Patent Abstract:
A human machine interface includes a knob with an integrated electronic display located in the center of the knob. The knob may be used for operation with multiple functions corresponding to a menu on the electronic display. A plurality of buttons are located about the knob in the form of a circle and correspond to menu selections provided on the display.

Full Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application No. 60/620,600, filed Oct. 20, 2004, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention generally relates to a human machine interface (“HMI”) for a vehicle and more particularly for an HMI for a vehicle.  
         [0004]     2. Description of Related Art  
         [0005]     Generally, interface designs try to maintain a one-to-one relationship between the controls and functions of the interface. Maximizing the one-to-one relationship of the functions to the controls of an interface provides intuitive navigation and improves ease of use of the system. In practice, many interfaces have buttons that control multiple functions of the interface by graphically associating the buttons with menu choices on a common display.  
         [0006]     Today the number of controls for many interface units is limited by the cost of creating individual buttons and controls for each function. Additionally, as the number of controls increase, the space required for the additional controls translates into higher cost and creates implementation problems for the design engineers. Often budget and space constraints drive a reduction in interface optimization, even for high end customers.  
         [0007]     In view of the above, it is apparent that there exists a need for an improved human machine interface.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0008]     In satisfying the above need, as well as overcoming the enumerated drawbacks and other limitations of the related art, the present invention provides such an improved human machine interface.  
         [0009]     The human machine interface (HMI) includes a large ring knob with an integrated display, in the center of the ring knob, for operation with multiple functions. A plurality of buttons are located about the ring knob in the form of a circle and correspond to menu selections provided on the display. In addition, a finger rest is located above the ring knob for hand stabilization during use of the ring knob or buttons.  
         [0010]     A proximity sensor is provided to sense user motion proximate the HMI unit. The proximity sensor signals a controller to copy content from the integrated display to a multifunction display in the instrument cluster or a heads up display to enable blind operation. In addition, a touch sensor is integrated on the ring knob to enlarge the adjustment display upon user contact. To avoid confusion of the driver, an enlarged display of the control function currently being manipulated is provided to the user. In addition, the enlarged display may include a symbol corresponding to the control function being manipulated. A portion of the background or other part of the display may be “filled-in”, where the fill area corresponds to the setting or level of the current control function. The background filling provides maximum visualization to the user and is easily rationalized by analogy, such as, the filling of a glass with water.  
         [0011]     Menu buttons are provided for each function category. Preferably, each category function has no more than two menus per menu button. Two menus per button, allows the user to return to the desired main menu with one activation of any menu button. This enables an easily learnable HMI and reduces driver distraction while manipulating menus.  
         [0012]     An arrangement of four ring segment buttons is provided around the display and ring knob. The operation of each button is supported by a visual feedback including the activation feedback and status feedback within the associated quarter segments of the round display integrated into the ring knob. Using a round display allows more styling flexibility and the division of the circle into four quarters provides a clean way for associating the four control functions to the four buttons that can be operated simultaneously. To provide further styling, the layout of the four ring segment buttons appear as a single ring or circle in the HMI unit.  
         [0013]     In an additional embodiment, the HMI unit is a panel that can be flipped up to provide access to a storage unit behind the HMI controls. This area is usually used for audio or climate control electronics, and as such the audio and climate control electronics can be located elsewhere in the car and remotely operated by the HMI unit. In addition, a storage unit in the center console is a preferred location for personal storage because it can be accessed while driving. Typical storage units are much further away from the driver&#39;s view, such as, the glove box or under a seat. Further, wireless data streaming may be used to communicate with mobile consumer and communication electronics located in the storage unit. A transmitter/receiver may be integrated to the storage unit and connected to a controller to wirelessly integrate the function of stored electronics into the vehicle electronic system.  
         [0014]     For each function category, the HMI includes a set of dedicated controls. In addition, some controls are multiplexed to manipulate functions belonging to all function categories. The layout of the HMI is designed such that controls corresponding to each function category are contained in a unique region and multiplexed controls associated with multiple categories are located between each of the unique regions. As such, the driver can build a mental model of the control elements, because the functional groups are in separate areas. Further, the display color including a ring light or menu accents are manipulated to be consistent with the currently active function category. Each function category has a predefined color which may be altered based on daylight or nighttime illumination.  
         [0015]     In addition, each of the knobs include a unique tactile indicator, for differentiation by feel. The tactile indicator may include the profile of the knob surface which is different for each knob. Using unique knob surface profiles is a cost effective solution to enable blind operation of the controls and improved differentiation for a number of similarly styled control knobs.  
