SWITCHABLE OPERATING DEVICE FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE

Abstract

A rotary actuator with an operating knob which is rotatable about a rotational axis is included in an operating device of a motor vehicle. The rotary actuator generates an actuating signal during rotation of the operating knob, and the operating knob is translationally deflectable transversely with respect to the rotational axis to alternately operate two control modules using the same operating device. A coupling device couples the operating device to a first control module and to a second control module. The coupling device is configured to output the actuating signal exclusively to the first control module in a first switching position and to output the actuating signal exclusively to the second control module in a second switching position and to switch from the first switching position to the second switching position during translational deflection of the operating knob in a predetermined deflection direction.

Claims

1.-12. (canceled)

13. An operating device for a motor vehicle having control modules including predetermined control modules which include a first control module, and a second control module separate from the predetermined control modules, the operating device comprising: a rotary actuator including an operating knob which is rotatable about a rotational axis, the rotary actuator being configured to generate an actuating signal during rotation of the operating knob, and the operating knob being translationally deflectable transversely with respect to the rotational axis; a coupling device configured to couple the operating device to the first control module and to the second control module, to output the actuating signal exclusively to the first control module in a first switching position and to output the actuating signal exclusively to the second control module in a second switching position, and to switch from the first switching position to the second switching position during translational deflection of the operating knob in a predetermined deflection direction; and a switching device configured to switch between the predetermined control modules and to select one of the predetermined control modules as the first control module.

14. The operating device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the operating knob is mounted in a monostable manner, and includes a resetting device configured to move the operating knob back into a rest position after translational deflection of the operating knob.

15. The operating device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the coupling device is configured to switch the coupling device back to the first switching position a predetermined period after switching to the second switching position.

16. The operating device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the operating device is configured to switch the coupling device back into the first switching position after switching to the second switching position if the operating knob is deflected in the deflection direction again, if the operating knob is deflected in a direction opposite to the deflection direction, and/or after a predetermined function of the second control module has been activated by the operating device.

17. The operating device as claimed in claim 13, further comprising a display device configured to display a graphical user interface for the first control module on a display surface and to display a status display of the second control module at an edge of the display surface.

18. The operating device as claimed in claim 17, wherein a selection element to select graphical operating surfaces is displayed on the display device, and the operating device is configured to position the selection element at the graphical user interface for the first control module when the coupling device is in the first switching position, and to position the selection element at the status display for the second control module when the coupling device is in the second switching position.

19. The operating device as claimed in claim 18, wherein settings of the graphical user interface are retained while the selection element is positioned at the status display.

20. A motor vehicle, comprising: a chassis; at least one vehicle system; control modules to control at least one of the at least one vehicle system, the control modules including predetermined control modules which include a first control module, and a second control module separate from the predetermined control modules; and an operating device including: a rotary actuator including an operating knob which is rotatable about a rotational axis, the rotary actuator being configured to generate an actuating signal during rotation of the operating knob, and the operating knob being translationally deflectable transversely with respect to the rotational axis; a coupling device configured to couple the operating device to the first control module and to the second control module, to output the actuating signal exclusively to the first control module in a first switching position and to output the actuating signal exclusively to the second control module in a second switching position, and to switch from the first switching position to the second switching position during translational deflection of the operating knob in a predetermined deflection direction; and a switching device configured to switch between the predetermined control modules and to select one of the predetermined control modules as the first control module.

21. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 20, wherein the first control module includes at least one of a navigation module, a telephony module, an air-conditioning module, and an Internet module.

22. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 20, wherein the second control module is a media playback module.

23. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 20, wherein the switching device switches between the predetermined control modules according to translational deflection of the operating knob in another predetermined deflection direction, if the coupling device is in the first switching position, and the another predetermined deflection direction is perpendicular to the predetermined deflection direction.

24. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 20, further comprising a display device configured to display a graphical user interface (GUI) corresponding to the first control module on a first area of a display screen of the display device and to display status information corresponding to the second control module on a second area of the display screen.

25. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 24, wherein a menu displayed on the GUI is navigatable by rotation of the operating knob to move a selection element between menu items of the menu if the coupling device is in the first switching position, and the selection element automatically moves to the second area of the display screen if the coupling device is switched from the first switching position to the second switching position.

26. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 25, wherein information displayed by the GUI when the coupling device is in the first switching position continues to be displayed after the coupling device is switched from the first switching position to the second switching position and the selection element is automatically moved to the second area of the display screen, and the second area of the display screen includes selectable graphical objects to control a function of the second control module.

27. A method for alternately controlling control modules of a motor vehicle by an operating device having a rotary actuator, the method comprising: outputting an actuating signal, generated during rotation of an operating knob mounted rotatably about a rotational axis of the rotary actuator, exclusively to a first control module among the control modules; switching output of the actuating signal exclusively to a second control module of the control modules when a translational deflection of the operating knob directed transversely with respect to the rotational axis is detected, until a switching-back criterion is satisfied; and switching, by a switching device, between predetermined control modules among the control modules, the switching device establishing one of the predetermined control modules as the first control module.

28. The method as claimed in claim 27, wherein the switching-back criterion includes automatically switching output of the actuating signal from the second control module to the first control module a predetermined amount of time after the switching output of the actuating signal.

29. The method as claimed in claim 27, wherein the switching-back criterion includes switching output of the actuating signal from the second control module to the first control module when the translational deflection of the operating knob directed transversely with respect to the rotational axis is detected after a setting in the second control module is made.

