Device and system for the temporary and anticipatory accentuation of at least one storage device located in a motor vehicle, and motor vehicle equipped therewith

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12036922-B2
Application number	US-202017790521-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 14, 2020
Priority date	Jan 3, 2020
Publication date	Jul 16, 2024
Grant date	Jul 16, 2024

Abstract

A device for temporary accentuation of a storage device that is located in the motor vehicle and is operatively connected to at least one accentuator includes a controller configured to operatively connect, at least temporarily, to the accentuator and to activate the accentuator, change or not change the accentuator during operation, or deactivate the accentuator on a basis of an accentuation signal output by a calculation means, wherein the accentuation signal represents accentuation interest information, and the accentuator, when deactivated, cannot be recognized as such by an observer.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A device for temporary accentuation of at least one storage device located in a motor vehicle, the device comprising:
a controller configured to:
at least temporarily operationally connect to an accentuator that is operationally connected to the storage device;

cause a change in an operation of the accentuator comprising at least one of:
causing the accentuator to be put into operation;
changing the accentuator during operation of the accentuator; or
causing the accentuator to be put out of operation,

wherein the controller is configured to cause the change in the operation of the accentuator on a basis of an accentuation signal output by a computation device,
wherein the accentuation signal represents an item of accentuation interest information originating from the past representing historical information about desired control of the accentuator by a user, wherein the item of accentuation interest information is stored in a data store operationally connected to the computation device and/or the controller,
wherein the accentuator is not recognizable as such by an observer in its state out of operation, and
wherein the computation device is operationally connected to a sensor, which is in turn configured to detect an approach, movement, and/or distance of an object to be transported in the storage device.

2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the accentuator has at least one of a light emitter configured to emit light and/or a sound output device configured to output at least one tone.

3. The device according to claim 2 , wherein the light emitter comprises at least one of an optical fiber, a light-emitting diode, a liquid crystal display, or a projector.

4. The device according to claim 2 , wherein the sound output device comprises a loudspeaker.

5. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor is configured to detect an approach, movement, and/or distance of at least one body part of the user.

6. The device according to claim 1 , further comprising the data store operationally connected to the computation device and/or the controller, in which items of accentuation interest information which are current are stored.

7. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to control the accentuator with respect to its operating time, operating duration, position, color, pattern, intensity, and/or range.

8. A system for temporary accentuation of the at least one storage device located in the motor vehicle, the system comprising:
the device according to claim 1 ; and
a first telecommunication device configured to at least temporarily operationally connect to the device and to output the items of accentuation interest information to the device.

9. The system according to claim 8 , further comprising:
a second telecommunication device located in the object to be transported, wherein the second telecommunication device is configured to operationally connect to the first telecommunication device.

10. A motor vehicle comprising:
the device according to claim 1 ; and
the at least one storage device operationally connected to the accentuator.

11. The motor vehicle according to claim 10 , wherein the at least one storage device is located in the motor vehicle interior and comprises at least one of a side pocket, a center console, an armrest, a foot rest, a cup holder, a mobile telephone tray, a coat hook, a pocket, a drawer, a tensioning device, or a band at least partially enclosing at least one window surface.

12. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the accentuator has an actuator configured to change a surface formation of the storage device.

13. The device according to claim 12 , wherein the actuator comprises at least one of a gearing device, a hydraulic adjustor, or a pneumatic adjustor.

14. A method for temporarily accentuating at least one storage device located in a motor vehicle, the method comprising:
receiving, by a controller, an accentuation signal output by a computation device, wherein the accentuation signal represents an item of accentuation interest information originating from the past representing historical information about desired control of the accentuator by a user, wherein the item of accentuation interest information is stored in a data store operationally connected to the computation device and/or the controller;
detecting, by a sensor operationally connected to the computation device, an approach, movement, and/or distance of an object to be transported;
connecting, by the controller, at least temporarily operationally, to an accentuator that is operationally connected to the storage device; and
causing, by the controller, a change in an operation of the accentuator on a basis of the accentuation signal output by the computation device comprising to provide an indication of the at least one storage device as a location in which to store the object to be transported, wherein the change in the operation of the accentuator comprises at least one of:
causing the accentuator to be put into operation;
changing the accentuator during operation of the accentuator; or
causing the accentuator to be put out of operation,

wherein the accentuator is not recognizable as such by an observer in its state out of operation.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the accentuator has at least one of a light emitter configured to emit light and/or a sound output device configured to output at least one tone.

16. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
detecting, by the sensor, an approach, movement, and/or distance of at least one body part of a user.

17. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
storing items of accentuation interest information which are current in the data store, the computation device and/or the controller.

18. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
controlling, by the controller, the accentuator with respect to its operating time, operating duration, position, color, pattern, intensity, and/or range.

19. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
changing a surface formation of the at least one storage device using an actuator.

20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising:
changing the surface formation of the at least one storage device using at least one of a gearing device, a hydraulic adjustor, or a pneumatic adjustor.

Assignees

• Bayerische Motoren Werke Ag

Inventors

• Davy Elsa
• Sorokin Lenja

Classifications

• B60R7/04 Primary

  in driver or passenger space {, e.g. using racks (B60R7/005, B60R7/08 take precedence)} · CPC title

• B60Q3/217

  Doors, e.g. door sills; Steps · CPC title

• B60Q3/225

  Small compartments, e.g. glove compartments · CPC title

• B60R16/02

  electric {constitutive elements} · CPC title

• B60Q3/80 Primary

  Circuits; Control arrangements (for dashboards B60Q3/16; for mass transit vehicles B60Q3/47) · CPC title