Operating device for a motor vehicle

• US 8,700,332 B2
• Filed: 11/10/2008
• Issued: 04/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Original Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Inventors: Neugebauer, Moritz, Langnickel, Mirko, Kruscha, Tatjana, Rodriguez, Enrique, Lathrop, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): Shah, Amee A
• Application Number:
  US12/268,284
• Publication Number:
  US 20100121501A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,982 Days
• Field of Search: 701/211, 701/1, 701/539
• US Class Current: 701/539
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/21 using cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/21 using cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3608 using speech input, e.g. using speech recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3664 Details of the user input interface, e.g. buttons, knobs or sliders, including those provided on a touch screen; remote controllers; input using gestures

Abstract

In a method for the operator control of a motor vehicle having a display for displaying variable information, a symbol assigned to a function pertaining to the motor vehicle is shown with the aid of the display, the viewing direction of an operator of the motor vehicle is ascertained, and the function pertaining to the motor vehicle is subsequently executed in response to recognition of an acoustic command assigned to the function pertaining to the motor vehicle, while the viewing direction is aimed toward the display.

Claims

1. A method for operator control of a motor vehicle having a display adapted to display variable information, comprising:

representing a symbol, assigned to a function pertaining to the motor vehicle, with the aid of the display;

ascertaining a viewing direction of an operator of the motor vehicle, and

subsequently executing, by a control of an operating device, the function pertaining to the motor vehicle in response to recognition of an acoustic command assigned to the function pertaining to the motor vehicle;

wherein the acoustic command is given within a predetermined time period after the viewing direction is aimed toward the display, when the viewing direction of the operator is no longer aimed directly toward the display.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising selecting the symbol when an eye of the operator of the motor vehicle is directed toward the symbol.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising identifying the selected symbol.

4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising subsequently executing the function pertaining to the motor vehicle and assigned to the selected symbol in response to the recognition of an acoustic command assigned to the function pertaining to the motor vehicle.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising selecting the symbol when an eye of the operator of the motor vehicle is directed toward the symbol longer than a predefined limiting value.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising identifying the selected symbol.

7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising subsequently executing the function pertaining to the motor vehicle and assigned to the selected symbol in response to the recognition of an acoustic command assigned to the function pertaining to the motor vehicle.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising selecting the symbol when an eye of the operator of the motor vehicle is directed toward the symbol provided an operating element for activating an eye tracker is manipulated.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising subsequently executing the function pertaining to the motor vehicle and assigned to the selected symbol in response to the recognition of an acoustic command assigned to the function pertaining to the motor vehicle.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the function pertaining to the motor vehicle is executed only if an operating element for activating an eye tracker is manipulated.

11. An operating device for a motor vehicle, comprising:

a display adapted to display variable information;

an eye tracker adapted to ascertain a viewing direction of an operator of the motor vehicle;

a microphone adapted to receive acoustic input of commands; and

a control adapted to;

show a symbol, assigned to a function pertaining to the motor vehicle, with the aid of the display;

subsequently execute the function pertaining to the motor vehicle in response to recognition of an acoustic command assigned to the function pertaining to the motor vehicle and picked up by the microphone;

wherein the acoustic command is given within a predetermined time period after the viewing direction is aimed toward the display, when the viewing direction of the operator is no longer aimed directly toward the display.

12. The operating device according to claim 11, further comprising an operating element adapted to activate the eye tracker.