User Interface Device for Selecting an Operating Mode for an Automated Drive

Abstract

A user interface device is configured to select an operating mode for an automated drive in a motor vehicle. The user interface device has a switching device to switch over between different driving automation stages of a motor vehicle, a selection device to determine at least one driving parameter in order to configure the driving automation stage selected by the switching device, and a display device which interacts with the selection device in order to display available selection possibilities for the at least one driving parameter when configuring the selected driving automation stage. It is thus possible to select and configure one of multiple driving automation stages of the motor vehicle even in the event of a plurality of such stages and configuration possibilities for the stages using a simple and space-saving operating design with only two different input types; namely, the switch-over between the driving automation stages and the configuration process using the selection device.

Claims

1. A user interface apparatus configured to select a mode of operation for automated driving in a motor vehicle, the apparatus comprising: a switching apparatus configured to change over between different driving automation levels of a motor vehicle; a selection apparatus configured to stipulate at least one driving parameter for configuring the driving automation level selected by the switching apparatus; and a display apparatus, interacting with the selection apparatus, configured to display available selection options for the at least one driving parameter during the configuration of the selected driving automation level.

2. The user interface apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the switching apparatus has at least three switching positions corresponding to each of at least three driving automation levels of the motor vehicle.

3. The user interface apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the at least three driving automation levels include at least three of a manual driving level, semiautomated driving level, highly automated driving level, and autonomous driving level.

4. The user interface apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the switching apparatus has an appropriate switch for each of the at least three driving automation levels to change over to a corresponding one of the at least three driving automation levels.

5. The user interface apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the selection apparatus is operable multidimensionally and, at least when the driving automation level for semiautomated driving is selected by the switching apparatus, the operation of the selection apparatus along a first selection dimension is used to select one of multiple driving parameters for the selected driving automation level and the operation of the selection apparatus along a second selection dimension is used to select a setting for the selected driving parameter.

6. The user interface apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the selection apparatus is operable multidimensionally and, at least when the driving automation level for semiautomated driving is selected by the switching apparatus, the operation of the selection apparatus along a first selection dimension is used to select one of multiple driving parameters for the selected driving automation level and the operation of the selection apparatus along a second selection dimension is used to select a setting for the selected driving parameter.

7. The user interface apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the selection apparatus is operable multidimensionally and, at least when the driving automation level for semiautomated driving is selected by the switching apparatus, the operation of the selection apparatus along a first selection dimension is used to select one of multiple driving parameters for the selected driving automation level and the operation of the selection apparatus along a second selection dimension is used to select a setting for the selected driving parameter.

8. The user interface apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the selection apparatus is further operable along a third selection dimension in order to select a further setting for the selected driving parameter or to activate or deactivate the selection made by one or more of the first and second selection dimensions.

9. The user interface apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the selection apparatus is further operable along a third selection dimension in order to select a further setting for the selected driving parameter or to activate or deactivate the selection made by one or more of the first and second selection dimensions.

10. The user interface apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the selection apparatus is further operable along a third selection dimension in order to select a further setting for the selected driving parameter or to activate or deactivate the selection made by one or more of the first and second selection dimensions.

11. The user interface apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the selection apparatus is configured to be operable at two levels along each of the first and the second selection dimension.

12. The user interface apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the selection apparatus is configured to be operable at two levels along each of the first and the second selection dimension.

13. The user interface apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the selection apparatus has at least one of the following input elements: a joystick; a multidimensionally operable switch comprised of a tumbler switch or a slide switch; a rotary switch having different directions of rotation correspond to different selection dimensions; and a touchscreen or trackpad.

14. The user interface apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the selection apparatus is configured to select and set at least one of the following driving parameters: a distance from a vehicle ahead; a vehicle speed or speed range; a level of the lateral tracking; a lane change; and a parking parameter.

15. The user interface apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the switching apparatus and the selection apparatus are arranged physically adjacent to one another such that they can both be controlled with a single finger of a hand of a driver of the motor vehicle when the hand of the driver is fixed.

