OPERATOR CONTROL DEVICE FOR OPERATING AN INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM, METHOD FOR PROVIDING AN AUDIBLE SIGNAL FOR AN OPERATOR CONTROL DEVICE, AND MOTOR VEHICLE HAVING AN OPERATOR CONTROL DEVICE

Abstract

A method and an operator control device operate an infotainment system. The operator control device has a control unit, an audio device, an actuating element, and a touch-sensitive display device, which is mounted so as to be movable and is designed to display at least one graphical control element. The touch-sensitive display device moves during an actuating action and thus activates the actuating element. The control unit determines an actuation position of the actuating action on the touch-sensitive display device when the actuating element is activated and compares said actuation position with a display position of the at least one graphical control element. The audio device is actuated to output an audible signal when the actuation position matches the display position.

Claims

1-10. (canceled)

11. An operator control device for operating an infotainment system, comprising: an actuating element; a touch-sensitive display device, mounted to be movable, configured to display at least one graphical control element and to move during an actuating action to activate the actuating element, the touch-sensitive display device to incline about an axis of inclination in a direction of the actuating element; an audio device; and a control unit configured to determine an actuation position of the actuating action on the touch-sensitive display device when the actuating element is activated and to compare said actuation position with a display position of the at least one graphical control element, and to actuate the audio device to output an audible signal when the actuation position matches the display position.

12. The operator control device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the actuating element is configured to provide a silent haptic actuating effect.

13. The operator control device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the actuating element comprises a pushbutton.

14. The operator control device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the actuating element comprises a micro-pushbutton.

15. The operator control device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the actuating element is configured to measure a pressure caused by the actuating action and to generate a pressure-dependent control signal, and wherein the audio device to adjust a volume of the audible signal based on the pressure-dependent signal.

16. The operator control device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the control unit is configured to actuate the audio device to output an audible error signal when the actuation position does not match the display position when the actuating element is activated.

17. The operator control device as claimed in claim 16, wherein the control unit is configured to actuate the infotainment system to perform a function assigned to the graphical control element when the actuating element is activated and when the actuation position matches the display position.

18. The operator control device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the actuating element is configured to measure a pressure caused by the actuating action and to generate a pressure-dependent control signal, and the control unit is configured to actuate the infotainment system to perform a function assigned to the graphical control element based on the pressure-dependent control signal.

19. The operator control device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the actuating element is configured to measure a pressure caused by the actuating action and to generate a pressure-dependent control signal, and wherein the audio device is configured to adjust a volume of the audible signal based on the pressure-dependent signal.

20. The operator control device as claimed in claim 19, wherein the control unit is configured to actuate the infotainment system to perform a function assigned to the graphical control element when the actuating element is activated and when the actuation position matches the display position and based on the pressure-dependent control signal.

21. The operator control device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the control unit is configured to actuate the audio device to output an audible error signal when the actuation position does not match the display position when the actuating element is activated.

22. The operator control device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the control unit is configured to actuate the infotainment system to perform a function assigned to the graphical control element when the actuating element is activated and when the actuation position matches the display position.

23. A method for providing an audible signal for an operator control device with a touch-sensitive display device, mounted to be movable and to display at least one graphical control element, the method comprising: activating an actuating element by moving the touch-sensitive display device during an actuating action, the touch-sensitive display device being movably inclined about an axis of inclination in the direction of the actuating element; determining an actuation position of the actuating action when the actuating element is activated on the touch-sensitive display device; comparing the actuation position with a display position of the at least one graphical control element; and providing an audible signal when the result of the comparing is that the actuation position matches the display position.

24. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein said activating of the actuating element provides a silent haptic actuating effect.

25. The method as claimed in claim 24, further comprising: measuring, by the actuating element. a pressure caused by the actuating action, and generating a pressure-dependent control signal, and adjusting by the audio device a volume of the audible signal based on the pressure-dependent signal.

26. The method as claimed in claim 25, further comprising actuating, by the control unit, the infotainment system to perform a function assigned to the graphical control element when the actuating element is activated and when the actuation position matches the display position based on the pressure-dependent control signal.

