METHOD AND DEVICE FOR OPERATING A CLIMATE CONTROL DEVICE OF A VEHICLE

• US 20180037087A1
• Filed: 08/02/2017
• Published: 02/08/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Original Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Inventors: CENGIL, Skr, BRAUN, Anna, HERDEY, Jan Peter
• Granted Patent: US 10,449,829 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00842 the system comprising a plurality of damper doors; Air distribution between several outlets
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00864 Ventilators and damper doors
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00871 Air directing means, e.g. blades in an air outlet construction of nozzles or air diffusers B60H1/34
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00985 Control systems or circuits characterised by display or indicating devices, e.g. voice simulators characterised by the input of sound using a voice synthesizer B60H1/00757; B60H1/00978 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/11 Instrument graphical user interfaces or menu aspects
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/111 for controlling multiple devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/141 Activation of instrument input devices by approaching fingers or pens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1438 Touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1442 Emulation of input devices
• 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 35/81 for controlling displays
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/001 Texturing; Colouring; Generation of texture or colour inpainting G06T5/77
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2200/24 involving graphical user interfaces [GUIs]

Abstract

A method for operating an air-conditioning apparatus of a vehicle wherein the air-conditioning apparatus has at least three display modes including a status mode, a transition mode, and a setting mode. A current value of a setting parameter of the air-conditioning apparatus and whether an operating intention of a user exists are detected. If no operating intention is detected, the status mode is activated. If an operating intention is detected, the transition mode or the setting mode is activated. Depending on the activated display mode, graphical data of a graphical representation of an interior of the vehicle is generated and displayed so the status mode is activated. The representation of the interior includes a display element for outputting the currently set value of the setting parameter.

Claims

1. A method for operating an air-conditioning apparatus of a vehicle;

wherein the air-conditioning apparatus has at least three display modes, namely a status mode, a transition mode and a setting mode;

the method comprising;

detecting a current value of a setting parameter of the air-conditioning apparatus;

detecting whether an operating intention of a user exists;

activating the status mode if no operating intention is detected;

activating the transition mode or the setting mode if an operating intention is detected; and

generating and displaying graphical data of a graphical representation of an interior of the vehicle, depending on the activated display mode, such that

in response to the status mode being activated, the representation of the interior comprises a display element by which the currently set value of the setting parameter is output,

in response to the transition mode being activated, the representation of the interior comprises a settability display element, and

in response to the setting mode being activated, the representation of the interior comprises an operable setting element.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the display element, the settability display element and the setting element are embodied differently from one another.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein, in response to the setting mode being activated, an input is detected based on the setting element and a control signal for the air-conditioning apparatus is generated based on the input, wherein a ventilation element of the air-conditioning apparatus is set based on the control signal.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein an open state and a closed state of the ventilation element are set based on the control signal.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein, in response to the status mode being activated, the display element outputs the open or closed state of the ventilation element.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the display element, the setting element and the settability display element are arranged in each case at a position of the representation which corresponds to the actual position of the ventilation element in the vehicle.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the value of the setting parameter is output by the display element based on a color and/or a longitudinal extent.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the transition mode is activated in response to the detected operating intention comprises an approach of an actuation object within a detection space.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein, in response to the transition mode being activated, the settability display element is represented together with the display element, wherein the settability display element is arranged on the display element.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the operating intention comprises an actuation action and the setting mode is activated in response to the actuation action.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein, in response to the setting mode being activated, an approach position of an actuation object relative to the representation of the interior is determined and the operable setting element is formed based on the approach position.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the setting element comprises a scale object and a pointer object, wherein a displacement of the pointer object relative to a direction of extent of the scale object is detected for operating the setting element.

13. An operating apparatus for operating an air-conditioning apparatus of a vehicle, wherein the air-conditioning apparatus has at least three display modes, including a status mode, a transition mode and a setting mode, wherein the operating apparatus comprises:

a detection unit by which a current value of a setting parameter of the air-conditioning apparatus is detectable;

an operating intention detection unit by which an operating intention of a user is detectable;

wherein, if no operating intention is detected, the status mode is activatable and, in response to detection of an operating intention, the transition mode or the setting mode is activatable;

a control unit by which, depending on the activated display mode, graphical data of a graphical representation of an interior of the vehicle are generatable, such that

in response to the status mode being activated, the representation of the interior comprising a display element by which the currently set value of the setting parameter is able to be output,

in response to the transition mode being activated, the representation of the interior comprising a settability display element, and

in response to the setting mode being activated, the representation of the interior comprises an operable setting element; and

a display unit by which the graphical data are able to be displayed.

14. The operating apparatus of claim 13, wherein the operating intention of the user is detectable by an approach detection apparatus, which the operating apparatus comprises, as approach of an actuation object to the display area as a result of an entrance of the actuation object into a detection region in front of the display area.

15. The operating apparatus of claim 13, wherein the air-conditioning apparatus comprises at least one ventilation element, wherein, in response to the setting mode being activated, an input is detectable based on the setting element and a control signal for the air-conditioning apparatus is generatable based on the input, and wherein the ventilation element of the air-conditioning apparatus is settable based on the control signal.