Apparatus and method for assisting a user

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016193976-A1
Application number	US-201514972960-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 17, 2015
Priority date	Jan 2, 2015
Publication date	Jul 7, 2016
Grant date	—

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 method for assisting a user prior to activating a switch for electric motor adjustment of a component of a transportation means, the method comprising the steps:
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.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the function includes one or more of a seat adjustment, a mirror adjustment, a sun roof adjustment, and an adjustment of a sun screen.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the prompt is put out on a screen or generated by a lighting means disposed on the first switch.

4 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the prompt is put out on a screen or generated by a lighting means disposed on the first switch.

5 . The method of claim 4 , further comprising recognizing of a user gesture performed under contact with a surface of the switch in a detection area in front of the switch and, in response, putting out a control command coordinated with the input to an electric motor for the adjustment of the component.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising recognizing of a user gesture performed under contact with a surface of the switch in a detection area in front of the switch and, in response, putting out a control command coordinated with the input to an electric motor for the adjustment of the component.

7 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the prompt comprises an image of one or more of a seat, a mirror, a sun roof, a sun screen, and reveals a function of the component coordinated with the switch.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the prompt is put out on a screen and wherein the method further comprises detecting an input regarding the prompt by means of a detection device coordinated with the screen and putting out a control command coordinated with the input to an electric motor for adjustment of the component.

9 . The method of claim 1 , 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 included in the transportation means.

10 . A device comprising:
a first switch for the electric motorized adjustment of a first component of a transportation means, and a first proximity sensor which is disposed to recognize an approaching of a user to the first switch and in response sends a signal to display a prompt to a function coordinated with the first switch.

11 . The device of claim 10 , further comprising an evaluation unit and an input device for recognizing of a user gesture performed under contact with a surface of the first switch in a detection area in front of the first switch, wherein the evaluation unit is designed to put out a control command coordinated with the input to an electric motor for adjustment of the component in response to a predefined user gesture.

12 . The device of claim 10 , further comprising a second switch which is provided for the electric motorized adjustment of a second component of the transportation means and a second proximity sensor which is disposed to recognize an approaching of a user to the second switch and in response sends a signal to display a prompt to a function coordinated with the second switch.

13 . The device of claim 12 , further comprising an evaluation unit and an input device for recognizing of a user gesture performed under contact with a surface of the first switch in a detection area in front of the first switch, wherein the evaluation unit is designed to put out a control command coordinated with the input to an electric motor for adjustment of the component in response to a predefined user gesture.

14 . The device of claim 13 , further comprising a lighting means and a diaphragm disposed above the first switch or next to the first switch, wherein the diaphragm has a translucent region shaped in the form of a pictogram and the lighting means is designed to scatter light through the diaphragm in response to a control signal of the first proximity sensor.

15 . The device of claim 10 , further comprising a screen for the display of the prompt and a touch sensitive surface coordinated with the screen being designed to trigger, in response to an activating of an operating element depicted on the screen, a control command to produce a position of the component corresponding to the control command.

16 . The device of claim 14 , further comprising a screen for the display of the prompt and a touch sensitive surface coordinated with the screen being designed to trigger, in response to an activating of an operating element depicted on the screen, a control command to produce a position of the component corresponding to the control command.

17 . The device of claim 16 , 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 included in the transportation means.

18 . The device of claim 17 , wherein the proximity sensor comprises one or more of a capacitive sensor, an optical sensor, and an ultrasound sensor.

19 . The device of claim 10 , 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 included in the transportation means.

20 . The device of claim 10 , further comprising a transportation means.

Assignees

• Volkswagen Ag

Inventors

• Wild Holger
• Kotter Nils

Classifications

• G06F3/017

  Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures (interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883) · CPC title

• G06F3/04883

  for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text · CPC title

• G06F3/04847

  Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials · CPC title

• H03K2217/960755

  Constructional details of capacitive touch and proximity switches · CPC title

• B60R16/02 Primary

  electric {constitutive elements} · CPC title