EP3234758A1

EP3234758A1 - Device and method for control for automotive vehicle

Info

Publication number: EP3234758A1
Application number: EP15823648.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Stéphanie DABIC; Nour-Eddine EL-OUARDI
Original assignee: Dav SA
Current assignee: Dav SA
Priority date: 2014-12-15
Filing date: 2015-12-14
Publication date: 2017-10-25
Also published as: US10509471B2; US20170329406A1; FR3030070B1; CN107209554A; WO2016097561A1; FR3030070A1; JP2017538230A

Abstract

The invention relates to a control device (1) for automotive vehicle comprising: - a tactile surface (2) intended to detect a contact of a finger of a user, and - a haptic feedback module (4) configured to vibrate the tactile surface (2), characterized in that it comprises a drive unit (5) configured to drive the haptic feedback module (4) so as to generate a haptic feedback in response to a press on the tactile surface (2), the haptic feedback being composed: - of the repetition of at least two identical individual haptic patterns (M1, M2, M3 … Mn), generated successively, and - of a period with no haptic feedback (B1, B2), intercalated between two successive individual haptic patterns (M1, M2, M3 … Mn). The invention also relates to a method of control for the control of such a device.

Description

Device and control method for a motor vehicle

The present invention relates to a device and a control method for a motor vehicle.

In recent years, cars have become easier to handle with the emergence of new emerging technologies (eg power steering, ABS, cruise control, reversing radar etc.). Paradoxically, however, the number of functions to be controlled while driving has also increased significantly. This can lead to some complexity related to the poor knowledge of the use of these features and their diversity. The car has become a real living space, perceived as a personal and interconnected communication center: with for example MP3 player, GPS, connection with mobile phones.

The introduction of these new features results in an increase in the number of buttons on the dashboard of a car cockpit. However, the number of buttons can not be increased to infinity, especially because of the complexity generated, limited space, accessibility or cognitive load. In addition, the interaction of the driver with the systems in the car can reproduce a situation of attentional overload in which the driver can not handle at best all the information of the driving task, resulting in errors and a time of longer detection.

One possibility is to centralize the buttons by replacing them with a touch surface. This makes it possible to continue to increase the number of functions, these becoming programmable and reconfigurable and exposed temporarily or permanently depending on the context or the activated function. The touch surface thus includes a possibility of multifunctionality, while dematerializing the buttons and being customizable.

However, unlike the case of a push button, when the driver interacts with a touch surface, he receives no feedback directly related to his action on the interface, other than the mere touch of his finger crashing on the surface .

In order to compensate for the loss of information caused by the substitution of conventional mechanical interfaces with tactile surfaces, there is provided the addition of feedback, such as haptic feedback, to provide system feedback to the user. This return makes it possible to avoid the possible ambiguity of taking into account the action of the user by the system, likely to favor the appearance of dangerous situations. However, it must also avoid overloading the visual and auditory pathways already heavily involved in the driving task. Indeed, the use of tactile surfaces in a motor vehicle must not disturb the driver's attention.

An object of the present invention is to provide a control device which does not interfere with driving, which is well perceived and appreciated by users, and which can be discriminable from other signals.

For this purpose, the subject of the present invention is a control device for a motor vehicle comprising:

a touch surface intended to detect a touch of a user's finger, and

a haptic feedback module configured to vibrate the tactile surface, characterized in that it comprises a control unit configured to control the haptic feedback module to generate a haptic feedback in response to a touch on the touch surface, the return haptic being composed:

repetition of at least two identical individual haptic patterns generated successively, and

- a period without haptic feedback, interspersed between two successive individual haptic patterns.

The periods without haptic feedback for which there is no perceptible displacement of the touch surface, allow to create particular effects, such as the illusion that the touch surface has a sense in which the user must slide his finger or the illusion that the finger is sinking on the tactile surface.

