Operating device of a motor vehicle and method for recording user inputs

• US 8,411,040 B2
• Filed: 12/14/2007
• Issued: 04/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Original Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Inventors: Waeller, Christoph, Bachfischer, Katharina, Bendewald, Lennart
• Primary Examiner(s): ABDULSELAM, ABBAS I
• Application Number:
  US11/956,831
• Publication Number:
  US 20080158190A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,936 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/158, 345/173, 340/461, 340/991, 178/18.01, 463/30, 382/124
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/141 Activation of instrument input devices by approaching fingers or pens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/143 Touch sensitive instrument input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1438 Touch screens
• 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: G06F 3/042 by opto-electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04895 Guidance during keyboard input operation, e.g. prompting

Abstract

In an operating device of a motor vehicle and a method for recording user inputs in a motor vehicle, the operating device includes a control unit and at least one operating element coupled to the control unit, via whose operation a user input is able to be recorded, an approach sensor system being coupled to the control unit, using which an approach of an actuating element, e.g., of a body part, for example, of a finger of a user to the at least one operating element is able to be recorded before the operation of the at least one operating element occurs. The control unit is adapted to, in response to a recorded approach of the actuating element to the at least one operating element, output information in connection with an operation of the operating element before an operation of the operating element occurs.

Claims

1. An operating device of a motor vehicle, comprising:

a control unit;

at least one operating element coupled to the control unit and configured to record a user input; and

an approach sensor system coupled to the control unit and configured to record an approach of an actuating element to the operating element before operation of the operating element;

wherein the control unit is configured to output information to a user, in response to a recorded approach of the actuating element to the operating element, in connection with an operation of the operating element before operation of the operating element occurs.

2. The operating device according to claim 1, wherein the actuating element includes at least one of (a) a body part and (b) a finger of a user.

3. The operating device according to claim 1, further comprising a display device coupled to the control device.

4. The operating device according to claim 3, wherein the display device includes a touch screen.

5. The operating device according to claim 1, wherein the operating element includes at least one of (a) a virtual operating element arranged on a touch screen and (b) a switching element provided in hardware.

6. The operating device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to output of the information in connection with the operation of the operating element only if the recorded approach of the actuating element to the operating element lasts for a time period that is greater than a specified time interval.

7. The operating device according to claim 1, wherein the output information includes a view of at least one part of a view of a display device displayable on the display device after an operation.

8. The operating device according to claim 1, wherein the output information includes an explanation of at least one of (a) a function and (b) an operating action triggered in response to the operation of the operating element.

9. The operating device according to claim 1, further comprising at least one further operating element coupled to the control unit, the approach sensor system configured to differentiate between an approach of the actuating element to the operating element and an approach to the further operating element, the control unit configured to output information, when the control unit detects an approach of the actuating element to the further operating element, in connection with operation of the further operating element.

10. The operating device according to claim 1, wherein the information includes an indication of a consequence of the operation of the operating element.

11. A method for recording user inputs in a motor vehicle, comprising:

recording an operation of at least one operating element and generating control signals by a control unit coupled to the operating element for triggering at least one of (a) a function and (b) an operating action;

recording an approach of an actuating element to the operating element before an operation of the operating element occurs using an approach sensor system linked to the control unit; and

outputting, to a user, as a result of the recorded approach to the operating element, information in connection with an operation of the operating element before an operation of the operating element occurs.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the actuating element includes at least one of (a) a body part and (b) a finger of a user.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the information is output in the outputting step via a display device coupled to the control unit.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein the operating element includes a virtual operating element provide on a display device including a touch screen, the recording of an operation of the operating element including ascertaining a touching position of the actuating element on a surface of the display device.

15. The method according to claim 11, wherein the outputting includes outputting as output information a view of at least one part of a display surface of a display device that will be displayed on the display device after an operation.

16. The method according to claim 11, further comprising outputting an explanation of at least one of (a) the function and (b) the operating action that is triggered in response to the operation of the operating element.

17. The method according to claim 11, wherein at least one further operating element is coupled to the control unit, the method further comprising:

differentiating, by the approach sensor system, between an approach of the actuating element to the operating element and an approach to the further operating element; and

outputting information, upon detection of an approach of the actuating element to the further operating element, in connection with operation of the further operating element.

18. The method according to claim 11, wherein the outputting includes outputting information in connection with the operating element at least one of (a) acoustically and (b) visually.

19. The method according to claim 11, wherein the outputting of the information before the operation of the operating element is performed only if the approach of the actuating element to the operating element lasts for a time span that is greater than a specified time interval.

20. The method according to claim 11, wherein the information includes an indication of a consequence of the operation of the operating element.