User interface and method for assisting a user with the operation of an operating unit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016239261-A1
Application number	US-201315025526-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 27, 2013
Priority date	Sep 27, 2013
Publication date	Aug 18, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

User interface and process to support a user in the operation of a touch-sensitive control unit. A presence of a means of input, such as a finger of the user, is detected in a predefined first area relative to the control unit. In response to the detection, an acknowledgement may be produced via a predefined first audio output including a first sound sign, which is associated in a context-specific manner with a button displayed on the control unit.

First claim

1 - 10 . (canceled)

11 . A method of operating a touch-sensitive operator control unit, comprising:
displaying a graphical symbol on the operator control unit; detecting the presence of input means in a predefined first area in front of the operator control unit in an area of the displayed graphical symbol, wherein the predefined first area comprises an area parallel to a surface of the operator control unit; and generating a predefined first audio output comprising a context-specific sound associated with the graphical display symbol in response to the detected presence of the input means.

12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
displaying a second graphical symbol on the operator control unit; detecting the presence of input means in a predefined second area in front of the operator control unit in an area of the displayed second graphical symbol, wherein the predefined second area comprises an area parallel to a surface of the operator control unit; and generating a predefined second audio output comprising a second context-specific sound associated with the second graphical display symbol in response to the detected presence of the input means.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the predefined first area and the predefined second area comprise a distance of −1 mm to +100 mm from the surface of the control unit.

14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the predefined first area and the predefined second area comprise a distance of −1 mm to +30 mm, from the surface of the control unit.

15 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
displaying another graphical symbol on the operator control unit; detecting a movement of the input means from the predefined first area to another predefined area relative to the control unit; and generating another predefined audio output comprising a context-specific sound associated with the another graphical symbol in response to the detected movement of the input means.

16 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the predefined first audio output comprises at least one of:
a click sound of a first frequency; a click sound of a second frequency lower than the first frequency; a sound of thunder; a sound of rain; a sound of wind; a sequence of DTMF tones; a dial tone; a SONAR sound.

17 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising generating another graphical symbol on the operator control unit in response to the detected presence of the input means.

18 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the predefined first audio output associated with the graphical display symbol is assigned by a user.

19 . A Human Machine Interface installed in a motor vehicle, comprising:
a touch-sensitive operator control unit configured to display a graphical symbol on the operator control unit; a detection device configured to detect the presence of input means in a predefined first area in front of the operator control unit in an area of the displayed graphical symbol, wherein the predefined first area comprises an area parallel to a surface of the operator control unit; and a processing device, operatively coupled to the detection device and the operator control unit, wherein the processing device is configured to generate a predefined first audio output comprising a context-specific sound associated with the graphical display symbol in response to the detected presence of the input means.

20 . The Human Machine Interface of claim 19 , wherein the operator control unit is built in to the center of a dashboard of the motor vehicle.

21 . The Human Machine Interface of claim 19 , wherein the detection device comprises a camera system and/or a capacitive sensor.

22 . The Human Machine Interface of claim 19 , wherein
the touch-sensitive operator control unit is further configured to display a second graphical symbol on the operator control unit; the detection device is configured to detect the presence of input means in a predefined second area in front of the operator control unit in an area of the displayed second graphical symbol, wherein the predefined second area comprises an area parallel to a surface of the operator control unit; and the processing device is configured to generate a predefined second audio output comprising a second context-specific sound associated with the second graphical display symbol in response to the detected presence of the input means.

23 . The Human Machine Interface of claim 22 , wherein the predefined first area and the predefined second area comprise a distance of −1 mm to +100 mm from the surface of the control unit.

24 . The Human Machine Interface of claim 22 , wherein the predefined first area and the predefined second area comprise a distance of −1 mm to +30 mm, from the surface of the control unit.

25 . The Human Machine Interface of claim 19 , wherein
the touch-sensitive operator control unit is further configured to display another graphical symbol on the operator control unit; the detection device is configured to detect a movement of the input means from the predefined first area to another predefined area relative to the control unit; and the processing device is configured to generate another predefined audio output comprising a context-specific sound associated with the another graphical symbol in response to the detected movement of the input means.

26 . The Human Machine Interface of claim 19 , wherein the predefined first audio output comprises at least one of:
a click sound of a first frequency; a click sound of a second frequency lower than the first frequency; a sound of thunder; a sound of rain; a sound of wind; a sequence of DTMF tones; a dial tone; a SONAR sound.

27 . The Human Machine Interface of claim 19 , wherein the processing device is further configured to generate another graphical symbol on the operator control unit in response to the detected presence of the input means.

28 . The Human Machine Interface of claim 19 , wherein the predefined first audio output associated with the graphical display symbol is assigned by a user.

Assignees

• Volkswagen Ag

Inventors

• Wild Holger
• Czelnik Mark Peter
• Seitz Gordon

Classifications

• B60K35/22

  Display screens · CPC title

• B60K35/26

  using acoustic output · CPC title

• G06F3/167 Primary

  Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback · CPC title

• G06F3/044

  by capacitive means · CPC title

• G06F3/0488

  using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures · CPC title