Method for operating an operator control device of a motor vehicle in different operator control modes, operator control device and motor vehicle

Abstract

A touchpad detects a duration of a touch by an object at a current position and/or a distance traversed by the object. An operator control mode is predefined as a function of the duration and/or the distance. A pressure threshold value is predefined as a function of the operator control mode. The pressure applied to the touchpad is detected and if higher than the predefined pressure threshold value, a function of the motor vehicle which is assigned to the current position is triggered.

Claims

1. A method for operating an operator control device of a motor vehicle, comprising: detecting at least one of a duration over which a touch-sensitive operator control unit is touched by an object and a distance traversed by the object when the touch-sensitive operator control unit is touched; detecting a current position at which the touch-sensitive operator control unit, operated in a predefined operator control mode, is touched by the object; detecting a pressure applied to the touch-sensitive operator control unit when the touch-sensitive operator control unit is touched; determining whether the pressure detected is higher than a pressure threshold value; and triggering a function of the motor vehicle assigned to the current position that can be triggered by punctiform touching and pressing of the touch-sensitive operator control unit at the current position, exclusively if the pressure detected is higher than the pressure threshold value; automatically selecting one of at least two operator control modes as a current operator control mode based on a function of at least one of the duration and the distance detected by said detecting; setting the pressure threshold value as a function of the current operator control mode, by setting the pressure threshold value to a first pressure value upon determination that the duration detected undershoots a predetermined duration or the distance detected undershoots a predetermined distance, and a second pressure value upon determination that the duration detected is at least the predetermined duration or the distance detected is at least the predetermined distance, said automatically selecting including, when the touch-sensitive operator control unit is touched only by the object, and said detecting detects at least the predetermined duration or at least the predetermined distance, selecting a character input mode as the current operator control mode, in which said detecting detects the object sweeping over the touch-sensitive operator control unit and at least one alphanumeric character is input as a function thereof; and when the touch-sensitive operator control unit is touched by at least two objects, and said detecting detects at least the predetermined duration or at least the predetermined distance, selecting a gesture operator control mode as the current operator control mode, in which said detecting detects the objects sweeping over the touch-sensitive operator control unit and when at least one predefined gesture is detected, a function of the motor vehicle assigned to the at least one predefined gesture is triggered.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising maintaining the character input mode for a predefined duration after detection that the object is no longer touching the touch-sensitive operator control unit.

3. An operator control device for a motor vehicle, comprising: a touch-sensitive operator control unit configured to detect a duration during which the touch-sensitive operator control unit is touched by an object, to detect a distance traversed by the object when the touch-sensitive operator control unit is touched, and to detect a current position at which the touch-sensitive operator control unit is touched by the object; a detection device configured to detect a pressure applied to the touch-sensitive operator control unit by touching the touch-sensitive operator control unit; a control device configured to determine whether the pressure detected is higher than a pressure threshold value, to trigger a function, assigned to the current position, by punctiform touching and pressing of the touch-sensitive operator control unit at the current position, only when the detected pressure is higher than the pressure threshold value to automatically select one of at least two operator control modes as a current operator control mode based on a function of at least one of the duration and the distance detected by said detection device, to set the pressure threshold value as a function of the current operator control mode, as one of a first pressure value when either the duration detected undershoots a predetermined duration or the distance detected undershoots a predetermined distance, and a second pressure value when either the duration detected is at least the predetermined duration or the distance detected is at least the predetermined distance, to select a character input mode as the current operator control mode, in which sweeping over the touch-sensitive operator control unit by the object can be detected, and at least one alphanumeric character is input as a function thereof, when the touch-sensitive operator control unit is touched only by the object and either the duration detected is at least the predetermined duration, or the distance detected is at least the predetermined distance; and to select a gesture operator control mode as the current operator control mode in which sweeping over the touch-sensitive operator control unit by at least two objects can be detected and when the sweeping over corresponds at least to a predefined gesture, to trigger a function of the motor vehicle assigned to the predefined gesture when the touch-sensitive operator control unit is touched with the at least two objects and either the duration detected is at least the predetermined duration, or the distance detected is at least the predetermined distance.

4. The operator control device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the touch-sensitive operator control unit includes a first operator control area having at least one touch-sensitive control button and an second touch-sensitive operator control area adjacent thereto, wherein the at least one touch-sensitive control button is activated when the pressure detected is higher than the pressure threshold value, and wherein when the control device detects at least one of the object has touched the touch-sensitive operator control unit at least for the predetermined duration and the object has traversed at least the predetermined distance on the touch-sensitive operator control unit, the at least one touch-sensitive control button can be swept over to input at least one of alphanumeric characters and predetermined gestures.

