Method and system for providing a user interface in a vehicle

• US 9,589,392 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2012
• Issued: 03/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG), Volkswagen AG
• Original Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG), Volkswagen AG
• Inventors: Wller, Christoph, Mejia Gonzalez, Maria Esther, Bendewald, Lennart, Henze, Stefan
• Primary Examiner(s): Edwards, Jerrah
• Assistant Examiner(s): WALLACE, DONALD JOSEPH
• Application Number:
  US14/118,126
• Publication Number:
  US 20140095000A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,772 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/184 Displaying the same information on different displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/55 Remote control arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/566 Mobile devices displaying vehicle information
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/573 Mobile devices controlling vehicle functions
• 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 35/223 Flexible displays
• 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 35/53 Movable instruments, e.g. slidable
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/80 Arrangements for controlling instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1454 involving copying of the display data of a local workstation or window to a remote workstation or window so that an actual copy of the data is displayed simultaneously on two or more displays, e.g. teledisplay
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/14 Display of multiple viewports

Abstract

A method and system for providing a user interface in a vehicle, wherein a wireless data link is formed between the vehicle and a mobile playback device which is releasably connected in the vehicle or is held freely by a user. Operating parameters relevant for the operation of the vehicle are detected on the vehicle and information relating to detected operating parameters is displayed by a display and control unit installed in the vehicle and which can be read from the driver'"'"'s seat position. A wireless data link is formed between the vehicle and a mobile playback device which is releasably connected in the vehicle or is held freely by a user. Data for generating display content are transmitted via the wireless data link from the vehicle to the playback device, and on the basis of the transmitted data display content is generated on the playback device.

Claims

1. A method for providing a user interface in a vehicle, comprising:

capturing at the vehicle operating parameters that are relevant to the operation of the vehicle;

permanently arranging in the vehicle a display and operator control device readable from the seat position of a driver and used to display information about captured operating parameters;

setting up a wireless data link between the vehicle and a mobile reproduction appliance that is detachably connected in the vehicle or that is freely held by a user in the vehicle;

transmitting data for producing a display content from the vehicle to the reproduction appliance via the wireless data link;

using the transmitted data as a basis for producing a display content on the reproduction appliance, the display content comprising information about captured operating parameters that is displayed on the display and operator control device; and

selecting a subregion of the display content on the reproduction appliance and altering the display on the reproduction appliance by highlighting or enlarging the selected subregion of the display content on the reproduction appliance;

wherein an operator control element is reproduced on the reproduction appliance and is used to control a vehicle function,

wherein the operator control of an operator control element that is reproduced on the reproduction appliance transmits an announcement to the driver of the vehicle, the announcement comprising a notification that a vehicle occupant has preselected a function that requires driver confirmation prior to execution.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least some operator control elements controlled from the seat position of the driver and function displays readable from the seat position of the driver are reproduced on the reproduction appliance in a single display, wherein mechanical analog function displays and mechanical operator control elements are presented by symbols.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the operator control of an operator control element that is reproduced on the reproduction appliance alters the display content of the display and operator control device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein using the transmitted data as a basis for producing a display content on the reproduction appliance comprises displaying a virtual cockpit and a subregion is selected from the displayed virtual cockpit.

5. A system for providing a user interface in a vehicle, comprising:

a capture device that is permanently arranged in the vehicle and used to capture operating parameters that are relevant to the operation of the vehicle at the vehicle;

a display and operator control device that is arranged permanently in the vehicle-so as to be read from the seat position of the driver and used to display information;

a mobile reproduction appliance that is connected detachably to the vehicle or that is freely held in the vehicle;

a wireless data interface between the reproduction appliance and the vehicle used to transmit data for producing a display content from the vehicle to the reproduction appliance; and

a control unit that is connected to the capture device, the display and operator control device and the data interface,

wherein the control unit produces a display content on the reproduction appliance based on the transmitted data, which display content comprises information about captured operating parameters that is displayed on the display and operator control device;

wherein the display content includes functions controlled freely by an occupant of the vehicle other than a driver, functions preselected by the occupant of the vehicle and require confirmation from the driver prior to execution of the functions; and

functions for which the operator control is reserved for the driver.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the reproduction appliance is mounted detachably in the vehicle, as a result of which the display content is reproduced at a position in the vehicle that cannot be viewed from the seat position of the driver.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the reproduction appliance is mounted detachably in the vehicle and the reproduction appliance is controlled using an operator control element associated with the vehicle.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the reproduction appliance is mounted detachably in the vehicle, and the reproduction appliance is controlled using a touch-sensitive operator control panel that is associated with the vehicle.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the reproduction appliance is mounted detachably in the vehicle at a position that is associated with a particular seat position, and the reproduction appliance is controlled using an operator control element that is associated with said seat position and is installed permanently in the vehicle.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein a subregion of the display content that the information displayed on the display and operator control device comprises is controlled via selection on the reproduction appliance such that the selected subregion of the display content is presented in highlighted form or enlarged form.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the at least some of the operator control elements controlled from the seat position of the driver or function displays readable from the seat position of the driver are reproduced on the reproduction appliance, wherein mechanical analog function displays and mechanical operator control elements are presented by symbols.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein an operator control element that is reproduced on the reproduction appliance controls a vehicle function.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the operator control of an operator control element that is reproduced on the reproduction appliance alters the display content of the display and operator control device.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the operator control of an operator control element that is reproduced on the reproduction appliance transmits an announcement to the driver of the vehicle.

15. The system of claim 5, wherein the display and operator control device display information about captured operating parameters.

16. The system of claim 5, wherein the reproduction appliance is controlled using a touch-sensitive operator control panel.