HOLDING DEVICE FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE

Abstract

A holding device for a motor vehicle for holding an object including a beverage container or a mobile device includes at least one active surface, one or more of a sensor system or a sensor surface for detecting at least part of the active surface, at least one adjustment means of the at least one active surface, and a control unit.

Claims

1. A holding device for a motor vehicle for holding an object including a beverage container or a mobile device, comprising: at least one active surface; one or more of a sensor system or a sensor surface for detecting at least part of the active surface; at least one adjustment means of the at least one active surface; and a control unit, wherein the holding device is configured such that, in response to the object approaching the active surface or the object being in contact with the sensor surface, the object is detected by the sensor system or the sensor surface, wherein the at least one adjustment means of the at least one active surface is controllable by the control unit to adjust the active surface to form a reception space for at least one of holding or receiving the object, the reception space comprising a recess of the at least one active surface, and wherein the sensor system comprises at least one camera including a 2D optical camera, a plurality of 2D optical cameras, an infrared sensor, an electromagnetic sensor, or a 3D optical camera.

2. The holding device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one active surface is arranged on one or more of a center console, a head unit, or a dashboard.

3. The holding device according to claim 1, wherein the detection of the object is carried out by analyzing image data of the sensor system using a computer-based analysis device and the object is recognized using a recognition algorithm.

4. The holding device according to claim 1, wherein the adjustment means of the at least one active surface comprises at least one drive means, and the at least one drive means comprises an electric motor and is controlled by the control unit.

5. The holding device according to claim 1, wherein the reception space of the at least one active surface has a predefined form for receiving the object.

6. The holding device according to claim 1, wherein the reception space of the at least one active surface is formed depending on a shape or a dimension of the detected object so that the object fits into the reception space.

7. The holding device according to claim 1, wherein, in order to release the object, as soon as a body part or a user's hand is detected approaching the at least one active surface by the sensor system, the at least one active surface is retracted by the control unit and the adjustment means to its original shape.

8. The holding device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor surface is applied as a further layer on at least a partial region of the active surface, and the sensor surface is constructed from a plurality of touch sensors.

9. The holding device according to claim 8, wherein the touch sensors are based on a functional principle as one or more of a resistive system, a surface-capacitive system, a projected-capacitive system, an inductive system, a surface acoustic wave systems, or a dispersive signal technology system.

10. A motor vehicle comprising a holding device for holding an object including a beverage container or a mobile device, comprising: at least one active surface; one or more of a sensor system or a sensor surface for detecting at least part of the active surface; at least one adjustment means of the at least one active surface; and a control unit, wherein the holding device is configured such that, in response to the object approaching the active surface or the object being in contact with the sensor surface, the object is detected by the sensor system or the sensor surface, wherein the at least one adjustment means of the at least one active surface is controllable by the control unit to adjust the active surface to form a reception space for at least one of holding or receiving the object, the reception space comprising a recess of the at least one active surface, and wherein the sensor system comprises at least one camera including a 2D optical camera, a plurality of 2D optical cameras, an infrared sensor, an electromagnetic sensor, or a 3D optical camera.

11. A method for holding an object using a holding device, comprising: providing a holding device for holding an object including a beverage container or a mobile device, comprising: at least one active surface; one or more of a sensor system or a sensor surface for detecting at least part of the active surface; at least one adjustment means of the at least one active surface; and a control unit, detecting the object which approaches the at least one active surface or is in contact with the sensor surface by one or more of the sensor system or the sensor surface; controlling at least one adjustment means of the at least one active surface by the control unit in order to adjust the at least one active surface to form a reception space for one or more of holding or receiving the object, the reception space comprising a recess of the at least one active surface; and analyzing image data of the sensor system using a computer-based analysis device, wherein the object is recognized using a recognition algorithm.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising: detecting the object using the sensor surface, the object being deposited on the sensor surface and being in contact with the sensor surface, wherein contact points of the object are detected using the sensor surface and thereby a shape or a type of the object is determined by analyzing signals of the sensor surface using a computer algorithm of a a computer-based analysis device, and wherein at the contact points of the object with the sensor surface using the control unit, the recess of the active surface is formed that matches the detected dimensions of the object.