5. A motor vehicle, comprising: a chassis; and an operator control device, including a touch-sensitive operator control unit configured to detect a duration during which the touch-sensitive operator control unit is touched by an object, a distance traversed by the object when the touch-sensitive operator control unit is touched, and a current position at which the touch-sensitive operator control unit is touched by the object; a detection device configured to detect a pressure applied to the touch-sensitive operator control unit by touching the touch-sensitive operator control unit; a control device configured to automatically select one of at least two operator control modes as a current operator control mode based on a function of at least one of the duration and the distance detected by said detection device, the at least two operator control modes including a character input mode in which sweeping over the touch-sensitive operator control unit by the object can be detected, and at least one alphanumeric character is input as a function thereof, the character input mode being selected when the touch-sensitive operator control unit is touched only by the object and either the duration detected is at least the predetermined duration, or the distance detected is at least a predetermined distance; and a gesture operator control mode in which sweeping over the touch-sensitive operator control unit by at least two objects can be detected and when the sweeping over corresponds at least to a predefined gesture, to trigger a function of the motor vehicle assigned to the predefined gesture when the touch-sensitive operator control unit is touched with the at least two objects and either the duration detected is at least the predetermined durations, or the distance detected is at least the predetermined distance, set a pressure threshold value as a function of the current operator control mode, as one of a first pressure value when either the duration detected undershoots a predetermined duration or the distance detected undershoots the predetermined distance, and a second pressure value when either the duration detected is at least the predetermined duration or the distance detected is at least the predetermined distance, determine whether the pressure detected is higher than the pressure threshold value, trigger a function, assigned to the current position, by punctiform touching and pressing of the touch-sensitive operator control unit at the current position, only when the detected pressure is higher than the pressure threshold value.

6. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 5, wherein the touch-sensitive operator control unit includes a first operator control area having at least one touch-sensitive control button and an second touch-sensitive operator control area adjacent thereto, wherein the at least one touch-sensitive control button is activated when the pressure detected is higher than the pressure threshold value, and wherein when the control device detects at least one of the object has touched the touch-sensitive operator control unit at least for the predetermined duration and the object has traversed at least the predetermined distance on the touch-sensitive operator control unit, the at least one touch-sensitive control button can be swept over to input at least one of alphanumeric characters and predetermined gestures.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) These and other aspects and advantages will be explained in more detail on the basis of exemplary embodiments and also with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective and block diagram of an embodiment of an operator control device;

(3) FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a further embodiment of an operator control device;

(4) FIG. 3 is a schematic front view of an embodiment of an operator control device in a character input mode; and

(5) FIG. 4 is a schematic front view of an embodiment of an operator control device in a gesture operator control mode.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

(6) Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

(7) In the exemplary embodiment explained below, the described components of the embodiment respectively present individual features of the invention which are to be considered independently of one another and which each also develop the invention independently of one another, and are therefore also to be considered part of the invention either individually or in another combination than that shown. Furthermore, the described embodiment can also be supplemented by further features of the invention which have already been described.

(8) FIG. 1 shows an operator control device 10 for selecting and/or triggering and/or controlling functions F of a motor vehicle (not illustrated here). Such functions F can relate, for example, to a navigation system of the motor vehicle, to a multimedia device, to an infotainment system, to what is referred to as a car menu which can be represented on a display unit (not shown here) of the motor vehicle, or to a hands free device of the motor vehicle.

(9) The operator control device 10 can be provided, for example, in a center console so that it can easily be operated, in particular, by a driver of the motor vehicle. The operator control device 10 has here a touch-sensitive operator control unit 12, a detection device 14 and a control device 16. The detection device 14 can be configured, for example, as a pressure sensor which is known per se. The control device 16 can also be a control unit of the motor vehicle which is configured to communicate with the touch-sensitive operator control unit 12 and/or with the detection device 14 of the operator control device 10.

(10) The operator control device 10 is operated with a finger 18 of a user, in particular of the driver of the motor vehicle, as a contact-making object.