According to one or more of the characteristics of the control device, taken alone or in combination,

the control device comprises a display device disposed beneath the tactile surface to display a graphic element through the tactile surface and the control unit is configured to control the haptic feedback module to generate a haptic feedback in response to a support in the area of the graphic element. This gives an indication to the user on the function that can achieve the interaction with the graphical element affected.

the duration of a period without haptic feedback is between 10 and 240 milliseconds.

the peak-to-peak acceleration value of the individual haptic patterns is between 0.5G and 15G.

the frequency of the individual haptic patterns is between 60Hz and 400Hz the haptic feedback is generated as long as the finger is in contact with the tactile surface. This effect can be used as long as the finger is in contact with a graphic element of the display device to simulate the maintenance of the graphic element during its movement on the screen.

According to an exemplary embodiment,

the duration of an individual haptic pattern is between 20 and 250 milliseconds,

the peak-to-peak acceleration value of the individual haptic patterns is between 1 G and 4G, and

the inter-command duration between the beginning of a control signal generating an individual haptic pattern and the beginning of a next control signal is between 20 and 150 milliseconds.

In addition, it can be expected that:

- the individual haptic pattern is repeated at least 3 times,

the haptic feedback is generated over a predefined duration greater than or equal to 50 milliseconds,

These characteristics of the haptic feedback make it possible to give the sensation of a depression on the tactile surface (in Z). The user has the impression that his finger passes more through the tactile surface than the weak physical movement achieved. This effect can be used to simulate the actuation of a button to be pressed, corresponding to a long press.

According to another embodiment:

the individual haptic pattern is repeated between 3 and 10 times,

the peak-to-peak acceleration value of the individual haptic patterns is between 3G and 10G, and

the inter-command duration between the beginning of a control signal generating an individual haptic pattern and the beginning of a next control signal is greater than or equal to 20 milliseconds, and

the haptic feedback is generated over a predefined duration greater than or equal to 50 milliseconds.

This makes it possible to indicate to the user that he is carrying out a prohibited manipulation, an error or an impossible action.

The subject of the invention is also a control method for controlling a device as described above, in which a haptic feedback vibrating is generated. the tactile surface of the control device in response to a pressing on the tactile surface, the haptic feedback being composed of:

According to one or more characteristics of the control method, taken alone or in combination,

a graphical element is displayed through the tactile surface and a haptic feedback is generated in response to a support in the area of the graphic element,

the duration of a period without haptic feedback is between 10 and 240 milliseconds,

the peak-to-peak acceleration value of the individual haptic patterns is between 0.5G and 15G,

the frequency of the individual haptic patterns is between 60 Hz and 400 Hz,

the haptic feedback is generated as long as the finger is in contact with the tactile surface.

DESCRI PTION SUMMARY OF DRAWINGS

Other advantages and characteristics will appear on reading the description of the invention, as well as on the appended figures which represent a non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the invention and in which:

FIG. 1 represents an example of a control device for a motor vehicle, and

FIG. 2 represents a curve showing the acceleration of the tactile surface as a function of time for an example of haptic feedback.

In these figures, the identical elements bear the same reference numbers. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 represents a control device 1 for a motor vehicle, for example mounted in the dashboard or in a central console of the vehicle, for order on-board vehicle systems such as air conditioning, radio, music, telephone, ventilation or navigation systems.

The control device 1 comprises a tactile surface 2 and a haptic feedback module 4 configured to vibrate the tactile surface 2. The term "haptic", a return by touch. Thus, haptic feedback is a vibratory or vibrotactile signal.

The touch surface 2 is intended to detect a touch of a finger of a user on the touch surface 2 or any other activation means (for example a stylus) of a user having for example modified or selected a command.

The control device 1 may comprise a display device 3 disposed beneath the tactile surface 2 to display a graphic element through the tactile surface 2, which is then transparent, thus forming for example a touch screen.

A touch screen is an input device that allows users of a system to interact with it through touch. It allows the direct interaction of the user on the zone he wants to select for various uses such as, for example, the selection of a destination address or a name in a directory, the air conditioning system settings, enabling a dedicated function, selecting a track from a list, or generally scrolling through a list of choices, selection, validation, and error.

The touch surface 2 comprises a plate carrying a contact sensor to detect a pressing pressure or a movement of the finger or a stylus of the user.

