DE-102009033061-B4 - Method and device for controlling a user interface

DE102009033061B4DE 102009033061 B4DE102009033061 B4DE 102009033061B4DE-102009033061-B4

Abstract

Method for controlling at a user interface comprising an input device with means for controlling coordinates of a display area (2), wherein the input device comprises a touch-sensitive surface (5) of the display area (2) and, for controlling coordinates of the display area (2), the touch-sensitive surface (5) is touched by an actuating element, which is a user's fingertip, in which - a button (9, 10, 11) is displayed on the display area (2), with several interaction options assigned to the button (9, 10, 11), - wherein in an initial state a first interaction possibility is visualized by a graphic design of the button (9, 10, 11) in such a way that this first interaction possibility corresponds to a virtual push button, - by means of the input device, an initiating action is performed in conjunction with the button (9, 10, 11), in which the fingertip touches the touch-sensitive surface (5) at this virtual push button and the fingertip is not immediately removed, but is moved in a direction starting from the displayed button (9, 10, 11), and - the design of the button (9, 10, 11) changes so that a slide switch (13, 20, 23) is graphically displayed and, as an interaction option depending on the detected action, a continuous change of the controlled coordinates of the display area (2) is activated.

Inventors

Christoph, Dr. Wäller
Stefan Henze
Lennart BENDEWALD
Markus Missall

Assignees

VOLKSWAGEN AG

Dates

Publication Date: 20260513
Application Date: 20090703

Claims (4)

Method for controlling a user interface comprising an input device with means for controlling coordinates of a display area (2), wherein the input device comprises a touch-sensitive surface (5) of the display area (2) and, for controlling coordinates of the display area (2), the touch-sensitive surface (5) is touched by an actuating element, which is a user's fingertip, wherein: - a button (9, 10, 11) is displayed on the display area (2), the button (9, 10, 11) being associated with several interaction possibilities, - wherein, in an initial state, a first interaction possibility is visualized by a graphic design of the button (9, 10, 11) such that this first interaction possibility corresponds to a virtual push button, - an initiating action performed in connection with the button (9, 10, 11) is detected by means of the input device, wherein the fingertip touches the touch-sensitive surface (5) at this virtual push button and the fingertip is not immediately removed, but the fingertip is moved in a direction starting from the displayed button (9, 10, 11), and - the design of the button (9, 10, 11) changes so that a slide switch (13, 20, 23) is graphically displayed and, as an interaction option depending on the detected action, a continuous change of the controlled coordinates of the display area (2) is activated.
Procedure according to Claim 1 characterized in that a second interaction option is the selection of one button from several displayed buttons and that several selectable buttons are graphically represented for this second interaction option.
Procedure according to Claim 1 or 2 characterized in that a user is recorded who performs the action, that the user's preferred interaction options are stored, and that the selectable interaction options depend on the user's preferred interaction options.
Device for controlling a user interface comprising: - a display device (1) with a display area (2), - an input device comprising a touch-sensitive surface (5) of the display area (2) and comprising means for controlling coordinates of the display area (2), wherein, for controlling coordinates of the display area (2), the touch-sensitive surface (5) is touched by an actuating element, which is a user's fingertip, and - a control device (3) by means of which the display area (2) can be controlled such that a button (9, 10, 11) can be displayed, wherein the button (9, 10, 11) can be controlled by means of the input device and several interaction possibilities are assigned to the button (9, 10, 11), wherein in an initial state a first interaction possibility is visualized by a graphic design of the button (9, 10, 11) such that this first interaction possibility corresponds to a virtual push button, and by means of which a related The initiating action performed with the button (9, 10, 11) can be detected, in which the fingertip touches the touch-sensitive surface (5) of this virtual switch and the fingertip is not immediately removed, but is moved in a direction starting from the displayed button (9, 10, 11) and the design of the button (9, 10, 11) changes so that a slide switch (13, 20, 23) is graphically displayed and - by means of the control device (3) as an interaction option of the button (9, 10, 11) a continuous change of the controlled coordinates of the display area (2) can be activated depending on the detected action.

Description

The present invention relates to a method for controlling a user interface, which includes an input device with means for controlling the coordinates of a display area. In the method according to the invention, a button is displayed on the display area, which can be controlled and actuated by means of an input device. The invention further relates to a device for controlling a user interface, comprising a display device with a display area, an input device comprising means for controlling the coordinates of the display area, and a control device. The display area can be controlled by means of the control device so that a button can be displayed, and the button can be controlled by means of the input device. Furthermore, several interaction options are assigned to the button. An initiating action performed in conjunction with the button can also be detected by the control device. The method and the device according to the invention are used, in particular, in a vehicle. A vehicle typically displays various pieces of information, primarily vehicle-related data, which are presented visually to the driver. Traffic-related data can also be displayed. Previously, analog mechanical gauges were used to display this information. These were typically located within the instrument cluster, close to the driver's primary field of vision behind the steering wheel. The instrument cluster primarily displays the vehicle's speed, fuel level, coolant temperature, and other operational information. With the increase in electronic systems in vehicles, it became necessary to display a greater amount of information within the vehicle. Modern vehicles, for example, include a variety of driver assistance systems, the information from which must be displayed. Furthermore, many vehicles are equipped with a navigation system. Such a navigation system can display digital geographic maps with a route and, if applicable, a wide range of additional information. Finally, modern vehicles often include communication and multimedia applications, including a mobile phone interface and systems for playing music and speech. The vehicle must also be able to display information for these applications. To flexibly display the diverse information within the vehicle, a freely programmable display, for example, is used as the display surface. This display can be located in the area of the conventional instrument cluster. Alternatively, it can be positioned, for instance, above the vehicle's center console, providing a multifunction display. A multifunction display is typically operated in conjunction with an operating system. The input device for the operating system can include remote controls, such as pushbuttons, rotary switches, or rotary push-buttons. A touch-sensitive surface can also be provided. This can be separate from the display area to provide a so-called touchpad. Alternatively, the touch-sensitive surface can be integrated into the display area to provide a so-called touchscreen. With a touchscreen, operation is achieved by the user touching the touchscreen, for example. The position of the touch is detected, evaluated, and assigned to an operating action. To assist the user during operation, virtual switches can be displayed on the screen as graphic buttons. A display device with a touch-sensitive surface used in conjunction with a navigation system is, for example, found in... DE 10 2005 020 155 A1 described. From the DE 10 2004 053 950 A1 A method for controlling a display device is known in which a control menu of a device of a vehicle is displayed by means of a display device if a touch of a control element of the device is identified. From the DE 10 2007 029 618 A1 A contactless display and control device for a vehicle is known. The device described in this publication comprises a display surface that can be operated in a display mode and an operating mode. Furthermore, a position-sensitive sensor unit is provided with which the position of an actuating element relative to a control element can be detected. When the control element is actuated, the user moves the actuating element into an activation volume in front of the actuating element. The operating mode of the display device then changes from display mode to operating mode. In operating mode, interactive control elements are displayed. DE 10 2006 061 778 A1 Another display and operating device is known in which two It can be switched back and forth between a display mode and an operating mode. The DE 20 2007 018 368 U1 This describes a multimedia communication device with a touchscreen that responds to gestures for controlling, manipulating, and editing media files. It can recognize a finger touch and assign it to a displayed image object, thereby executing a selection action. A double-tap or a finger touch lasting longer than a predetermined duration can trigger a double-click action. The US 2009 / 0 058 822 A1 describes a user interface for handling video data. The DE 10 2