Method for displaying information in a motor vehicle, and display device

• US 8,681,114 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2011
• Issued: 03/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Original Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Inventors: Hauschild, Frank, Kuhn, Mathias, Dehmann, Rainer
• Primary Examiner(s): Lefkowitz, Sumati
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tung, David
• Application Number:
  US13/285,858
• Publication Number:
  US 20120105349A1
• Time in Patent Office: 876 Days
• Field of Search: 345173-178
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/141 Activation of instrument input devices by approaching fingers or pens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/141 Activation by approaching fingers or pens
• 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: G06F 2203/04101 2.5D-digitiser, i.e. digitiser detecting the X/Y position of the input means, finger or stylus, also when it does not touch, but is proximate to the digitiser's interaction surface and also measures the distance of the input means within a short range in the Z direction, possibly with a separate measurement setup
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2380/10 Automotive applications
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2380/12 Avionics applications

Abstract

In a method for displaying information with the aid of a display mounted in a motor vehicle, graphic data which actuate at least a subregion of the display are generated by a user interface device, such that in an operation state, information assigned to at least one operator step able to be executed by an input device are generated and in a display state, information not assigned to any operator steps is displayed, and it is detected when an object enters an operator control zone assigned to the input device, and when it leaves the operator control zone. The method is characterized in that the user interface device switches from the operating state to the display state when the object leaves the operator control zone and does not reenter the operator control zone within a defined time interval. A display device is adapted for executing this method.

Claims

1. A method for displaying information with the aid of a display mounted in a motor vehicle, comprising:

generating, by a user interface device, graphic data which actuate at least a subregion of the display such that in an operating state, information which is assigned to at least one operator step executable by an input device is displayed, and in a display state, information which is not assigned to any operator steps is displayed, and it is detected when an object enters an operator control zone assigned to the input device and when it leaves the operator zone;

switching the operator interface device from the operating state to the display state when the object leaves the operator control zone and the object does not reenter the operator control zone within a time interval;

detecting a speed of the vehicle; and

determining a length of the time interval as a function of the vehicle speed;

wherein the function provides for a greater determined length of the time interval for higher vehicle speeds and a shorter determined length of the time interval for lower vehicle speeds.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein when the object enters the operator control zone, the user interface device switches from the display state to the operating state.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein when a switch takes place from the display state to the operating state, at least a portion of the displayed graphical objects is shown in enlarged size.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein a length of the time interval is within a range of one second to six seconds.

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein a length of the time interval is within a range of two seconds to five seconds.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the display scale is modified in the switch from the display state to the operating state.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein a length of the time intervals is within a range of one second to six seconds.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein a length of the time interval is within a range of two seconds to five seconds.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein a length of the time interval is within a range of one second to six seconds.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein a length of the time interval is within a range of two seconds and five seconds.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein a length of the time interval is five seconds.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the input device includes a touch-sensitive surface of the display.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the display state only includes the display of information not assigned to any operator steps.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the operating state further includes display of information not assigned to any operator steps.

15. A display device for a motor vehicle, comprising:

a display mounted in the motor vehicle;

an input device;

a proximity sensor adapted to detect an entry of an object in an operator control zone assigned to the input device and a departure from the operator control zone; and

a user interface device adapted to generate graphic data to actuate at least a subregion of the display such that in an operating state, information assigned to an operator step executable by the input device is displayed, and in a display state, information that is not assigned to any operator steps is displayed;

wherein the user interface device is adapted to switch from the operating state to the display state when the object leaves the operator control zone and the object does not reenter the operator control zone within a time interval;

wherein the display device includes an interface adapted to receive data of an instantaneous vehicle speed, and user interface device is adapted to determine a length of the time interval as a function of the vehicle speed;

wherein the function provides for a greater determined length of the time interval for higher vehicle speeds and a shorter determined length of the time interval for lower vehicle speeds.

16. The display device according to claim 15, wherein the user interface device includes a memory adapted to store a length of the time interval is stored.

17. The display device according to claim 16, wherein the length of the time interval stored in the memory is within a range of one second to six seconds.

18. The display device according to claim 15, wherein the input device includes a touch-sensitive surface of the display.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the display state only includes the display of information not assigned to any operator steps.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the operating state further includes display of information not assigned to any operator steps.