KR20160050037A - Method for controlling an information display device and device comprising an information display device - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an information display device (3) of an automobile having an image surface (3) arranged in the driver's straight viewing direction (38) and in normal operating condition on which one or more display elements (8, 9, 10, 11) , 27, 29), in which the information display device is switched from a normal operating state to a neutral state, that is, one or more central regions (3 ') of the image surface (3) Or at least in a neutral state in which the augmented reality elements provided in the operating state are not displayed. According to this method, the display of the display elements 8, 9, 10, 11 in a head-up display, for example, It is possible to reach the state of the information display device which is temporarily invisible very quickly. The transition to the neutral state can be made automatically by the analyzer based on the detected operating parameter or can be made by operation by the driver.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention relates to a method for controlling an information display device, and a device including the information display device.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to the field of electrical engineering and control engineering, and more particularly to the field of information display devices of mobile means such as, for example, automobiles, boats and planes.

Modern vehicles and other means of transport that can be personally controlled, but for example vehicles associated with rails, also include a number of display devices such as, for example, a driving instrument, tachometer, Which provide a comprehensive overview of the operating parameters and other available information to the driver of the individual vehicle. In part, such a display element is disposed within a so-called dashboard within the vehicle, that is, the driver is arranged separately from an area where the driver can observe his or her surroundings through a wind screen in a straight running direction. In part, however, it is also possible, by generating a virtual image in the image plane in front of or behind the windscreen, that the driver or operator facing the display has no need to turn his gaze from the straight running direction to identify the display element A reflected display device, a so-called head-up display, which is only required to turn at minimum, is also known.

Conventional display elements, such as tachometers, revolution counters, clocks, etc., are also increasingly incorporating elements of the so-called Augmented-Reality-Display, An actual object appears outside the vehicle / vehicle. Such objects may appear partially parallel and also through a vehicle window, but appear to be more vivid, brighter, enlarged, or otherwise altered in order to improve visual identity in augmented-reality-display .

From various documents of the prior art, various display devices are known which are partly implemented as a head-up display and which can also be used, for example, by a vehicle operator to control a vehicle device.

Thus, for example, a German patent application DE 10 2007 029 595 A1 discloses a system which enables control of individual vehicle devices using a head-up display and a corresponding operating element.

European Published Patent Application EP 1 232 909 A2 discloses a vehicle display system which enables control of a vehicle device using menu navigation via an operating element disposed on a steering wheel.

In addition, European Patent Application EP 1 679 221 A2 discloses a display device with a cursor control which enables selection of individual commands from the display navigation shown on the display.

WO 2007/106092 A1 discloses a vehicle display device with a menu and a head-up display in which commands can be selected using a cursor, in which case the menu may appear increasingly bright by the switch.

An object of the present invention is to provide an information display device that minimizes the change of eyes of an operator / driver and minimizes the risk of accident and erroneous operation, especially in a dangerous situation.

The above problem is solved by the features of the present invention related to the novel method having the features of claim 1.

To this end, the present invention provides a method for controlling an information display device of an automobile, which is arranged in a driver's straight view direction and has an image surface on which one or more display elements are displayed in a normal operating state, The display device is switched from a normal operating state to a neutral state, that is, to a neutral state in which one or more central regions of the image surface are empty / empty or at least the augmented reality elements provided in the operating state are not displayed .

With the method according to the invention, it is possible to display the information display device in a neutral state in a special situation sensed objectively or subjectively, for example in a dangerous situation, that is to say that a small number or a large number of display elements are displayed on the image surface, It becomes possible to automatically or manually switch to a state in which the attention of the driver does not return to another position or a specific area of view is not blocked by the display element. For this purpose, it is possible, but not necessary, to switch off the information display device or parts of this information display device. The important fact is that the transitions can be made very quickly, so that if necessary, the complex processes normally carried out at the time of switch-off of the data processing apparatus can be omitted. It is also conceivable to stop only the display function on the image surface, for example, without moving the control device of the information display device to another state.

