Method for controlling at least one actuator unit of a motor vehicle, control device, and motor vehicle

Abstract

A method, a control device and/or a motor vehicle causing at least one actuator unit of the motor vehicle to be controlled by a control device configured to establish a user of the motor vehicle, establish at least one behavior and/or body language parameter of the user, and assign the at least one established user on basis of the behavior and/or body language parameter to a user-specific player category among multiple player categories. On basis of the user-specific player category of the at least one established user, the control device determines a set of actuator parameters assigned to the user-specific player category for the at least one actuator unit of the motor vehicle, and upon establishing starting of a computer game in the motor vehicle, generates an actuator signal that describes the set of actuator parameters, and transmits the generated actuator signal to the at least one actuator unit.

Claims

1. A method of controlling by a control device of a motor vehicle at least one actuator unit among actuator units of the motor vehicle, comprising: by the control device configured to execute a process that establishes a user located in the motor vehicle, establishes at least one behavior and/or body language parameter of the user, assigns the user on basis of the at least one behavior and/or body language parameter to a user-specific player category among multiple player categories for computer games, on basis of the user-specific player category of the user, determines a set of actuator parameters assigned to the user-specific player category for at least one actuator unit, upon establishing starting of a computer game in the motor vehicle, generates an actuator signal that describes the set of actuator parameters, and transmits the actuator signal to the at least one actuator unit to control the at least one actuator unit.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein establishing the user comprises recognizing the user and the control device to recognize the user executes at least one recognizing process among recognizing processes that: establishes a user-specific mobile terminal in or on the motor vehicle and receives user-specific data, which identify the user, on the user-specific mobile terminal via a data communication connection to the user-specific mobile terminal; recognizes the user on basis of a provided user profile; and/or receives a user identification signal from a sensor unit and recognizes the user on basis of the user identification signal.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein to assign the user-specific player category, the control device establishes, via a data communication connection to a mobile terminal of the user, at least one computer game that is stored on the mobile terminal, and assigns the user to the user-specific player category on basis of the at least one computer game.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein to establish the user, the control device establishes the user by a seat among seats in the motor vehicle.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the user is at least two users and to establish the at least two users, the control device establishes the at least two users in the motor vehicle by the seats, respectively, assigns a user-specific player category to each user of the at least two users established, and for each user of the at least two users established, generates an actuator signal to control at least one actuator unit among the actuator units in the seats, respectively.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the control device provides, from a plurality of computer games, at least one computer game for selection as suitable for the user on basis of the user-specific player category to which the user is assigned.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the control device provides a selection to the user of at least one computer game of a different player category than the user-specific player category to which the user is assigned.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the actuator units are configured as system among systems including an infotainment system, a climate control system, a lighting system, a fragrance system, a seat or seat massage system, and/or as a chassis.

9. A control device for a motor vehicle, comprising: at least one processor configured to execute a process that establishes a user located in the motor vehicle, establishes at least one behavior and/or body language parameter of the user, assigns the user on basis of the at least one behavior and/or body language parameter to a user-specific player category among multiple player categories for computer games, on basis of the user-specific player category of the user, determines a set of actuator parameters assigned to the user-specific player category for at least one actuator unit, upon establishing starting of a computer game in the motor vehicle, generates an actuator signal that describes the set of actuator parameters, and transmits the actuator signal to at least one actuator unit among actuator units to control the at least one actuator unit.

10. The control device according to claim 9, wherein establishing the user comprises recognizing the user and the control device to recognize the user executes at least one recognizing process among recognizing processes that: establishes a user-specific mobile terminal in or on the motor vehicle and receives user-specific data, which identify the user, on the user-specific mobile terminal via a data communication connection to the user-specific mobile terminal; recognizes the user on basis of a provided user profile; and/or receives a user identification signal from a sensor unit and recognizes the user on basis of the user identification signal.

11. The control device according to claim 10, wherein to establish the user, the control device establishes the user by a seat among seats in the motor vehicle.

12. The control device according to claim 11, wherein the user is at least two users and to establish the at least two users, the control device establishes the at least two users in the motor vehicle by the seats, respectively, assigns a user-specific player category to each user of the at least two users established, and for each user of the at least two users established, generates an actuator signal to control at least one actuator unit among the actuator units in the seats, respectively.

