DE10349673B4 - Device and method for data input in a motor vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

Device for data input in a motor vehicle, with an input device (8) for manual input of data for controlling vehicle functions and/or additional devices, and with a display connected thereto for displaying the entered data in the driver's field of vision, wherein the input device (8) is provided with a touch-sensitive input field (12) for handwritten input of data and has a character recognition system for evaluating the entered data, and the display can be operated in a text mode for displaying the evaluated data in print, characterized in that the display is designed as a head-up display, HUD (9), and the HUD (9) for handwritten input and correction of data can also be operated in an image mode for displaying the entered data in plain text.

Description

The invention relates to a device for data input in a motor vehicle, with an input device for manual input of data for controlling vehicle functions and/or additional devices, and with a display connected thereto for displaying the entered data in the driver's field of vision, wherein the input device is provided with a touch-sensitive input field for handwritten input of data and has a character recognition system for evaluating the entered data, and the display can be operated in a text mode for displaying the evaluated data in print.

The invention further relates to a corresponding method for data input in a motor vehicle, in which data for controlling vehicle functions and/or additional devices are manually entered via an input device and displayed via a display connected thereto in the driver's field of vision, wherein the data input is carried out by manually writing on a touch-sensitive input field of the input device, the entered data are evaluated by means of an associated character recognition system, and the display is operated in a text mode after the handwritten input of data to display the evaluated data in print.

Such devices and methods are known from DE 103 24 580 A1 .

The present invention is based on a motor vehicle which has at least one vehicle function or at least one additional device which can be controlled by a vehicle occupant, in particular by the driver, by entering command data into an input device, wherein the entered command data are displayed for control via a display in the driver's field of vision.

Due to the wide range of additional functions and built-in additional devices, operating a modern motor vehicle goes far beyond the pure driving task, i.e. operating the steering wheel, brake, clutch and accelerator/driver pedals, and the gearshift/selector lever. Although such vehicle functions and additional devices are intended to increase the operating and driving comfort of the vehicle occupants, the driver in particular is distracted, at least briefly, from monitoring the external traffic situation, i.e. observing the area of the road ahead of the vehicle, when operating and monitoring the corresponding functions, which can lead to dangerous traffic situations.

Such vehicle functions include, among others, an automated driver position setting, which enables the saving and retrieval of personal settings for the driver's seat, pedals, steering wheel and rear-view mirror, a driving program selection, by means of which one of several control programs, e.g. a sport, comfort or eco control program, of the drive train is activated, and a driver assistance system, such as a lane assistance system, a distance assistance system, a braking assistance system or a parking assistance system, which relieves the driver of certain driving functions if desired, is switched on or off. Corresponding additional devices, where functions can be controlled by the driver using command inputs, include an audio system, where a desired radio station can be set for listening or a music track stored on a sound carrier such as an MC, CD, DVD or MP3 memory can be selected for playback, a navigation system into which a destination can be entered to determine an optimal route, and a car phone into which the name or telephone number of a desired conversation partner can be entered.

The operation of vehicle functions and additional devices by entering the corresponding command data has so far been carried out either manually using assigned control elements such as switches and keypads, or verbally and acoustically using a voice recognition system. However, manual operation has the disadvantage that the driver has to at least temporarily avert his gaze from the outside traffic and briefly accommodate his eyes to close-up vision in order to find and operate the relevant control elements. The alternative verbal-acoustic input of command data via microphones and a voice recognition system still has a high error rate according to the state of the art and requires a long learning phase due to the individual differences in the user's speech patterns. In addition, acoustic communication with a communication system, which can also include acoustic feedback on the identification of verbal control commands in the form of signal tones and voice output, is often perceived as annoying by both the driver and other vehicle occupants.

The feedback of the commands or command data entered is usually provided either directly via the respective position of the control element or via an optical display in a special display field an operating unit or the relevant additional device, or in the case of an integrated information system in a central information display (CID), which is usually located in the center console or in the middle of the dashboard. This means that the driver has to look away from the outside traffic to monitor the relevant vehicle functions and additional devices.

Recently, however, the use of a head-up display (HUD) originally developed for military aviation has also become known in motor vehicles to display vehicle-relevant data. As described in the DE 197 04 740 A1 , the EN 199 50 155 C1 or the WO 01/45080 A1 As described in more detail, a HUD has a freely programmable display field for showing numbers, scales and symbols, the information from which is projected onto the windscreen of the vehicle via a mirror arrangement in the driver's field of vision, whereby the display level for the viewer (driver) can appear to be positioned far outside the windscreen to avoid accommodation problems. In conjunction with the input devices of the relevant vehicle functions and additional devices, this means that the driver can at least check the entered data without being too distracted from the driving task by visually perceiving the information displayed within the field of vision. However, there remains the disadvantage that manual input of command data, i.e. the operation of switches, levers and push buttons, is not possible without eye contact.

