected geographical area.

8. A vehicle having an operating device as claimed in claim 7.