13. The method according to claim 11, further comprising: detecting a hand by the sensor system as soon as the object is manually brought into the a region of the active surface manually by the hand, then the sensor surface is activated in order to detect touch commands by the user, wherein as soon as the object is removed from the region of the active surface, the sensor surface is deactivated.

14. A holding device for a motor vehicle for holding an object including a beverage container or a mobile device, comprising: at least one active surface; one or more of a sensor system or a sensor surface for detecting at least part of the active surface; at least one adjustment means of the at least one active surface; and a control unit, wherein the holding device is configured such that, in response to the object approaching the active surface or the object being in contact with the sensor surface, the object is detected by the sensor system or the sensor surface, wherein the at least one adjustment means of the at least one active surface is controllable by the control unit to adjust the active surface to form a reception space for at least one of holding or receiving the object, the reception space comprising a recess of the at least one active surface, and wherein the detection of the object is carried out by analyzing image data of the sensor system using a computer-based analysis device and the object is recognized using a recognition algorithm.

15. A method for holding an object using a holding device, comprising: providing a holding device for holding an object including a beverage container or a mobile device, comprising: at least one active surface; one or more of a sensor system or a sensor surface for detecting at least part of the active surface; at least one adjustment means of the at least one active surface; and a control unit, detecting the object which approaches the at least one active surface or is in contact with the sensor surface by one or more of the sensor system or the sensor surface; controlling at least one adjustment means of the at least one active surface by the control unit in order to adjust the at least one active surface to form a reception space for one or more of holding or receiving the object, the reception space comprising a recess of the at least one active surface; and detecting the object using the sensor surface, the object being deposited on the sensor surface and being in contact with the sensor surface, wherein contact points of the object are detected using the sensor surface and thereby a shape or a type of the object is determined by analyzing signals of the sensor surface using a computer algorithm of a a computer-based analysis device, and wherein at the contact points of the object with the sensor surface using the control unit, the recess of the active surface is formed that matches the detected dimensions of the object.

16. A method for holding an object using a holding device, comprising: providing a holding device for holding an object including a beverage container or a mobile device, comprising: at least one active surface; one or more of a sensor system or a sensor surface for detecting at least part of the active surface; at least one adjustment means of the at least one active surface; and a control unit; and detecting a hand by the sensor system as soon as the object is manually brought into the a region of the active surface manually by the hand, then the sensor surface is activated in order to detect touch commands by the user, wherein as soon as the object is removed from the region of the active surface, the sensor surface is deactivated.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0059] The aspects of the invention are shown in detail in the drawings, as follows:

[0060] FIG. 1 is a schematic sketch of the holding device for holding an object, comprising an active surface and a sensor system;

[0061] FIG. 2 is a schematic sketch of the holding device of FIG. 1 to illustrate the adjustment between an activated state of the active surface and a deactivated state of the active surface;

[0062] FIG. 3 is a flow chart to illustrate a method to create a recess using the active surface;

[0063] FIG. 4 is a flow chart to illustrate a method to release the object from the active surface;

[0064] FIG. 5 is a sketch of a rectangular active area;

[0065] FIG. 6 is a sketch of a circular active surface;

