Touch-pad integrated steering wheel for a motor vehicle

Abstract

A motor vehicle includes a steering wheel and a touchpad integrated into the steering wheel, situated in a channel, and adapted to input commands.

Claims

1. A method implemented in evaluation modules; the evaluation modules having a memory based on a touchpad including a touch-sensitive surface adapted to input commands integrated into a steering wheel of a motor vehicle, the method comprising: receiving an output signal of the touchpad; registering a coordinate of a first touch on the touchpad; in response to detecting the first touch on the touchpad, determining a type of the first touch, wherein the type of the first touch is at least one of: (i) a withdrawal away from the touchpad; (ii) a pressing motion on the touchpad; and/or (iii) a touching motion on the touchpad; in response to detecting a withdrawal away from the touchpad, generating a first command associated with the withdrawal and deleting coordinates of a previously performed touch from the memory; in response to detecting a pressing motion on the touchpad, generating a second command associated with the pressing action; in response to detecting a touching motion on the touchpad, calculating a distance between a previously detected touch point and the first touch; comparing the calculated distance to a threshold value such that the evaluation module performs at least one of: (i) storing coordinates of the first touch in response to the calculated distance being less than the threshold value; and/or (ii) outputting a trajectory of the calculated distance as a trajectory of a touching motion in response to the calculated distance exceeding the threshold value; and transmitting, to a coordination module, output signals of the evaluation module connected to the evaluation module for generating a command for operating a function of the motor vehicle as a function of the output signals of the evaluation module.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the steering wheel includes a first touchpad connected to a first evaluation module and a second touchpad connected to a second evaluation module.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the coordination module performs the following steps: reading in output signals from the first and second evaluation modules; determining the touching motions of the first and second evaluation modules are simultaneous; in response to determining the touching motions are simultaneous, generating a command for operating a function of the motor vehicle as a function of the direction of the simultaneous touching motions over the first touchpad and the second touchpad.

4. A method of operating a vehicle, the vehicle including a display, a first and second touchpad integrated into a steering wheel, and a control system for evaluating output signals of the first and second touchpads and for generating commands for operating a function of the vehicle, the method comprising: in response to a touch of one of the first or second touch pads, determining the output; querying whether a simultaneous touching motion over the first and second touchpad has occurred; if a simultaneous touching over the first and second touchpads has been determined, generating a command for operating a function of the vehicle as a function of the direction of the touching motion over the first touchpad, and the direction of touching over the second touchpad; if a simultaneous touching over the first and second touchpads has not been determined, generating a command for operating a function of the vehicle as a function of the direction of the touching motion over the first touchpad, or the direction of touching over the second touchpad; and if the direction of the touching motion of the first touchpad is outward to the left, and the direction of the touching motion of the second touchpad is outward to the right, generating a command for enlarging a map displayed on the display.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein if the direction of the touching motion of the first touchpad is inward to the left, and the direction of the touching motion of the second touchpad is inward to left, generating a command for reducing a map displayed on the display.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein if the direction of the touching motion of the first touchpad is outward to the left, and a simultaneous touching over the first and second touchpad has not been determined, generating a command for rotating a map displayed on the display counter clockwise.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein if the direction of the touching motion of the second touchpad is outward to the right, and a simultaneous touching over the first and second touchpads have not been determined, generating a command for rotating a map displayed on the display clockwise.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein if the first and second touchpads are touched simultaneously in the same direction, generating a command for one of moving a map displayed on the display upward or downward, titling the map forward or backward, and scrolling a list displayed on the display at an increased speed.

9. The method of claim 4, wherein if a simultaneous touching over the first and second touchpad has not been determined and one of the first and second touchpads has been touched, generating a command for scrolling, at a first scrolling speed, a list in the direction of a detected touch of one of the first or second touch pads; and if the first and second touchpads are touched simultaneously in the same direction, generating a command for moving a list in the direction of the touch at a second scrolling speed; the second scrolling speed greater than the first scrolling speed.

