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EP-4739526-A1 - MOTOR VEHICLE COMPRISING A STEERING WHEEL EQUIPPED WITH LUMINOUS INDICATORS ADAPTED TO THE ERGONOMICS OF THE STEERING WHEEL

EP4739526A1EP 4739526 A1EP4739526 A1EP 4739526A1EP-4739526-A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a motor vehicle comprising a steering wheel (VOL) defining a mounting plate (PLT) with a front face (FAV) arranged facing the driver of the vehicle when the driver is at the steering wheel; the mounting plate (PLT) comprising at least one gripping means (OP1-OP4) on which a control member (OC1-OC4) for controlling at least one function or system of the vehicle is mounted, near an edge of the mounting plate (PLT), and at least one luminous indicator (IL1-IL4) arranged on the front face (FAV), around the gripping means (OP1-OP4); the vehicle further comprising means for supervising the lighting and the display of the luminous indicator (IL1-IL4) in relation to a state or a level of the function or of the system and in connection with the control member (OC1-OC4) and according to a given display mode of the luminous indicators (IL1-IL4).

Inventors

  • QUINIO, PIERRE
  • LAINE, Vincent
  • LESBROUSSART, ANTOINE
  • DEJOU, Eric
  • DANIEL, GUILLAUME
  • LEMAITRE, GUILLAUME

Assignees

  • Stellantis Auto SAS

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20240618

Claims (10)

  1. 1. Motor vehicle (VHL) comprising a steering wheel (VOL) defining a plate (PLT) with a front face (FAV) arranged opposite the driver of the vehicle (VHL), when the driver is at the wheel (VOL); said plate (PLT) comprising at least one gripping means (OP1 -OP4) on which is mounted a control member (OC1-OC4) of at least one function (FCT) or system (SYS) of the vehicle (VHL), in the vicinity of an edge of the plate (PLT), at least one indicator light (IL1 - IL4) arranged on the front face (FAV), around the gripping means (OP1-OP4); said vehicle (VHL) further comprising supervision means (SPV) capable of controlling the lighting and display of the light indicator (IL1 -IL4) in relation to a state or a level of the function (FCT) or of the system (SYS) and in connection with the control unit (OC1-OC4), according to first and second display modes (MAP, MAT).
  2. 2. Vehicle (VHL) according to the preceding claim, in which the supervision means (SPV) are capable of controlling the light indicator (IL1 -IL4) according to the first display mode called permanent (MAP) to display in real time the level or the state of the function (FCT) or of the system (SYS) of the vehicle (VHL) and according to the second display mode called temporary (MAT) to display a level of adjustment of the state or the level of the function (FCT) or of the system (SYS) of the vehicle (VHL).
  3. 3. Vehicle (VHL) according to the preceding claims, in which the plate (PLT) further comprises a lighting means (RTE) capable of being controlled by the supervision means (SPV) to illuminate at least one zone of the front face (FAV) of the plate (PLT); said supervision means (SPV) being further capable of controlling the lighting means (RTE) in cooperation with the indicator light (IL1-IL4) display in the temporary display mode (MAT).
  4. 4. Vehicle (VHL) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the plate (PLT) has a generally rectangular shape and in which the gripping means (OP1 -OP4) is an orifice passing through the plate (PLT) arranged in the vicinity of an edge of the plate (PLT); at least part of the edge of the orifice (OP1 -OP4) supporting the control member (OC1-OC4), and in which the light indicator (IL1 -IL4) defines a crown or portion of a crown, representative of a light strip, at least partially surrounding said orifice (OP1 -OP4) in the vicinity of the control member (OC1-OC4).
  5. 5. Vehicle (VHL) according to the preceding claim, in which the illuminated surface of the light strip (IL1 -IL4) is proportional to the level or state of the supervised function (FCT) or system (SYS), capable of restoring a visual effect of filling a gauge.
  6. 6. Vehicle (VHL) according to the preceding claim in which the light strip (IL1-IL4) comprises a series of a determined number of LEDs; the number of LEDs lit indicating the level or status of the function (FCT) or system (SYS) supervised.
  7. 7. Supervision method, implemented by the supervision means (SPV) of the vehicle (VHL) according to the preceding claims, consisting in the first so-called permanent display mode (MAP), in permanently calculating (100) the level or the state of the function (FCT) or of the system (SYS) in connection with the control member (OC1-OC4), and in displaying (200) the light indicator (IL1-IL4) with an illumination surface of the light strip proportional to the level or to ...). system (SYS), calculated between a start (DEB) and an end (FIN) of the light strip (IL3), and consisting, in the second display mode called temporary, in modifying (300) the default lighting of the area of the front face (FAV) of the plate (PLT), in taking into account (400) the setting instruction of the level or the state of the function (FCT) or of the system (SYS) set by the driver, in calculating (500) the level or the state of the function (FCT) or of the system (SYS) corresponding to the setting instruction of the driver, in displaying (600) in return the setting instruction on the light indicator (IL1 -IL4) between a start (DEB) and an end (FIN) of the light strip (IL3) representing the light indicator (IL1-IL4) and after validation (700) of the setting instruction by the driver, in selecting (800) the permanent display mode (MAP) at the end of a time delay determined following validation, and to restore (900) the default lighting of the front face area (FAV) of the plate (PLT).
  8. 8. Method according to the preceding claim, consisting of selecting the so-called permanent display mode (MAP), automatically at the end of the temporary display mode (MAT).
  9. 9. Method according to one of claims 7 or 8, consisting of controlling the lighting of the front face (FAV) in the temporary display mode (MAT) with lighting distinct from the lighting in the permanent mode (MAP) and producing determined lighting effects.
  10. 10. Computer program product comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer, lead the latter to implement the steps of the method according to one of claims 7 to 9.

