Apparatus for manipulating vehicular devices

• US 8,514,276 B2
• Filed: 10/01/2009
• Issued: 08/20/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group), Hyundai Motor Japan R&D Center Incorporated (Hyundai Motor Group), Kia Motors Corporation (Kia Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group), Hyundai Motor Japan R&D Center Incorporated (Hyundai Motor Group), Kia Motors Corporation (Kia Corp.)
• Inventors: Ishii, Kosei
• Primary Examiner(s): SHAW, PELING ANDREW
• Application Number:
  US12/572,155
• Publication Number:
  US 20100238280A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,419 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 348/77
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/149 Instrument input by detecting viewing direction not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/182 Distributing information between displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/21 using cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/31 Virtual images
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/334 Projection means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/149 Input by detecting viewing direction
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/182 Distributing information between displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/21 using cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/31 Virtual images
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/334 Projection means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/52 Control of displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/736 the user being the driver
• 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 35/231 characterised by their arrangement or structure for integration into vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/232 controlling the projection distance of virtual images depending on the condition of the vehicle or the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/235 with means for detecting the driver's gaze direction or eye points
• 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 35/50 Instruments characterised by their means of attachment to or integration in the vehicle B60K35/231 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/60 : Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/654 : the user being the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/81 : for controlling displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 37/00 : Dashboards as road-vehicle superstructure sub-units B62D25/14
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0138 : comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0187 : slaved to motion of at least a part of the body of the user, e.g. head, eye
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/01 : Head-up displays

Abstract

The present invention provides an apparatus for manipulating vehicular devices. In preferred embodiments, the apparatus described by the present invention includes a manipulator checking unit, a photographing unit, a plurality of image display units, a line of sight detection unit, a line of sight region determination unit, and a display control unit. The invention also features a motor vehicle comprising the apparatus for manipulating vehicular devices as described herein.

Claims

1. An apparatus for manipulating vehicular devices, comprising:

a manipulator checking unit;

a photographing unit;

one or more plurality of image display units;

a line of sight detection unit;

a line of sight region determination unit; and

a display control unit,

wherein the display control unit is used for overlaying a shape of the photographed hand on a manipulation screen of the image display unit upon which the driver held a steady gaze, and

the display control unit overlays a shape of the photographed hand on the manipulation screen on the image display unit if the manipulator checking unit determines the manipulator to be the driver and the line of sight region determination unit detects the image display unit upon which the driver held a steady gaze, and

the display control unit changes the locations of the manipulation screens displayed on the plurality of image display units so that the manipulation screen on which the shape of the hand has been overlaid is suitably displayed on the image display unit closest to the driver.

2. The apparatus for manipulating vehicular devices of claim 1, wherein the manipulator checking unit is used for checking whether a manipulator is a driver.

3. The apparatus for manipulating vehicular devices of claim 1, wherein the photographing unit is used for photographing the manipulator'"'"'s hand.

4. The apparatus for manipulating vehicular devices of claim 1, wherein the one or more image display units are used for displaying respective manipulation screens for vehicular devices.

5. The apparatus for manipulating vehicular devices of claim 1, wherein the line of sight detection unit is used for detecting the driver'"'"'s line of sight.

6. The apparatus for manipulating vehicular devices of claim 1, wherein the line of sight region determination unit is used for detecting an image display unit upon which a steady gaze is held based on the driver'"'"'s line of sight detected by the line of sight detection unit.

7. An apparatus for manipulating vehicular devices, comprising:

a manipulator checking unit;

a photographing unit;

one or more image display units;

a voice recognition unit; and

a display control unit,

wherein the display control unit is used for overlaying a shape of the photographed hand on a manipulation screen of the image display unit upon which the driver held a steady gaze, and

the display control unit overlays a shape of the photographed hand on the manipulation screen on the image display unit if the manipulator checking unit determines the manipulator to be the driver and the line of sight region determination unit detects the image display unit upon which the driver held a steady gaze, and

the display control unit changes the locations of the manipulation screens displayed on the plurality of image display units so that the manipulation screen on which the shape of the hand has been overlaid is suitably displayed on the image display unit closest to the driver.

8. The apparatus for manipulating vehicular devices of claim 7, wherein the manipulator checking unit is used for checking whether a manipulator is a driver.

9. The apparatus for manipulating vehicular devices of claim 7, wherein the photographing unit is used for photographing the manipulator'"'"'s hand.

10. The apparatus for manipulating vehicular devices of claim 7, wherein the one or more image display units are used for displaying respective manipulation screens for vehicular devices.

11. The apparatus for manipulating vehicular devices of claim 7, wherein the voice recognition unit is used for recognizing the driver'"'"'s voice input through a microphone and detecting a vehicular device selected by the driver'"'"'s voice.

12. The apparatus for manipulating vehicular devices of claim 7, wherein the display control unit is used for overlaying a shape of the photographed hand on a manipulation screen of an image display unit for the vehicular device selected by the driver.

13. The apparatus for manipulating vehicular devices of claim 12, wherein the display control unit overlays a shape of the photographed hand on the manipulation screen on the image display unit if the manipulator checking unit determines the manipulator to be the driver and the voice recognition unit detects the vehicular device selected by the driver'"'"'s voice.