(11) The touch-sensitive operator control unit 12 is configured to detect a distance s.sub.m which is traversed by the finger 18 during the touching of the touch-sensitive operator control unit 12, and to detect a duration t.sub.m over which the touch-sensitive operator control unit 12 is touched with the finger 18. The distance s.sub.m and/or the duration t.sub.m are made available to the control device 16. Furthermore, the touch-sensitive operator control unit 12 is configured to detect a current position at which the touch-sensitive operator control unit 12 is touched with the finger 18. This may be carried out, for example, by measuring a capacitance of a capacitor which the finger 18 forms with the touch-sensitive operator control unit 12 at the position.

(12) The detection device 14 is configured to detect a pressure p.sub.m which the finger 18 exerts or applies on the touch-sensitive operator control unit 12. This pressure p.sub.m which is detected by the detection device 14 is made available to the control device 16.

(13) The control device 16 is configured to predefine an operator control mode of the operator control device 10 as a function of the detected duration t.sub.m and/or the detected distance s.sub.m. The control device 16 determines a pressure threshold value p.sub.s as a function of this predefined operator control mode. The control device 16 compares the pressure p.sub.m detected by the detection device 14 with the currently predefined pressure threshold value p.sub.s. If the detected pressure p.sub.m exceeds the pressure threshold value p.sub.s, the control device 16 is configured to select and/or trigger and/or control the function F. The function F is therefore selected and/or triggered and/or controlled only if the finger 18 exerts, during the operator control of the operator control device 10 or the touch-sensitive operator control unit 12, a pressure p.sub.m on the touch-sensitive operator control unit 12 which exceeds the pressure threshold value p.sub.s, that is to say a triggering threshold.

(14) FIG. 2 shows a further embodiment of an operator control device 10. The operator control device 10 has here a first operator control area 20 and a second operator control area 22, wherein the second operator control area 20 is embodied adjacent to the first operator control area 20. The first operator control area 20 has here in total six control buttons 24 to 34 which are embodied here as pushbutton switches. Each of the control buttons 24 to 34 is respectively assigned a defined function F which can be triggered by pressing the respective control button 24 to 34 with a pressure p.sub.m which is higher than the pressure threshold value p.sub.s. A first control button 24 is configured here as a menu key by which a menu can be called up on a screen (not illustrated here) of the motor vehicle. A second control button 26 is configured here as a so-called back key by which, for example, a menu situation which is displayed on the screen of the motor vehicle can be exited. By activating a third control button 28, a cellphone can be called up, and by activating a fourth control button 30 a navigation system of the motor vehicle can be called up. A fifth control button 32 serves to display information, and a sixth control button 34 serves to call up entertainment functions. The control buttons 24 to 34 which are illustrated here, and their assigned functions F, are merely by way of example and are not conclusive. The second operator control area 22 is embodied here as a coherent operator control area which can be used as a touchpad which is known per se.

(15) In the exemplary embodiment shown here, the user would like to select the navigation system. To do this, the user touches with his finger 18 the control button 30 assigned to the navigation system and exerts a pressure p.sub.m on the control button 30, which pressure is detected by the detection device 14. The touch-sensitive operator control unit 12 detects a distance s.sub.m which the finger 18 traverses on the touch-sensitive operator control unit 12 and/or a duration t.sub.m over which the touch-sensitive operator control unit 12 is touched by the finger 18. The control device 16 compares the detected distance s.sub.m and/or the detected duration t.sub.m with a predetermined distance and/or duration. Here, the user touches the control button 30 in a punctiform and direct fashion, that is to say without previously having swept over the touch-sensitive operator control unit 12. This means that the finger 18 does not essentially traverse any distance s.sub.m on the touch-sensitive operator control unit 12 and touches the touch-sensitive operator control unit 12 only briefly. The operator control device 10, in particular the control device 16, detects that the driver would like to activate the control button 30 and predefines a first pressure value as the pressure threshold value p.sub.s. The first pressure value can be approximately 3 N here. If the pressure p.sub.m detected by the detection device 14 is higher than the pressure threshold value p.sub.s, as the function F assigned to the control button 30 triggered, that is to say here the navigation system selected or activated.

(16) FIG. 3 shows the embodiment of the operator control device 10 from FIG. 2. The user has selected or activated the navigation system here by pressing the associated control button 30 with a pressure p.sub.m which is higher than the predefined pressure threshold value p.sub.s. In this exemplary embodiment, the user would like to make a destination input for the navigation system. To do this, the user uses his finger 18 to write a letter 36, for example the letter M, on the touch-sensitive operator control unit 12. The letter M can be, for example, the first letter of the destination to which the driver would like to navigate with the motor vehicle. In order to write the letter 36, the user can use the touch-sensitive operator control unit 12 in a way which encompasses multiple operator control areas, i.e. he can use his finger 18 to sweep both over the first operator control area 20, having the control buttons 24 to 34, and over the second operator control area 22.