         [0016]     Further objects, features and advantages of this invention will become readily apparent to persons skilled in the art after a review of the following description, with reference to the drawings and claims that are appended to and form a part of this specification. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0017]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of an HMI unit in accordance with the principles of the present invention;  
         [0018]      FIG. 2  is a schematic view of an HMI unit in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0019]      FIG. 3  is a front perspective view illustrating use of a finger rest in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0020]      FIG. 4  is a front perspective view illustrating activation of the touch sensor in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0021]      FIGS. 5A, 5B  and  5 C are a front view of the integrated display illustrating an enlarged display with background filled-in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0022]      FIG. 6  is a schematic view of the menu control of the HMI in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0023]      FIGS. 7A and 7B  is a front view of the electronic display illustrating visual confirmation of control manipulation in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0024]      FIG. 8  is a front perspective view illustrating use of the proximity sensor in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0025]      FIG. 9  is a front perspective view of the HMI unit and a instrument cluster illustrating remote display of the HMI display information in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0026]      FIG. 10  is a front perspective view illustrating the first region containing controls associated with a first function category in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0027]      FIG. 11  is a front perspective view illustrating the second region containing controls associated with a second function category in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0028]      FIG. 12  is a front perspective view of the HMI unit including a storage unit in accordance with the present invention; and  
         [0029]      FIG. 13  is a front perspective view of the HMI unit including an integrated air register unit in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0030]     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a human machine interface (HMI) unit embodying the principles of the present invention is illustrated therein and designated at  10 . The HMI unit  10  includes various controls, an integrated display and a controller in communication with both the controls and display.  
         [0031]     One control comprises a first knob  12  located central to the HMI unit  10  and includes an integrated electronic display  16 . The first knob  12  includes a rotatable ring portion  14  located about the electronic display  16 . The rotatable ring portion  14  has finger grips  17 , preferably a tacky material for improved manipulation of the first knob  12 . Positioned immediately above the first knob  12  and partially extends around the first knob  12  is a protrusion  15 . As such, the protrusion  15  is available to the user as a finger rest allowing hand stabilization as the user manipulates the first knob  12 , as illustrated in  FIG. 3 .  
         [0032]     The first knob  12  also includes a touch sensor  40 , to determine when the first knob  12  is being touched by the user as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . A controller  46 , in communication with the touch sensor  40 , is configured to alter the information provided on the electronic display  16  based on the touch sensor  40 . The information may be altered such that display information related to the controlled setting may be formatted to temporarily occupy the full display area. In addition, the information may include graphics indicating the setting for the function of the first knob  12 .  
         [0033]     One example of the graphics provided to the electronic display  16  is depicted in  FIG. 5 . If the first knob  12  is configured to control the treble selection of an audio device, when the first knob  12  is touched the electronic display  16  may be altered to include additional information or formatting about the treble selection. For example, the electronic display  16  may include a treble cleft symbol  66  indicating the treble selection is being manipulated. The symbol  66  may be an illuminated outline of the symbol with textual naming of the control function across the bottom of the electronic display  16 . The controller  46  may further be configured to control the electronic display  16  and provide visual indicators showing the level of the current setting. For example, along the top of the display, a box graph  68  may be provided to indicate the current treble setting. An animated filling of the boxes on the box graph  68  provides a somewhat linear indication of the treble setting. Further, an animated filling of the background  70  around the symbol provides an alternative or additional area based visual indication of the current setting. If the treble setting is half way between the maximum and minimum treble setting, the background  70  would be half filled, as seen in  FIG. 5C . Similarly, a treble setting one quarter of the way toward the maximum treble setting would result in the background  70  being one quarter filled, as seen in  FIG. 5B . In addition, the filled portion may also be indicated by a change in color, brightness, or other visual characteristic.  
         [0034]     Ring segment buttons  22 ,  24 ,  26 ,  28  are located around the first knob  12 . In the embodiment shown, there are four ring segment buttons. The ring segment buttons are in the shape of an arc and are located in a circular arrangement around the first knob  12 . The ring segment buttons may extent around the first knob  12  such that the ring segment buttons appear as a continuous circle surrounding the first knob  12 . The four ring segment buttons  22 ,  24 ,  26 ,  28  are in communication with the controller  46  and are coordinated with the electronic display  16 , such that, the function of each button is indicated in an adjacent quadrant of the electronic display  16 . Further, the function of each button may change based on the menu or control mode of the HMI unit  10 .  
         [0035]     The HMI unit  10  also includes at least two menu buttons  18 ,  20 . The menu buttons  18 ,  20  allow the user to index through menus for a category of functions. As shown, the HMI unit  10  includes a first menu button  18  for accessing comfort functions and a second menu button  20  for accessing audio functions. Preferably, each menu button indexes through four menus  72 ,  74 ,  76 ,  78  that assign functionality to the ring segment buttons and the rotatable ring portion  14  of the first knob  12 . As such, any menu may be accessed with two presses of an associated menu button, as shown in  FIG. 6 . The menu buttons may be color coded, for example, red for audio and blue for comfort. The menu colors or accents may also correspond to the color theme for the associated menu categories (comfort or audio). In addition a ring light located proximate the first knob may be provided to illuminate a portion of the HMI unit in a color corresponding to the current menu category.  
