OPERATING SYSTEM WITH THREE-DIMENSIONAL DISPLAY FOR A VEHICLE

Abstract

An operating system includes a display device having at least two planar display regions, which are arranged one behind the other in a viewing direction of an operator and extend transversely to the viewing direction. The operating system can be used to control a plurality of apparatuses of a vehicle.

Claims

1.-10. (canceled)

11. An operating system for a plurality of apparatuses of a vehicle, the operating system comprising: a display device having at least two planar display regions arranged one behind the other in a viewing direction of an operator and which extend transversely to the viewing direction; and an actuator configured to navigate between the at least two planar display regions and within each of the at least two planar display regions, and to operate the plurality of apparatuses.

12. The operating system according to claim 11, wherein the display device includes a plurality of organic light-emitting diodes.

13. The operating system according to claim 12, wherein each of the plurality of organic light-emitting diodes include a transparent film bent at least once through an angle of 180 to form two planar display regions among the at least two planar display regions, and the two planar display regions formed by the bent transparent film at least partially overlap with one another.

14. The operating system according to claim 11, wherein the display device includes at least two plane mirrors, each of which form a planar display region among the at least two planar display regions, and the at least two plane mirrors are arranged in a parallel manner with respect to one another.

15. The operating system according to claim 11, wherein cutouts are provided in each of the at least two planar display regions, each of the cutouts being aligned with one another in the viewing direction, the actuator extends through each of the cutouts provided in the at least two planar display regions, and the actuator is configured to be movable in actuation directions defined by the display device.

16. The operating system according to claim 15, wherein the actuator includes a rotary controller rotatable about a rotation axis extending in the viewing direction and displaceable in a direction of the rotation axis.

17. The operating system according to claim 16, wherein the rotation axis of the rotary controller is pivotable about at least one pivot axis extending transversely to the rotation axis, in at least one of a horizontal direction or a vertical direction.

18. The operating system according to claim 11, wherein the actuator includes a touch sensor.

19. The operating system according to claim 11, wherein the actuator includes a microphone configured to control operations of the operating system by acoustically capturable commands.

20. The operating system according to claim 19, wherein the acoustically capturable commands include voice commands.

21. The operating system according to claim 11, wherein the actuator includes a camera to control operations of the operating system by optically capturable commands.

22. The operating system according to claim 21, wherein the optically capturable commands include gesture commands.

23. The operating system according to claim 11, wherein different function groups of the vehicle are arranged on different planar display regions among the at least two planar display regions.

24. The operating system according to claim 11, wherein the display device includes thin-film transistors formed of a transparent film bent at least once through an angle of 180 to form two planar display regions among the at least two planar display regions, and the two planar display regions formed by the bent transparent film at least partially overlap with one another.

25. The operating system according to claim 11, wherein the vehicle includes a dashboard, and the operating system is provided on the dashboard.

26. The operating system according to claim 11, wherein the vehicle includes a dashboard and a steering wheel, and the display device is provided on the dashboard, and the actuator is provided on the steering wheel.

27. The operating system according to claim 11, wherein the actuator is configured to operate the plurality of apparatuses to control at least one of a climate setting, navigation setting, infotainment setting, or vehicle setting.

28. The operating system according to claim 11, wherein the actuator includes a touch sensor provided on a front face of the actuator that faces the operator, the touch sensor is configured to activate or deactivate a function of at least one of the plurality of apparatuses by the operator touching the touch sensor, the actuator is configured to rotate to set a control variable of at least one of the plurality of apparatuses, and the actuator is configured to navigate to a planar display region among the at least two planar display regions by displacement of the actuator in the viewing direction.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] These and other aspects and advantages will become more apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of example embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, of which:

[0030] FIG. 1 is a perspective exploded view of a schematic illustration of an embodiment of the operating system, according to an example,

[0031] FIG. 2 is a perspective front view of a schematic illustration of a further embodiment of the operating system, according to an example,

[0032] FIG. 3 is a perspective front view of a schematic illustration of a further embodiment of the operating system, according to an example,