One preferred embodiment of the method according to the present invention provides that the information display device can be switched to the neutral state immediately by the operation of the operating element.

In this case, the operator / driver can move his / her view very quickly out of the display element temporarily disposed on the image surface there by operation of the operating element. The corresponding operating elements must be arranged so that they are easily accessible, well visible and intuitive to operate. Further, gesture control for such a function, for example, which is photographed by a camera, can be considered. For this purpose, for example, a wiping operation can be provided, so that the view can be intuitively cleaned off by hand intentionally.

According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the parameters of the driving situation can be continuously monitored by the auxiliary device of the vehicle, and the information display device can be automatically and immediately switched to the neutral state according to the specific parameter value have.

In this case, the switching of the information display device to the neutral state can be made automatically and according to an objective driving situation.

Naturally, two alternatives are possible, so that a manual operation for transition to a neutral state can be carried out according to the driver's will, but in any case it is switched to a neutral state depending on the driving situation.

Preferably, the parameter of the operating condition is continuously monitored by the auxiliary device of the vehicle, and that the information display device is set in the ready state, that is, the information display device is operated immediately by the operation of the operating element, It can also be provided that the state can be switched to the neutral state.

In this case, when the operation parameter value corresponds, the information display device is automatically moved to the ready state in which the manual operation for switching to the neutral state is only enabled or at least the manual operation is accelerated or facilitated, It is possible to use a combination of automatic switching to the neutral state and manual switching.

In that case, it is possible that a direct transition from a normal operating state as well as from a ready state to a neutral state is possible, but such transition processes can be achieved, for example, by different operating elements or operating functions.

Further, the present invention can also be formed by automatically switching the information display device from a parameter value indicating an increased accident risk to a neutral state or a ready state.

Particularly in a driving situation, which means increased risk of accidents, there is a possibility that the information display device can transition to the neutral state to reach a higher safety state, because the driver / Or less likely to be disturbed. At this time, the driver can concentrate on the information that can be directly accessed by the visual contact, and based on this, his / her decision related to driving the vehicle can be reached.

According to the present invention, it is additionally possible that the information display device can be switched directly from the neutral state to the normal operation state from the neutral state by operating the operating element.

In particular, if the neutral state does not cause switch-off of the information display device, it can be reversed to the normal operating state again relatively quickly. Such a situation can be caused by, for example, the same operating element as the operating element which can cause the switch to the neutral state. As such an operation element, for example, a push key which is alternately switched between a neutral state and a normal operation state in two directions alternately during operation can be used. However, in this case, it may be provided that the information display device is automatically switched to the stop state or completely switched off if the operating element is not operated for a certain minimum time after switching to the neutral state once.

Alternatively, it may also be provided in accordance with the present invention that the information display device is preferably switched back to the normal operating state again after switching to the neutral state and after passing the dead time.

In such a case, for example, after a defined number of seconds after the transition to the neutral state, the transition to the normal operating state will again be performed, especially when the transition to the neutral state is detected manually Whether it has been done or not, it will be reversed.

Such a floating time can be, for example, 3 seconds or 5 seconds or 10 seconds.

As already explained in the example of the above-described push-key, it is generally also preferable that the operating element be a mechanical operating element with a restoring mechanism, in particular a push-button, and a neutral state and a normal operating state May also be provided.

In addition to the push key, a resilient lever or other operating element of the same type may also be provided. It may also be provided that the operating element is formed by visual identification of the gesture control with one or more cameras. In this case, a specific motion can be identified and converted into a manipulation command by a corresponding gesture, for example by a hand or an arm, for example by a camera or other optical sensing element. For example, for operation of the information display device, a wiping operation that causes a transition to a neutral state may be defined.

Another preferred embodiment of the present invention is a mechanical actuating element having a restoring mechanism in which the actuating element is a push-button or a resilient lever, in particular, while the mechanical actuating element is held in the depressed state, And to cause the switch to the normal operation state after the depressed state is released.

The present invention can also provide that the normal operating state has a plurality of individualized display variations, any of which can be selectively controlled.

