INPUT DEVICE FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE

• US 20150367859A1
• Filed: 12/19/2013
• Published: 12/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Harman Becker Automotive Systems GmbH (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Harman Becker Automotive Systems GmbH (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: Roth, Hans, Preissner, Olaf, Reifenrath, Christoph, Wackernagel, Alexa, Marti, Stefan, Reuss, Michael, Bergmann, Stephan, Shen, Kelei
• Application Number:
  US14/654,491
• Publication Number:
  US 20150367859A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/146 Instrument input by gesture
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/16 Type of output information
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/182 Distributing information between displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/27 using semi-transparent optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/334 Projection means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/146 Input by gesture
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/155 Virtual instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/16 Type of information
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/182 Distributing information between displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/27 using semi-transparent optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/334 Projection means
• 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 35/213 Virtual instruments
• 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: B60K 37/00 Dashboards as road-vehicle superstructure sub-units B62D25/14
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0229 for displays, e.g. cathodic tubes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/10 Interpretation of driver requests or demands
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/365 : Guidance using head up displays or projectors, e.g. virtual vehicles or arrows projected on the windscreen or on the road itself
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0138 : comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/014 : comprising information/image processing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0141 : characterised by the informative content of the display
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/01 : Head-up displays
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0101 : characterised by optical features G02B27/0172 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04804 : Transparency, e.g. transparent or translucent windows
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/013 : Eye tracking input arrangements G06F3/015 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 : Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• 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: G08G 1/00 : Traffic control systems for road vehicles arrangement of road signs or traffic signals E01F9/00 ; automatic vehicle control B62D
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/09623 : Systems involving the acquisition of information from passive traffic signs by means mounted on the vehicle G08G1/0967 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6075 : adapted for handsfree use in a vehicle H04M1/6058 takes precedence; arrangements for holding telephones in a vehicle B60R11/0241
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/543 : Call deflection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/243 : using three or more 2D image sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/279 : the virtual viewpoint locations being selected by the viewers or determined by tracking
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/282 : for generating image signals corresponding to three or more geometrical viewpoints, e.g. multi-view systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/363 : using image projection screens volumetric display H04N13/388
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 : Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/31 : Projection devices for colour picture display , e.g. using electronic spatial light modulators [ESLM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 : Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/40 : for vehicles, e.g. vehicle-to-pedestrians [V2P]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 : Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

Embodiments are disclosed for an input device for a motor vehicle. An example input device for a motor vehicle having a dashboard and a steering wheel includes a sensor and a circuit connected to the sensor,

• • wherein the sensor is positioned in the dashboard sensitive toward an area of the steering wheel,
  • wherein the sensor is configured to output a sensor signal based on a contactless hand gesture,
  • wherein the circuit is configured to evaluate the sensor signal,
  • wherein the circuit and/or the sensor is configured to distinguish between a steering movement and the hand gesture, and
  • wherein the circuit is configured to output a detection signal (S3) based on the detection of the hand gesture.

Claims

1. An input device for a motor vehicle having a dashboard and a steering wheel, the input device comprising:

a sensor; and

a circuit connected to the sensor,

wherein the sensor is positioned in the dashboard sensitive toward an area of the steering wheel,

wherein the sensor is configured to output a sensor signal based on a contactless hand gesture,

wherein the circuit is configured to evaluate the sensor signal, and

wherein the circuit and/or the sensor is configured to distinguish between a steering movement and the hand gesture, and

wherein the circuit is configured to output a detection signal (S3) based on the detection of the hand gesture.

2. The input device according to claim 1,

wherein the evaluation circuit is configured to determine an amplitude of the sensor signal and/or to control the amplitude of the sensor signal.

3. The input device according to claim 2,

wherein the evaluation circuit is configured to compare the amplitude (C) of the sensor signal with a threshold (th), whereby the threshold (th) is associated with a position (d_th) of the hand in a space between the steering wheel and the sensor.

4. The input device according to claim 1,

wherein the evaluation circuit is configured to compare a course of the sensor signal (C_u(t), C_l(t)) with a pattern course (C_p(t)) associated with the hand gesture.

5. The input device according to claim 1,

wherein the circuit is configured, based on the sensor signal, to determine at least two distance values (C₁, C₂) associated with at least two different distances (d1, d2) between the hand and the sensor.

6. The input device according to claim 1,

wherein the sensor is configured to generate the sensor signal based on a direction of a movement of the hand.

7. The input device according to claim 1,

wherein the sensor and/or the circuit is configured to adjust a sensitivity of the sensor and/or the circuit.

8. The input device according to claim 1,

wherein the circuit is configured to initiate a command (S3) in an application program, which is assigned to the detection of the hand gesture based on an input by a user.

9. The input device according to claim 8,

wherein a type of the command (S3) depends on the currently displayed application program.

10. A system for a motor vehicle having a dashboard and a steering wheel and a windshield, the system comprising

a head-up display,

configured to project an image onto the windshield or onto a separate combiner;

and

an input device,

wherein the circuit is connected to the head-up display and configured to generate the image, and

wherein the circuit is configured, based on the recognition of a hand gesture, to change the image.

11. The system according to claim 10,

wherein the circuit is configured to change the image based on an addition or removal of an object in the image, the object being associated with an application program running on the circuit.

12. The system according to claim 11,

wherein the circuit is configured to determine a selection input, the selection input being associated with a selection of an application program,

wherein the circuit is configured to output information associated with the application program on another display, and

wherein the object in the image of the head-up display includes information associated with the selected application program.

13. The system according to claim 10, wherein the input device has a sensor and a circuit connected to the sensor and to the head-up display, wherein the sensor is positioned in the dashboard sensitive toward the steering wheel, wherein the hand gesture comprises a contactless hand gesture and the sensor is configured to output a sensor signal based on the contactless hand gesture, wherein the circuit is configured to evaluate the sensor signal, and wherein the circuit is configured to distinguish between a steering movement and the hand gesture and to output a detection signal based on the detection of the hand gesture.