13. A motor vehicle comprising: a control device configured with at least one processor configured to execute a process that establishes a user located in the motor vehicle, establishes at least one behavior and/or body language parameter of the user, assigns the user on basis of the at least one behavior and/or body language parameter to a user-specific player category among multiple player categories for computer games, on basis of the user-specific player category of the user, determines a set of actuator parameters assigned to the user-specific player category for at least one actuator unit, upon establishing starting of a computer game in the motor vehicle, generates an actuator signal that describes the set of actuator parameters, and transmits the actuator signal to at least one actuator unit among actuator units to control the at least one actuator unit.

14. The motor vehicle according to claim 13, wherein establishing the user comprises recognizing the user and the control device to recognize the user executes at least one recognizing process among recognizing processes that: establishes a user-specific mobile terminal in or on the motor vehicle and receives user-specific data, which identify the user, on the user-specific mobile terminal via a data communication connection to the user-specific mobile terminal; recognizes the user on basis of a provided user profile; and/or receives a user identification signal from a sensor unit and recognizes the user on basis of the user identification signal.

15. The motor vehicle according to claim 13, wherein to establish the user, the control device establishes the user by a seat among seats in the motor vehicle.

16. The motor vehicle according to claim 15, wherein the user is at least two users and to establish the at least two users, the control device establishes the at least two users in the motor vehicle by the seats, respectively, assigns a user-specific player category to each user of the at least two users established, and for each user of the at least two users established, generates an actuator signal to control at least one actuator unit among the actuator units in the seats, respectively.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0040] Examples of the invention are described hereinafter.

[0041] For this purpose, the single FIGURE (Figure) shows a schematic representation of a method according to an example the invention and devices according to an example of the invention.

DESCRIPTION

[0042] The examples explained hereinafter are examples of the invention. In the examples, the described components of the examples each represent individual features of the examples of the invention to be considered independently of one another, which each also refine the examples of the invention independently of one another. The disclosure is therefore also intended to comprise combinations of the features of the examples other than those shown.

[0043] Furthermore, the described examples can also be supplemented by further features of the examples of the invention which have already been described.

[0044] In the FIGURE, identical reference signs each identify functionally-identical elements.

[0045] The FIGURE schematically shows a method according to examples of an invention and devices according to examples of an invention. For this purpose, the FIGURE shows a motor vehicle 10, for example, a passenger vehicle, having a control device 12, which can be configured, for example, as a control chip or controller. The control device 12 can have at least one processor unit 14 and/or at least one data memory 16.

[0046] The control device 12 communicates with a camera 18, shown as an exemplary sensor, via a data communication connection 20, which can be configured, for example, as a data BUS of the motor vehicle 10, or which can be a wireless data communication connection, for example. The control device 12 can likewise communicate via a data communication connection 20, for example, with an infotainment system 22 of the motor vehicle, which can optionally have a display screen to output user queries and/or computer games. Alternatively, for example, smart glasses can be used to output the computer game.

[0047] In the example of the FIGURE, a user 24 is located in the motor vehicle on a motor vehicle seat 26, for example, on the front passenger seat. As an exemplary actuator unit 28, the motor vehicle seat can have a mechanism and electronics for carrying out a seat massage in the backrest and/or in the seat cushion. The motor vehicle 10 can have still further actuator units 28, which can be controlled specifically for the player. Examples of this were already mentioned above.

[0048] In the case of an optional communication with a mobile terminal (not shown in the FIGURE) of the user 24, the data communication connection 20 can be wireless, for example, a Bluetooth or WLAN connection.

[0049] In the example of the FIGURE, the control device 12 can establish in S1, for example, via a camera image of the user 24 and a facial recognition analysis, the user as the owner of the motor vehicle 10. The control device 12 can establish here, for example, that the corresponding signal comes from a camera 18 which only films the front passenger seat, and accordingly the user 24 can be established (S1) specifically by seat for the front passenger seat. If a further user (not shown in the FIGURE) is located on another seat, this can also be established specifically by seat (S1).

[0050] The camera 18 can record, for example, a video of the established user 24 and transmit a corresponding signal to the control device 12. On the basis of an analysis of posture and/or physical movements, and of facial expression, the control device 12 can establish (S2), with the aid of an artificial intelligence, thus a neural network, at least one behavior and/or body language parameter and establish, for example, by analysis, a tense facial expression as a facial expression and expansive extroverted movements as body language or physical movement.