         [0036]     Illustratively, the first menu button  18  provides the user with the ability to manipulate comfort functions. If the first menu button  18  is pressed once, the most important comfort functions would be provided to the user. Generally, these functions would include functions such as AUTO/MANUAL, RECIRCULATION ON/OFF, BLOWER ON/OFF, AC ON/OFF. The electronic display  16  provides indicia in each of the four quadrants of the display area indicating either the function or the status of each function controlled by the corresponding ring-segment button. When the ring-segment button is pressed the corresponding quadrant of the electronic display is highlighted  79 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , the information in the corresponding quadrant is inverted (bright background and dark lettering) as the button is depressed. Further, the quadrant remains outlined using a bold line  80  while the function remains active.  
         [0037]     The buttons may directly toggle the setting for the function and update the electronic display  16 . For example, the upper left quadrant of the electronic display  16  includes indicia indicating the status of the MANUAL/AUTO temperature function. If the status was AUTO, “AUTO” would be displayed in the upper left quadrant of the electronic display  16 . Pressing the upper left ring-segment button  22  would index the status of the MANUAL/AUTO function and update the indicia on the electronic display  16 . Therefore, if the status was AUTO and the upper left ring-segment button  22  were pressed, the status would index to MANUAL and “MAN” would be displayed in the upper left quadrant of the electronic display  16 .  
         [0038]     In addition, other sections of the electronic display, including the middle and periphery of the screen, may show, on demand information such as, Radio Data System (RDS) information, reception frequency, selected temperature, volume, or other useful variables.  
         [0039]     Similar to the MANUAL/AUTO function, the upper right ring segment button  24  would index the recirculation ON/OFF setting. While the lower left ring segment button and lower right ring segment button would index the status of AC ON/OFF and BLOWER ON/OFF functions respectively.  
         [0040]     Pressing the menu button  18  a second time will provide a menu including additional functions relating to the comfort category. This menu will specifically include functions related to air distribution and seat heating controls. Pressing the upper left ring segment button  22  increases the driver&#39;s seat heat and pressing the upper right segment button  24  increases the passenger&#39;s seat heat. Similarly, pressing the lower left ring segment button  26  decreases the driver&#39;s seat heat and pressing the lower right segment button  28  decreases the passenger&#39;s seat heat. In addition, rotation of the first knob  12  controls the air distribution settings. Further the electronic display  16  includes symbols indicating the function of each corresponding ring segment button.  
         [0041]     The second menu button  20  provides the user with the ability to manipulate audio functions. If the second menu button  20  is pressed once, the menu will provide the user with an audio source selection. The upper left quadrant of the electronic display includes an “FM” indicator indicating the upper left ring selection button  22  controls the “FM” source selection. To visually confirm the upper left ring segment button  22  has been pressed, the “FM” in the upper left quadrant of the electronic display will be inverted. Pressing the upper left ring-segment button  22  would select the FM audio source. To continuously indicate the FM sources selection, the “FM” on the electronic display will be highlighted. These visual confirmations are depicted in  FIGS. 7A and 7B .  
         [0042]     After the FM audio source has been selected, the ring segment buttons may be used for additional functions relating to the FM audio source. For example, the upper left ring button  22  may be used for a traffic program on/off function. The upper right ring segment button  24  may be used for an auto search on/off function. While the lower left and lower right ring segment buttons  26 ,  28  may be used for seek down and seek up functions, respectively. In addition, the rotatable ring portion of the first knob  12  may be used to control manual tuning of radio. Unused portions of the electronic display may be used to provide related information, such as the current reception frequency.  
         [0043]     Referring again to the menu provided after the pressing the second menu control button  20 , the upper right quadrant includes a “CD” designation indicating the upper right ring segment button  24  selects the CD audio source. Accordingly, if the upper right ring segment button  24  is selected, the ring segment buttons may be used for CD related control functions.  
         [0044]     The lower left quadrant includes an “AM” designation indicating the lower left ring segment button  26  selects the AM radio audio source. Accordingly, if the lower left ring segment button  26  is selected, the ring segment buttons may be used for AM radio related control functions.  
         [0045]     The lower right quadrant includes an “AUX” designation indicating the lower right ring segment button  28  selects the AUX audio source. Accordingly, if the lower right ring segment button  28  is selected, the ring segment buttons may be used for auxiliary related control functions.  