The contact sensor is for example a pressure sensor, such as using the FSR technology for "Force Sensing Resistor" in English, that is to say using pressure-sensitive resistors. SFR technology has a very good resistance and robustness, while having a high resolution. In addition, it is very reactive and precise, while being relatively stable over time. It can have a fairly long life, and can be used with any type of activation means, at a relatively low cost.

According to a design of the FSR technology, the sensor operates by contacting two conductive layers for example by the action of the finger. One of the embodiments consists in covering a glass slab with a layer of conductive ink, on which is superimposed a sheet of flexible polyester, itself covered on its inner face with a layer of conductive ink. Insulating and transparent pads isolate the slab from the polyester sheet. The activation on the tactile surface produces a slight depression of the polyester layer, which comes into contact with the conductive layer of the glass slab. The local contact of the two conductive layers causes a modification of the electric current applied to the slab, corresponding to a voltage gradient.

In another example, the contact sensor comprises flexible semiconductor layers sandwiched between for example a conductive layer and a resistive layer. By exerting pressure or sliding on the FSR layer, its ohmic resistance decreases allowing, by applying a suitable voltage, to measure the pressure applied and / or the location of the place where the pressure is exerted.

In another example, the contact sensor is based on a capacitive technology. The haptic feedback module 4 comprises at least one actuator connected to the plate of the touch surface 2, to generate the haptic feedback as a function of a signal from the contact sensor. The haptic feedback is a vibratory signal such as a vibration produced by a sinusoidal control signal or by a control signal S1, S2, S3 ... Sn having one or a succession of pulses, sent to the actuator. The vibration is for example directed in the plane of the tactile surface 2 or orthogonally to the plane of the tactile surface 2, in the direction Z, or directed according to a combination of these two directions.

In the case of several actuators, the latter are arranged under the touch surface 2, in different positions (in the center or on one side) or in different orientations (in the direction of the support on the surface or in another axis).

According to an exemplary embodiment, the actuator is based on a technology similar to that of the speaker (in English: "Voice Coil"). It comprises a fixed part and a part movable in translation in a gap of the fixed part for example of the order of 200μηι, between a first and a second position, parallel to a longitudinal axis of the movable part. The moving part is for example formed by a movable magnet sliding inside a fixed coil or by a movable coil sliding around a fixed magnet, the movable part and the fixed part cooperating by electromagnetic effect. The moving parts are connected to the plate so that the movement of the moving parts causes the translational movement of the plate to generate the haptic feedback to the user's finger. This technology is easily controllable and can move large masses, such as a screen, at various frequencies and meets the strict automotive constraints that are low cost, good resistance to significant temperature variations, and ease of use. in place.

The control device 1 further comprises a control unit 5 configured to control the haptic feedback module 4 in order to generate a haptic feedback in response to a pressing on the tactile surface 2.

There is a support on the tactile surface 2 as long as the finger remains in contact with the surface 2. When the user releases his finger and presses again on the touch surface 2, a new haptic feedback is generated. A haptic feedback is generated for each support.

The haptic feedback is composed of the repetition of at least two identical haptic patterns M1, M2, M3 ... Mn identical, successively generated and a period without haptic feedback B1, B2, interposed between two successive individual haptic patterns M1, M2, M3 ... Mn.

For this, the control unit 5 sends control signals S1, S2, S3 ... Sn to the haptic feedback module 4 comprising for example a control socket sent to the actuator, for example square, triangle or sinusoidal.

Each control signal S1, S2, S3 ... Sn generates an individual haptic pattern.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a haptic feedback, illustrated by the measurement of the acceleration of the tactile surface 2 in Z, in a direction parallel to the direction of support of the finger on the tactile surface 2. The value of measured acceleration for the individual haptic patterns M1, M2, M3 ... Mn generally has a sinus form damped. The same illustration can be obtained by measuring the displacement of the tactile surface 2 in Z.

