This application is a35USC371national phase filing of International Application No. PCT/IB2017/001653, filed November24,2017, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a control panel for a vehicle, to a control system for a vehicle, said system comprising such a control panel. The invention also relates to a vehicle comprising such a control panel or such a control system.

BACKGROUND

Vehicles are conventionally equipped with a control panel comprising keys for activating various functions of the vehicle.

As the vehicles become more sophisticated and the drivers more demanding regarding comfort and vehicle options, the number of functions available through the control panel tends to significantly increase. This can be achieved by providing more keys on the control panel, but there are practical limits to this approach due to the space available in the vehicle, for example on the dashboard. Moreover, having a great number of keys is not desirable from a safety standpoint, as it may entail a loss of concentration for the driver. Alternatively, one key can be assigned several functions, one function or another being activated, typically depending on the number of times the driver presses the key within a short period of time. Such an implementation can be inconvenient, as it may be difficult for the driver to select the right function while driving. Furthermore, it may be a problem in terms of safety.

SUMMARY

An object of the invention is to provide a control panel for a vehicle which allows activating a significant number of functions, taking into account the space limitations imposed by the vehicle internal layout, and under excellent safety conditions.

Another object of the invention is to provide a control panel for a vehicle thanks to which 30 the driver can quickly and easily activate the function he/she currently needs.

To that end, according to a first aspect, the invention relates to a control panel for a vehicle, comprising:at least one clickable key to which is assigned at least one function, said key being configured to move at least between an inactive position and an active position in which said function is activated;a screen for displaying the current function of the key;
wherein the function is automatically assigned to the key depending on a current parameter of the vehicle equipped with said control panel or on a current context-related parameter.

Thus, owing to the invention, it is possible to provide a great number of functions without requiring a large control panel, and without making the selection of the desired function complicated for the driver. Indeed, as the available functions at a specific moment are only the relevant ones, given the current context and vehicle state, only a limited number of keys is necessary. This minimalist arrangement is nevertheless very convenient and efficient as:on the one hand, the function is automatically assigned to the key depending on the current parameter(s) and automatically changed if the parameter(s) change(s);and, on the other hand, the current function of the key is displayed on the screen, which ensures the driver knows which key to use to activate the function he currently needs, even if the functions change with the parameter(s) evolution.

In addition to increasing flexibility and reducing allocated space, weight and cost, providing a screen corresponding to the function(s) assigned to the key(s) further allows improving the functions display, as it makes it possible to vary colours, to use animated pictures, etc.

Furthermore, providing a clickable key is advantageous in that the driver can feel the function has been activated, without being obliged to take his eyes off the road. Thanks to this feature, activating a function is further made easier even when wearing gloves.

The key can be moved from its inactive position to its active position by finger pressure, for example. Furthermore, preferably, the key can automatically move back to its inactive position when pressure is released. Activating the function may require maintaining the key in its active position for a predetermined period of time. Besides, although this may not be necessary given the high adaptability provided by the control panel of the invention, it is not excluded that one key be assigned several different functions at a given moment.

Another advantage of the invention is the reduction of the number of references on the supplier side, aftermarket side and production facilities side. Indeed, there is no need to provide a large number of different control panels, insofar as one and the same control panel can be adapted to the driver's needs.

The parameter of the vehicle can be one of or a combination of at least two of:a parameter related to the vehicle operation, chosen in the group comprising:a status of the vehicle engine (stopped/running);an operating mode of the vehicle (stopped/in motion; machining/driving; forward/rearward motion; cruise control/manual driving mode; PTO (power take-off) mode; etc.);a parameter related to the operation, status or position of a component of the vehicle (radio, lights, windows, roof, suspensions, air conditioning, gear, engine, etc.).

The context-related parameter can be one of or a combination of at least two of the ambient light, the presence of an object or a person in the vicinity of the vehicle, the reception of an incoming call or incoming message (such as a SMS, a MMS, or an email).

The control panel may further comprise a control member for manually changing the current function(s) assigned to the key(s) regardless of the current vehicle parameter or context-related parameter. Preferably, such a manual setting may take precedence over the automatic setting (except, for example when safety functions have been automatically assigned to the keys). This gives more flexibility for the driver, without preventing the subsequent automatic operation of the control panel. Examples of a control member include a free wheel (typically located on the dashboard) or a touchpad.

