Virtual vehicle interface

• US 8,332,093 B2
• Filed: 05/12/2010
• Issued: 12/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Motor Corporation
• Original Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Yamasaki, Bryan Else, Pierfelice, Jeffrey Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): McCullough, Michael
• Application Number:
  US12/778,564
• Publication Number:
  US 20110282537A1
• Time in Patent Office: 944 Days
• Field of Search: 701/29.1, 701/36, 340/425.5, 340/438, 340/459
• US Class Current: 701/29.1
• 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 3/0346 with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04815 Interaction with a metaphor-based environment or interaction object displayed as three-dimensional, e.g. changing the user viewpoint with respect to the environment or object

Abstract

A virtual vehicle interface system for use in a motor vehicle. The system can include a screen having a screen region and an image module that is operable to display an image of a portion of the motor vehicle on the screen region. The image can display a feature of the motor vehicle and an information tag can also be displayed and be proximate to the feature. The screen and the image module are operable to rotate the image of the motor vehicle and display different views of the motor vehicle using a remote control device or by pressing an object such as an individual'"'"'s finger onto and moving it across the screen. In addition, a change of a setting and/or state of the motor vehicle can be altered by activating the information tag.

Claims

1. A virtual vehicle interface system for a motor vehicle comprising:

a screen having a screen region;

an image module operable to display an image of a portion of said motor vehicle on said screen region, said image displaying a first feature of said motor vehicle and a first information tag proximate to and associated with said first feature;

said screen and said image module operable to rotate said image of said motor vehicle and display different views of said motor vehicle, said screen and image module also operable to display an image of said first feature of said motor vehicle in an open position when said first information tag is activated and a second information tag proximate to and associated with a second feature that is visible only after said first feature is displayed in said open position;

an information module having information associated with said first and second information tags and said first and second features displayed on said screen region;

said image module also operable to display said information on said first and second features of said motor vehicle when said first and second information tags, respectively, are activated by at least one of a remote control device and applying pressure on said screen where said first and second information tags, respectively, are located.

2. The virtual vehicle interface system of claim 1, wherein said image of said portion of said motor vehicle displays a plurality of features of said motor vehicle.

3. The virtual vehicle interface system of claim 2, wherein said image module is operable to display a plurality of information tags on said screen region, each of said plurality of information tags associated with and located proximate to at least one of said plurality of features.

4. The virtual vehicle interface system of claim 3, wherein said information module has information for each of said plurality of information tags.

5. The virtual vehicle interface system of claim 4, wherein said image module is operable to display said information for a given information tag when said given information tag is activated.

6. The virtual vehicle interface system of claim 1, wherein a different view of said motor vehicle is selected from a group consisting of a front view, a front-left side view, a rear-left side view, a rear view, a rear-right side view, a right side view and a front-right side view.

7. The virtual vehicle interface system of claim 1, wherein said first feature is selected from a group consisting of a hood, a trunk lid, a gas door, a door, a convertible top and a sun roof.

8. The virtual vehicle interface system of claim 7, further comprising said image module operable to display at least one action item when said additional information tag is activated.

9. The virtual vehicle interface system of claim 8, wherein said at least one action item is selected from a group consisting of moving said gas door from a first position to a second position, moving a sliding door from a first position to a second position, moving said convertible top from a first position to a second position, moving said sun roof from a first position to a second position, moving a door lock from a first position to a second position, setting a rear door child lock, setting a rear window lock, activating a parking assist function and viewing maintenance information.

10. The virtual vehicle interface system of claim 7, further comprising said image module operable to display a drop-down list of action items when said information tag is activated.

11. The virtual vehicle interface system of claim 1, wherein said information is selected from a group consisting of air pressure in a tire, current charge of a battery, liquid level of a motor vehicle component and operation status of a light emitting device.

12. The virtual vehicle interface system of claim 1, wherein said image module displays only information tags for features displayed on said image.

13. The virtual vehicle interface system of claim 12, wherein said image module displays previously hidden information tags when said image of said motor vehicle is rotated.

14. A process for checking a current status of a feature of a motor vehicle comprising:

providing a screen, the screen being at least one of a touch screen and a touchless screen;

providing an image module in communication with the screen and operable to display an image of a portion of the motor vehicle on the screen, the image having a first feature of the motor vehicle and a first information tag proximate to and associated with the first feature, the screen and image module also operable to display an image of the first feature in an open position when the first information tag is activated and a second information tag proximate to and associated with a second feature that is visible only after the first feature is displayed in the open position;

providing an information module having information associated with the first and second information tags displayed on the screen;

activating the first information tag by at least using a remote control device or pressing an object onto the touch screen at a location where the first information tag is located, the screen and image module displaying the first feature in the open position and the second feature with the second information tag proximate thereto; and

activating the second information tag and providing information on the second feature after the second information tag has been activated.

15. The process of claim 14, wherein the image of the portion of the motor vehicle displays a plurality of features of the motor vehicle.

16. The process of claim 15, wherein the image module displays a plurality of information tags on the touch screen with each of the plurality of information tags associated with and located proximate to at least one of the plurality of features.