(17) The touch-sensitive operator control unit 12 detects a distance s.sub.m which the finger 18 traverses during the writing of the letter 36 on the touch-sensitive operator control unit 12 and/or a duration t.sub.m for which the finger 18 stays on the touch-sensitive operator control unit 12 during the writing. The control device 16 detects that the user is making a character input and makes available a character input mode. In addition, the control device 16 predefines a second pressure value, corresponding to the character input mode, as the pressure threshold value p.sub.s. The second pressure value is selected here to be higher than the first pressure value according to the exemplary embodiment from FIG. 2 and can be, for example, approximately 5 N. Therefore it is possible, for example, to prevent the user from inadvertently activating one of the control buttons 24 to 34 while he sweeps over the first operator control area 20 in order to write the letter 38. However, if he nevertheless would like to trigger a function F which is assigned to the control buttons 24 to 34 he can activate with the finger 18 the corresponding control button 24 to 34 by pressing with a pressure p.sub.m which is higher than the second pressure value.

(18) It is also possible to provide that the user would like to trigger a further function during the character input mode. This function can be, for example, the selection of a destination which is proposed on a screen of the motor vehicle after the touch-sensitive operator control unit 12 has recognized the letter 36. In order to select the proposed destination, the user can press with the finger 18 on the second operator control area 22, for example. Since the operator control device 10 is in the character input mode, the user has to exert a pressure p.sub.m which is higher than the second pressure value on the second operator control area 22. However, there may be provision that the user continues the destination input by briefly stopping the finger 18 and starting again in order to write further letters on the touch-sensitive operator control unit 12. During the stopping and restarting, the operator control device 10 may remain in the character input mode.

(19) FIG. 4 shows the embodiment of the operator control device 10 from FIGS. 2 and 3. The user has selected or activated the navigation system here by pressing the associated control button 30 with a pressure p.sub.m which is higher than the predefined pressure threshold value p.sub.s. In this exemplary embodiment, the user would like to enlarge a map of the surroundings which is presented on a screen (not shown here). To do this, the user carries out a gesture on the touch-sensitive operator control unit 12 which corresponds to a predetermined gesture. Here, the user carries out a so-called pinch-to-zoom gesture by which the map of the surroundings can be enlarged. To do this, the user places, for example, his thumb 38 on the touch-sensitive operator control unit 12 in addition to the finger 18 and moves the finger 18 in the direction of the arrow 40 and the thumb 38 in the direction of the arrow 42. The finger 18 and the thumb 38 therefore move away from one another in opposite directions on the touch-sensitive operator control unit 12. The operator control device 10, in particular the control device 16, detects the moving apart of the finger 18 and of the thumb 38 as the predetermined pinch-to-zoom gesture and enlarges the map of the surroundings on the screen.

(20) While the gesture is being carried out, the finger 18 traverses a distance s.sub.m on the touch-sensitive operator control unit 12 and/or stays on the touch-sensitive operator control unit 12 for a duration t.sub.m, which is detected by the touch-sensitive operator control unit 12. The control device 16 predefines a gesture operator control mode, and a pressure threshold value p.sub.s corresponding to the gesture operator control mode, on the basis of the detected duration t.sub.m and/or the detected distance s.sub.m as well as on the basis of the detected thumb 38 as a further contact-making object. In this context, the second pressure value which has already been predefined in conjunction with the character input mode can be predefined as the pressure threshold value p.sub.s. It is therefore possible to prevent an undesired function F from being triggered if during the execution of the gesture the user inadvertently exerts a pressure which, for example, would have already triggered the function in the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 2.

(21) During the gesture operator control the touch-sensitive operator control unit 12 can also be swept over in a way which encompasses multiple operator control areas. In this way, the control buttons 24 to 34 can also be swept over in order to carry out the gesture. In order to trigger a function F which is assigned to the control buttons 24 to 34, the user must apply a pressure p.sub.m which is higher than the second pressure value to the corresponding control button 24 to 34.

(22) The exemplary embodiment of the operator control of a navigation system shown in FIGS. 2 to 4 is merely by way of example. Likewise, other functions of the motor vehicle, for example infotainment components or a cellphone can be controlled or operated in an analogous fashion.

(23) A description has been provided with particular reference to preferred embodiments thereof and 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).