Method for a situation-controlled display of an actuation element

Abstract

A method for a situation-controlled display of an actuation element for a function in a vehicle on a touch-sensitive display surface operable by a person using the vehicle involves the actuation element as a blocking element for a window lifter of the vehicle. The actuation element is always displayed if a child is detected on a seat in the vehicle, and a window lifter associated with the seat is actuated, if a contradicting actuation of window lifters for the same window is carried out, the window lifters being accessible to different people in the vehicle, and/or if the occurring actuation of the window lifters deviates from the conventional actuation type.

Claims

1. A method for a situation-controlled display of an actuation element for a function in a vehicle on a touch-sensitive display surface operable by a person using the vehicle, wherein the actuation element is a blocking element for a window lifter of the vehicle, wherein the actuation element is always displayed when a child is detected on a seat in the vehicle and a window lifter associated with the seat is actuated, wherein the actuation element is always displayed when a contradicting actuation of window lifters for a same window is performed, where the window lifters for the same window are accessible to different people in the vehicle, wherein the actuation element is always displayed when an occurring actuation of window lifters deviates from an actuation type that is a baseline or an actuation type determined from recorded logged data, and wherein the baseline actuation type is predefined or the actuation type determined from the recorded logged data is learned based on logged prior actuations of individual window lifters.

2. A method for a situation-controlled display of an actuation element for a function in a vehicle on a touch-sensitive display surface operable by a person using the vehicle, wherein the actuation element is a blocking element for a window lifter of the vehicle, wherein the actuation element is always displayed when a child is detected on a seat in the vehicle and a window lifter associated with the seat is actuated, wherein the actuation element is always displayed when a contradicting actuation of window lifters for a same window is performed, where the window lifters for the same window are accessible to different people in the vehicle, wherein the actuation element is always displayed when an occurring actuation of window lifters deviates from an actuation type that is a baseline or an actuation type determined from recorded logged data, and wherein a deviation from the baseline actuation type is always detected when a higher number of actuations occurs within a predefined period of time than occurs a scope of baseline actuations.

3. A method for a situation-controlled display of an actuation element for a function in a vehicle on a touch-sensitive display surface operable by a person using the vehicle, wherein the actuation element is a blocking element for a window lifter of the vehicle, wherein the actuation element is always displayed when a child is detected on a seat in the vehicle and a window lifter associated with the seat is actuated, wherein the actuation element is always displayed when a contradicting actuation of window lifters for a same window is performed, where the window lifters for the same window are accessible to different people in the vehicle, wherein the actuation element is always displayed when an occurring actuation of window lifters deviates from an actuation type that is a baseline or an actuation type determined from recorded logged data, and wherein the actuation type determined from the recorded logged data is stored or is evaluated on a server external to the vehicle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

(1) In the drawings:

(2) FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of an interior of a vehicle with a view from above; and

(3) FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of a possible type of display on a touch-sensitive display surface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(4) In the illustration of FIG. 1, a vehicle interior is shown in a view from above. A seat 1 is shown in the so-called front area of the vehicle in the direction of travel F, which seat is to be assigned to a person driving the vehicle. For this purpose, a schematic steering wheel 2 is indicated accordingly. Located beside this, the so-called front passenger seat is designated by the reference sign 3. In the so-called rear of the vehicle in the direction of travel F, behind the person driving the vehicle, a seat designated as 4 and, beside it, a seat designated as 5, as well as an emergency seat 6 in between, are shown schematically. Each of the seats 3, 4, 5 is assigned a separate window lifter 7, which can typically be implemented in the manner of a hardware switch, but in principle also as a touch-sensitive surface or the like. Beside the seat 1 of the person driving the vehicle, there is usually a control panel 8 with window lifters 9 for each individual window in the vehicle.

(5) In addition, a touch-sensitive operable display surface 10, for example a touchscreen in the area of the center console, is also arranged in the interior of the vehicle. The interior of the vehicle is also intended to have an interior camera indicated here in the center and designated as 11.

(6) In practice, in vehicles with automatic window lifter functions, i.e., window lifters 7 in the front area and in the rear of the vehicle, it makes sense and is necessary as a function of the vehicle that at least the person driving the vehicle, who is in seat 1, can block the window lifters 7 of the other seats, and in this case in particular the window lifters 7 in the area of seats 4 and 5 in the rear of the vehicle. It is thus possible to ensure that children traveling on board cannot throw things out of the vehicle, cannot fall out of the window, and cannot use the window lifters 7 as a toy by constantly raising and lowering the windows. In order to be able to dispense with a blocking button in hardware form, such an actuation element can be integrated as a blocking element 12 for the window lifters into software of the vehicle. The persons using the vehicle can then operate this function via the touchscreen 10. Typically, it is the case that not all functions can be accommodated in the uppermost level of the software, which means that persons frequently have to scroll through submenus to switch certain functions of the vehicle on and off, which is correspondingly laborious, and which is not expedient in any case in a situation in which, for example, a child is in danger of falling out of the window. For this reason, a blocking element 12 is displayed on the touchscreen 10 in a situation-controlled manner whenever the availability of such a blocking element appears necessary.