10. A motor vehicle, comprising: a steering wheel extending substantially within a plane; a first touchpad including a first touch-sensitive surface adapted to input commands integrated into the steering wheel and situated in a first channel; a second touchpad including a second touch-sensitive surface adapted to input commands integrated into the steering wheel, spatially separated from the first touchpad, and situated in a second channel; a control system having a first interface operably connected to the first touchpad, a second interface operably connected to the second touchpad, a first evaluation module operably connected to the first interface, and a second evaluation module operably connected to the second interface to register a coordinate of a first touch on the first and second touchpads and to determine a type of the first touch; and a display, spatially separated from the first and second touchpads, operably connected to the first and second evaluation modules, configured to display a list of selectable entries; wherein the display is configured to scroll the list of selectable entries at a first scrolling speed as a function of a touching motion over the first touchpad; wherein the control system is configured to perform the steps of: in response to a touch of one of the first or second touch pads, determining the output; querying whether a simultaneous touching motion over the first and second touchpad has occurred; if a simultaneous touching over both the first and second touchpads has been determined, generating a command for operating a function of the vehicle as a function of the direction of the touching motion over the first touchpad, and the direction of touching over the second touchpad; and if a simultaneous touching over the first and second touchpad has not been determined, generating a command for operating a function of the vehicle as a function of one of the direction of the touching motion over the first touchpad, and the direction of touching over the second touchpad.

11. The motor vehicle of claim 10, wherein the control system is further configured to generate a command for reducing a map displayed on the display, if the direction of the touching motion of the first touchpad is inward to the left, and the direction of the touching motion of the second touchpad is inward to left.

12. The motor vehicle of claim 10, wherein the control system is further configured to generate a command for enlarging a map displayed on the display if the direction of the touching motion of the first touchpad is outward to the left, and the direction of the touching motion of the second touchpad is outward to the right.

13. The motor vehicle of claim 10, wherein the control system is further configured to generate a command for rotating a map displayed on the display counter clockwise if the direction of the touching motion of the first touchpad is outward to the left, and a simultaneous touching over the first and second touchpad has not been determined.

14. The motor vehicle of claim 10, wherein the control system is further configured to generate a command for rotating a map displayed on the display clockwise if the direction of the touching motion of the second touchpad is outward to the right, and a simultaneous touching over the first and second touchpad has not been determined.

15. The motor vehicle of claim 10, wherein the control system is further configured to generate a command for one of moving a map displayed on the display upward or downward, titling the map forward or backward, and scrolling a list displayed on the display at an increased speed, if the direction of the touching motion of the second pad is outward to the right, and a simultaneous touching over the first and second touchpad has not been determined.

16. The motor vehicle of claim 10, wherein the control system is further configured to generate a command for scrolling, at a first scrolling speed, a list in the direction of a detected touch of one of the first or second touch pads if a simultaneous touching over the first and second touchpad has not been determined, and one of the first and second touch pads has been touched; and if the first and second touchpads are touched simultaneously in the same direction, generating a command for moving a list in the direction of the touch at a second scrolling speed; the second scrolling speed greater than the first scrolling speed.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 schematically illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a motor vehicle.

(2) FIG. 2 shows an exemplary embodiment of a steering wheel of the motor vehicle represented in FIG. 1.

(3) FIG. 3 shows an exemplary embodiment of an operating cluster.

(4) FIG. 4 shows an exemplary embodiment for a dimensioning of the operating cluster represented in FIG. 3.

(5) FIG. 5 shows an exemplary embodiment of a control system.

(6) FIG. 6 shows a method implementable in an evaluation module.

(7) FIG. 7 shows a method implementable in a coordination module.

(8) FIG. 8 shows the steering wheel represented in FIG. 2.

(9) FIG. 9 shows a map detail represented by a display.

(10) FIG. 10 shows a map detail represented by a display in enlarged fashion.

(11) FIG. 11 shows the steering wheel represented in FIG. 2.

(12) FIG. 12 shows the steering wheel represented in FIG. 2.

(13) FIG. 13 shows the steering wheel represented in FIG. 2.

(14) FIG. 14 shows the steering wheel represented in FIG. 2.

(15) FIG. 15 shows the steering wheel represented in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(16) FIG. 1 schematically illustrates shows a motor vehicle 1. Motor vehicle 1 has a steering wheel 2 represented in FIG. 2, which includes on its left and right edge respectively a touchpad 5 for inputting commands and a touchpad 4 for inputting commands, touchpad 5 being arranged and situated in a mirror image with respect to touchpad 4.

(17) FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 show an operating cluster of steering wheel 2, in which touchpad 4 and two operating elements 25 and 26 are integrated. In this instance, touchpad 4 is situated in a channel 20 having a concavely curved bottom surface. The course of channel 20 or touchpad 4 has a straight section 21, which is connected to another straight section 22 via a curvature 23 or a curved region such that channel 200 is arranged or formed or curved in boomerang-shaped or a v-shaped fashion.

(18) Channel 20 represented in the present exemplary embodiment has a length L of 53 mm and a width W of 15 mm. Section 21 is inclined by an angle of incline =10 with respect to the horizontal. The opening angle of the course of channel 20 is 130.

