CUSTOMIZATION OF AN ELEMENT FOR CONTROLLING A VEHICLE FUNCTION

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for customising an element for the passive control of a function of a vehicle, characterised in that it involves: a step of non-definitively fixing a passive control element in an active fixing zone of said vehicle, said active fixing zone being electronically connected to a control unit; and a step of defining a function associated with the control element.

Claims

1. A method for customizing a passive control element of a vehicle function, wherein the method implements: a step of non-permanently fastening a passive control element in an active fastening area of said vehicle, in electronic connection with a control unit; and a step of defining a function associated with the control element.

2. The method for customizing a passive control element of a vehicle function according to claim 1, including a step of modifying the function associated with the passive control element.

3. The method for customizing a passive control element of a vehicle function according to claim 1, including a step of repositioning said passive control element.

4. A device allowing the implementation of a method for customizing a passive control element of a vehicle function according to claim 1, the device comprising at least one control unit and at least one passive control element, wherein the device further comprises at least one active fastening area in electronic connection with the at least one control unit.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the at least one active fastening area comprises a printed capacitive film.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein the capacitive film is disposed on a face of a trim panel.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein the capacitive film is positioned by overmolding on the trim panel.

8. The device according to claim 4, wherein the at least one control element is repositionable.

9. The device according to claim 5, wherein the at least one control element is repositionable.

10. The device according to claim 6, wherein the at least one control element is repositionable.

11. The device according to claim 7, wherein the at least one control element is repositionable.

12. The method for customizing a passive control element of a vehicle function according to claim 2, including a step of repositioning said passive control element.

13. The device as in claim 4, wherein the method includes a step of modifying the function associated with the passive control element.

14. The device as in claim 4, wherein the method includes a step of repositioning said passive control element.

15. The device as in claim 13, wherein the method includes a step of repositioning said passive control element.

16. The device according to claim 15, wherein the at least one active fastening area comprises a printed capacitive film.

17. The device according to claim 16, wherein the capacitive film is disposed on a face of a trim panel.

18. The device according to claim 17, wherein the capacitive film is positioned by overmolding on the trim panel.

19. The device according to claim 18, wherein the at least one control element is repositionable.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0040] The invention will be better understood, thanks to the following description, which relates to several embodiments according to the present invention, given by way of non-limiting examples and explained with reference to the appended schematic drawings, in which:

[0041] FIG. 1 is a representation of a passenger compartment of an automobile according to a first embodiment of the invention;

[0042] FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a method according to the first embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0043] FIG. 1 shows a passenger compartment 1 of an automobile comprising a fastening area 2 in electronic connection with a control unit 3.

[0044] The fastening area 2 is a trim panel positioned facing the front passenger seat 11. Thus, the fastening area 2 is easily accessible to a passenger sitting next to the driver. The fastening area 2 comprises a capacitive film 21 forming a meshing. For the sake of clarity, in FIG. 1, the capacitive film 21 is disposed on a face of the trim panel, said face being visible by an occupant of the vehicle. The capacitive film 21 could be positioned on an inner face of the trim panel so as to be invisible to the occupants of the vehicle. Two control elements 4 are placed on said fastening area.

[0045] The control elements 4 may be repositionable adhesive pads with a logo representing a function of the vehicle.

[0046] The electronic connection between a control element 4 and the control unit is schematized by an arrow 6.

[0047] According to a first embodiment, the method for customizing a control element 4 is carried out in the following manner, as illustrated in FIG. 2:

[0048] A fastening step A during which: [0049] The occupant selects a control element 4 in the form of a repositionable pad, one face of which can be printed with a logo representing a function of the vehicle that is desired to be positioned, [0050] On a control unit 3 of the vehicle, the occupant selects a menu allowing to create a new control element 4; [0051] The menu asks to position the pad on the fastening area 2; [0052] The occupant attaches the pad at the desired location on the fastening area 2; [0053] The occupant indicates on the control unit 3 that the pad is placed,

[0054] A definition step B during which: [0055] The menu asks the occupant to designate the location of the pad on the fastening area 2; [0056] The occupant then positions his finger on the pad; [0057] The menu indicates that the pad has been identified; [0058] The menu asks to select the vehicle function to associate with this pad; [0059] The occupant selects the desired vehicle function,

[0060] The pad is then identified; that is to say it is paired with a vehicle function. The user can activate the vehicle function paired with the pad by putting his finger in contact with the pad. The occupant can also deactivate said function in the same manner.

[0061] The occupant can decide to modify the function associated with a control element 4.

[0062] The occupant may also decide to reposition the control element by carrying out the repositioning step C during which: [0063] the occupant selects a menu on the control unit 3 allowing to reposition a control element 4; [0064] the menu indicates to designate the pad to be repositioned, [0065] the occupant positions his finger on the pad be repositioned, [0066] the menu asks to select between displacing the pad or removing said pad; [0067] if the occupant selects displacing the pad, then the occupant performs the following actions: [0068] The menu asks to reposition the pad on the fastening area 2; [0069] The occupant reattaches the pad at the desired location on the fastening area 2; [0070] The occupant indicates on the control unit 3 that the pad is replaced; [0071] The menu asks the occupant to designate the new location of the pad on the fastening area 2; [0072] The occupant then positions his finger on the pad; [0073] The menu indicates that the pad is repositioned

[0074] If the occupant selects to eliminate the pad, then, the occupant performs the following actions: [0075] The menu indicates that the pad can be removed, [0076] The occupant removes said pad.

[0077] The occupant can place several pads on the fastening area 2.

[0078] Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described and shown in the appended figures. Modifications remain possible, in particular from the point of view of the constitution of the various elements or by the substitution of technical equivalents, without departing from the scope of protection of the invention.