METHOD AND OPERATOR CONTROL SYSTEM FOR OPERATING AT LEAST ONE FUNCTION IN A VEHICLE

Abstract

A display generator, after activation of a display area assigned to at least one function in the interior of a vehicle, holographically displays virtual operator control elements assigned to the at least one function in the display area assigned to the at least one function in the interior of the vehicle. A detection and sensing device detects and senses gestures by a vehicle occupant which are to be interpreted as operator control inputs upon the virtual operator control elements being actuated in a manner desired by the vehicle occupant. A computing unit interprets the gestures as operator control inputs and initiates an implementation, corresponding to the operator control inputs, of the at least one function.

Claims

1-14. (canceled)

15. An operator control system for operating at least one function in an interior of a vehicle, comprising: a display generator configured to holographically display at least one virtual operator control element assigned to at least one function, after activation of a display area assigned to the at least one function in the interior of the vehicle; a detection and sensing device configured to detect and sense at least one gesture by a vehicle occupant as an operator control input upon the at least one virtual operator control element; and a computing unit configured to interpret the at least one gesture as the operator control input and to initiate an implementation, corresponding to the operator control input, of the at least one function.

16. The operator control system as claimed in claim 15, further comprising a storage medium, and wherein the display generator is configured to realize the holographic display of the at least one virtual operator control element assigned to the at least one function in the assigned display area by displaying a hologram correspondingly illuminated and retrievable from the storage medium.

17. The operator control system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the display generator comprises a light source and an optical projection system.

18. The operator control system as claimed in claim 17, wherein the light source is a laser.

19. The operator control system as claimed in claim 17, wherein the optical projection system comprises at least one holographic photographic plate on which a hologram that images the at least one virtual operator control element is recorded.

20. The operator control system as claimed in claim 15, further comprising a controller configured to activate the display area automatically, only when a hand of the vehicle occupant, performing the at least one gesture, enters a defined operative area assigned to the display area, and thereby cause the display generator to holographically display the at least one virtual operator control element assigned to the at least one function.

21. The operator control system as claimed in claim 15, further comprising a controller configured to deactivate the display area automatically, after initiation of the implementation of the at least one function corresponding to the operator control input, so that the at least one virtual operator control element is no longer displayed by the display generator.

22. The operator control system as claimed in claim 15, further comprising a controller configured to deactivate the display area automatically, a defined time duration after activation of the display area without sensing any gesture interpreted as an operator control input.

23. The operator control system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the vehicle has a front roof console and a dashboard, wherein at least one of the detection and sensing device and the display generator is disposed proximate to the front roof console of the vehicle, and wherein the display generator displays the at least one virtual operator control element assigned to the at least one function proximate to the dashboard of the vehicle.

24. A method for operating at least one function in an interior of a vehicle, comprising: holographically displaying at least one virtual operator control element assigned to the at least one function in a display area, assigned to the at least one function, in the interior of the vehicle after activation of the display area; detecting and sensing at least one gesture by a vehicle occupant as an operator control input of the operator control element; interpreting the at least one gesture as the operator control input of the operator control element; and initiating an implementation, corresponding to the at least one operator control input, of the at least one function.

25. The method as claimed in claim 24, further comprising providing a recording containing at least one hologram of the at least one operator control element.

26. The method as claimed in claim 25, wherein said holographically displaying comprises correspondingly illuminating the at least one hologram of the at least one operator control element.

27. The method as claimed in claim 24, wherein said interpreting comprises comparing the at least one gesture with gestures stored in and retrieved from a storage unit.

28. A vehicle, comprising: a chassis; and an operator control system configured to operate at least one function in an interior of the vehicle, including a display generator configured to holographically display at least one virtual operator control element assigned to at least one function, after activation of a display area assigned to the at least one function in the interior of the vehicle; a detection and sensing device configured to detect and sense at least one gesture by a vehicle occupant as an operator control input upon the at least one virtual operator control element; and a computing unit configured to interpret the at least one gesture as the operator control input and to initiate an implementation of the at least one function corresponding to the operator control input.

29. The vehicle as claimed in claim 28, wherein the operator control system further comprises a storage medium, and wherein the display generator is configured to realize the holographic display of the at least one virtual operator control element assigned to the at least one function in the assigned display area by displaying a hologram correspondingly illuminated and retrievable from the storage medium.

30. The vehicle as claimed in claim 28, wherein the display generator comprises a laser and an optical projection system.

31. The vehicle as claimed in claim 30, wherein the optical projection system comprises at least one holographic photographic plate on which a hologram that images the at least one virtual operator control element is recorded.

32. The vehicle as claimed in claim 28, wherein the operator control system further comprises a controller configured to activate the display area automatically, only when a hand of the vehicle occupant, performing the at least one gesture, enters a defined operative area assigned to the display area, and thereby cause the display generator to holographically display the at least one virtual operator control element assigned to the at least one function.

33. The vehicle as claimed in claim 29, wherein the operator control system further comprises a controller configured to deactivate the display area automatically at least one of a defined time duration after activation of the display area without sensing any gesture interpreted as an operator control input, and after initiation of the implementation of the at least one function corresponding to the operator control input, so that the at least one virtual operator control element is no longer displayed by the display generator.

34. The vehicle as claimed in claim 15, further comprising a front roof console and a dashboard, and wherein at least one of the detection and sensing device and the display generator is disposed proximate to the front roof console of the vehicle, and wherein the display generator displays the at least one virtual operator control element assigned to the at least one function proximate to the dashboard of the vehicle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0041] The operator control system is schematically illustrated on the basis of embodiments in the drawing and is described schematically or thoroughly with reference to the drawing.

[0042] The single drawing is a schematic illustration of how an operator control element is virtually displayed in accordance with one embodiment of the method.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0043] The drawing includes an illumination source 1, a holographic photographic plate 2 and a virtually displayed operator control element 3. The holographic photographic plate 2 is arranged in a vehicle, not illustrated here, at a suitable location, such as e.g. in the region of a center console of the vehicle. The illumination source 1, which is generally a laser, is arranged behind the photographic plate 2 from the viewpoint of a vehicle occupant, such as e.g. a driver. The photographic plate 2 and the spatial area around the photographic plate define a display area. If the driver would then like to implement a function to be activated by the operator control element 3, the driver brings his/her hand or just a finger of the hand in proximity to the photographic plate 2 and thus into an operative area which surrounds the display area and which is assigned to the display area. This is detected by a sensor system, not shown here, whereby the display area is activated and thus so is the illumination source 1, with the result that the latter illuminates the photographic plate 2. A hologram is stored on the photographic plate 2, the operator control element being captured or recorded in the hologram. As a result of the illumination of the photographic plate 2 or of the hologram stored thereon, the operator control element 3 is spatially displayed virtually. In this case, however, the light emitted by the illumination source 1 must correspond exactly to the light with which the hologram stored on the photographic plate 2 was recorded. The driver can then operate the operator control element 3 by suitable gestures or by at least one gesture. The gestures made by the driver or the at least one gesture made by the driver are or is identified and interpreted by a detection and sensing device, not illustrated here, and forwarded to a control unit, likewise not illustrated here, which then initiates a corresponding implementation of the function associated with the operator control element 3.

[0044] 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).