Thus, for example, various operators operating a car can each independently select a few display options and combine them into a single profile, which can later be stored and recalled as intended. The corresponding profile may be selected, for example, via a menu displayed within the information display device itself, or may also be selected via a mechanical switch in the vehicle.

The operating elements used to switch the operating command or information display device to the neutral state can also be individually defined differently for each profile personally. In this way, the first operator can set the information display device to reach the neutral state of the display device by pressing the key, while another operator uses the gesture and corresponding gesture identification for this conversion.

Another embodiment of the present invention provides that the method is automatically deactivated below the parking speed and is activated again when the parking speed is exceeded.

In the case of parking or searching for a parking space, it would be reasonable to keep all available displays of the information display device active, in order to obtain as much information as possible about the surroundings of the vehicle. In the slow running state during the parking operation as described above, the driver looks around all the sides, and as a result, the gesture which does not pay attention to one operation element or the operation or the carelessness of the operation element is switched to the neutral state It is also common that it will be easy to create. It may be desirable to completely block such a switchover possibility in the above-described state, since it is not immediately threatened by accident risk due to the slow operation speed, and thus very fast switching to the neutral state of the information display device is not essential.

The invention also relates to an apparatus with an information display device for carrying out the method according to any one of claims 1 to 11 in addition to the methods of the above-mentioned type having various preferred features, In which the display elements are displayed in a normal operating state, and a normal state from a normal operating state to a normal state, i.e., one or more central areas of the image surface are empty / empty or at least normal And an operation element for switching directly to the state.

The device according to the present invention makes it possible to provide all the essential elements in a simple manner in a neutral state for direct and quick switching of the information display device in order to enable intuitive operation.

The present invention is illustrated in an example and will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.
1 schematically shows a windscreen of a vehicle having an image surface of a head-up display;
Figure 2 shows a windscreen with one head-up display and a few display elements;
Figure 3 schematically shows a vehicle with technical elements of the information display device from above;
Figure 4 shows an exemplary operating element;
Figure 5 shows another exemplary operating element;
Figure 6 is a side view of a vehicle having a projector, an image surface and an operator shown schematically in a head-up display; And
7 shows a flow diagram of a method according to the invention;

Fig. 1 shows a straight view of the driver of a motor vehicle passing over the steering wheel 1 and toward the windshield window 2. In this case, in the straight running direction and the sight direction of the driver, the image surface 3 of the head- It is illuminated. The projection of the image onto the image surface 3 can be done, for example, by means of a projector, which is arranged in the instrument panel or under the instrument panel, the optical means of which the image produced in the projector, To the operator, in which case the image plane lies behind the windscreen usually located outside the vehicle when viewed from the driver's side. However, it is also possible to place the image plane in the windshield window or in front of the windshield window.

2 shows a part of the automobile interior with the instrument panel 4, the center console 5, the operating panel 6 and the joystick 7.

In the direction of the windscreen 2 is shown an image surface 3 with four display elements, namely a tachometer 8, a revolution meter 9, a clock 10 and a temperature indicator 11 have.

The information display device ensures that the display elements 8, 9, 10, 11 are displayed on the image surface 3, respectively, with the currently measured or detected parameters, respectively. The driver can see the display elements 8, 9, 10, 11 while seeing through the windshield 2 and can evaluate without turning his or her eyes.

The information display device may for example move, scale and / or fade-out a few or all of the display elements 8, 9, 10, 11 on the image surface 3 and fade- -in). For this purpose, a small number of operating elements 12, 13, 14 of the operating panel 6 may be provided.

Also, textual commands, which can likewise be displayed and moved on the image surface 3, can also be organized in menus, and for this purpose the operating elements 12, 13 and 14 can likewise be used. A cursor, i.e., a graphic feedback-element, may also be provided, which displays on the menu a corresponding / addressable command which can be reached instantaneously, to enable the addressing of the respective instruction selected by the acknowledge.

