DEVICE FOR INTERACTION WITH A USER IN A MOTOR VEHICLE, AND MOTOR VEHICLE

Abstract

In an example, a device for interaction with a user in a motor vehicle may include an interaction unit arranged in an interior of a motor vehicle and which is configured to provide an interaction with the user. The interaction unit is configured to modify a degree of interaction of the interaction unit in response to a user input.

Claims

1. A device to interact with a user in a motor vehicle, comprising: an interaction unit arranged in an interior of the motor vehicle and configured to provide an interaction with a user; wherein the interaction unit is configured to modify a degree of interaction of the interaction unit in response to a user input.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the degree of interaction includes one or more of a degree of connectivity, a degree of activity, and/or a degree of monitoring.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the interaction unit includes a display apparatus which is configured to provide an interaction with the user.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the interaction unit is configured to perform a determination of where the user with whom the interaction unit is interacting is situated in the interior and, in response to the determination, to direct the interaction to the user.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the interaction unit includes a movement unit, and wherein the movement unit is configured to direct the interaction to the user.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the interaction unit includes a personalization unit which is configured to provide a user preference for the interaction unit.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein the personalization unit is replaceable.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the interaction unit is configured to receive a touch input of the user for the interaction.

9. The device according to claim 8, wherein the interaction unit is configured to provide the touch input of the user to a display unit arranged spaced apart from the interaction unit in the interior of the motor vehicle.

10. A motor vehicle, comprising: a device to interact with a user in the motor vehicle, the device including an interaction unit arranged in an interior of the motor vehicle and configured to provide an interaction with a user, wherein the interaction unit is configured to modify a degree of interaction of the interaction unit in response to a user input.

11. The motor vehicle according to claim 10, wherein the degree of interaction includes one or more of a degree of connectivity, a degree of activity, and/or a degree of monitoring.

12. The motor vehicle according to claim 10, wherein the interaction unit includes a display apparatus which is configured to provide an interaction with the user.

13. The motor vehicle according to claim 10, wherein the interaction unit is configured to perform a determination of where the user with whom the interaction unit is interacting is situated in the interior and, in response to the determination, to direct the interaction to the user.

14. The motor vehicle according to claim 13, wherein the interaction unit includes a movement unit, and wherein the movement unit is configured to direct the interaction to the user.

15. The motor vehicle according to claim 10, wherein the interaction unit includes a personalization unit which is configured to provide a user preference for the interaction unit.

16. The motor vehicle according to claim 15, wherein the personalization unit is replaceable.

17. The motor vehicle according to claim 10, wherein the interaction unit is configured to receive a touch input of the user for the interaction.

18. The motor vehicle according to claim 17, wherein the interaction unit is configured to provide the touch input of the user to a display unit arranged spaced apart from the interaction unit in the interior of the motor vehicle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0080] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are described below, in which:

[0081] FIG. 1 shows a front view of an exemplary embodiment of a device for interaction with a user in a motor vehicle;

[0082] FIG. 2 shows a perspective detailed view of the device from FIG. 1; and

[0083] FIG. 3 shows a perspective exploded view of the device from FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION

[0084] The exemplary embodiments explained below are preferred embodiments of the invention. In the exemplary embodiments, the described components of the embodiments constitute in each case individual features of the invention which are to be considered as independent of one another and which in each case also develop the invention independently of one another. It is therefore intended that the disclosure also includes combinations of the features of the embodiments other than those illustrated. Furthermore, the embodiments described can also be supplemented with further of the already described features of the invention.

[0085] In the Figures, the same reference signs designate in each case elements with the same function.

[0086] FIG. 1 shows a front view of an exemplary embodiment of a device 1 for interaction with a user in a motor vehicle.

[0087] The device 1 here includes a display unit 100 which is arranged in an interior 10 of the motor vehicle and which may be configured to display motor vehicle information.

[0088] The display unit 100 is here arranged in an upper part 11 of an instrument panel in the motor vehicle and extends essentially over at least half the width of the interior 10.

[0089] The display unit 100 includes a first display section 110 which may be configured to display a first piece of motor vehicle information, a second display section 120 which may be configured to display a second piece of motor vehicle information, and a third display section 130 which may be configured to display a third piece of motor vehicle information, wherein the first, second, and third display sections may be arranged next to one another.

[0090] At least the first piece of motor vehicle information may be personalized on the basis of user behavior.

[0091] A left-hand-drive motor vehicle with a steering wheel 14 on the left-hand side in the direction of travel is shown by way of example here, wherein the first display section 110 is arranged closer to the steering wheel 14 and hence to a user who is sitting on a driver's seat which is not shown in detail here, and the third display section 130 is situated furthest away.

