Motor vehicle

• US 8,843,268 B2
• Filed: 09/23/2010
• Issued: 09/23/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Original Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Inventors: Lathrop, William Brian, Small, Evan, Finn, Brian Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): TISSOT, ADAM D
• Application Number:
  US12/889,003
• Publication Number:
  US 20110040455A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,461 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173, 345/156, 345/184, 345/30, 345/634, 345/641, 701/36, 701/1, 701/41, 701/42, 701/48, 340/438, 340/461, 340/462, 340/465, 340/575, 340/576, 340/665, 340/990, 340/995.15
• US Class Current: 701/36
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/143 Touch sensitive instrument input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1438 Touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/782 on the steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/143 Touch sensitive input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/1438 Touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/782 on the steering wheel
• 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 35/60 Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/046 Adaptations on rotatable parts of the steering wheel for accommodation of switches
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means

Abstract

The present invention relates to a motor vehicle having a steering wheel, the motor vehicle including a first display, integrated into the steering wheel, for the variable representation of information; a first touchscreen, situated over the first display, for the input of commands; a second display, integrated into the steering wheel and separated spatially from the first display, for the variable representation of information; and a second touchscreen, situated over the second display, for the input of commands.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle, the motor vehicle comprising:

a steering wheel;

a first display, integrated into the steering wheel;

a first touchscreen, situated over the first display, for the input of commands;

a second display, integrated into the steering wheel and spatially separated from the first display, for the variable representation of information; and

a second touchscreen, situated over the second display, for the input of commands;

wherein the first display is only adapted to display a superordinate menu having at least one operating element to initiate display of the second information on the second display.

2. The motor vehicle as recited in claim 1, wherein the first display is disposed in the left side area of the steering wheel.

3. The motor vehicle as recited in claim 2, wherein the second display is disposed in the right side area of the steering wheel.

4. The motor vehicle as recited in claim 3, further including a display control for the coordinated control of the first display and the second display.

5. The motor vehicle as recited in claim 1, wherein the second display is disposed in the right side area of the steering wheel.

6. The motor vehicle as recited in claim 1, further including a display control for the coordinated control of the first display and the second display.

7. The motor vehicle as recited in claim 1, further including a first actuator for generating a haptic feedback when the first touchscreen is touched.

8. The motor vehicle as recited in claim 7, further including a second actuator for generating a haptic feedback when the second touchscreen is touched.

9. A method for operating a motor vehicle having a steering wheel;

having a first display, integrated into the steering wheel;

having a first touchscreen, situated over the first display, for the input of commands;

having a second display, integrated into the steering wheel and spatially separated from the first display, for the variable representation of information; and

having a second touchscreen, situated over the second display, for the input of commands, the method comprising;

display of first information by the first display; and

display of second information by the second display;

wherein the first display only displays a superordinate menu having at least one operating element for initiating the display of the second information on the second display.

10. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein the first information is connected as regards content with the second information.

11. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein the second information includes a screen form for use by an operator to control a function of the motor vehicle.

12. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein the first information includes a menu display superordinate to the screen form.

13. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the menu display has a visual reference to the display of the screen form.