When a single command is selected / selected or addressed by the operating elements 12, 13, 14 or by, for example, a joystick, the data processing device inside the information display device is able to communicate with the display elements 8, 9, 10, 11 to the new arrangement or control of the display elements 8, 9, 10, 11 on the image surface. For this purpose, certain arithmetic capabilities and optional control are required to arrive at a specific modification of the image surface as intended.

For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the present invention provides a special operating element, which may for example be formed by a push button 5 on the steering wheel 1, By means of which the information display device is immediately brought into a neutral state, i.e. on the image surface 3 or at least in the central region 3 'of the image surface, It can be switched to a neutral state that can not be achieved.

It is also conceivable that the information display device can be switched to the neutral state by gestures, that is, by the operation of the driver's hand, arm or head, and such operation of the driver is carried out by the camera 17 And interpreted in the image processing apparatus.

The operating elements 15, 16 are separated from the operating elements 12, 13, 14 which are used for the usual operation of the information display device and are preferably spaced apart at sufficient intervals, The random operation of the operating elements 15 and 16 can not occur at all and on the other hand intuitive distinction can be made between the operability when the information display device is normally used and the direct conversion to the neutral state .

3, there is shown a schematic view showing an automobile body with four wheels 18, 19, 20, 21 for direction setting from above. Various sensors are shown, of which the sensor 22 at the front end of the vehicle is an interval sensor and likewise the sensor 23 disposed at the front end of the vehicle is, for example, an optical sensor, . These sensors are connected to the processing device 27 of the information display device at the rear end of the vehicle, like the sensor 25 which is formed as a gap sensor and the sensor 26 which may be formed as a temperature sensor. The information display device processes the recorded operation parameters or the image photographed by the camera 24 with information, which can be projected to the driver through the projection device 28 in the head-up-display form. The operating elements of the operating panel 6 are controlled by, for example, menu navigation and a cursor control, such that the generated image fades-in and fades-out or arranges display elements corresponding to the image surface represented by the projection device 28 , It is used to enlarge or change the display method.

A situation analyzing device 29 is also optionally provided inside the processing device 27. The situation analyzing device detects the operating condition from the parameters or sensor parameter values provided to the device, The presence of a critical operating condition requiring increased attention of the driver. In such a situation, the situation analyzer 29 may switch off or separate the projection device 28, or otherwise remove the display element from being displayed on the image surface.

Alternatively, or additionally, a push button 15 is provided, which can be operated by a driver, and with only one operation, the information display device is brought into a neutral state, that is, State. Such a switching operation may be accomplished, for example, by a switch 31, which directs the projection device 28 from the processing device 27, as indicated by the dashed line 30. However, it is also possible that the operation of the push button 15 causes the processing device 27 to immediately switch to the corresponding neutral state. For this purpose, the processing device 27 is not normally stopped, that is to say, the effective operating parameters for re-use in the new start are not stored in a conventional manner. This process usually lasts too long to cause a direct and immediate switch-off of the display device. For this reason, a forced, immediate, and complete switch-off of the processing device 27 is caused, or display delivery to the projection device 28 is interrupted.

Fig. 4 shows an example of a push button 15 that can be pressed in the operating direction 32. Fig. For example, when the push button 15 is depressed, the display element on the image surface 3 is removed against the force of the spring 33, and when releasing the depressed state of the push switch 15, It may be provided that the display element is immediately displayed again.

5 shows the corresponding lever 34 in a spring-loaded state and this lever is tilted against the force of the spring 35 in order to temporarily inhibit the display of the display element on the image surface 3 . When the lever 34 is released again, the display element again appears on the image surface.