[0092] The display unit 100 may be configured to detect a touch input of the user on one of the display sections and to modify the motor vehicle information in response to a touch input. In particular, the display unit 100 may be configured, in response to a touch input such as, for example, a swiping gesture, in particular from right to left, to swap the first piece of motor vehicle information and the second piece of motor vehicle information or to scroll through motor vehicle information shown on the first, second, and third display section.

[0093] The first display section 110 may have more motor vehicle information than the second display section 120, and the second display section 120 more motor vehicle information than the third display section 130.

[0094] The motor vehicle information displayed on the first, second, and/or third display section may have multiple hierarchical levels, wherein the motor vehicle information displayed in the first display section 110 includes at least one piece of motor vehicle information from a lower hierarchical level.

[0095] The device 1 also includes an input unit 200 which may be arranged spaced apart from the display unit 100 in the interior of the motor vehicle and includes a first input element 210, a second input element 220, and a third input element 230.

[0096] The input unit 200 may be arranged in a central console 12 of the interior 10 and may be arranged closer to a driver sitting on the driver's seat than the display unit 100 and also the interaction unit 300 described below.

[0097] The input unit 200 may be configured to display reduced first information content, corresponding to the motor vehicle information displayed on the display unit 100, at the first input element 210, to display reduced second information content, corresponding to the motor vehicle information displayed on the display unit 100, at the second input element 220, and to display reduced third information content, corresponding to the motor vehicle information displayed on the display unit 100, at the third input element 230.

[0098] The input unit 200 may be configured to receive a first touch input of a user at the first input element 210 and to perform a function corresponding to the first touch input in the motor vehicle, to receive a second touch input at the second input element 220 and to perform a function corresponding to the second touch input in the motor vehicle, and to receive a third touch input at the third input element 230 and to perform a function corresponding to the third touch input in the motor vehicle.

[0099] The reduced first, second, and/or third information content can be configured by the user.

[0100] The input unit 200 may be configured to distinguish between different types of touch inputs of the user at the first, second, and/or third input element and to perform different functions in the motor vehicle on the basis thereof.

[0101] The type of the first touch input can here in particular also differ from the type of the second touch input and the type of the third touch input.

[0102] The device 1 also includes an interaction unit 300 which may be arranged in the interior 10 of the motor vehicle and which may be configured to provide an interaction with a user. The interaction unit 300 may be arranged centrally in a lower part 13 of instrument panel, between the display unit 100 and the input unit 200.

[0103] The interaction unit 300 may be configured to modify a degree of interaction of the interaction unit 300 in response to a user input.

[0104] The degree of interaction here includes one or more of a degree of connectivity, a degree of activity, and/or a degree of monitoring.

[0105] The interaction unit 300 further may include a display apparatus which for reasons of visibility is not provided here with a reference sign and which may be configured to provide an interaction with the user.

[0106] The interaction unit 300 may be configured to determine where the user with whom it is interacting is situated in the interior and, in response thereto, to direct the interaction to the user.

[0107] For this purpose, the interaction unit 300 may include a movement unit, likewise not provided with a reference sign, which may be configured to direct the interaction to the user.

[0108] The interaction unit 300 may also include a personalization unit, likewise not provided with a reference sign, which may be configured to provide a user preference for the interaction unit 300, wherein the personalization unit is replaceable.

[0109] The interaction unit 300 may be configured to receive a touch input of the user at the display apparatus and to provide the touch input of the user to the display unit 100.

[0110] FIG. 2 shows a perspective detailed view of the device 1 and the interaction unit 300 from FIG. 1. It can in particular be seen here that the interaction unit 300 includes a display apparatus 330 which may be configured to provide an interaction with the user. Illustrated here by way of example is interaction content 331 in the form of a circle which may be configured to be directed toward the user with whom the interaction unit 300 is interacting.

[0111] FIG. 3 shows a perspective exploded view of the interaction unit 300 from FIG. 1.

[0112] In particular the individual components of the interaction unit 300 can be seen here. They include, from top to bottom, a piece of protective glass 310 which can include, for example, bonded glass, a touch surface 320 which may be configured to receive and process touch inputs, a display apparatus 330 which may be configured to display interaction content, a processor unit 340 which may be configured to perform the functions of the interaction unit, and a movement unit 350 which may be configured to move the interaction unit 300 and for example to direct the interaction unit to the user with whom the interaction unit is interacting.

[0113] Also shown is the replaceable personalization unit 360 which may be configured to provide a user preference for the interaction unit 300. The personalization unit may be configured as a slide which can be brought into engagement with the interaction unit 300 by a sliding movement in the direction S.

[0114] Taken as a whole, the examples show how an avatar can be provided for emotional interaction in a motor vehicle.

[0115] A description has been provided with particular reference to 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 refers to one or more of A, B or C, contrary to the holding in Superguide v. DIRECTV, 358 F3d870, 69 USPQ2d1865 (Fed. Cir. 2004).