[0033] FIG. 4 is a perspective front view of an illustration of a further embodiment of the operating system, according to an example,

[0034] FIG. 5 is a perspective detail view of the operating system shown in FIG. 4,

[0035] FIG. 6 is a perspective front view of an illustration of a further embodiment of the operating system, according to an example, and

[0036] FIG. 7 is a perspective front view of an illustration of a further embodiment of the operating system, according to an example.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] Reference will now be made in detail to examples which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

[0038] FIG. 1 shows a perspective exploded view of a schematic illustration of an embodiment of the operating system according to an example. The operating system 10 is suitable for operating a plurality of apparatuses of a vehicle (not illustrated) and has a display device 20 with three planar display regions 21, 23, 25, which are arranged one behind the other in a viewing direction of an operator and extend transversely to the viewing direction. Function groups assigned to different apparatuses of the vehicle are arranged on different display regions 21, 23, 25 of the display device 20.

[0039] The display regions 21, 23, 25 are embodied in the form of three plane mirrors that extend parallel to one another. The frontward mirrors that are closer to the operator here have a semitransparent design so as not to block the view of the operator onto the rearward mirrors. Cutouts 22, 24, 26 that are aligned with one another in each case in the viewing direction are provided in the display regions 21, 23, 25.

[0040] The operating system 10 furthermore has an actuation unit 30, which extends through the cutouts 22, 24, 26. The actuation unit 30 is movable in actuation directions defined by the display device 20 and is embodied for navigating between the display regions 21, 23, 25 and within each display region 21, 23, 25 and for operating the apparatuses.

[0041] The actuation unit 30 includes a rotary controller, which defines a rotation axis extending in the viewing direction and which can be rotated about the rotation axis and displaced in the direction of the rotation axis through the cutouts 22, 24, 26. In addition, the rotation axis of the rotary controller is pivotable in a left-right direction and in an up-down direction about two mutually perpendicular pivot axes extending perpendicular to the rotation axis. The rotary controller has a plurality of latch positions for specific rotation angles. In addition, the rotary controller is embodied to differentiate between actuation by the driver and actuation by the front passenger.

[0042] The actuation unit 30 furthermore includes a touch sensor (touchpad), which is arranged on the front face of the rotary switch that faces the operator, a microphone (not illustrated) for capturing acoustic statements of the operator, and a camera (not illustrated) for capturing gestures of the operator.

[0043] During the operation of the operating system 10, information relating to operating states of apparatuses of the vehicle, which are connected to the operating system, are continuously displayed for the operator on the display regions 21, 23, 25 of the display device 20. To operate the apparatuses, the operator navigates between the display regions 21, 23, 25 by selectively sliding the rotary controller of the actuation unit 30 forward and backward in the cutouts 22, 24, 26. Within a selected display region 21, 23, 25, the operator can then, by way of appropriately pivoting the rotary controller, determine a desired function or a control variable of an apparatus by positioning a mark for setting purposes. A control variable is set by rotating the rotary controller about the rotation axis. In this case, the latch positions are assigned predetermined change steps of the control variable that is to be set (for example 0.5 C./latch position).

[0044] A function is switched on and off by touching the touch sensor, while a control variable is changed by twisting the rotary controller. Alternatively, the specific control variable can also be set by prolonged touching of the touch sensor, as a result of which a sequence of all possible values of the control variable is displayed automatically and cyclically, and by correspondingly letting the touch sensor go once the desired value of the control variable is displayed.

[0045] It is additionally possible to actuate the operating system 20 by way of the microphone or the camera through voice or gesture control.

[0046] FIG. 2 shows a perspective front view of a schematic illustration of a further embodiment of the operating system according to an example. The operating system 60 includes a display device 70 and an actuation unit 80 and differs from the operating system 20 illustrated in FIG. 1 in that the display device 70 includes a transparent OLED film, which is bent once through 180 and defines two overlapping planar display regions 71, 73 with cutouts 72, 74 provided therein.

