METHOD FOR DRIVING AN OPERATING ARRANGEMENT FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE WITH PROVISION OF TWO OPERATING MODES FOR AN OPERATING ELEMENT, OPERATING ARRANGEMENT AND MOTOR VEHICLE

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for driving an operating arrangement (2) for a motor vehicle (1), in which, by means of an operating element (4, 4) which is arranged on a steering wheel (5) of the motor vehicle (1) and which has a touch-sensitive screen, a touch of at least one finger (9) on the operating element (4, 4) is registered as an operating action and, by means of a control device (3), a unit (8) is activated on the basis of the operating action registered, in a first operating mode of the operating element (4, 4), a pointer (11) displayed on a display device (10) of the unit (8) being controlled by means of the control device (3) and, in a second operating mode of the operating element (4, 4) at least one switching area (15) being displayed on the operating element (4, 4), and the touch on the switching area (15) being registered as the operating action.

Claims

1. A method for driving an operating arrangement for a motor vehicle, the method comprising: registering, by an operating element arranged on a steering wheel of the motor vehicle and which has a touch-sensitive screen, a touch of at least one finger on the operating element as an operating action; and, activating, by a control device, a unit on the basis of the operating action registered, wherein, in a first operating mode of the operating element, a pointer displayed on a display device of the unit is controlled by the control device, and wherein, in a second operating mode of the operating element, at least one switching area is displayed on the operating element, and the touch on the at least one switching area is registered as the operating action.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein in the first operating mode the position of the at least one finger on the operating element is registered and, by using the position registered, a pointer position of the pointer on the display device is determined.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein in the first operating mode, by using the pointer, a display element on the display device is selected and the unit is activated on the basis of the selected display element.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein in the first operating mode the operating element is activated in such a way that the touch-sensitive screen has a predetermined colour.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein in the second operating mode of the operating element the unit is activated by touching the switching area.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein in the second operating mode of the operating element, a depiction of a switching element of the unit is displayed on the operating element as a unit switching area, and the unit is activated as a result of touching the unit switching area.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the function assigned to the switching element is effected by touching the unit switching area.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the operating element has a static area and a dynamic area, the operating action being registered in the dynamic area.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the operating arrangement has a first and a second operating element, the first operating element being driven in the first operating mode and the second operating element being driven in the second operating mode.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the unit, which is formed as a mobile telephone, is activated by means of the control device.

11. An operating arrangement for a motor vehicle for carrying out a method according to claim 1.

12. A motor vehicle having an operating arrangement according to claim 11.

Description

[0026] The invention will now be explained in more detail by using preferred exemplary embodiments and with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

[0027] FIG. 1 shows, in a schematic illustration, a motor vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention which has an operating arrangement;

[0028] FIG. 2 shows the operating arrangement in a further embodiment, the operating arrangement having two operating elements which are arranged on a steering wheel;

[0029] FIG. 3 shows a first operating element of the operating arrangement;

[0030] FIG. 4 shows a second operating element of the operating arrangement; and

[0031] FIG. 5 shows the operating arrangement in a first embodiment, the operating arrangement being connected to a plurality of mobile units.

[0032] In the figures, identical and functionally identical elements are provided with the same reference symbols.

[0033] FIG. 1 shows a motor vehicle 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention in plan view. In the present case, the motor vehicle 1 is formed as a passenger car. The motor vehicle 1 comprises an operating arrangement 2 which, for example, can be part of a driver assistance system of the motor vehicle 1. The driver assistance system can be used, for example, to assist the driver when guiding the motor vehicle 1. With the aid of the driver assistance system, the motor vehicle 1 can, for example, be manoeuvred autonomously. In this case, the driver assistance system takes over the transverse guidance and/or longitudinal guidance of the motor vehicle 1. The driver assistance system can therefore carry out a steering intervention, an intervention in the braking system and/or an intervention in the drive engine of the motor vehicle 1. However, the motor vehicle 1 can also be operated manually. In this operating mode, the driver takes over both the longitudinal guidance and also the transverse guidance of the motor vehicle 1.

[0034] The operating arrangement 2 comprises a control device 3, which can be formed, for example, by a control unit of the motor vehicle (ECUElectronic Control Unit). In addition, the operating arrangement 2 comprises at least one operating element 4, with which an operating action can be registered. The operating element 4 has a touch-sensitive screen. A display can therefore be provided by using the operating element 4. In addition, the operating element 4 has appropriate sensors, with which a touch on the touch-sensitive screen can be registered. Such a touch can be made, for example, by at least one finger 9 of an occupant of the motor vehicle 1, in particular the driver of the motor vehicle 1. Furthermore, the operating arrangement 2 has a unit 8 which, in the present case, is arranged in an interior 6 of the motor vehicle 1. If an operating action is registered by the operating element 4, a corresponding signal is transmitted from the operating element 4 to the control device 3. The control device 3 can then generate a control signal on the basis of the operating action registered and transmit the said signal to the unit 8. Thus, a function of the unit 8 can be activated.