16. The user interface apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the display apparatus is configured to display the available selection options for the at least one driving parameter during the configuration of the selected driving automation level with the aid of icons arranged next to one another.

17. The user interface apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the display apparatus is configured to depict the selection, corresponding to a current operated state of the selection apparatus, of a driving parameter in a marked fashion.

18. The user interface apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a sensor configured to detect a human touch of at least one of the selection apparatus and a cockpit element surrounding the selection apparatus, wherein the display apparatus is configured to display the available selection options for the at least one driving parameter during the configuration of the selected driving automation level only if the sensor detects the human touch.

19. The user interface apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the display apparatus comprises a combined instrument, a head-up display or a screen.

20. A steering wheel for a motor vehicle, having a user interface apparatus, wherein the user interface apparatus is configured to select a mode of operation for automated driving in a motor vehicle, the user interface apparatus comprising: a switching apparatus configured to change over between different driving automation levels of a motor vehicle; a selection apparatus configured to stipulate at least one driving parameter for configuring the driving automation level selected by the switching apparatus; and a display apparatus, interacting with the selection apparatus, configured to display available selection options for the at least one driving parameter during the configuration of the selected driving automation level.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] Further advantages, features and possible applications of the present invention will emerge from the detailed description below in connection with the figures, in which

[0032] FIG. 1 schematically shows a user interface apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the invention; and

[0033] FIG. 2 schematically shows a preferred arrangement of the elements of the user interface apparatus with a control panel arranged on a steering wheel of a motor vehicle and a display apparatus in the form of part of a combined instrument.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034] The user interface apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 firstly has a control panel 2, shown in the bottom part of the figure, on which are arranged a switching apparatus 3, in the form of a keypad, with three different key switches 3a, 3b and 3c and a selection apparatus 4 in the form of a two-dimensionally operable slide switch with an additional pushbutton function. Each of the keys 3a, 3b and 3c has a particular assigned driving automation level that can be activated by pressing the applicable key. It is thus possible for the key 3a, for example, to be configured to activate autonomous driving, the key 3b to be configured to activate semiautomated driving and the key 3c to be configured to activate manual driving. As soon as a key is pressed and therefore the assigned driving automation level is activated, the previously set driving automation level is deactivated. The keys 3a, 3b and 3c are therefore used to change over between the different driving automation levels.

[0035] The keys 3a, 3b and 3c and the selection apparatus 4 are arranged in direct proximity to one another on the control panel 2 such that the maximum distance between two of these control elements is no more than a few centimeters, particularly no more than 5 cm, and are therefore within the span of movement of a finger, particularly the thumb, of a hand of a young or adult human being. The selection apparatus 4 has a slide switch that can be moved forward and backward in each of two mutually perpendicular directions (i.e. selection dimensions) in the two dimensional plane of the control panel 2. In FIG. 1, these directions are denoted by L (for left) and R (for right) and by U (for up) and D (for down). The slide switch, when deflected along one of these directions, is subject to a restoring force, so that, when it is released again, it returns to its central initial position. In addition, the slide switch, at least when in its central initial position, can also be operated along a third direction, perpendicular to the other two directions or the plane of the image, by pressing it and can therefore also carry out the function of a key switch (further selection dimension). Therefore, the selection apparatus is in two-level form in each of the L/R direction and U/D direction and in one-level form in the direction of operation of the key switch running perpendicular thereto.

[0036] The upper part of FIG. 1 depicts the display apparatus 5 of the user interface apparatus 1 by way of example. The display apparatus 5 may be implemented particularly by means of a standard display or screen, for example on LCD or LED basis. Instead or in addition, special display elements are also conceivable. The display apparatus 5 is used to display driving parameterswhere availableassigned to a driving automation level currently activated by means of the switching apparatus 3, and also possibly the setting of said driving parameters, by means of icons 6a to 6d. The icons 6a to 6d shown by way of example belong to the driving automation level for semiautomated driving.

