Multifunction display and operating device and method for operating a multifunction display and operating device having improved selection operation

• US 8,766,911 B2
• Filed: 05/09/2008
• Issued: 07/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Original Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Inventors: Wller, Christoph, Missall, Markus, Thom, Mathias
• Primary Examiner(s): Mengistu, Amare
• Assistant Examiner(s): LAM, VINH TANG
• Application Number:
  US12/600,327
• Publication Number:
  US 20100214238A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,244 Days
• Field of Search: 345173-184, 340988-996, 3404255-42622
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/143 Touch sensitive instrument input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1438 Touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/21 using cameras
• 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 3/042 by opto-electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/022 Control panels

Abstract

A multifunction display and operating device of a motor vehicle and comprise a display device (4), a control unit linked to the display surface (6) for implementing a user interface and at least one detection unit (8). The user interface comprises at least one display and operating context, display information depending on the display context being represented in a context information area (21) in a display mode on a display surface (6) and additional, cross-context information being represented in a status information area (22), and a change into an operating mode is initiated by an actuating action detectable by the detection unit, additionally or alternatively representing operating information depending on the operating context in the context information area, a change to a selection operating mode is initiated by a further detectable actuating action, selection information linked to a selection of an operating parameter being displayed in the status information area.

Claims

1. A multifunction display and operating device of a motor vehicle, comprising:

a display device,

a control unit linked to a display surface of the display device for implementing a user interface, and

at least one detection unit,

wherein the user interface comprises at least one display context and one operating context,

wherein in a display mode display information dependent on the display context is displayed on a display surface of the display device in a context information area and in addition cross-context status information is displayed in a status information area of the display surface, and

via a first actuating action detectable by the detection unit a change into a first operating mode is initiated in which operating information dependent on the operating context is displayed additionally or alternatively in the context information area, and

wherein the control unit switches the user interface from the first operating mode to a selection operating mode in which selection information linked to a selection of an operating parameter is displayed in the status information area of the display surface when the detection unit senses a second actuating action;

wherein selection of the operation parameter controls at least in part an operation of a system associated with the motor vehicle instead of an operation of the display device, the system associated with the motor vehicle selected from a group consisting of;

a navigation system;

a passenger temperature control system;

an audio system;

a telephone system; and

a traffic information system.

2. The multifunction display and operating device according to claim 1, wherein the selection information comprises discrete list elements.

3. The multifunction display and operating device according to claim 1, wherein the selection information comprises a visualization of a parameter value selectable from a selection range.

4. The multifunction display and operating device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one detection unit comprises a contactless detecting position determination unit which can determine a position of an actuating element of a user or a position of a finger, in a spatial area at least in front of the display surface, and a presence of the actuating element in an activation area spatially located in front of the display surface is detectable as the actuating action.

5. The multifunction display and operating device according to claim 1, wherein by means of the at least one detection unit a presence of an actuating element in an actuating area is detectable as a further actuating action, wherein the actuating area comprises a spatial area adjacent to at least one selection control element which is usable to select the operating parameter.

6. The multifunction display and operating device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one detection unit comprises a touch-sensitive position detection unit, which in conjunction with the display surface is formed into a touch screen.

7. The multifunction display and operating device according to claim 1, wherein a selecting action which causes a selection of the operating parameter is detected as a further actuating action.

8. The multifunction display and operating device according to claim 1, wherein a time determination unit is provided to automatically allow both of the following:

a change into the display mode after an expiration of an activation pause time period starting at a termination of the actuating action; and

a change from the selection mode into the operating mode or the display mode after an activation information pause time period starting at a termination of the further actuating action.

9. The multifunction display and operating device according to claim 1, wherein the operating information comprises transparently designed virtual control elements which in the operating mode are displayed above the information of the display mode.

10. The multifunction display and operating device according to claim 1, wherein the depicted operating information is adapted to actually available operating options.

20. The multifunction display and operating device according to claim 1, wherein the selection information comprises a progression diagram or a bar diagram of a parameter value selectable from a selection range.

11. A method for operating a multifunction display and operating device of a motor vehicle, comprising a display device, a control unit linked to the display surface of a display device for implementing a user interface, as well at least one detection unit, wherein the user interface comprises at least one display context and one operating context, comprising the steps of:

displaying display information dependent on the display context in a context information area on a display surface of the display device and in addition cross-context information in a status information area of the display surface during an operation of the display and operating apparatus in a display mode;

monitoring the detection unit to change into an operating mode upon a detection of a first actuating action;

additional or alternative displaying of operating information dependent on the operating context in the context information area in the operating mode; and

during an operation of the display and operating apparatus in the operating mode monitoring the detection unit to change into a selection operating mode upon a detection of a second actuating action,

wherein in the selection operating mode selection information linked to a selection of an operating parameter is displayed in the status information area;

wherein selection of the operation parameter controls at least in part an operation of a system associated with the motor vehicle instead of an operation of the display device, the system associated with the motor vehicle selected from a group consisting of;

a navigation system;

a passenger temperature control system;

an audio system;

a telephone system; and

a traffic information system.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the selection information comprises discrete list elements.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein to visualize the selection information a progression diagram or a bar diagram of a parameter value selectable from a selection range is depicted.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one detection unit comprises a contactless detecting position determination unit which can determine a position of an actuating element of a user or a position of a finger, in the spatial area at least in front of the display surface, and a presence of the actuating element in an activation area spatially located in front of the display surface is detected as the actuating action.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein by means of the at least one detection unit a presence of the actuating element in an actuating area is detected as a further actuating action, wherein the actuating area comprises a spatial area adjacent to at least one selection control element which is usable for selecting the operating parameter.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one detection unit comprises a touch-sensitive position detection unit, which is formed into a touch screen in conjunction with the display surface, and a selecting action which causes a selection of the operating parameter is detected as a further actuating action.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein a time determination unit is used to determine an expiration of an activation pause time period starting at a termination of the actuating action and an expiration of an activation information pause time period starting at a termination of the further actuating action, and wherein after the expiration of the activation pause time period an automatic change into the display mode occurs or after the expiration of the activation information pause time period an automatic change from the selection mode into the operating mode or the display mode occurs.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the operating information comprises transparently designed virtual control elements which in operating mode are displayed above information of the display mode.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein in the operating mode and/or in a further operating mode only actually available operating options of an operating context are depicted in a manner adapted to a number of the actually available operating options in the operating context, in each case optimized for a secure operability.