DE102023207603A1 - Method and device for controlling an infotainment system of a vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

A method (100) for controlling an infotainment system of a vehicle is proposed, which comprises detecting (101) at least two events triggering a respective animation and displaying (102) both animations at a common display time.

Description

The present invention relates to a method and a device for controlling an infotainment system of a vehicle and a vehicle comprising a corresponding device according to the independent claims.

Each vehicle has different components or different functions, each of which is associated with different, non-synchronized animations, such as greeting or farewell animations. If several animations are triggered at the same time, there may be spatial and temporal overlaps, which are confusing and unpleasant for the vehicle user.

The US 2013/0127609 A1 describes a system of two non-overlapping display devices, with animations controlled in such a way that their display on the different screens merges into one another.

The WO 2021/258656 describes a method for interacting with a vehicle, whereby a welcome animation can be played on a screen depending on facial recognition.

It is the aim of the present invention to offer the user a holistic and emotional overall experience with regard to animations, in particular when greeting or saying goodbye or in other driving situations.

The problem is solved by a method for controlling an infotainment system of a vehicle, in which at least two events that trigger a respective animation are determined. These are different animations. According to the invention, both animations are displayed at the same time.

Preferably, the animations can be assigned to different functions of the vehicle. In particular, the functions are assigned to different components.

Each function or component can be assigned an actual fade-in time. The actual fade-in time would be the fade-in time if only one event triggering the respective animation was detected. In other words: if only the corresponding animation of the corresponding component or function were triggered, it would be faded in at the actual fade-in time.

In particular, a time period between the triggering event and the fading in of the animation can be defined for each function, which determines the fade-in time. The actual fade-in time of at least one animation can now be delayed so that it matches the fade-in time of the other animation. Furthermore, both actual fade-in times can be delayed so that the actual fade-in time matches. This ensures that there is a common fade-in time.

A sound signal can be emitted at the same time as the fade-in time, in particular a common sound signal can be emitted instead of two sound signals for both animations. The sound signal can be emitted on acoustic output units, preferably loudspeakers. These can be arranged on the outside of the vehicle or on the inside. One sound signal can also be emitted outside and one sound signal inside.

Advantageously, a fade-in period of at least one animation can be adjusted so that the animation is faded in for the same period of time as the other animation. The fade-in period refers to the period of time that the animation is faded in. As described above, the fade-in period of at least one animation can be adjusted to the fade-in period of the second animation. Alternatively, the fade-in periods of both animations can be adjusted to match each other so that they match.

Preferably, at least one image feature of at least one animation is adapted. Furthermore, image features of both animations can preferably be adapted in such a way that they match. If only the at least one image feature of one animation is adapted, this is adapted with respect to a corresponding image feature of the corresponding image feature of the other animation. An image feature can be, for example, a size and/or brightness and/or color and/or resolution of the visual representation of the animation. The last-mentioned feature ensures that the image quality of the animation is equivalent and locally coordinated. Furthermore, sound signals, if several sound signals are output, can be adapted to one another, for example with respect to their volume.

In particular, each animation is assigned to either a first display area or a second display area. The corresponding function can, for example, be displayed in the corresponding display area. The display area can, in particular, be a display surface, e.g. a screen of the vehicle or a projection surface or a projection area.

The animations are in particular displayed at least temporarily in a common display area. The common display area can, for example, be an overlapping area of the first display area and the second display area. These can overlap at least visually for an occupant, especially for the driver. The first display area can, for example, be a projection surface in an area in front of the vehicle, e.g. on the floor, in front of the vehicle door or on a wall. This projection surface can be seen from the vehicle through the windshield, while the second display area can be a head-up display. Both areas are visible to the driver when looking at the windshield and visually overlap in the overlapping area. Furthermore, the second display area can be an area of the interior of the vehicle, so that a projection can take place in the interior. In this case, it is not a classic surface, but a projection area in the interior.

At least one animation can be displayed in such a way that its display transitions from one display area into the overlap area. An animation can thus start, for example, in one display area, preferably the assigned display area, but transition into the overlap area. This preferably applies to both animations, so that they "meet" in the overlap area, for example. The animations preferably arrive in the overlap area at the same time.

For example, each animation can start in the assigned display area and merge into one another in the overlap area, creating an emotional "magical" impression for the user. The merging ensures that the animations reach the overlap area at the same time and can graphically interlock there. This can, for example, affect the corresponding greeting animation in a boarding situation. Furthermore, when the door is opened, the illusion can be created that the projection in front of the vehicle is moving into the vehicle interior.

Overall, a holistic and emotional overall experience is achieved, as different animations from different functions merge into one overall animation for the user.

The functions can be assigned a different level of relevance, whereby the relevance of the functions is compared before the relevance is displayed simultaneously. If a defined difference in relevance is exceeded, a more relevant animation can be displayed before the less relevant function. Furthermore, image features can be adjusted so that the more relevant animation is clearer or more visible, for example by adjusting the size, brightness and/or color of the animation. The sound signal can also be adjusted.

Furthermore, when the two animations are displayed, it can be taken into account whether it is day or night. For example, when changing from day to night, functions from the second display area can be displayed using a transition animation as a common function of both display areas in the respective overlap area. The functions are then assigned to the overlap area. For example, functions from the head-up display can be displayed using the transition animation in the overlap area and displayed there as a combination of animations from the projection surface in front of the vehicle, e.g. on the road, and the head-up display.

All the above-mentioned features of the method can equally apply to more than two animations.

In a further aspect, the invention relates to a device for controlling an infotainment system of a vehicle, which comprises a central control unit, wherein the central control unit is designed to determine at least two events triggering a respective animation and to display both animations at a common display time.

