Transportation Apparatus and Device and Method for the Operation of an Operating-Force-Sensitive Input Device of a Transportation Apparatus

Abstract

A method includes automatically determining a first user input with a first predefined manipulation force acting on the input device and, in response thereto, performing a first function according to the first manipulation force. The method also includes automatically determining a second user input with a second predefined manipulation force acting on the input device, which second manipulation force is higher than the first manipulation force, and, in response thereto, selecting a first display element from a plurality of display elements displayed on a display unit, by switching an input focus to the first display element.

Claims

1.-11. (canceled)

12. A method for operating an operating-force-sensitive input device of a transportation apparatus, the method comprising: automatically determining a first user input having a first predefined operating force acting on the input device, automatically performing a first function based on the first operating force, automatically determining a second user input having a second predefined operating force acting on the input device, wherein the second operating force is higher than the first operating force, and, in response thereto, selecting a first display element from a plurality of display elements displayed on a display unit by changing an input focus to the first display element.

13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising: automatically determining that the second user input having the second operating force has been performed for a predefined minimum length of time and, in response thereto, selecting a second display element from the plurality of display elements by changing the input focus to the second display element.

14. The method according to claim 12, further comprising: automatically determining a third user input having a third predefined operating force acting on the input device, wherein the third operating force is higher than the second operating force, and, in response thereto, selecting a second display element from the plurality of display elements by changing the input focus to the second display element.

15. The method according to claim 12, wherein the input device is arranged on a multifunction steering wheel, or is integrated in the multifunction steering wheel.

16. The method according to claim 12, wherein each of the display elements represents a vehicle function.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the vehicle function is a driver assistance function.

18. The method according to claim 12, further comprising: receiving a confirmation from a user and, in response thereto, activating a function associated with the selected display element.

19. The method according to claim 12, wherein the input focus is changed in a first direction, and the method further comprises: automatically determining a fourth user input having a fourth predefined operating force acting on the input device, wherein the fourth operating force is higher than the third operating force, and, in response thereto, selecting a third display element from the plurality of display elements by changing the input focus to the third display element in a second direction, wherein the second direction has an opposite orientation with respect to the first direction.

20. The method according to claim 12, wherein the first function displays the plurality of display elements.

21. The method according to claim 12, wherein the operating force acting on the input device is determined by way of a sensor.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein the sensor is a force sensor.

23. The method according to claim 21, wherein the sensor comprises at least one of: a spring-body force sensor, a piezo force sensor, a force sensor having oscillating elements, an electrodynamic force sensor, or a resistive force sensor.

24. A device for operating an operating-force-sensitive input device on a multifunction steering wheel of a transportation apparatus, the device comprising: a data input; an evaluation unit; and a data output; wherein the evaluation unit is configured: to use the data input to automatically determine a first user input having a first predefined operating force acting on the input device, in conjunction with the data output, to automatically perform a first function based on the first operating force, to use the data input to determine a second user input having a second predefined operating force acting on the input device, wherein the second operating force is higher than the first operating force, and in conjunction with the data output, to select a first display element from a plurality of display elements displayed on a display unit by changing an input focus to the first display element.

25. A transportation apparatus comprising the device according to claim 24.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] FIG. 1 shows a representation of an exemplary embodiment of a transportation apparatus with an exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention for operating an operating-force-sensitive input device.

[0021] FIG. 2 shows an operating situation for a device according to an embodiment of the invention for operating an operating-force-sensitive input device.

[0022] FIG. 3 shows a representation of the determined operating force over time.

[0023] FIG. 4 shows a flowchart illustrating steps of an exemplary embodiment of a method according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a passenger car 1 according to an embodiment of the invention as an exemplary embodiment of a transportation apparatus with an exemplary embodiment of an operating-force-sensitive input device 2 on the right-hand steering wheel spoke 14 of a multifunction steering wheel 12. The display apparatus provided is a display 3 arranged behind the multifunction steering wheel 12. The index finger 13 of a user touches the operating-force-sensitive input device 2 according to an embodiment of the invention. The force acting on the operating-force-sensitive input device 2 is measured and transmitted to an electronic control unit 8, as an exemplary embodiment of an evaluation unit, via the data input 7. In response to the action of force on the touch-sensitive input device 2, display of the plurality of display elements 4, 5, 6 on the display 3 is selected as an exemplary embodiment of a first function and is sent to the display 3 via the data output 9. The display elements 4, 5, 6 each represent a different vehicle function. In this exemplary embodiment, the display elements 4, 5, 6 are represented one behind the other, with display element C 6 being partly concealed by display element B 5 and display element A 4, and display element B 5 being partly concealed by display element A 4. Display element A 4 is represented in a larger form than the display elements B 5 and C 6 as an exemplary embodiment of the visualization of the current input focus. By debouncing, that is to say removing, the index finger 13 from the touch-sensitive input device 2, the user of the touch-sensitive input device 2 activates the function represented by the display element on which there is the input focus. The activation of a function is confirmed to the user by way of an interior loudspeaker 11.

[0025] FIG. 2 shows the operating situation illustrated in FIG. 1 after an increase in the action of force by the user on the operating-force-sensitive input device 2. Accordingly, the input focus has transferred from the display element A 4 represented in FIG. 1 to the display element B 5, and the display element B 5 is accordingly displayed in the foreground and in a larger form and covers the display elements C 6 and A 4 in accordance with the order.

[0026] FIG. 3 shows a representation of the determined operating force over time. It depicts the position of the first determined operating force A 15 acting on the operating-force-sensitive input device 2 and the position of the second determined operating force B 16 acting on the operating-force-sensitive input device 2 and the position of the third determined operating force C 17 acting on the operating-force-sensitive input device 2 and also the time t1 18, the time t2 19 and the time t3 20. If t1 18=A 15, the plurality of display elements 4, 5, 6 are displayed in the display 3 as shown in FIG. 1. If t1=t2=A 15 or t1=A 15 and t2=B 16 or C 17, the input focus changes and the representation of the display elements 4, 5, 6 in the display is changed accordingly as shown in FIG. 2. If t2=B 16 and t3=A 15 or if t2=C 17 and t3=B 16 or A 15, the input focus changes and the representation of the display elements 4, 5, 6 in the display changes accordingly, in this example again as shown in FIG. 1.

[0027] FIG. 4 shows a flowchart containing steps of a method according to an embodiment of the invention for operating an operating-force-sensitive input device according to an embodiment of the invention in a transportation apparatus. In step 100, a first user input having a first predefined operating force acting on the input device is determined. In step 200, the determination leads to a first function being performed on the basis of the first operating force. Next, in step 300, a second user input having a second predefined operating force acting on the input device is determined. The second force is greater than the first force. In step 400, a first display element is selected from a plurality of display elements displayed on a display unit by changing an input focus to the first display element.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0028] 1 passenger car [0029] 2 operating-force-sensitive input device [0030] 3 display [0031] 4 display element A [0032] 5 display element B [0033] 6 display element C [0034] 7 data input [0035] 8 electronic control unit [0036] 9 data output [0037] 10 signal [0038] 11 interior loudspeaker [0039] 12 multifunction steering wheel [0040] 13 index finger [0041] 14 right-hand steering wheel spoke [0042] 15 operating force A [0043] 16 operating force B [0044] 17 operating force C [0045] 18 time t1 [0046] 19 time t2 [0047] 20 time t3