[0037] In this case, the icons 6a and 6d represent the driving parameter lane change to the left or to the right, i.e. activation of the driving mode specifically represented by each of these allows the motor vehicle to be prompted to perform an appropriate lane change in automated fashion. In this case, the driver thus makes only the decision about the lane change itself and the direction thereof, as soon as he has communicated this to the vehicle by means of the selection apparatus 4, the vehicle carries out the lane change of its own accord. The icon 6b represents the driving parameter speed of travel, this particularly being able to be a desired speed, a maximum speed or a minimum speed for the motor vehicle. The icon 6c represents the driving parameter distance from the vehicle in front, this particularly being able to be a minimum distance to be kept from the vehicle in front. This minimum distance may be variable, particularly on the basis of speed, so that the input does not represent an absolute length statement, but rather indicates, for example, the degree of the distance to be kept, e.g. short distance, average distance or long distance.

[0038] In FIG. 1, the driving parameter speed of travel is selected at present, this being indicated to the driver by inversion of the applicable icon 6b (dark background and light text). Repeated operation, if need be, of the slide switch of the selection apparatus 4 along the L/R direction can be used to change between the different icons and therefore the driving parameters assigned thereto. Repeated operation, if need be, of the slide switch along the U/D direction, by contrast, can be used to select a setting or value assignment for the driving parameter selected previously along the L/R direction. Every single operation of the slide switch results in a skip to the next icon/driving parameter or to the next driving parameter setting in accordance with the direction of operation.

[0039] FIG. 2 shows a preferred arrangement of the user interface apparatus 1 in the motor vehicle. In this case, the display apparatus 5 is integrated in a combined instrument or head-up display 7, which is customary particularly in automobiles, trucks and buses, and is thus in a regular field of vision of the driver. The control panel 2 is arranged on a steering wheel spoke 8a of a steering wheel 8 such that, when the steering wheel is grasped by the left hand of the driver close to the steering wheel spoke 8a, his thumb can reach and control all of the control elements of the control panel 2, i.e. both the keys 3a-c of the switching apparatus 3 and the slide switch of the selection apparatus 4, even when the hand is fixed. Alternatively, the control panel 2 may also be arranged in the central portion 8b of the steering wheel, which is also regularly referred to as the impact absorber. A region of the steering wheel 8 that is adjacent to the control panel 2 has a sensor 9 of the user interface apparatus 1 arranged in it that is set up to detect the presence of a human hand in this region. It is coupled to the display apparatus 5 via an appropriate controller (particularly a processor) such that said display apparatus can display information or symbols, particularly icons 6a-6d, corresponding to driving parameters or the setting options thereof only if the sensor identifies the presence of a hand. In a variant, it is also possible for the activation of the control panel or the evaluation of inputs thereon to be effected only in this case.

[0040] While at least one exemplary embodiment has been described above, it should be noted that a large number of variations in that regard exist. In this case, it should also be borne in mind that the exemplary embodiments described are only nonlimiting examples, and it is not the intention to thereby restrict the scope, usability or configuration of the apparatuses and methods described here. Rather, the description above will provide a person skilled in the art with instructions for implementing at least one exemplary embodiment, and it goes without saying that various changes can be made to the manner of operation and the arrangement of the elements described in an exemplary embodiment without, in so doing, departing from the subject matter respectively stipulated in the appended claims or from its legal equivalents.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0041] 1 User interface apparatus [0042] 2 Control panel [0043] 3 Switching apparatus [0044] 3a-c Keys for driving automation level selection [0045] 4 Selection apparatus, in particular multidimensional switch [0046] 5 Display apparatus [0047] 6a-d Icons [0048] 7 Combined instrument [0049] 8 Steering wheel [0050] 8a Steering wheel spoke [0051] 8b Central portion of the steering wheel, particularly impact absorber [0052] 9 Sensor

[0053] The foregoing disclosure has been set forth merely to illustrate the invention and is not intended to be limiting. Since modifications of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit and substance of the invention may occur to persons skilled in the art, the invention should be construed to include everything within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.