Apparatus and method for assisting a user

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10821925-B2
Application number	US-201514972960-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 17, 2015
Priority date	Jan 2, 2015
Publication date	Nov 3, 2020
Grant date	Nov 3, 2020

Abstract

A device and method for providing support to a user prior to activating a switch to electromotively adjust a component of a transportation means is disclosed. The transportation means and a device and a method for assisting a user prior to an activating of a switch for electric motor adjustment of a component of a transportation means are disclosed. The method comprises the steps of recognizing of an approach of the user to a first switch and in response displaying of a prompt to a function coordinated with the first switch.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A device comprising:
a first electromechanical switch for controlling a first electric motorized adjustment of a position of a first component of a transportation vehicle; and
a first proximity sensor configured and positioned to recognize a first approaching of a user to the first switch and, in response, generate a first signal triggering an optical display of a first prompt with regard to a function associated with the first switch;
an input device configured to recognize a detected input of the user in response to the first prompt, wherein the recognized detected user's input is a predefined user gesture carried out under contact with a surface of the first switch and/or in a detection region in front of the first switch;
an evaluation unit configured in response to the pre-defined user gesture to, without or prior to operation of the first switch, output a control command associated with the pre-defined user gesture to an electric motor to adjust the first component based on the predefined user gesture.

2. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a second electromechanical switch for a second electric motorized adjustment of a second component of the transportation vehicle and a second proximity sensor which is configured and positioned to recognize a second approaching of the user to the second switch and, in response, generate a second signal triggering an optical display of a second prompt, the second prompt in a form of the second component, wherein the optical display of the second prompt is highlighted in a summary of several components, so as to provide optical feedback data of the second switch's capability of controlling a second function of the second component.

3. The device of claim 2 , further comprising a screen configured to display the first prompt and the second prompt and wherein the evaluation unit is further configured to generate the control command in response to user activation of an operating element depicted on a touch sensitive surface coordinated with the screen, wherein the control command adjusts the position of the first component or second component of the transportation vehicle.

4. The device of claim 3 , wherein at least one of the first switch and the second switch is installed on one or more of a seat, a mirror triangle, and a roof module for operation of a sun roof of the transportation vehicle.

5. The device of claim 2 , wherein the first or second proximity sensor comprises one or more of a capacitive sensor, an optical sensor, and an ultrasound sensor.

6. The device of claim 2 , wherein at least one of the first switch and the second switch is designed for installation on one or more of a seat, a mirror triangle, and a roof module for operation of a sun roof of the transportation vehicle.

7. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a light and a diaphragm disposed over the first switch or next to the first switch,
wherein the diaphragm having a translucent region in a form of a pictogram, and
wherein the light is positioned and configured to emit light through the diaphragm in response to a control signal generated by the first proximity sensor.

8. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a screen configured to display the first prompt and a touch sensitive surface coordinated with the screen to generate the control command in response to user activation of an operating element depicted on the screen, wherein the control command adjusts the position of the first component of the transportation vehicle.

9. The device of claim 8 , wherein the operating element depicted on the screen is of a vehicle seat with a superimposed slider control element having an indicator configured to be slid by the user to cause the evaluation unit to issue a third control command coordinated with a third input to the electric motor for adjustment of the first component.

10. The device of claim 9 , wherein the screen includes a central information display and a display region spaced apart from the central information display and the device further comprises a capacitive slider located between the central information display and the display region and the capacitive slider is configured to be activated by the user to cause the evaluation unit to issue a fourth control command coordinated with a fourth input to the electric motor for adjustment of the first component.

11. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first electric motorized adjustment is made by a pointwise entry without operation of the first switch by the user during adjustment of the first component.

12. The device of claim 11 , wherein the input device is configured to detect 3D gestures.

13. The device of claim 12 , wherein the first proximity sensor comprises a camera configured to recognize a hand or other body part of the user as part of the recognition of the first approaching of the user.

14. The device of claim 1 , wherein the evaluation unit outputs the control command automatically in response to the predefined user gesture without operation of the first switch during adjustment of the first component.

15. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first proximity sensor includes a camera for recognizing the first approaching of the user, wherein a recognized approaching is an approaching of a hand or other body part of the user, and wherein, the input device is configured to detect 3D gestures made by a user's hand or other body part.

16. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first switch is not a capacitive surface.

17. The device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a user interface which covers the first switch, the user interface including a board;
the input device including a capacitive sensor arranged on the board and configured to recognize approach, touch, and swiping gestures of the user;
an opaque cover having a symbol defined by a translucent region of the cover;
an LED lighting means located between the board and the opaque cover;
and an optical fiber located between the board and the opaque cover and configured to provide light scattering from the LED lighting means to the cover.

18. The device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a screen for the display of the first prompt; and
a touch sensitive surface coordinated with the screen and configured to trigger, in response to user activation, activation of an operating element depicted on the screen, and a second control command to adjust the position of the first component of the transportation vehicle corresponding to the second control command; and,
wherein the operating element depicted on the screen is of a vehicle seat with a superimposed slider control element having an indicator configured to be slid by the user to cause the evaluation unit to output a third control command coordinated with a third input to the electric motor for adjustment of the first component.

Assignees

• Volkswagen Ag

Inventors

• Wild Holger
• Kotter Nils

Classifications

• B60K35/26

  using acoustic output · CPC title

• B60K35/22

  Display screens · CPC title

• B60K35/29

  Instruments characterised by the way in which information is handled, e.g. showing information on plural displays or prioritising information according to driving conditions · CPC title

• B60N2/0233

  Touchscreens · CPC title

• B60N2/0239

  using movement detection or gesture recognition · CPC title