(19) Touchpad 4 has a rhombic texture. In addition, touchpad 4 has convex dents 24, touchpad 4 being underlaid in the region of convex dents 24 with LEDs 401 for illuminating dent 24. Reference numeral 501 in FIG. 1 indicates analog LEDs for touchpad 5.

(20) In addition, motor vehicle 1 includes a control system 10 for controlling a display 3 and for evaluating the output signals TP4 and TP5 of touchpads 4 and 5. FIG. 5 shows a detailed representation of control system 10. Control system 10 includes an interface 31 for reading in an output signal TP4 of touchpad 4 and an interface 32 for reading in output signal TP5 of touchpad 5. Evaluation modules 33 and 34 for evaluating output signals TP4 and TP5 of touchpads 4 and 5 are connected to interfaces 31 and 32. The output signals of these evaluation modules 33 and 34 are input signals into a coordination module 35 for generating a command B for operating a function of motor vehicle 1 as a function of the output signals of evaluation modules 33 and 34.

(21) Via a bus system 19, control system 10 is connected to a Bluetooth interface 12, a navigation system 13, an automatic climate control 14, an infotainment system 15, and a vehicle control unit 16. Using touchpads 4 and 5, it is possible to operateby appropriate commands Bfor example navigation system 13, automatic climate control 14, infotainment system 15, vehicle control unit 16, andvia Bluetooth interface 12a mobile telephone 11. For operating motor vehicle 1 or functions of motor vehicle 1 such as navigation system 13, automatic climate control 14, infotainment system 15, or a distance control system, which may be implemented in vehicle control unit 16 for example, a higher-order menu is represented by a display 3, which is operable using touchpads 4 and 5.

(22) FIG. 3 shows an alternative arrangement of a steering wheel 102. There may be a provision to use steering wheel 102 instead of steering wheel 2. Steering wheel 102 includes a touchpad 104 corresponding to touchpad 4 and a touchpad 105 corresponding to touchpad 5.

(23) FIG. 6 shows an exemplary embodiment of a method implemented in evaluation modules 33 and 34, which is described in the following with reference to evaluation module 33. The method starts with a step 41, in which the output signal of interface 31 is read in. Step 41 is followed by a query 42 to determine whether a touch of touchpad 4 has been detected. If no touch of touchpad 4 has been detected, then query 42 is again followed by step 41. Otherwise, query 42 is followed by a query 43 for ascertaining the type of touch.

(24) If query 43 detects a withdrawal from touchpad 4, then query 43 is followed by a step 44, in which a command associated with this withdrawal is generated. Furthermore, a memory, in which coordinates of a previously performed touch are stored, is deleted in step 44. Step 44 in turn is followed by step 41. If query 43 detects a pressing action on touchpad 4, then a command associated with the pressing action on touchpad 4 is generated. Step 45 in turn is followed by step 41. If query 43 detects a touching motion over touchpad 4, then query 43 is followed by a step 46, in which the distance from a previously detected touch point is detected.

(25) Step 46 is followed by a query 47 as to whether the distance exceeds a specific threshold value. If the distance does not exceed this specific threshold value, then query 47 is followed by a step 48, in which the coordinates of the touch are stored. Otherwise, query 47 is followed by a step 49, in which a trajectory of the touching motion is output. Steps 48 and 49 are again followed by step 41.

(26) FIG. 7 shows a method implemented in coordination module 35. For this purpose, in a step 51, the output signals of evaluation modules 33 and 34 are first read in. Step 51 is followed by a query 52 as to whether a simultaneous touching motion over touchpads 4 and 5 occurs. If a touching motion over touchpad 4 occurs simultaneously with a touching motion over touchpad 5, then query 52 is followed by a step 54, in which a command is generated for operating a function of motor vehicle 1 as a function of the direction of the touching motion over touchpad 4 and the direction of the touching motion over touchpad 5. If there is no simultaneous touching motion over touchpads 4 and 5, then query 52 is followed by a step 53, in which a command possibly generated in accordance with the method described in FIG. 6 is output. Steps 53 and 54 are again followed by step 51.