The individual haptic patterns M1, M2, M3 ... Mn are identical, or substantially identical. In other words, the individual haptic patterns M1, M2, M3 ... Mn may differ slightly from each other with a margin of tolerance in which the differences are not perceptible, that is, the individual haptic patterns M1 , M2, M3 are perceived by the user as identical. The identity of the individual haptic patterns M1, M2, M3 ... Mn relates in particular to the pace (such as the damped sinus shape), the frequency, the phase shift, the amplitude, the duration. The pace can for example be identified by the response time to reach 100% of the maximum amplitude. The tolerance range applies for example to these parameters. By way of example, the individual haptic patterns M1, M2, M3 ... Mn comprise a response time to reach 100% of the maximum amplitude identical to +/- 5 milliseconds, the same frequency to +/- 15% , the same amplitude of acceleration at +/- 1 G for an amplitude of acceleration between 0.5G and 7G, the same amplitude of acceleration at +/- 2G for an amplitude of acceleration between 7G and 15G, a same duration at +/- 15 milliseconds for a duration of between 20 milliseconds and 100 milliseconds and / or the same duration at +/- 30 milliseconds for a duration of between 100 and 250 milliseconds.

The peak-to-peak acceleration value A of the individual haptic patterns M1, M2, M3 ... Mn is for example between 0.5G and 15G. The frequency of the individual haptic patterns M1, M2, M3 ... Mn is for example between 60Hz and 400Hz.

At the end of the acceleration and / or displacement of the tactile surface 2, for example when the peak-to-peak value of the acceleration A is less than 1 G, a period without a haptic return B1 begins during which it There is no discernible movement of the touch surface 2.

A period without haptic feedback B1, B2 is a period for which no acceleration or displacement of the tactile surface 2 is perceived because it is zero or less than the vibrations of the rolling vehicle . It is for example an acceleration lower than 1 G.

The duration of a period without haptic feedback B1, B2 is for example between 10 and 240 milliseconds. The periods without haptic feedback B1, B2 repeated between the individual haptic patterns M1, M2, M3 ... Mn, may be identical or not.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the end of a period without haptic feedback B1, B2 is controlled by controlling the inter-command duration SOA between the beginning of a control signal S1 generating an individual haptic pattern M1 and the beginning of a control signal S2 following.

According to another example, the duration of a period without haptic feedback B1, B2 is determined for example by measuring the duration from which the measured acceleration is less than a predetermined threshold.

The periods without haptic feedback B1, B2 for which there is no perceptible displacement of the tactile surface 2, make it possible to create particular effects, such as the illusion that the tactile surface 2 has a direction in which the user must slide your finger or the illusion that the finger is sinking on the touch surface 2.

The haptic feedback can be generated over a predefined duration D or as long as the finger is in contact with the touch surface 2.

For example and as shown in Figure 2:

the individual haptic pattern M1, M2, M3 ... Mn is repeated at least 3 times,

the predefined duration D on which the successive individual haptic patterns M1, M2, M3 ... Mn are generated is greater than or equal to 50 milliseconds,

the duration DS of an individual haptic pattern M1, M2, M3 ... Mn is between 20 and 250 milliseconds,

the peak-to-peak acceleration value A of the individual haptic patterns M1, M2, M3 ... Mn is between 1 G and 4G, and

the inter-command duration SOA between the beginning of a control signal S1 and the beginning of a next control signal S2, is between 20 and 150 milliseconds.

These characteristics of the haptic feedback make it possible to give the feeling of a depression on the tactile surface 2 (in Z). The user has the impression that his finger passes more through the tactile surface 2 than the small physical displacement achieved. This effect can be used to simulate the actuation of a button to be pressed, corresponding to a long press.

According to another example of application,

the individual haptic pattern M1, M2, M3 ... Mn is repeated as long as the finger is in contact with the tactile surface 2,

the duration of a control signal S1, S2 generating the individual haptic pattern is between 20 and 60 milliseconds, and

the SOA inter-command duration between the beginning of a control signal S1 and the start of a next control signal S2 is between 50 and 150 milliseconds.

For example, it is possible to provide that a graphic element can be moved with the finger on the display device 3 ("widget" in English). It is further provided that the control unit 5 is configured to drive the haptic feedback module 4 to generate a haptic feedback in response to a support in the area of the graphic element. The haptic feedback thus makes it possible to simulate the maintenance of the graphic element by the finger during its movement on the screen.