[0051] Alternatively or additionally, to recognize the user 24, the control device 12 can establish, for example, from a mobile terminal, a serial number of the mobile terminal or personal information of the user 24. For this purpose, the control device 12 can establish a data communication connection to the mobile terminal, for example, a WLAN connection, establish the mobile terminal as such (S3) or establish it as the mobile terminal of the user 24 (S3), and receive the corresponding data on the user 24 (S4). These data can describe, for example, the name of the user 24. Alternatively, the control device 12 can read, for example, a user profile in an onboard system of the motor vehicle 10 if the user has logged in.

[0052] The user 24 of the example of the FIGURE can be classified, for example, on the basis of expansive physical movements of the user and the tense facial expression in the player category aggressive player or extroverted player, i.e. can be assigned to this player category (S5).

[0053] Alternatively or additionally, the assignment S5 can take place via a computer game collection in the onboard system of the motor vehicle 10 or on the mobile terminal of the user 24. In the example of the FIGURE, for example, a game collection having many so-called first-person shooters can produce the assignment S5 to the player category extroverted player.

[0054] In the example, it can be provided for the player category extroverted player, for example, that a light system of the motor vehicle 10 is controlled, for example, such that the light is very bright and flickers at a high frequency. The motors of the seat massage function of the actuator unit 28 shown as an example in the FIGURE can be actuated for this player category, for example, such that strong, rapidly changing exertions of pressure of the backrest and the seat surface are exerted on the user 24 in rapid cycles. If it is also provided for the player category of the example that the infotainment system 22 plays back predetermined music or information is stored on which music is played for a computer game, this massage function can be controlled such that the seat massage is carried out in sync with the music being played. The corresponding category-specific set of actuator parameters is determined by the control device in S6.

[0055] To establish starting or activating of a computer game, the control device 12 can either initiate the starting of the computer game itself, or receive corresponding information from the onboard system of the motor vehicle 10. The control device 12 generates in S7 an actuator signal which describes for the actuator unit 28 shown in the FIGURE and, for example, also for a lighting system having the corresponding actuator parameters, and the control device transmits this in S8 to the respective actuator unit 28.

[0056] If there are multiple users 24, a user-specific actuator signal can be generated specifically by seat (S7).

[0057] Optionally, only a portion of computer games or only one computer game from a computer game collection can be provided to the established user for selection (S9). The selection can take place on the basis of the player category of the established user 24, or one computer game or multiple computer games from a different player category are proposed to the established user 24 in order to try out a new computer game genre. The computer game collection can be one of the mobile terminal of the user 24, or a computer game collection which can be stored in the data memory 16 of the control device 12 or in another data memory of the motor vehicle 10.

[0058] Overall, the examples show how a method and a device for recognizing gamer types in the vehicle interior and corresponding adaptation of gaming can be provided.

[0059] The core of the concept may be that when the user 24 activates gaming (thus starts a game), the gamer type is ascertained, for example, via a manual or automatic query (S5), and the motor vehicle 10 adjusts itself thereto as a whole.

[0060] Which gamer type (thus which player type) is located in the motor vehicle 10 can be ascertained (S5) in a further example via one or more different paths, for example: [0061] query of the personal device; and/or [0062] manual query upon the first game; and/or [0063] automatic recognition by a game observation by sensors in the interior.

[0064] The following settings can be carried out depending on the gamer type: [0065] only offer games (integrated in the motor vehicle 10) which correspond to the gamer type (prefiltering), and/or [0066] perform corresponding settings on the actuators in the interior; for example, in the case of a hardcore gamer, light can accordingly be featured in a brighter and more active manner and the music can be turned up.

[0067] Further differentiations of the settings are conceivable. This feature can be used for autonomous and/or non-autonomous motor vehicles 10. This can be used both for the front area and for the rear area. This function can optionally be selected adjustably by the user 24.

[0068] Advantageously, among other things, this device and/or this method give the user 24 an additional benefit when using gaming in motor vehicle 10 of the user 24.

[0069] In a further technical implementation, the motor vehicle 10 having a controller as the control device 12 can be equipped with corresponding software for gaming. An evaluation of the recognition and electronic display, processing of the data and a corresponding output and setting of gaming, and/or forwarding of information to the vehicle occupants can take place via, for example, speech and/or HMI, thus, for example, via speech and/or an operating device having a user interface.

[0070] 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 F3d 870, 69 USPQ2d 1865 (Fed. Cir. 2004).