[0035] FIG. 2 shows the operating arrangement 2 in a further embodiment. In this embodiment, the operating arrangement 2 has a first operating element 4 and a second operating element 4. The first and the second operating element 4, 4 are arranged on the spokes 7 of the steering wheel. It can also be seen that the unit 8 has a display device 10. The display device 10, which, for example, can be a monitor or a display, is arranged in the instrument cluster of the motor vehicle 1 in the present case. A pointer 11 or a cursor is displayed on the display device 10. Also displayed on the display device 10 is a display element 17. The display element 17 can be selected with the pointer 11. By means of the selection of the display element 17, a function of the unit 8 can be activated.

[0036] In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 2, the unit 8 is part of the motor vehicle 1. The unit 8 can be, for example, an information and/or entertainment system of the motor vehicle 1. In this case, the display element 17 can be assigned to a music title or an album. If the display element 17 is selected by using the pointer 11, for example the music title can be played back. The unit 8 can also be a navigation system, a driver assistance system, an air-conditioning system or the like. Provision can also be made for the unit 8 to be a mobile unit, which can be arranged in the interior 6 of the motor vehicle 1. Such a mobile unit 8 can be, for example, a smart phone, a tablet or the like.

[0037] FIG. 3 shows the first operating element 4, which, in the present case, is arranged on the right-hand side of the steering wheel 5. It can be seen here that the first operating element 4 has two areas, specifically a dynamic area 12 and a static area 13. In the dynamic area 12, the display of the touch-sensitive screen can be adapted. In the static area 13, corresponding switching areas 14 with which basic functions can be provided can be displayed. In the present case, a voice input can be enabled by touching the switching area 14. In the dynamic area 12, the position of the finger 11 can be detected. By using the position, the control device 3 can then determine a position of the pointer 11 which is displayed on the display device 10. The finger 9 can be moved appropriately in the dynamic area 12 of the operating element 4 in order to move the pointer 11 on the display device 10. Thus, the operating element 4 serves as a touchpad in the first operating mode.

[0038] FIG. 4 shows a second operating element 4 which, in the present case, is arranged on the left-hand side of the steering wheel 5. The second operating element 4 also has a static area 13 and a dynamic area 12. In the present case, switching areas 14, with which for example the loudness can be controlled, are likewise displayed in the static area 13. Likewise displayed is a switching area 14, with which autonomous driving operation can be requested. As explained in more detail below, a data link can be provided between the second operating element 4 and a mobile unit 8. Here, data links can also be provided between multiple mobile units 8. These mobile units 8 can be activated and remotely controlled with the aid of an operating action which is carried out on the second operating element 4. In the dynamic area 12, the driver is displayed a switching area 15, which he can operate appropriately by means of touch. In the present case, the switching area shows a mobile unit 8 or mobile telephone, which can be activated appropriately. In addition, unit switching areas 16 are displayed in the dynamic area 12. These unit switching areas 16 display the image of switching elements of the mobile unit 8. These unit switching areas 16 can be operated by means of an appropriate operating action, in particular a touch. If the unit switching area 16 is operated, the mobile unit 8 can be driven in the same way as when the unit 8 is operated directly. Thus, the mobile unit 8 can, so to speak, be remotely controlled.

[0039] FIG. 5 shows, by way of example, how the operating arrangement 2 can be coupled to multiple mobile units 8 in the motor vehicle 1. In the present exemplary embodiment, the operating arrangement 2 can be connected to multiple mobile units 8 by means of data transmission. The mobile units 8 can be, for example, mobile telephones, smart phones, tablets, smart watches or sport armbands. The mobile terminals can be connected to the operating elements 4, 4 for data transmission, for example via a radio connection, in particular a Bluetooth connection. The mobile units 8 can also be connected to the control device 3 or the display device 10 via a Bluetooth connection. Such a wire-free connection is identified by the arrows 19. Furthermore, provision can be made for the mobile units 8 to be connected to the control device 3 via a data bus 20. It is also possible for various communications devices 21 to be provided, via which the mobile units 8 can communicate in a wire-free manner with the control device 3. Such a wire-free data link can be, for example, a radio link, which is identified by the arrows 22. By means of an appropriate interface 23, the display of the mobile units 8 can thus be transmitted to the display device 10. Furthermore, with the aid of the control device 3, the display in the dynamic area 12 of the operating element 4, 4 can be adapted via an appropriate interface 24.

[0040] With the aid of sensor elements 25, it is additionally possible to check whether the hands of the driver are currently located on the steering wheel 5. The sensor elements 25 can comprise capacitive sensors, for example. This information can be transmitted from the sensor elements 25 to the control device 3 via the interface 24. Furthermore, the operating arrangement 2 can comprise a detection unit 26, by means of which the direction of view of the driver and/or the position of a head of the driver can be detected. Depending on this information, the display on further display devices 27, 28 can be controlled by a second control device 3. The display device 27 can be assigned, for example, to a so-called head-up display. The display device 28 can, for example, be in the dashboard of the motor vehicle 1.