It is particularly important that this is a central control unit, as only this can ensure the simultaneous fade-in time, since the coordination of the fade-in time can, if necessary, make any possible, necessary delays or adjustments to the imaging characteristics described above.

Furthermore, the device can comprise display areas, in particular a first and a second display area, which form a common display area. In addition, the device can comprise acoustic output units, such as loudspeakers cher, and lights, if necessary for inside and outside. In particular, the loudspeakers and lights both inside and outside the vehicle can be controlled centrally in accordance with the corresponding animations. For example, the acoustic output units for the outside area can be controlled synchronously together with the corresponding lights for the outside area, so that the sound emitted outside and the corresponding light signals are synchronized. The same can apply to the interior area.

In particular, the device is designed to carry out a method described above.

In a further aspect, the invention relates to a vehicle comprising a device described above.

• 1: ein Verfahrensschema eines Verfahrens zur Steuerung eines Infotainmentsystems eines Fahrzeuges,
• 2: eine Vorrichtung zur Steuerung eines Infotainmentsystems eines Fahrzeuges; und
• 3: die Anzeigebereiche der Vorrichtung nach 2.

They show in purely schematic representation

• 1 : a process diagram of a method for controlling an infotainment system of a vehicle,
• 2 : a device for controlling an infotainment system of a vehicle; and
• 3 : the display areas of the device according to 2 .

1 shows a process diagram of a method 100 for controlling an infotainment system of a vehicle, which includes determining 101 at least two events triggering an animation.

Both animations are faded in at a common fade-in time 102. For this purpose, an actual fade-in time of at least one animation can be delayed 103. Furthermore, a fade-in time period of at least one animation can be adjusted 104.

At least one image feature of at least one animation can be adjusted 105 to guarantee a holistic overall experience. It can also be taken into account 106 whether it is day or night. The animations can be displayed in a common display area at least temporarily 107.

2 shows a device 10 for controlling an infotainment system of a vehicle, which comprises a central control unit 11, a first display area 12 and a second display area 13. The device can also have acoustic output units, for example loudspeakers, which serve to output a sound signal. It can also comprise optical output units, in particular lights. In detail, acoustic output units 15a for the outside and acoustic output units 15b for the inside as well as lights 16a for the inside and lights 16b for the outside are present. All of these components can be controlled in a synchronized manner by the central control unit. In particular, the loudspeakers and lights both inside and outside the vehicle can be controlled centrally in a coordinated manner with the corresponding animations. For example, the acoustic output units for the outside area can be controlled in a synchronized manner together with the corresponding lights for the output area, so that the sound emitted to the outside and the corresponding light signals occur synchronously. The same can apply to the interior area.

3 shows the display areas of the device according to 2 The display areas form a common display area 14, which is defined as an overlap area. The first display area 12 can be a projection surface in an area in front of the vehicle, and the second display area 13 can be a head-up display. Both areas visually overlap for the driver in the overlap area 14. Animations can be displayed synchronously so that they are shown at least temporarily on the common display area 14.

list of reference symbols

100

Method for controlling an infotainment system of a vehicle

101

Determining at least two events that trigger a respective animation

102

Fade in both animations at the same time

103

Delay of the actual fade-in time of at least one animation

104

Adjusting the fade-in time of at least one animation

105

Adaptation of at least one image feature of at least one animation

106

Consideration of whether it is day or night

107

Display of the animations at least temporarily in a common display area

10

Device for controlling an infotainment system of a vehicle

11

central control unit

12

first display area

13

second display area

14

shared display area

15a

acoustic output units outside

15b

acoustic output units inside

16a

interior lighting

16b

outdoor lighting

QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of documents listed by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• US 2013/0127609 A1 [0003]
• WO 2021/258656 [0004]

Claims (15)

Method (100) for controlling an infotainment system of a vehicle, characterized in that the method (100) comprises - a detection (101) of at least two events triggering a respective animation, and - a display (102) of both animations at a common display time. Procedure (100) according to claim 1 , characterized in that the animations are assigned to different functions of the vehicle. Procedure (100) according to claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the method (100) comprises a delay (103) of an actual fade-in time of at least one animation, wherein the actual fade-in time is relevant upon sole determination of an event triggering the animation. Method (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the method (100) comprises an adjustment (104) of a fade-in time period of at least one animation, so that the animations are faded in for the same time period. Method (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one imaging feature is adapted to at least one animation (105). Method (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each animation is assigned to a first display area (12) or a second display area (13). Method (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the animations are at least temporarily displayed (107) in a common display area (14). procedure according to claim 7 , characterized in that the common display area (14) is an overlapping area of the first display area (12) and the second display area (13). procedure according to claim 8 , characterized in that the first display area (12) is a projection area in an area in front of the vehicle, wherein the projection area is visible from the vehicle through the windshield, and wherein the second display area (13) is a head-up display. Method according to one of the Claims 8 or 9 , characterized in that at least one animation is faded in such a way that its fade-in transitions from a display area into the overlap area (14). Method (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that when displaying the two animations, it is taken into account (106) whether it is day or night. Procedure (100) according to claim 11 , characterized in that during a transition from day to night, functions of one display area are displayed by means of a transition animation as common functions of both display areas in the overlapping area. Device (10) for controlling an infotainment system of a vehicle, characterized in that the device (10) comprises a central control unit (11), wherein the central control unit (11) is designed to determine at least two events triggering a respective animation (101) and to display both animations at a common display time (102). Device (10) according to claim 13 , characterized in that the device (10) for carrying out a method (100) according to one of the Claims 1 until 12 trained. Vehicle comprising a device (10) according to one of the Claims 13 or 14 .

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