According to another example of application,

the individual haptic pattern M1, M2, M3 ... Mn is repeated between 3 and 10 times,

the peak-to-peak acceleration value A of the individual haptic patterns M1, M2, M3 ... Mn is between 3G and 10G, and

the SOA inter-command duration between the start of a control signal S1 generating an individual haptic pattern and the start of a next control signal S2, is greater than or equal to 20 milliseconds, such as between 50 and 150 milliseconds ,

the haptic feedback is generated over a predefined duration D greater than or equal to 50 milliseconds.

the frequency of the individual haptic patterns M1, M2, M3... Mn is for example between 60 Hz and 400 Hz, such as between 60 and 200 Hz.

Claims

1. Control device (1) for a motor vehicle comprising:

a touch surface (2) intended to detect a touch of a user's finger, and

a haptic feedback module (4) configured to vibrate the tactile surface (2), characterized in that it comprises a control unit (5) configured to drive the haptic feedback module (4) to generate a haptic feedback in response to a touch on the touch surface (2), the haptic feedback being composed of:

repetition of at least two identical individual haptic patterns (M1, M2, M3 ... Mn), generated successively, and

- A period without haptic feedback (B1, B2), interposed between two successive individual haptic patterns (M1, M2, M3 ... Mn).

2. Control device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises a display device (3) disposed under the touch surface (2) for displaying a graphic element through the touch surface (2) and in that the driving unit (5) is configured to drive the haptic feedback module (4) to generate a haptic feedback in response to a press in the area of the graphic element.

3. Control device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the duration of a period without haptic feedback (B1, B2) is between 10 and 240 milliseconds.

4. Control device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the peak-to-peak value of acceleration (A) of the individual haptic patterns (M1, M2, M3 ... Mn) is between 0.5G and 15G.

5. Control device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the frequency of the individual haptic patterns (M1, M2, M3 ... Mn) is between 60Hz and 400Hz

6. Control device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the haptic feedback is generated as the finger is in contact with the touch surface (2).

7. Control device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that:

the duration (DS) of an individual haptic pattern (M1, M2, M3 ... Mn) is between 20 and 250 milliseconds,

the peak-to-peak value of acceleration (A) of the individual haptic patterns (M1, M2, M3

... Mn) is between 1G and 4G, and

the inter-command duration (SOA) between the beginning of a control signal (S1) generating an individual haptic pattern (M1, M2, M3 ... Mn) and the beginning of a control signal (S2) following is between 20 and 150 milliseconds.

8. Control device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that:

the individual haptic pattern (M1, M2, M3 ... Mn) is repeated at least 3 times,

the haptic feedback is generated over a predefined duration (D) greater than or equal to 50 milliseconds,

9. Control device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that:

the individual haptic pattern (M1, M2, M3 ... Mn) is repeated between 3 and 10 times,

the peak-to-peak acceleration value (A) of the individual haptic patterns (M1, M2, M3 ... Mn) is between 3G and 10G, and

the inter-command duration (SOA) between the beginning of a control signal (S1) generating an individual haptic pattern (M1, M2, M3 ... Mn) and the beginning of a control signal (S2) following is greater than or equal to 20 milliseconds, and

the haptic feedback is generated over a predefined duration (D) greater than or equal to 50 milliseconds.

10. A control method for controlling a device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein generates a haptic feedback vibrating the touch surface (2) of the control device (1) in response to a support on the tactile surface (2), the haptic feedback being composed:

1 1. Control method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that a graphic element is displayed through the tactile surface (2) and a haptic feedback is generated in response to a support in the area of the graphic element.

12. Control method according to one of claims 10 or 11, characterized in that the duration of a period without haptic feedback (B1, B2) is between 10 and 240 milliseconds.

13. Control method according to one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that the peak-to-peak acceleration value (A) of the individual haptic patterns (M1, M2, M3 ... Mn). is between 0.5G and 15G.

14. Control method according to one of claims 10 to 13, characterized in that the frequency of the individual haptic patterns (M1, M2, M3 ... Mn) is between 60Hz and 400Hz

15. Control method according to one of claims 10 to 14, characterized in that the haptic feedback is generated as the finger is in contact with the touch surface (2).