30. The method as claimed in claim 27, further comprising: displaying a graphical user interface corresponding to the first control module on a first area of a display screen and displaying status information corresponding to the second control module on a second area of the display screen; moving a selection element between menu items of a menu displayed in the first area of the display screen in response to rotation of the operating knob prior to the switching output of the actuating signal; and shifting the selection element automatically to the second area of the display screen in response to the switching output of the actuating signal.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] These and other aspects and advantages will become more apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the exemplary embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing of which:

[0028] An exemplary embodiment in the single Figure is an illustration of an embodiment of the motor vehicle described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0029] 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.

[0030] The exemplary embodiment explained below is merely an example. However, in the case of the exemplary embodiment, the described components of the embodiment are each individual features which can be considered independently of one another and each also may be considered independently of one another and therefore can also be considered individually or in a combination other than that shown. Furthermore, the described embodiment can also be supplemented with further features which are described herein.

[0031] From a motor vehicle 10, the Figure shows a central processor device 12 which may be an infotainment system, for example. The processor device 12 may have a plurality of control modules 14, 16, 18, 20, each of which can provide a predetermined functionality of the processor device 12. For example, the control module 14 may be a navigation module, the control module 16 may be a telephony module, the control module 18 may be an Internet module for interchanging data with the Internet and the control module 20 may be a media playback module for outputting media data via an audio system 22 in a vehicle interior. In this case, each control module may include a program module and/or an electronic circuit. In the example shown, provision is made, in the case of the control module 20, for the module to be able to be coupled to a memory 24 for audio data, for example MP3 files, and to a radio receiver 26 for receiving broadcast radio. In this case, the control module 20 can switch between the memory 24 and the radio 26. In the example shown, the control module 20 is coupled to the memory 24 and plays a playback list or playlist 28 containing songs SNG1, SNG2, SNG3 from the memory 24. For the example shown, it is assumed that the control module 20 is currently playing the song SNG1, which is symbolized by a list position 30.

[0032] In order to operate the control modules 14, 16, 18, 20, the processor device 12 may have an operating device 32. The operating device 32 may be arranged, for example, in a center console of the motor vehicle 10. The operating device 32 may have a rotary actuator 34, an evaluation device 36, for example an evaluation circuit, and a display device 38 which may include, for example, a screen in a center console or a head-up display.

[0033] The rotary actuator 34 may have an operating knob 40 which may be mounted rotatably about a rotational axis 42 and may be translationally deflectable along deflection directions 44, 46, 48. The rotary actuator 34 generates an actuating signal S during rotation of the rotary knob 40.

[0034] The evaluation device 36 may have a coupling device 50 and a switching device 52. The coupling device 50 can be used to alternately switch between the switching device 52 and the control module 20. The control module 20 may be referred to as a second control module.

[0035] The switching device 52 can be used to switch between the remaining control modules 14, 16, 18. The control module 14 currently selected using the switching device 52 may be referred to as a first control module.

[0036] The display device 38 may have an operating interface GUI for the control module 14 currently selected by the switching device 52 on a display surface 54, that is to say the screen surface for example. A status display STS for the second control module, the control module 20, can be displayed at a lower edge of the display surface 54 in the example. In the example, the status display STS can indicate that the memory 24 is currently being used (MP3 display), the song SNG1 from the playlist 28 is currently being played and a particular percentage, for example 35 percent, of the song 1 has currently already been played.

[0037] The operating interface GUI may have an operating menu 56, for example. In the operating menu 56, a selection element 58, for example a marker or a pointer (not illustrated here), may be aligned with a currently selected menu item M1. A user can shift the selection element 58 to another menu item M2 by rotating the operating knob 40. The menu entries or menu items M1, M2 are selectable graphical objects.

[0038] Switching suggestions 60 on the display surface 54 are used to indicate to the user that he can switch the switching device 52 by translationally deflecting the operating knob 40 in one of the deflection directions 44, 46 and can thereby activate an operating interface for one of the other control modules 16, 18. The operating interface GUI is then hidden as a result of this switching.

[0039] However, for quickly switching for the purpose of operating the control module 20, the user can deflect the operating knob 40 in a predetermined deflection direction, here the deflection direction 48 (hatched direction arrow). Instead of the switching device 52, the coupling device 50 is then switched to a second switching position and the rotary actuator 54 is then coupled to the control module 20. Provision may then be made, for example, for the current list position 30 to be able to be changed by rotating the operating knob 40. In this case, provision may be made for the selection element 58 to be deflected from the operating interface GUI to the status display STS by the display device 38 on the display surface 54. For example, provision may be made for an image 28 of the playback list 28 to be displayed and, instead of the selection element 58, for a selection element 58 for the playback list 28 to be provided, which selection element 58 can be changed over using the operating knob 40. The operating interface GUI can continue to be displayed on the display surface 54 in the meantime.

[0040] Provision may then be made for the user to be able to switch back to the operating interface GUI again by translationally deflecting the operating knob 40 again in the deflection direction 48 or in the opposite deflection direction 48 (non-hatched direction arrow).

[0041] Provision may also be made for the coupling device 50 to automatically switch back to the switching device 52 again after a predetermined period. Provision may also be made for the coupling device 50 to also switch back to the switching device 52 again when a new song is selected.

[0042] The operating interface GUI may also have a search field 62 into which the user can input a search term for searching in the operating menu 56, for example. While the user navigates in the operating menu 56 using the operating knob 40, that is to say the coupling device 50 is set to the switching device 52, provision may also be made for the first element in the list to be landed on, that is to say the search field 62, as a result of the operating knob 40 being pushed in the deflection direction 48, for example.

[0043] Overall, the example shows how the rotary/push actuator having a four-way function makes it possible to easily change between two control modules to be operated.

[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).