User interface and method for signaling a 3D-position of an input means in the detection of gestures

• US 9,956,878 B2
• Filed: 03/07/2014
• Issued: 05/01/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Original Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Inventors: Wild, Holger, Czelnik, Mark Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Jr., Kenneth B
• Application Number:
  US15/124,291
• Publication Number:
  US 20170021728A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,516 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/146 Instrument input by gesture
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1464 3D-gesture
• 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 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0487 using specific features provided by the input device, e.g. functions controlled by the rotation of a mouse with dual sensing arrangements, or of the nature of the input device, e.g. tap gestures based on pressure sensed by a digitiser

Abstract

In a user interface and to a method for signaling a position of an input mechanism with respect to an area for 3D gesture detection for a user interface, the method includes the following steps: input mechanism of a user are detected in the area for 3D gesture detection, and the position of the input mechanism is signaled by an indicator in the area of the edge of a display unit of the user interface.

Claims

1. A method for signaling a position of an input mechanism with regard to a region for 3D-detection of gestures for a user interface, comprising:

detecting the input mechanism of a user in the region for 3D-gesture detection; and

signaling the position of the input mechanism by an item of information in a region of edges of a display unit of the user interface.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a change in a position of the input mechanism with respect to a first coordinate, and in response thereto;

modifying the position of the information in a region of horizontal edges of the display unit.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a change in a position of the input mechanism with respect to a second coordinate, and in response thereto;

modifying the position of the information in a region of vertical edges of the display unit.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a change in a position of the input mechanism with respect to a third coordinate, and in response thereto;

modifying a design of the information.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the modification of the design of the information relates to transparency, an extension along a respective edge, edge focus, and/or color.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the position of the information with respect to boundaries of the edges of the display unit substantially behaves according to a position of the input mechanism with respect to boundaries of the region for 3D-gesture detection.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the items of information are displayed on the display unit of the user interface.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the items of information are displayed on separate illumination devices next to the display unit of the user interface.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

detecting the input mechanism of a second user in the region for 3-D gesture detection, and in response thereto;

modifying a design of the items of information.

12. The user interface according to claim 10, wherein the user interface is adapted to perform the method recited in claim 1.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a set of instructions that when executed by an evaluation unit of a user interface that includes a display unit, a sensor system, and the evaluation unit, the sensor system adapted to detect an input mechanism for 3D-gesture control, the evaluation unit adapted to signal a position of the input mechanism by an item of information in a region of edges of the display unit, perform the method recited in claim 1.

10. A user interface, comprising:

a display unit;

a sensor system; and

an evaluation unit;

wherein the sensor system is adapted to detect an input mechanism for 3D-gesture control; and

wherein the evaluation unit is adapted to signal a position of the input mechanism by an item of information in a region of edges of the display unit.

11. The user interface according to claim 10, further comprising additional illumination devices and/or bar-type illumination elements, located along respective edges of the display, adapted to signal the items of information.

14. A user terminal, comprising the user interface recited in claim 10.

15. The user terminal according to claim 14, wherein the user terminal is arranged as a wireless communications device, a tablet PC, and/or a smartphone.

16. A transportation device, comprising the user interface recited in claim 10.

17. The transportation device according to claim 16, wherein the transportation device is arranged as a vehicle.