In an embodiment, the function assigned to one key may belong to a list of functions which are pre-established, for example depending on the type of the vehicle, the initial configuration of the vehicle and/or the user's preferences. Said list of functions can be pre-established by a vehicle bodybuilder, a fleet manager, or a vehicle driver (for example by manual choice). This allows customizing the control panel, and can help increasing more direct access to specific functions while limiting the number of useless functions given the expected needs.

Besides, the set of functions assigned to the only key or all the keys of the control panel at a given moment can be chosen among several predetermined sets of functions, one set of function corresponding to one vehicle parameter or context-related parameter. The sets can be predetermined for example depending on the type of the vehicle, the initial configuration of the vehicle and/or the user's preferences, for example by a vehicle bodybuilder, a fleet manager, or a vehicle driver, in order to adapt the control panel to the expected needs.

The control panel may comprise several distinct areas each being assigned one function. In an implementation, the control panel may comprise several keys each being assigned at least one function; in another implementation, one key can define several separate areas, each area being assigned at least one function.

According to an embodiment, the screen of the control panel is included in the key. For example, the screen can form the upper part of the key (with possibly a protective layer upon it). Alternatively, the screen can be arranged under the key, with the key upper face then being transparent.

According to another embodiment, the screen of the control panel is separate from the key. For example, the screen can be arranged in a remote location, such as the vehicle cluster. With this arrangement, the key may be devoid of any icon.

According to an embodiment, the control panel includes several distinct keys individually and independently moveable between the inactive position and the active position. Said keys can have edges detectable when touched by the user.

With such an arrangement, each key comprising its own screen, a group of several adjacent keys can be assigned one and the same function, at a given moment. Then, a single icon representing said function is displayed on the whole surface formed by the screens of the group of keys, and said function is activated when any key of the group of keys is moved to its active position. This feature ensures a better visibility as the icon35representing the function can be bigger insofar as it is displayed on a larger screen. This can be used for warning or emergency functions. This can also be used for displaying the image provided by a vehicle rear-view camera, or specific information such as a help menu, an instruction manual, a welcome message, etc. Grouping several keys makes it possible to further increase customization, not only regarding available functions or key position on the control panel, but also regarding key size.

According to another embodiment, the control panel comprises a single key on which are defined at least two separate areas, one function being assigned to each area. Then, the key further includes a touch-sensitive surface allowing determining which area has been acted upon, i.e. which function has been activated. In other words, even if the whole key is depressed, only one function can be activated. Such a key may also exhibit the usual functionalities of a touch-sensitive surface (drag, enlarge or reduce a picture, etc.).

The control panel may further comprise a vibratory module capable of making at least part of the control panel vibrate, for allowing a user to feel a specific area of the control panel (e.g. an edge of a key) and/or a specific action on the control panel (e.g. scrolling). This allows reducing driver inattention as the driver can feel his actions on the control panel without looking at the keys. Vibration is not necessarily located in the concerned specific area of the control panel, such as a key edge; the control panel can be made to vibrate as a whole, but when the driver finger is located at said key edge.

According to a second aspect, the invention relates to a control system for a vehicle, which comprises:at least one control panel as previously described;at least one sensor of a parameter of the vehicle equipped with said control panel or of a context-related parameter;and a control unit capable of receiving data from the sensor and accordingly assigning a function to the key or each key of the control panel.

The term “sensor” has to be understood in its broadest meaning. It may be a rear parking aid or rear camera sensor, a light sensor, etc. but also a means for detecting the radio has been turned on, such as a data conveyed on the vehicle communication network (Lin or CAN for example).

According to a third aspect, the invention relates to a vehicle comprising a control panel or a control system as previously described.

The control panel can be located on the vehicle dashboard. With such an arrangement, the screen can be included in the key.

Alternatively, the control panel can be located on a steering wheel of the vehicle, close to the driver's hands in use. With such an arrangement, the screen can be arranged on the vehicle cluster.

Further advantages and advantageous features of the invention are disclosed in the following description and in the dependent claims.