(27) The following table shows the commands generated by steps 53 and 54 when a touching motion over touchpads 4 and/or 5 is detected:

(28) TABLE-US-00001 touching touching motion motion con- touchpad touchpad text input type 5 4 command map simultaneous outward/ outward/ enlarge map to the left to the right (reduce scale) map simultaneous inward/ inward/ reduce map to the right to the left (increase scale) map not outward/ rotate map counter- simultaneous to the left clockwise map not outward/ rotate map clockwise simultaneous to the right map not inward/ rotate map clockwise simultaneous to the right map not inward/ rotate map counter- simultaneous to the left clockwise map simultaneous inward/ outward/ move map to the right to the right to the right map simultaneous outward/ inward/ move map to the left to the left to the left map simultaneous downward downward move map downward or tilt map forward map simultaneous upward upward move map upward or tilt map backward list not outward/ scroll to the left simultaneous to the left or upward list not outward/ scroll to the right simultaneous to the right or downward list not inward/ scroll to the right simultaneous to the right or downward list not inward/ scroll to the left simultaneous to the left or upward list not downward scroll downward simultaneous list not downward scroll downward simultaneous list not upward scroll upward simultaneous list not upward scroll upward simultaneous list simultaneous inward/ outward/ scroll at increased to the right to the right scrolling speed to the right or downward list simultaneous outward/ inward/ scroll at increased to the left to the left scrolling speed to the left or upward list simultaneous downward downward scroll at increased scrolling speed downward list simultaneous upward upward scroll at increased scrolling speed upward

(29) If a map detail is represented by display 3 for example, and there is a touching motion over touchpad 5 in the direction of the arrow indicated by reference numeral 61 and there is simultaneously a touching motion over touchpad 4 in the direction of the arrow indicated by reference numeral 62, then the map detail represented by display 3 is enlarged as represented in exemplary fashion in FIGS. 9 and 10. In this instance, FIG. 9 shows the map detail prior to the touching motion over touchpads 4 and 5 corresponding to arrows 61 and 62, and FIG. 10 shows the map detail after this touching motion over touchpads 4 and 5.

(30) If there is a touching motion over touchpad 5 in the direction of the arrow indicated by reference numeral 63 and simultaneously a touching motion over touchpad 4 in the direction of the arrow indicated by reference numeral 64, then the map detail is reduced. In this instance, FIG. 10 shows the map detail prior to the touching motion over touchpads 4 and 5 corresponding to arrows 63 and 64, and FIG. 9 shows the map detail after this touching motion over touchpads 4 and 5.

(31) If there is a touching motion over touchpad 5 toward the left (that is, in the direction of arrow 61) and at the same time a touching motion over touchpad 4 toward the left (that is, in the direction of arrow 64), then the map detail is shifted to the left. If there is a touching motion over touchpad 5 toward the right (that is, in the direction of arrow 63) and at the same time a touching motion over touchpad 4 toward the right (that is, in the direction of arrow 62), then the map detail is shifted to the right. If there is a touching motion over touchpad 5 downward and simultaneously a touching motion over touchpad 4 downward, then the map detail is shifted downward. If there is a touching motion over touchpad 5 upward and simultaneously a touching motion over touchpad 4 upward, then the map detail is shifted upward.

(32) If a list is represented on the display for example, as shown in exemplary fashion in FIGS. 7 to 9 of German Published Patent Application No. 101 39 693, then it is possible to scroll through the represented lists by touching touchpads 4 and 5. If there is a touching motion over touchpad 5 toward the left for exampleas shown in FIG. 12without the occurrence of a touching motion over touchpad 4, then the action is one of scrolling toward the left or upward. If there is a touching motion over touchpad 5 toward the right for exampleas shown in FIG. 13without the occurrence of a touching motion over touchpad 4, then the action is one of scrolling toward the right or downward. If there is a touching motion over touchpad 4 toward the left for exampleas shown in FIG. 14without the occurrence of a touching motion over touchpad 5, then the action is one of scrolling toward the left or upward. If there is a touching motion over touchpad 4 toward the right for exampleas shown in FIG. 15without the occurrence of a touching motion over touchpad 5, then the action is one of scrolling toward the right or downward.

(33) On the other hand, if there is a touching motion of touchpad 5 toward the left and simultaneously a touching motion of touchpad 4 toward the left, then the action is one of scrolling toward the left or upward at an increased speed. If there is a touching motion of touchpad 5 toward the right and simultaneously a touching motion of touchpad 4 to the right, then the action is one of scrolling toward the right or downward at an increased scrolling speed.

LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS

(34) 1 Motor vehicle 2 Steering wheel 3 Display 4, 5 Touchpad 10 Control system 11 Mobile telephone 12 Bluetooth interface 13 Navigation system 14 Automatic climate control 15 Infotainment system 16 Vehicle control unit 19 Bus system 20 Channel 21, 22 Section 23 Curvature 24 Bulge 25, 26 Operating element 31, 32 Interface 33, 34 Evaluation module 35 Coordination module 41, 44, 45, 46, 48, 49, 51, 53, 54 Step 42, 43, 47, 52 Query 61, 62, 63, 64 Arrow 401, 501 LEDs B Command L Length TP4, TP5 Output signal W Width Angle of inclination with respect to the horizontal Angle of opening