To avoid this disadvantage, the DE 100 56 291 A1 and the DE 100 39 432 C1 proposed to record control commands from a user (driver) in the form of gestures, ie movements of the head, arms and/or hands, using sensors and/or a recording device such as a video camera, evaluate them in an evaluation and control device and convert them into control commands. The corresponding control functions are then carried out and the affected control variables are shown in a display, which can be a HUD, among other things. However, this proposed solution, similar to verbal-acoustic recording of control commands, has the disadvantage of a high error rate in the interpretation of the gestures and requires an intensive learning phase to reliably record and interpret the user's individual gestures.

In the DE 69 518 456 T2 On the other hand, it is proposed that a HUD be used when the driver uses a car phone both to display telephone-related information and to enter operating commands, such as entering a telephone number to be called or a person to be called. For this purpose, both the display unit and the operating unit (keyboard) are shown in the HUD, with at least the display of the operating unit being shown in an area of the windscreen provided with a transparent pressure-sensitive layer. This allows the driver to operate the car phone by touching the HUD areas of the windscreen that represent the telephone buttons. This does have the advantage that the driver does not have to look away from the outside traffic when operating the car phone. However, touching the windscreen has the disadvantage of immediately obstructing vision through one's own hand during data entry and of permanently obstructing vision through smearing or soiling the windscreen when touching it with one's hand. This solution is therefore probably unsuitable for practical use in motor vehicles.

From the aforementioned, generic DE 103 24 580 A1 It is known that the driver of a car can write letters on a touch-sensitive input field (touch panel) with his fingertip. The line "written" on the touch panel is analyzed by a character recognition system and interpreted as a letter or sequence of letters. The letters determined in this way are then shown on the display. This serves on the one hand to check whether the interpretation made corresponds to the user's intention. On the other hand, a list of selection options can be displayed that is already limited by the input made and can then be selected directly by the user. The disadvantage of this is that the driver only has the opportunity to correct his input after the input has been completed through the visual feedback of the interpretation made. This can lead to input errors and distraction from road traffic, especially for inexperienced users.

It is therefore the object of the present invention to further develop the known devices and methods in such a way that the user is given a more immediate correction option.

The object relating to the device is achieved according to the invention in conjunction with the preamble of claim 1 on the one hand by the display being designed as a head-up display (HUD) and the HUD also being able to be used in an image mode for handwritten input and correction of data to display the entered data in plain text.

The object relating to the corresponding method is achieved according to the invention in conjunction with the preamble of claim 14 or 16 in that the display is designed as a head-up display (HUD) and the HUD is operated in an image mode to display the entered data in plain text during the handwritten input and correction of data.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent patent claims.

By using a touch-sensitive input field (touch panel) to enter the control data, the data entry in conjunction with the display of the entered data in the HUD can be carried out purely manually without eye contact.

The data can be written by hand into the input field using a writing device such as a stylus or simply with the fingertip of one hand, evaluated using an associated character recognition system, and the evaluated data displayed in a text mode in block letters in the HUD, whereby the data can be entered and evaluated digit by digit, word by word, sentence by sentence, or page by page. This requires practically no learning phase and the character recognition systems known from the PC scanner area are known to have a high level of functional reliability. To simplify the handwritten input and correction of data, the HUD can also be operated in an image mode with a display of the entered data in plain text, in which the digits, characters, and symbols written in the input field are shown in the HUD in the same way as they are written in the input field. Switching between the image mode and the text mode can be done manually by pressing a corresponding function key or automatically, e.g. time-dependent.

In addition, menu control can be provided as an alternative operating mode, in which a touch-sensitive input field (touch panel) of the input device is used to manually mark data fields, and a menu control system is provided for generating a selection menu with menu data fields, for displaying the selection menu in the HUD, for identifying a data field marked in the input field, and for assigning the marked data field to the relevant menu data field of the selection menu. Such menu control, which is similarly known from small computers such as notebooks, organizers, and PDAs, as well as from mobile phones (cell phones), requires a short learning phase, but then enables experienced users to enter or select data much faster than with handwritten input of control data. In order to achieve a clear assignment of a data field marked in the input field to the corresponding menu data field of the selection menu, the selection menu is expediently transferred to the input field by means of a virtual geometric mapping, so that the geometric structure of the selection menu and the arrangement of the menu data fields in the HUD display and the input field are identical.

To indicate the current writing or touch position within the input field, the HUD preferably has a cursor display so that the writing tool or fingertip can be oriented within the input field without eye contact with it. In this case, a distinction is advantageously made between an orientation movement within the input field and data input into the input field by interpreting a slight pressure on the input field as an orientation input and displaying the corresponding position within the input field by displaying the cursor in the HUD, and by interpreting increased pressure on the input field as manual writing or manual marking of a data field in the input field and executing the associated control function.

