Device for controlling different functions of a motor vehicle

• US 9,688,148 B2
• Filed: 03/19/2011
• Issued: 06/27/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Helot, Jacques
• Primary Examiner(s): Lopez, Jose Soto
• Application Number:
  US13/637,918
• Publication Number:
  US 20130050124A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,292 Days
• Field of Search: 345156, 345173, 715784, 340438
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/143 Touch sensitive instrument input devices
• 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 35/212 displaying on manual operation elements, e.g. on a knob
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/085 Changing the parameters of the control units, e.g. changing limit values, working points by control input
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

A device for controlling a plurality of different functions of a motor vehicle has an operator control element with which in each case one of the plurality of different functions can be actuated, and a touch-sensitive field which has a plurality of sections, each of which is at least temporarily assigned one of the different functions and which are provided with symbols corresponding to the respective function. A function can be selected by selecting one of the sections. In each case the function which was selected from the touch-sensitive field can be actuated the operator control element. A display device, in which the respectively selected function can be displayed a symbol, is provided on the operator control element or in the direct vicinity of the operator control element.

Claims

1. A device to control a plurality of different functions of a motor vehicle, comprising:

an operator control element configured to actuate and adjust a first function from among the plurality of different functions;

a display device provided on the operator control element or in a direct vicinity of the operator control element; and

a touch-sensitive field configured to have a plurality of sections arranged adjacent to one another and aligned in a single straight-line fashion along a first direction, each of which is at least temporarily assigned one of the plurality of different functions, each section being provided with a selector symbol corresponding to a respective assigned function,

wherein a selection of a selected function from among the plurality of different functions in the touch-sensitive field consists of selecting one of the sections and subsequently performing a touch-sensitive sliding of the selector symbol corresponding to the selected function, in the single straight-line fashion along the first direction, toward the operator control element, to thereby transfer the selected function into the operator control element,

wherein by transferring the selected function into the operator control element, the operator control element is changed from being configured to adjust the first function to being configured to adjust the selected function by a subsequent adjustment of the operator control element,

wherein the selected function is displayed on the display device using an actuator symbol,

wherein the operator control element is arranged adjacent to at least one of the plurality of sections and is aligned in the single straight-line fashion along the first direction with the plurality of sections,

wherein the operator control element and touch-sensitive field are installed in a console of the motor vehicle, and

wherein the operator control element is embodied as one of a control knob or a rocker switch.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein

the operator control element is embodied to provide a user with haptic feedback.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein

for the selected function, a single symbol is used for both the selector symbol and the actuator symbol.

4. The device according to claim 2, wherein

the operator control element is a control knob.

5. The device according to claim 2, wherein

the operator control element is a control knob that is rotated to actuate the selected function, and

the display device is a display provided in a center of the control knob.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein

the operator control element is a control knob that is rotated to actuate the selected function, and

the display device is a display provided in a center of the control knob.

7. The device according to claim 2, wherein

the operator control element is a rocker switch.

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein

the display device is a display which is provided in a center of the rocker switch.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein

the operator control element is a rocker switch, and

the display device is a display which is provided in a center of the rocker switch.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein

the display device is a display which is provided on the operator control element.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein

the sections of the touch-sensitive field are assigned functions of an air-conditioning system.

12. The device according to claim 1, wherein

the sections of the touch-sensitive field are assigned functions of a radio system.

13. The device according to claim 1, wherein

the sections of the touch-sensitive field are assigned functions of a navigation device.

14. The device according to claim 1, wherein, when the selected function is selected, at least one section among the plurality of sections is assigned a different function.

15. The device according to claim 1, wherein, when the selected function is selected, at least one selector symbol displayed in a section among the plurality of sections changes to a different selector symbol.

16. The device according to claim 1, wherein, as a result of the touch-sensitive sliding of the selector symbol corresponding to the selected function, in the single straight-line fashion along the first direction, toward the operator control element, at least one other selector symbol also slides.

17. The device according to claim 1, wherein a first section among the plurality of sections is temporarily assigned to the selected function before the touch-sensitive sliding of the selector symbol corresponding to the selected function,

wherein, when the selected function is selected, the selected function is displayed on the display device using an actuator symbol and replaces a previously selected function displayed on the display device,

wherein, in response to the sliding of the selector symbol corresponding to the selected function, one of the first section or a second section among the plurality of sections is assigned the previously selected function which was displayed on the displayed device.

18. The device according to claim 17, wherein, the first section is provided with a selector symbol corresponding to the previously selected function when the first section is assigned the previously selected function, and

the second section is disposed adjacent to the operator control element in a same direction of the sliding of the selector symbol, and is provided with a selector symbol corresponding to the previously selected function when the second section is assigned the previously selected function.

19. The device according to claim 1, wherein

the touch-sensitive field is separately provided from the operator control element such that sensing of the sliding of the selector symbol does not occur at the operator control element.

20. The device according to claim 1, wherein

the sections of the touch-sensitive field are assigned functions of an air-conditioning system,

a first section is temporarily assigned a second function corresponding to a first one of setting a temperature, selecting a ventilation direction, and controlling an operation of a seat heater,

a second section is temporarily assigned a third function corresponding to a second one of setting the temperature, selecting the ventilation direction, and controlling the operation of the seat heater, and

the operator control element is configured to actuate and adjust the selected function corresponding to a third one of setting the temperature, selecting the ventilation direction, and controlling the operation of the seat heater.