(7) An enlarged section of the touchscreen 10 is shown again in the illustration of FIG. 2. A blocking element, denoted by 12, for the window lifters 7 is shown on the touchscreen. The display in the upper level takes place whenever one of the following scenarios occurs, whereby a situation is given in which the blocking button 12 appears necessary for rapid intervention, for example, by the person located on the seat 1.

(8) The first situation could be that a child is seated, for example, in the rear on the seats 4 or 5 and accordingly actuates the window lifter 7 associated with these seats 4, 5. The blocking element 12 is then displayed on the touchscreen 10, so that, for example, the person sitting on the seat 1 or also on the seat 3 can directly and immediately interrupt the actuation of the window lifter 7 and thus the opening or closing of the window. A child can be detected, for example, by the interior camera 11 or also by a corresponding login profile, the occupancy of a seat, or the detection of a child seat, for example on one of the seats 4 and/or 5 in the rear of the vehicle.

(9) In addition to simply blocking the window lifter 7 associated with this seat 4 or 5 via the blocking element 12, it can then also be useful to accordingly provide an actuation for the window on the touchscreen 10, for which a control element designated here as 13 is shown, for example, in the form of a virtual sliding switch, so that the person intervening can not only block the function of the window lifter 7 but also open and close the window. The person located on the seat 1 could in principle also do this via the control panel 8 and the window lifter arranged there for the respective window. For this purpose, however, he or she would have to determine which of the windows has been opened so that the operating element 13, in particular in combination with the blocking element 12, enables the simpler and more efficient way of intervening. It is of course the case that an actuation of the operating element 13 has priority over the actuation of the respective window lifter 7, so that it is possible to actively intervene here and override any actuation by the window lifter 7.

(10) In addition, an image from the interior camera 11, which shows the seat or the person 15 thereon who is correspondingly actuating the window lifter 7 associated with this seat 4, 5, can also be shown on the touchscreen 10 in the area designated as 14 in the illustration of FIG. 2. This enables, for example, the person driving the vehicle to address the corresponding person 15, for example a child, by name without having to turn around to see who has opened the window in the case of, for example, two children.

(11) A further scenario that leads to the blocking element 11 being shown in the uppermost level of the touchscreen 10 can be the detection of conflicting wishes, This means that the window lifter 7 and the window lifter 9 associated with the same window are actuated alternately in order to raise and lower the window. Such a conflict potential can be detected by performing periodic logging of all actuations triggered by the window lifters 7, 9. In this case, it is logged when the person located on the seat 1 raises or lowers the windows and whether one of the passengers on the seats 3, 4 or 5 with the window lifter 7 associated with these seats and windows also raises or lowers the windows. If this is the case, wherein in particular a time limit can be predefined within which this takes place, conflicting wishes of the individual persons are detected and at least the blocking element 12, but in particular also the operating element 13 and the image data in the area 14 of the touchscreen 10, can be shown.

(12) Furthermore, a conventional actuation type can also be defined as a baseline and/or determined from actually recorded logged data. If there is a deviation from this baseline, for example as a result of the window being quickly raised and lowered again more frequently than usual, or different wishes of the persons being entered via the window lifters 7 and 9, which leads to opposing operation, then the blocking element 12 can also be offered on the touchscreen 10. Such data, as well as predefined time elements for the event of actuation of the window can also be stored in a server external to the vehicle, such as a vehicle backend. If a counteraction is detected within a predefined time period, for example between the window lifters 7 in the rear area and one of the window lifters 9 in the front area, appropriate measures can be taken and the blocking element 12 can be shown on the uppermost level of the touchscreen 10.

(13) The blocking element 12 on the touchscreen 10 thus offers a direct interaction option without depth in the described particularly relevant situations for blocking window lifters, so that the person who wants to block the window lifters 7 in the rear or front passenger seat 3 for the reasons mentioned can trigger this functionality directly and without having to enter deeper menus of the software.

(14) By using the vehicle backend, the data of various users can be combined and combined to form a mean normal baseline. In addition, a separate development of this generally valid profile can now be carried out according to a user profile, for example by detecting and storing user-specific actuations of the window lifters over time using machine learning, so that over time the user profiles adapt better and better to the actual behavior of the user. The higher computing power of the backend compared to the vehicle also makes it possible, for example, to use artificial intelligence (AI) to evaluate the data.

(15) The blocking element 12 can thus preferably be shown in such situations. In this case, it is possible to dispense with showing the blocking element when other important features have to be shown on the touchscreen, such as, for example, the images of a parking camera, important warning messages or the like. These are then not superimposed, such that this information cannot be lost.

(16) Although the invention has been illustrated and described in detail by way of preferred embodiments, the invention is not limited by the examples disclosed, and other variations can be derived from these by the person skilled in the art without leaving the scope of the invention. It is therefore clear that there is a plurality of possible variations. It is also clear that embodiments stated by way of example are only really examples that are not to be seen as limiting the scope, application possibilities or configuration of the invention in any way. In fact, the preceding description and the description of the figures enable the person skilled in the art to implement the exemplary embodiments in concrete manner, wherein, with the knowledge of the disclosed inventive concept, the person skilled in the art is able to undertake various changes, for example, with regard to the functioning or arrangement of individual elements stated in an exemplary embodiment without leaving the scope of the invention, which is defined by the claims and their legal equivalents, such as further explanations in the description.