[0066] FIG. 7 is a sketch of an embodiment of the holding device; and

[0067] FIG. 8 is a sketch of a further embodiment of the holding device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0068] FIG. 1 shows a schematic sketch of the holding device 1 for a motor vehicle for holding an object, such as a mobile telephone 2 or a beverage container 3, comprising an active surface 4, a sensor system 5, consisting of a first 2D optical camera 6 with a first field of view 7 and a second optical 2D camera 8 with a second field of view 9. The fields of view 7 and 9 of the sensor system 5 are dimensioned such that the complete active surface 4 is detected. An adjustment means 10, in an example, includes a drive means 11, such as an electric motor, and parallel bars 12. The active surface 4 can be adjusted by the individual bars 12, which are individually driven by the at least one drive means 11. The bars 12 are attached at an upper end 13 to the flexible active surface 4, so by adjusting the individual bars 12 the shape of the active surface 4 is deformed to a matching first recess 14 for the mobile phone 2 or a second recess 15 for the beverage container 3. The image data of the sensor system 5 is transmitted to an analysis device 16, such as a computer 17 or a microchip with corresponding software, and is analyzed using a recognition algorithm, wherein the object, such as the mobile phone 2 or the beverage container 3, is automatically detected. Subsequently, the drive means 11 is controlled by means of a control means 18, such as a computer 17 or a microchip with appropriate software, and thus the active surface 4 is adjusted to form the recesses 14 and 15 which are precisely fitting the objects 2 and 3. To activate the active surface 4, a hand 19 of a user who holds the object 3 is detected by means of the sensor system 5. As soon as the hand 19 brings the object 3 into the neighborhood of the active surface 4, the active surface 4 is activated and the adjustment device 10 is activated by means of the control means 18 in such a way that the matching recess 15 is formed. To deactivate the active surface 4 a hand 19 is brought in the neighborhood of the active surface 4 or in the neighborhood of the respective recesses 14 or 15 and is detected by the sensor system 5, wherein the control means 18 controls the adjustment means 10 so that the active surface 4 moves back to an original shape and thus the object 2 or 3 is moved out of the respective recess 14 or 15 for an easier removal. The deactivation of the active surface 4 can also be triggered only if a defined gesture 20 of the hand 19, such as the OK gesture or thumb-up gesture, is detected by the sensor system 5.

[0069] Further, a sensor surface 21 is attached to the active surface 4 as a further layer. The sensor surface 21 can have a plurality of touch sensors 22. The touch-sensitive sensor surface 21 can also be designed as an input device and an output device, as a touch-sensitive screen. The user can touch the sensor surface 21 with his hand 19 and, by executing individual touches or touch gestures, such as swiping, pressing and/or touching with one or more fingers, individual predefined commands can be transmitted to the computer 17 and the control means 18. The user can transmit a command to the control means 18, for example, by touching the sensor surface 21 at a specific predefined location, in order, for example, to create the first recess 14 for the mobile telephone 2 or the second recess 15 for the beverage container 3 by means of the control means 18 and drive means 11. The active surface 4 can, for example, have the sensor surface 21 as a further layer only in a partial region. However, the sensor area 21 can also completely cover each area of the active area 4 as a further layer.

[0070] The sensor surface 21 can have different arrangements of the touch sensors 22, such as a rectangular grid of rectangular touch sensors 22 or in the form of several concentric circles. When one of the touch sensors 22 is touched, a signal is then transmitted to determine the location of the touch on the sensor surface 21. The sensor surface 21 with the touch sensors 22 can be based on different functional principles, such as resistive systems, surface-capacitive systems, projected-capacitive systems, inductive systems, SAW (surface acoustic wave)(sound) wave-controlled systems, optical systems (usually infrared light grids in front of the monitor) or dispersive signal technology systems.

[0071] The user can, for example, bring his hand 19 closer to the active surface 4 or execute a specific gesture 20 which can be detected by means of the sensor system 5, the sensor surface 21 then being able to be activated in order to detect commands or commands by touching it. When using the sensor surface 21 as an input means for the user, the according area of the active surface 4 can be deactivated in order to enable a firm base for input by touching the sensor surface 21 using the hand 19.

[0072] After removing the hand 19 from the field of view of the sensor system 5 or by executing a specific gesture 20, the sensor surface 21 can be deactivated again and/or the active surface 4 can be activated again in order to enable mechanical adjustment using the drive means 11.

[0073] The sensor surface 21 with the touch sensors 22 can also be used for the detection of the object, such as the mobile telephone 2 or the beverage container 3, by the object being placed on the sensor surface 21 and by the contact of the object with the sensor surface 21, wherein the dimensions and the type of object can be determined in this way. The active surface 4 can then be controlled by means of the control means 18 and adjusted by means of the drive means 11, for example in order to create the first recess 14 or the second recess 15. The sensor system 5 with the cameras 6 and 8 is therefore not absolutely necessary for this embodiment.