The input field itself is preferably positioned within reach of the driver, e.g. in the center console, in the dashboard near the steering wheel, or in a door console. A central arrangement of the input field in the center console or in the dashboard has the advantage that the data can also be entered by a passenger. To achieve an ergonomically optimal arrangement and alignment of the data field, it is preferably arranged in a separate housing, the position and inclination of which can be adjusted using an adjustable fastening device.

If an information system with a central display (CID) is installed in the motor vehicle in question, the central display can also be designed as a touchscreen and thus be used as an input field for manual data input or for marking data fields in accordance with the invention. A special input device with a separate input field can then be dispensed with. The same information, ie the manually entered data, can be displayed on the touchscreen during manual data input. Control data in image or text mode or the respective selection menu as shown in the HUD. However, due to the HUD display, eye contact with the touchscreen is not necessary for operation.

For safe orientation within the input field without eye contact, the input field advantageously has a tactile border, which can preferably be designed as a frame that protrudes from the surface of the input field. This allows the user to determine the dimensions and borders of the input field purely tactilely and thus make optimal use of the available operating area.

To control the data input process, known input devices usually have function keys such as a confirmation/enter key, a rejection/cancel key, a forward/next key and a back/last key, which, however, can only be found and operated with visual contact. In order to find and operate such operating elements without visual contact, function key fields are therefore arranged within the input field according to the invention. In a usually largely rectangular input field, the function key fields are preferably arranged in a corner of the input field, since they can then be found particularly easily and quickly without visual contact in conjunction with the edge of the input field. In addition, the function key fields can also have a tactile surface structure for better identification, e.g. in the form of various knobs, knob patterns or protruding function symbols.

Further details of the invention emerge from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments and advantageous embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example.

• 1: eine Cockpitansicht eines PKW in Blickrichtung des Fahrers mit einer ersten Ausführung eines Eingabegerätes und einer zugeordneten HUD-Anzeige, und
• 2: eine Cockpitansicht eines PKW in Blickrichtung des Fahrers mit einer zweiten Ausführung eines Eingabegerätes und einer zugeordneten HUD-Anzeige.

The drawings show:

• 1 : a cockpit view of a car in the direction of the driver with a first embodiment of an input device and an associated HUD display, and
• 2 : a cockpit view of a car in the direction of the driver with a second version of an input device and an associated HUD display.

The cockpit 1 of a motor vehicle according to 1 comprises a dashboard 2, a steering wheel 3, and several display instruments 5, such as a speedometer 6 and a tachometer 7, combined in an instrument cluster 4 arranged behind the steering wheel 3.

In addition, the motor vehicle has an input device 8 for the manual input of data for controlling vehicle functions and additional devices and a connected head-up display (HUD) 9 for displaying 10 the entered data in the windshield 11 in the driver's field of vision. The input device 8 is provided with a touch-sensitive input field (touch panel) 12 for handwritten input of data and has a character recognition system for evaluating the entered data. The input field 12 is located in a separate housing 13, which is arranged next to the steering wheel 3 and thus within reach of the driver and whose position and inclination can be adjusted by means of an (invisible) adjustable fastening device. The input field 12 has a tactile edge 16 thanks to a frame 15 protruding from the surface 14 of the input field 12. A function key field 18 is arranged in each of the corners 17 of the rectangular input field 12, a confirmation key field (“+” key field) 18a, a rejection key field (“-” key field) 18b, a “forward” key field 18c, and a “back” key field 18d, which are provided for controlling the data input process. The function key fields 18 can be identified without eye contact, on the one hand by their arrangement in the corners 17 of the input field 12 and on the other hand by a tactile surface structure 19, which in this case is realized by different protruding function symbols 20.

In 1 the manual input of a telephone number to be dialled from a built-in car telephone is now shown in plain text. The driver has entered the information "Tel.: 089 - 3820" by writing on the input field 12 with the fingertip 21 of the index finger 22 of his right hand 23, which is the telephone number of the applicant's telephone switchboard. For further processing, i.e. identification of this information by the associated character recognition system, he now moves the fingertip 21 to the confirmation keypad 18a with light pressure contact with the surface 14 of the input field 12 and presses it with increased pressure. The HUD 9 can be operated in a text mode to display the evaluated data in print. Therefore, the previously manually entered information appears after processing, i.e. identification by the character recognition system, as in 1 is shown in the HUD display 10 in block letters. By pressing the confirmation keypad 18a again, the recognized telephone number is then automatically dialed by the car phone. During the handwritten input and correction of data the HUD 9 can be operated in an image mode to display the entered data in plain text. In image mode, the information displayed in the HUD 9 is geometrically identical to the information entered in the input field 12, so that orientation within the input field 12 to enter further information or to delete existing information is particularly easy. In the example shown, the boundary 16' of the display field 24 and the function key fields 18' in the corners 17' of the display field 24 are shown in the HUD display 10 analogously to the geometry of the input field 12, which makes orientation within the input field 12 easier without eye contact, particularly in image mode.

