Patent application EP19173590A (EP), filed 2019-05-09
Publication number: EP3736163A1
Title: A CONTEXTUAL BASED USER INTERFACE
Abstract: The disclosed subject matter generally relates to a contextual based control interface system for a driver of a vehicle. The proposed control interface system provides for a user to provide user input to more than one function, or sub-system of the vehicle using a single input device. A display shows the selectable options for a present vehicle sub-system based on a present usage context. In other words, if a vehicle sub-system or a specific function is selected, the selectable control options for that vehicle sub-system is shown on the display. The displayed selectable options are visually distributed in the same way as the at least two user input zones. Thus, the user does not have to direct his/her line of sight directly onto the input device in order to understand how to move the finger to select one of the selectable options. The user input zones may be separated by 3-dimensional structures that provide guidance for the user's finger when moving it across the input device.
IPC codes: B60K  35/    10            A I
B62D   1/    04            A I
Claims: number: 1
text: A control interface system adapted to provide control of a vehicle subsystem to a driver of a vehicle, the control interface system comprises:
number: 2
text: The control interface system according to claim 1, wherein the input device includes three vertically disposed user input zones.
number: 3
text: The control interface system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the input device includes three horizontally disposed user input zones.
number: 4
text: The control interface system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein adjacent user input zones are separated by ridges or grooves.
number: 5
text: The control interface system according to claim 4, wherein horizontally disposed user input zones are separated by vertical ridges or grooves, and vertically disposed user input zones are separated by horizontal ridges or grooves.
number: 6
text: The control interface system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the present usage context is determined based on a user selected function.
number: 7
text: The control interface according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first user input is an initial touch input, and the second user input is a force touch provided as an increased force compared to the initial touch input.
number: 8
text: The control interface system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the input device includes a haptic feedback device, wherein the second user input is a force touch, whereby the haptic feedback device input is configured to generate a haptic feedback in response to the forced touch.
number: 9
text: The control interface system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the display device is a head-up display or a separate driver interface module display.
number: 10
text: The control interface system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the input device is included in a steering wheel.
number: 11
text: A method for controlling a vehicle subsystem through a control interface system, the method comprising:
number: 12
text: The method according to claim 11, comprising:
number: 13
text: A control unit configured to:
number: 14
text: The control unit according to claim 13, configured to:
number: 15
text: A computer program product comprising a computer readable medium having stored thereon computer program means for controlling a control interface system for a driver of a vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the computer program product comprises:
Office action: search_report, dated 2020-11-11
Rejection reasons: novelty_epc_54
Prior art cited: ref_id: EP3171249A1
ref_type: patent
severity: background
ref_id: KR20180105065A
ref_type: patent
severity: background
ref_id: US2019079717A1
ref_type: patent
severity: background
ref_id: US2005024342A1
ref_type: patent
severity: background
ref_id: US2005024342
ref_type: patent
severity: background
ref_id: EP3171249
ref_type: patent
severity: novelty_destroying
ref_id: KR20180105065
ref_type: patent
severity: novelty_destroying
ref_id: US2019079717
ref_type: patent
severity: novelty_destroying
Final disposition: pending (2020-11-11)