27. The method as claimed in claim 24, further comprising actuating, by the control unit, the audio device to output an audible error signal when the actuation position does not match the display position when the actuating element is activated.

28. The method as claimed in claim 24, further comprising actuating, by the control unit, the infotainment system to perform a function assigned to the graphical control element when the actuating element is activated and when the actuation position matches the display position.

29. A motor vehicle, comprising: a chassis; and an operator control device an actuating element, a touch-sensitive display device mounted to be movable and configured to display at least one graphical control element and to move during an actuating action to activate the actuating element, the touch-sensitive display device to incline about an axis of inclination in a direction of the actuating element, an audio device, and a control unit configured to determine an actuation position of the actuating action on the touch-sensitive display device when the actuating element is activated and to compare said actuation position with a display position of the at least one graphical control element, and to actuate the audio device to output an audible signal when the actuation position matches the display position.

30. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 29, wherein the actuating element is configured to measure a pressure caused by the actuating action and to generate a pressure-dependent control signal, and wherein the audio device is configured to adjust a volume of the audible signal based on the pressure-dependent signal.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] 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 drawings of which:

[0027] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a motor vehicle having an operator control device according to an illustrative embodiment;

[0028] FIG. 2 is a process diagram according to an illustrative embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] In the exemplary embodiments, the described components of the embodiments each represent individual features that should be considered independently of one another and be developed in each case independently of one another. The disclosure is therefore also intended to include combinations of the features of the embodiments other than those illustrated. Furthermore, the described embodiments may also be supplemented by further features that have already been described.

[0030] In the figures, identical reference characters each denote elements of identical function.

[0031] FIG. 1 shows a motor vehicle 10 having an operator control device 12 according to an illustrative embodiment. The operator control device 12 may be provided for operating an infotainment system 14 of the motor vehicle 10. The infotainment system 14 may be, for example, a vehicle computer that is able to provide vehicle-specific functions, such as telephony functions, navigation functions, air conditioning functions and entertainment functions.

[0032] The operator control device 12 may have a touch-sensitive display device 16, that is to say a combined input and output unit on which at least one graphical control element may be displayed that allows functions assigned to the graphical control element to be controlled. Functions assigned to the graphical control element may include the aforementioned functions of the infotainment system, for example. The touch-sensitive display device 16 may be an inductive or capacitive touchscreen.

[0033] The touch-sensitive display device 16 may be mounted in the operator control device 12 so as to be movable. This means that the touch-sensitive display device 16 may not be firmly fixed to a surface of the operator control device 12, but rather includes guide rails on the sides, for example, allowing the touch-sensitive display device 16 to be moved into a housing of the operator control device 12. Advantageously, the touch-sensitive display device 16 as a whole is able to be shifted to a plane that is parallel behind the original position. By way of example, a movement may cover a distance of one to ten millimeters, in particular two millimeters.

[0034] This distance may be sufficient to move the touch-sensitive display device 16 onto or against an actuating element 18 during an actuating action, i.e. during pressing. By way of example, the actuating element 18 may comprise a pushbutton 20, in particular a micro-pushbutton 20. By moving the touch-sensitive display device 16 in the direction of the actuating element 18, the micro-pushbutton 20 may be depressed or, in other words, activated. In this case, the actuating element 18 may provide a silent haptic actuating effect. This means that a user feels a resistance during the actuating action when the pushbutton 20 is depressed, but no audible signal, such as an audible click, occurs. This is advantageous because a user haptically feels that an actuating action has been carried out, but an audible signal is not supposed to occur until the actuating action has been successful.

[0035] If the actuating element 18 is activated, a signal can be sent to a control unit 22, which can then check whether an actuation position of the actuating action on the touchsensitive display device 16 matches a display position of the at least one graphical control element. This means that the point at which a user pressed the touchscreen is detected, and whether there is a graphical control element at this point. When this is the case, the control unit 22 can actuate an audio device 24 to output an audible signal. In particular, the audio device 24 may be a loudspeaker that plays back an audible click, for example. A user may thus be provided with audible feedback that the graphical control element has been pressed as a result of his actuating action. In addition, besides the audible signal, the function assigned to the graphical control element may also be performed by the infotainment system 14. This has the advantage that a user does not have to take his eyes off a road when operating the operator control device 12 while driving the motor vehicle 10, allowing safety while driving to be improved.