In the illustration of 2 the motor vehicle has an information system with a central display (CID) 25, which is arranged in the middle of the dashboard 2. The central display 25 is designed as a touchscreen 26 and can also be used as an input field 12 of an input device 8 for manual data input. In contrast to the previous example, a menu control system with a selection menu 27 with several menu data fields 28 is provided for this purpose, so that the actual data input takes place by manually marking menu data fields 28.

In 2 is an example of the selection of one of several preset and saved radio stations. The corresponding radio station selection menu 27 is shown in a geometrically identical manner both in the HUD display 10 and in the touchscreen 26. To set a desired radio station, in this example “Bayern 3”, using a built-in audio system, the driver first orientates himself by touching the input field 12 with the fingertip 21 of the index finger 22 of his right hand 23 at any position 29, which is shown in the HUD display 10 by a flashing cursor 30. He then moves to the desired menu data field “Bayern 3” 28b with light pressure on the surface 14 of the input field 12 and briefly presses it with increased pressure. This activates the corresponding menu data field 28b and then appears in the HUD display 10 in inverse video. By pressing the same data field 28b again or by subsequently pressing the confirmation keypad 18a, the selection of the radio station is completed and the selected radio station is tuned into by the audio system.

By manually entering control data into the touch-sensitive input field 12 located within easy reach of the driver, whether in the form of manual plain text input or in the form of manual menu selection, and displaying the entered or selected data via the HUD 9 in the driver's field of vision, data entry is possible with a high degree of functional reliability and without eye contact with the operating elements of the input device 8, in contrast to known devices and methods. This results in not only relatively simple operation, but also increased road safety, since the driver does not have to look away from the outside traffic while entering data.

Claims (14)

Device for data input in a motor vehicle, with an input device (8) for manual input of data for controlling vehicle functions and/or additional devices, and with a display connected thereto for displaying the entered data in the driver's field of vision, wherein the input device (8) is provided with a touch-sensitive input field (12) for handwritten input of data and has a character recognition system for evaluating the entered data, and the display can be operated in a text mode for displaying the evaluated data in print, characterized in that the display is designed as a head-up display, HUD (9), and the HUD (9) for handwritten input and correction of data can also be operated in an image mode for displaying the entered data in plain text. Device according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the HUD (9) has the display of a cursor (30) for visualizing a current writing or key position (29) within the input field (12). Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the input field (12) is arranged within reach of the driver. Device according to Claim 3 , characterized in that the input field (12) is arranged in a separate housing (13) which is adjustable in its position and inclination by means of an adjustable fastening device. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in a built-in information system with a central display (CID) (25), the central display (25) is designed as a touchscreen (26) and can be used as an input field (12) for the manual input of data or for marking data fields. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the input field (12) has a tactile edge (16). Device according to Claim 6 , characterized in that the edge (16) is designed as a frame (15) protruding from the surface (14) of the input field (12). Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that within the input field (12) at least one function key field (18) which can be identified without visual contact is provided for controlling the data input process. Device according to Claim 8 , characterized in that the function key field (18) is arranged in a corner (17) of the input field (12) in a largely rectangular input field (12). Device according to Claim 8 or 9 , characterized in that the function key field (18) has a tactile surface structure (19). Method for data entry in a motor vehicle, in which data for controlling vehicle functions and/or additional devices are manually entered via an input device (8) and displayed in the driver's field of vision via a display connected thereto, wherein the data entry takes place by manually writing on a touch-sensitive input field (12) of the input device (8), the entered data are evaluated by means of an associated character recognition system, and the display is operated in a text mode after the handwritten input of data to display the evaluated data in print, characterized in that the display is designed as a head-up display, HUD (9), and the HUD (9) is operated in an image mode to display the entered data in plain text during the handwritten input and correction of data. Procedure according to Claim 11 , characterized in that the current writing or key position (29) within the input field (12) is displayed via the representation of a cursor (30) in the HUD (9). Procedure according to Claim 12 , characterized in that , in order to distinguish an orientation movement within the input field (12) from a data input into the input field (12), a slight pressure on the input field (12) is interpreted as an orientation input and the corresponding position (29) within the input field (12) is displayed by the representation of the cursor (29) in the HUD (9), and that an increased pressure on the input field (12) is interpreted as manual writing or manual marking of a data field of the input field (12) and the associated control function is executed. Method according to one of the Claims 11 until 13 , characterized in that the data input process is controlled via at least one function key field (18) arranged within the input field (12) and identifiable without visual contact.

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