6 shows a side view of a vehicle 36 on which an operator, that is, a driver 37 looking in the direction of the windshield window 2 in the straight running direction 38 is mounted. Also shown is a projection device 28 that is controlled by the processing device 27 of the information display device in a manner not shown in this figure. The projection device 28 comprises optical means which focus the emitted light beam such that the image plane appears on the image surface 3 for the driver. In this case, a virtual image plane is used. This allows the driver not only to recognize his specific actual surroundings when viewing the straight running direction 38 but also to recognize the display elements on the image surface 3. [

7, there is shown a flow diagram of a method according to the present invention, in which a first step 39 is performed in which the information display device is in a steady state, i.e., at least a few or all of the display elements are displayed on the display device, Head-up " means that the display is continuously displayed on the display. In the next second step 40, the presence of a complex and / or critical operating condition is checked. Such a checking process is performed by the situation analyzing device 29 in the processing device 27 with reference to the detected operating parameters. If there is a situation in which the switch-off process of the display element has to be effected as effectively as possible within a short time interval, then the third step 41 is carried out as the next step, whereby the action of the display element being displayed on the image surface is immediately .

If the second / analysis step 40 indicates that there is no complex / critical operating condition, the process returns to the first step 39 where the display remains unchanged.

If the system has moved to the third step 41, then in the next fourth step 42 the existence of a non-critical simple driving situation is again checked after passing the critical operating condition. If this is the case, then proceed to a fifth step 43 where the fifth step is to return to the first step 39 and in addition to the complete and unaltered display element of the display element in the head-up display Thereby inducing the display.

If the result of the 'continue critical operating situation is present' is derived in the analysis step 42, as indicated by the jump arrow 44, there is a non-critical situation with the analysis result referring to the operating parameters The analysis step 42 is executed repeatedly and regularly until an evaluation is made.

In parallel with the flow chart of Fig. 7 shown in the present application, the push button 15 is activated or detected by the internal camera 17 in the cabin, so that the immediate block of the display, for example the corresponding By executing the gesture, you can engage in this flow manually at any time by the driver.

According to the present invention, it is possible to immediately and directly block the information display apparatus without moving the corresponding information display apparatus to the designated stationary state.

Claims (12)

An information display device (3, 4) of an automobile having an image surface (3) arranged in a straight viewing direction (38) of a driver (37) and in a normal operating state on which one or more display elements (8, 9, 10, 11) 27, 29)
The information display device is switched from a normal operating state to a neutral state, that is, when one or more central regions 3 'of the image surface 3 are empty / empty or at least in a normal operating state, State of the information display apparatus of the present invention. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the information display device can be switched to a neutral state immediately by the operation of the operating element (15, 16). 3. The information display apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the parameters of the driving situation are continuously monitored by the auxiliary devices (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27) Wherein the display is switched to a neutral state immediately. 4. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the parameters of the driving situation are continuously monitored by the auxiliary devices (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27) Characterized in that the device is switched to the ready state, i. E. The information display device is switched to a state in which it can be switched to the neutral state immediately by the operation of the operating element. 5. A method according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the information display device is automatically switched from a parameter value indicating an increased risk of an accident to a neutral state or a ready state. 6. An information display device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the information display device can be switched directly from the neutral state to the normal operating state from the neutral state by operating the operating element (15, 16) Of the information display device of the vehicle. The information display apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein after the information display apparatus is switched to the neutral state and after the information display apparatus has passed the floating time, it is automatically switched back to the normal operating state again Wherein the method comprises the steps of: 3. A device according to claim 2, characterized in that the operating element (15, 16) is a mechanical actuating element with a restoring mechanism, in particular a push-button or resilient lever, The information display apparatus comprising: a display unit for displaying information on the display device; 3. Machine according to claim 2, characterized in that the actuating element (15, 16) is a mechanical actuating element with a restoring mechanism, in particular a push-button or a resilient lever, To the neutral state, and to switch to the normal operating state after the depressed state is released. 10. A control method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the normal operating state has a plurality of individualized display variants, of which any variant can be selectively controlled. 11. An information display device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the method is automatically deactivated below the parking speed and activated again when the parking speed is exceeded Way. 12. An information display device for carrying out the method according to any one of claims 1 to 11,
An image surface on which the display elements 8, 9, 10, 11 are displayed in a normal operating state and a normal state from a normal operating state, i.e. one or more central areas of the image surface are empty / (15, 16) for switching directly to a steady state in which the augmented reality element provided in the display is not displayed.

Images