[0036] In addition, the control unit 22 may actuate the audio device 24 even when the actuation position has not been found to match the display position, but in this case in such a way that an audible error signal is output by the audio device 24. In particular, the audible error signal may differ from the audible signal that occurs when there is a match, with the result that a user is provided with audible feedback when the user has clicked beside the graphical control element.

[0037] The actuating element 18 may also be designed to detect a strength of the actuating action. This means, for example, that the actuating element 18 may be used to measure the pressure with which a user presses the touch-sensitive display device 16 onto the actuating element 18. For this purpose, the pushbutton 20 may be multi-stage, for example, in which a mechanical resistance may be between each stage. Alternatively, an electronic pressure sensor may measure a force curve for the actuating action. This measured pressure may then be provided by the actuating element 18 as a pressure-dependent control signal.

[0038] The pressure-dependent control signal may be used to adjust the function assigned to the graphical control element depending on the force used for the actuating action, for example, a volume of the audio device 24 additionally being able to be adjusted so that, for example, the volume of the audible signal is also increased when the pressure is high.

[0039] The operator control device 12 provides an inexpensive and efficient method for operating the infotainment system 14. In addition, when using the operator control device 12 in the vehicle 10, for example, it is advantageous that the infotainment system 14 is able to be controlled without having to take one's eyes off the road. A driver of the vehicle 10 is provided with haptic feedback for the actuating action and with audible feedback for a successful actuating action, as a result of which the safety of the driver may also be increased.

[0040] A process diagram for providing an audible signal for an operator control device 12 is shown in FIG. 2. In this exemplary embodiment, the operator control device 12 includes a touch-sensitive display device 16, which is mounted so as to be movable and is to display at least one graphical control element.

[0041] In a step S10, an actuating element is activated by moving the touch-sensitive display device during an actuating action. In a step S12, an actuation position of the actuating action during activation of the actuating element on the touch-sensitive display device 16 is determined. In a step S14, the actuation position is then compared with a display position of the at least one graphical control element. Finally, in a step S16, an audible signal is provided when the result of the comparison of the actuation position with the display position is that the actuation position and the display position match each other.

[0042] In another illustrative embodiment, one aspect is that a display (touch-sensitive display device 16) is suspended so as to be minimally movable. A silent micro-pushbutton 20 is located behind the display or touchscreen 16. When the touchscreen 16 is actuated, this micro-pushbutton 20 is pressed. The actuating force can therefore be determined. The switching force of the micro-pushbutton 20 is necessary for a signal. At the same time, the pushbutton 20 can produce a haptic actuating effect.

[0043] The touch sensor system (control unit 22) simultaneously determines the position of the actuation, i.e. of the finger on the touchscreen. When an actuable element (graphical control element) is displayed at the actuated position, an audible click (audible signal) occurs via loudspeakers (audio device 24).

[0044] Should the user press another area (for example the edge), the silent micropushbutton 20 may also switch, but there is no audible click. The audible feedback is thus provided selectively only when the pushbutton 20 has been actuated and an actuatable element (graphical control element) is also displayed at this point.

[0045] Since the haptic feeling is heavily influenced by the acoustics, the user senses a pushbutton confirmation much more intensely when the user hears an audible signal at the same time. This effect can be exploited to change a perceived intensity when a graphical control element is actuated or an area with no function. In addition, the user is able to clearly distinguish whether or not a function assigned to the graphical control element has been triggered. The triggering of a function can be confirmed with an audible click. There is no audible click when the area with no function is pressed.

[0046] This is advantageous because distraction can be reduced while driving, since a user is intuitively able to distinguish whether the user has actuated a graphical element on the touchscreen or whether the user has inadvertently pressed beside the element. Furthermore, the operator control device 12 described is significantly cheaper than other complex solutions.

[0047] Overall, the examples show a method for generating a situational audible click for a haptic touchscreen.

[0048] 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).