[0074] FIG. 2 shows a schematic sketch of the holding devices of FIG. 1 to illustrate the adjustment of the active surface 4. As soon as the hand 19, holding the mobile phone 2, is detected in the neighborhood of a first predetermined region 30 of the active surface 4 for storing the mobile phone 2 by means of the sensor system 5, comprising the cameras 6 and 8, the active surface 4 in the first region 30 is set to an activated state, wherein the active surface 4 is adjusted by means of the adjustment means 10 from an original shape 31, which is shown in dashed lines, into an activated shape 32. As soon as the hand 19, holding the beverage container 3, is detected near a second predetermined region 33 of the active surface 4 for depositing the beverage container 3 by means of the sensor system 5, the active surface 4 in the second region 33 is set to an active state, wherein the active surface 4 in the second region 33 is adjusted by means of the adjustment means 10 between an original deactivated form 34, shown in dashed lines, and an activated form 35 to create the corresponding recess 15, as indicated by the arrow 36. In order to deactivate the active surface 4, as soon as a hand 19 without an object 2 or 3 is detected by means of the sensor system 5 and the analysis unit 16 in the neighborhood of the first region 30 or the second region 33, the active surface 4 of the regions 30 or 33 is deactivated and moved into the original deactivated form 31 or 34, to remove the object 2 or 3 more easily.

[0075] The sensor surface 21 with the touch sensors 22 is arranged as a further layer on the active surface 4, so that by deforming the active surface 4 and forming the depressions 14 and 15, the sensor surface 21 is also deformed. The sensor surface 21 can be used in addition to the sensor system 5 or alternatively to the sensor system 5 for the detection of the object 2, 3. The sensor surface 21 can also be used as an input means for inputting touch commands by the user.

[0076] FIG. 3 shows a flowchart to illustrate an exemplary method for holding an object according to the present invention. The method begins at step 40, where the object 2, 3 is detected in the neighborhood of the active surface 4 using the sensor system 5. In the second step 41, the image data of the sensor system 5 is analyzed by means of the analysis device 16, wherein the object 2, 3 is detected computer-assisted by means of a recognition algorithm. In this case, known recognition algorithms can be used which recognize objects on the basis of their shape, structure or specific features. In the third step 42, the position of the object 2, 3 is determined relative to the active surface 4, so that in particular the distance and thus the dimensions of the object 2, 3 can be determined. In step 43, it is decided whether the detected object 2, 3 matches with a data set from a database, wherein the data sets can contain known shapes or structures of certain models of mobile telephones 2. If the object 2, 3 matches a particular data set from the database, in step 44 the determined dimensions are used to determine the dimensions of the recess of the active area. If the detected object 2, 3 does not coincide with any of the data sets from the database, the precise geometric dimensions of the object 2, 3 are determined on the basis of the distance of the object 2, 3 relative to the active surface 4 and on the basis of the shape of the object. In step 46, the determined dimensions of mating recess 14, 15 are used to control adjusting means 10 of the active surface 4 by control means 18 in order to form the recess 14, 15 of the active surface 4 for holding and/or receiving the object.

[0077] FIG. 4 shows a flowchart to illustrate an exemplary method for releasing an object according to the present invention. In the first step 50, a hand 19 is detected by means of the sensor system 5 as soon as the hand 19 approaches the object 2, 3 positioned in the recess 14, 15. In step 51, the image data of the sensor system 5 is analyzed by means of the analysis device 16, wherein the hand 19 is automatically recognized by means of the recognition algorithm due to the characteristic shape. In step 52, the position of the hand 19 relative to the active surface 4 is determined. In step 53 it is decided whether a predefined gesture 20 of the hand 19 is recognized. The predefined gesture 20 may be, for example, the O.K. gesture or a thumbs up gesture. If no predefined gesture 20 is detected, the process returns to step 51 for analyzing the image data. If a predefined gesture 20 is detected, in step 54 the adjusting means 10 of the active surface 4 are controlled by control means 18 to retract the active surface 4 to its original shape in order to release the object 2, 3.