[0047] FIG. 3 shows a perspective front view of a schematic illustration of a further embodiment of the operating system according to an example. The operating system 110 corresponds to the operating system 60 shown in FIG. 2 with respect to its principle construction and has a display device 120 with two display regions 121, 123, in which cutouts 122, 124 are provided, and an actuation unit 130 that is embodied in the form of a rotary controller. In contrast with the operating system 60, however, the rotary controller is not configured to be rotation-symmetric about the rotation axis, but has a substantially rectangular cross section with flattened corners. Accordingly, the rotary controller can be twisted only within a small angle range that is limited by the play in the cutouts 122, 124.

[0048] A specific control variable in this configuration of the rotary controller, for which the designation toggle is customary, is set by prolonged holding of an angular deflection to automatically display a sequence of all possible values of the control variable and letting go of the rotary controller as soon as a desired value for the control variable is displayed.

[0049] FIG. 4 shows a perspective front view of an illustration of a further embodiment of the operating system according to an example. The operating system 160 corresponds to the operating system 10 shown in FIG. 1 with respect to its principle construction and has a display device 170 with elongated display regions 171, 173, 175, in which cutouts 172, 174, 176 (see FIG. 5) are provided laterally, and an actuation unit 180 having a trapezoidal cross section. The operating system 160 serves the front passenger as a multimedia interface (MMi) of an infotainment system installed in the vehicle.

[0050] FIG. 5 shows an enlarged detail view of the actuation unit 180 of the operating system 160 illustrated in FIG. 4.

[0051] FIG. 6 shows a perspective front view of an illustration of a further embodiment of the operating system according to an example. The operating system 210 is closest in terms of its principle construction to the operating system 160 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 and includes a display device 220 with three display regions, of which only the display region 221, which is closest to the viewer, is shown for clarity, and an actuation unit 230. The operating system 210 is arranged in the field of view of the driver on a dashboard 240, behind a steering wheel 250 of the vehicle, and allows the driver access to information and control variables relating for example to the engine or the route.

[0052] FIG. 7 shows a perspective front view of an illustration of a further embodiment of the operating system according to an example. The operating system 260 corresponds to the operating system 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 in terms of its principle construction. It includes a display device 270 with three display regions 271, 273, 275. The display regions 271, 273, 275 are arranged on the top side of a dashboard 290 of the vehicle and are protected against light incidence from the environment of the vehicle by a roof section 291, which projects upwardly at an angle from the dashboard 290 to the rear to avoid bothersome reflections. The emitted light of a first screen 277 arranged in the roof section 291 and of a second screen 279 arranged in the dashboard 290 is superposed using the display regions 271, 273, 275 in the form of mirrors and is reflected in the viewing direction of the viewer. The actuation unit, which is combined with the display device 270 and not illustrated in FIG. 7, can be integrated for example in a steering wheel or a door of the vehicle and include a microphone for voice control and/or a camera for gesture control.

[0053] The operating system described herein offers the advantage of making operation of the apparatuses of the vehicle more manageable. This is achieved by way of grouping apparatus functions together and distributing the function groups that have been formed over a plurality of display regions of the operating system. The viewer and operator of the operating system can focus their eyes onto a specific display region and consequently easily disregards further display regions that are located outside the region of sharp focus of their eyes. The distribution of the function groups over the display regions and the functions or control variables that are respectively represented on a display region can be quickly learned, similar to shortcuts on a keyboard, and, after the distribution has been learned, the operating system can be actuated without looking. A further advantage of the operating system described herein can be considered that the actuation unit can be actuated in accordance with ergonomic concepts such as more, less, left, right, and the like, which is accompanied by intuitive use of the operating system. Not least, the operating system described herein also impresses with a completely novel and fascinating interaction experience for the operator, resulting in the operator's increased appreciation for the vehicle and a stronger bond with the vehicle on the part of the operator.

[0054] A description has been provided with reference to various examples, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the claims which may include the phrase at least one of A, B and C as an alternative expression that means one or more of A, B and C may be used, contrary to the holding in Superguide v. DIRECTV, 358 F3d 870, 69 USPQ2d 1865 (Fed. Cir. 2004).