Description

DESCRIPTION Title of the invention: Motor vehicle comprising a steering wheel equipped with light indicators adapted to the ergonomics of the steering wheel The present invention claims priority from French application 2307107 filed on 04.07.2023, the content of which (text, drawings and claims) is incorporated herein by reference. [0001] The invention relates generally to the field of human-machine interfaces (HMIs), in particular those equipping the steering wheels of motor vehicles, and more particularly relates to a motor vehicle comprising a steering wheel equipped with indicator lights adapted to the ergonomics of the steering wheel, in particular indicator lights adapted to means of gripping the steering wheel. [0002] Indicator lights are widely used in HMIs and are generally associated with control devices arranged in the passenger compartment, on the dashboard, the central console or even on the steering wheel or near the steering wheel. [0003] These indicators make it possible to visually monitor functions and/or systems embedded in the motor vehicle. By monitoring, we mean both an adjustment of a function or a system between a minimum value and a maximum value (setpoint value) and the monitoring of the level or status of a function or a system. [0004] HMIs arranged on the steering wheel, or in the vicinity of the steering wheel, have become widespread. From an ergonomic point of view, the driver can thus control or monitor the evolution of certain functions of systems embedded in the vehicle without his hands leaving the steering wheel or his attention being too diverted from driving, which, of course, is fundamental for the safety of the vehicle and its passengers. [0005] It is important that these HMIs are compact, ergonomically adapted to their location on or near the steering wheel, easy to handle and of course simple and robust in design, i.e. implementing a minimum of mechanical, optical parts and electronic components, simple to produce and easy to assemble. It is also important that the information carried by these HMIs is sufficiently clear, concise and arranged in such a way as to allow readable feedback on the status or level of a function or system during the adjustment of the status or level of the function or system, while being close to the control members arranged on the steering wheel. [0006] To date, there is no HMI on the front face of the steering wheel (face facing the driver when the latter is in the driving position), comprising light indicators adapted to the ergonomics of the steering wheel and in particular to means of gripping the steering wheel, meeting the conditions set out above. [0007] The ergonomics of the steering wheel are assessed according to the shape of the steering wheel, its gripping means, ... and by its positioning relative to the driver in the driving position but also in the resting position. It is also assessed with respect to the information and the control organs carried by the steering wheel. [0008] The invention therefore aims in particular to provide an ergonomic, simple, robust, compact and inexpensive solution. [0009] To this end, the invention has as its first object a motor vehicle comprising a steering wheel defining a plate with a front face arranged facing the driver of the vehicle, when the driver is at the wheel; said plate comprising at least a gripping means on which is mounted a control member for at least one function or system of the vehicle, in the vicinity of an edge of the plate, at least one indicator light arranged on the front face, around the gripping means; said vehicle further comprising supervision means capable of controlling the lighting and display of the indicator light in relation to a state or a level of the function or system and in connection with the control member, according to first and second display modes. [0010] According to one characteristic, the supervision means are capable of controlling the light indicator according to the first display mode called permanent to display in real time the level or the state of the function or the system of the vehicle and according to the second display mode called temporary to display a level of adjustment of the state or the level of the function or the system of the vehicle. [0011] According to another characteristic, the plate further comprises a lighting means capable of being controlled by the supervision means to illuminate at least one zone of the front face of the plate; said supervision means being further capable of controlling the lighting means in cooperation with the display of the light indicator in the temporary display mode. [0012] According to another characteristic, the plate has a generally rectangular shape and the gripping means is an orifice passing through the plate arranged in the vicinity of an edge of the plate; at least part of the edge of the orifice supporting the control member and the light indicator defines a crown, or portion of a crown,