[0078] FIG. 5 shows a sketch of an active area 4, wherein at a partial area of the active area 4 a sensor area 21 is arranged in the form of a rectangular grid with rectangular touch sensors 22. The object in the form of a mobile telephone 2, which is shown in dashed lines, is placed on the sensor surface 21 and thus comes into contact with the sensor surface 21, so that the signals from the touch sensors 22 are transmitted to the computer 17 and the analysis device 16. The analysis device 16 then analyzes the data of the touch sensors 22 and can determine the dimensions of the object 2 therefrom. The exact model or type of the mobile telephone 2 can also be determined by comparison with the dimensions of objects in a database. A suitable recess 14 is then formed for holding the object 2, as shown in FIG. 2.

[0079] FIG. 6 shows a sketch of an active surface 4, wherein in a central partial region a sensor surface 21 with circular touch sensors 22 is arranged. An object, namely a beverage container 3 is placed on the sensor surface 21, which is shown in dashed lines. The data of the touch sensors 22 are transmitted to the computer 17 and the analysis device 16, the analysis device 16 determining the dimensions of the object 3 and the active surface 4 being controlled by the control means 18 in such a way that a suitable recess 15 is formed, as shown in FIG. 2.

[0080] FIG. 7 shows a sketch of an embodiment of the holding device 1 for holding an object, such as a mobile telephone 2, comprising the active surface 4, which is formed by means of the drive means 11 and is controlled by control means 18. The sensor surface 21 with the touch sensors 22 is arranged on the active surface 4 as an additional layer. As soon as the hand 19 of the user is detected using the sensor system 5 with a single camera 6 within the field of view 7 of the sensor system 5, the sensor surface 21 is activated. The user then moves the hand 19 to the sensor surface 21, as indicated by the arrow 60, wherein the user is touching the touch sensors 22 of the sensor surface 21 with a finger 61 of the hand 19. The user can execute different touch commands such as swipe, touch, press with one or more fingers. By executing a predefined touch command, such as touching a specific predefined area 62 of the sensor surface 21, the signals of the touch sensors 22 are forwarded to the computer 17 and the analysis device 16. A predefined control command is then forwarded from the control means 18 to the adjustment means 11 in order to form the predefined recess 14, which is shaped to match the object 2. After removing the hand 19 from the field of view 7 of the sensor system 5, the sensor surface 21 is deactivated again.

[0081] FIG. 8 shows as sketch a further embodiment of the holding device 1, the holding device 1 not having a sensor system 5 in comparison to the holding device from FIG. 1, but rather only a sensor surface 21 with touch sensors 22 being formed as an additional layer on the active surface 4. The user places the object, as a mobile phone 2, on the sensor surface 21 using his hand 19. The signals from the touch sensors 22 of the sensor surface 21 are then transmitted to the computer 17 and evaluated by means of the analysis device 16. Based on the signals, the analysis device 16 determines the dimensions and thus the model of the object 2, the drive means 11, not shown, are then being adjusted by means of the control means 18, as shown in FIG. 1, in order to form the recess 14, which is shown in dashed lines. The active surface 4 and the sensor surface 21 are consequently deformed, as shown in dashed lines, wherein the object, namely the mobile telephone 2, is sinking into the recess 14 and being held by it, as indicated by the arrow 70. In this embodiment of the holding device 1, a sensor system 5 with optical cameras is not necessary. The detection of the object 2 thus takes place solely by means of the sensor surface 21.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0082] 1 holder

[0083] 2 mobile phone

[0084] 3 beverage container

[0085] 4 active surface

[0086] 5 sensor system

[0087] 6 first 2D optical camera

[0088] 7 field of view of the first 2D camera

[0089] 8 second optical 2D camera

[0090] 9 field of view of the second 2D camera

[0091] 10 adjustment means

[0092] 11 drive means

[0093] 12 bars

[0094] 13 upper end

[0095] 14 first recess

[0096] 15 second recess

[0097] 16 analysis device

[0098] 17 computer

[0099] 18 control means

[0100] 19 hand

[0101] 20 defined gesture

[0102] 30 first predetermined region

[0103] 31 original f of the first area

[0104] 32 activated form of the first area

[0105] 33 second predetermined region

[0106] 34 original deactivated form of the second region

[0107] 35 activated form of the second region

[0108] 36 arrow

[0109] 40-46 steps

[0110] 50-54 steps

[0111] 60 arrow

[0112] 61 Finger

[0113] 70 arrow