         [0046]     For each of the above audio sources, unused portions of the electronic display may be used to provide related information including on/off status, station, song title, artist information, etc.  
         [0047]     Pressing the second menu button  20  a second time will provide a menu including additional functions relating to the audio category. This menu may specifically include functions related to sound control. For example, pressing the upper left ring segment button  22  selects the treble function. After the treble function is selected, the rotation of the first knob  12  adjusts the current treble settings. Pressing the upper right segment button  24  will select the bass function. The rotation of the first knob  12  therefore adjusts the current bass settings, after the bass function has been selected. Similarly, pressing the lower left ring segment button  26  selects the balance function and pressing the lower right segment button  28  selects the fade function. After the balance or fade function is selected, the rotation of the first knob  12  adjusts the current balance or fade setting respectively. If none of the functions on the menu are selected then the rotation of the first knob  12  has no effect. Further the electronic display includes symbols in each quadrant indicating the function of each corresponding ring segment button.  
         [0048]     Referring now to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the HMI unit  10  includes a proximity sensor configured to detect if the users hand is approaching the HMI unit  10 . The controller  46  is in communication with the proximity sensor  42  and configured to display information related the HMI unit  10  on an additional display unit. In one instance, the display information is provided to the main instrument cluster  48  located in front of the driver. In another instance, the display information may be provided to a heads-up display  50  and projected into the driver&#39;s field of view. The projected display information  82  may be a duplicate of the information provided in the electronic display  16  and may even have the same graphical format. Alternatively, the information may be reformatted to better utilize the display area of the additional display unit.  
         [0049]     The HMI unit  10  includes four additional knobs  30 ,  32 ,  34 ,  36  located about the first knob  12 . Each of the additional knobs is in communication with the controller  16 . Each knob is rotatable and includes integrated push button capability, such that the knob will provide the controller  46  a signal when the knob is depressed. Two of the knobs, knobs  30 ,  32 , are located above the first knob  12  and may control primarily audio related functions. As such, an audio control area  86  is defined where the primary audio controls are located above the first knob  12 , as indicated in  FIG. 11 . Similarly, the other two knobs, knobs  34 ,  36 , may control comfort related functions and define a comfort control area  84  below the first knob  12 , as indicated in  FIG. 10 . Further, each knob includes a unique tactile indicator for differentiation by feel. The unique tactile indicator may include a unique knob surface profile or knob geometry. The discussion that follows is illustrative of how the knobs  30 ,  32 ,  34  and  36  may be employed.  
         [0050]     The knob  30  is located on the upper left of the first knob and is configured to control the volume of the audio system when rotated. Pressing the knob  30  toggles the audio system on and off.  
         [0051]     The knob  32  is located on the upper right side of the first knob  12 . Rotating the knob  32  controls the station selection or title selection depending on the active audio input device. One short push on the knob  32  causes the controller  46  to scan the station or skip the current song. A sustained push of the knob  32  would cause the controller  46  to store the station or add the current title to a play list.  
         [0052]     The knob  34  is located on the lower left of the first knob  12 . The knob  34  is rotated to control the desired temperature for the driver of the vehicle. Pressing the knob  34  also activates a windshield demist function.  
         [0053]     Located on the lower right of the first knob  12  is the knob  36 . Rotating the knob  36  controls the desired temperature for the passenger of the vehicle. The knob  36  also activates rear window heating when pressed.  
         [0054]     A storage unit  60  may be located behind the HMI unit  10  such that the face of the HMI unit  10  acts a cover for the storage unit  60 . To access the storage unit  60 , the face of the HMI unit  10  flips upwardly, as shown in  FIG. 12 , or alternatively downward. The storage unit  60  may include a cross sectional area as large as the face of the HMI unit  10  or larger. The storage unit  60  is in communication with the controller  46  to communicate with a personal device located in the storage unit  60 . For example, if a PDA (personal digital assistant) or similar device is located in the storage unit, the storage unit  60  may include a transmitter/receiver  62  to wirelessly communicate with the PDA. One such wireless communication technology is Bluetooth™. The controller  46  may communicate with the personal device to access information, such as songs, for playing in the vehicle entertainment system, contact information for use in phone or navigation systems, or various other application software to provide trip information for expense software or text or verbal information for word processing.  
         [0055]     As shown in  FIG. 13 , the HMI unit  10  also includes an integrated air register unit  90  with an audio CD drive  92  and hazard warning  94  switch. The integrated air register unit  90  provides for improved space usage and unique styling options.  
         [0056]     As a person skilled in the art will readily appreciate, the above description is meant as an illustration of the principles this invention. This description is not intended to limit the scope or application of this invention in that the invention is susceptible to modification, variation and change, without departing from spirit of this invention, as defined in the following claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 6