DE102022102126A1 - Device, means of locomotion and method for masking an interior of a means of locomotion - Google Patents

Abstract

A device, a means of locomotion (10) and a method for masking an interior of a means of locomotion (10) are proposed. The method comprises the steps of receiving a signal for masking the interior and, in response thereto, automatically concealing a configuration of a visual appearance of the interior of the means of transportation (10).

Description

The present invention relates to a device, a means of transportation and a method for masking an interior of a means of transportation. In particular, the present invention relates to hiding optically relevant surfaces of means of locomotion that are being tested (“Erlkönige” or the like).

During the development of means of transport, such as cars, vans, motorcycles, trucks, aircraft and/or watercraft, test drives are carried out in public traffic. These serve to test the vehicles before series production begins. Here, the means of transport are usually protected from prying eyes by camouflage, which means that the optical innovations and their impression on the observer do not "wear out" sooner than necessary. However, some optically relevant surfaces, particularly in the interior of the means of transportation, are relevant for driving the vehicle. For example, user interfaces (screens, controllers, operating levers and buttons) must also be able to be operated by the driver or other occupants during testing in public traffic. However, there is the possibility of spying the new optical appearance of the vehicle interior by looking inside the vehicle. In order to prevent this, temporary covers such as cloths or tarpaulins are often carried in test vehicles, with which the test driver is supposed to protect the optical innovations from prying eyes when he parks or parks the vehicle.

While the test driver is entrusted with the driving task, he cannot meaningfully mask the interior, as this would counteract driving safety. Even when driving slowly (walking pace) or immediately after stopping, passers-by can see the optical innovations. There is also the problem that the test drivers sometimes forget to cover the interior surfaces when they stop or even leave the vehicle. And even if the test driver thinks about covering the relevant surface areas, these can sometimes be out of his immediate reach, so that the covering process is delayed.

It is an object of the present invention to fill the need identified above.

The above-mentioned object is achieved according to the invention by a method for masking an interior of a means of transportation that is being tested. The means of transportation can be, for example, a car, van, motorcycle, truck, aircraft and/or water vehicle. In particular, the means of transportation can be a test vehicle (also "Erlkönig"). In a first step, a signal for masking the interior is received. In particular, the signal can be generated automatically in the means of transportation. For example, it can be obtained from a bus system of transportation. In particular, the signal can represent a speed or an operating state/open state/locked state of the means of transportation. In response to receiving the signal, a design of a visual appearance of the interior of the vehicle is automatically hidden. In other words, the signal ensures that an interior surface of the means of transportation is automatically redesigned and, in particular, hidden. In this way, it is prevented that the visual appearance of the interior can be seen by unauthorized persons, in particular persons who are not sworn to secrecy.

The dependent claims show preferred developments of the invention.

The signal can be generated in different ways. For example, falling below a predefined speed (e.g. <1 km/h, <5 km/h, <10 km/h, etc.) can be determined and/or read out by a bus, or an occupant can press a button provided for this purpose ( hardware or software). Alternatively or additionally, locking of the means of transportation can be activated. For example, upon locking/exiting the vehicle, the command to lock the vehicle may be given and in response the visual appearance hiding signal may be issued. Alternatively or additionally, the opening of a door of the means of locomotion can also be interpreted as a circumstance through which an unauthorized person can see the interior of the means of locomotion. Thus, the opening of the door can be used as a trigger for the signal. But even without a direct effect on the means of transport itself, there may be a risk of inspection (in particular through the windows of the means of transport). Therefore, sensors of the means of transportation can be used to determine, for example, the presence of a person and/or an optical sensor (eg a camera). In particular, a predefined surrounding area (e.g. 1 m distance to the means of transport, 2 m distance to the means of transport, 3 m distance to the means of transport, or similar) can be predefined in order, in response to a person falling below the predefined distance (in particular such a person son who is not bound to secrecy) or an optical sensor to generate the signal. Thus, optical recordings or photographic recordings and direct inspection by passers-by can be effectively prevented.

The visual appearance of the interior can be associated, for example, with an interior surface of the means of transportation. Examples of visually relevant interior surfaces are the design of a graphical user interface (GUI), a screen and/or a dashboard (dashboard), a center console including controls, a door panel, a steering wheel or other controls and surfaces, such as seats in particular and seat covers. Concealment can take place, for example, by means of an automatically movable cover. For example, the cover can be assigned to the window panes of the means of transportation in the manner of a roller blind. In this way, the interior cannot be seen from the outside. In particular, however, a predetermined partial area of the interior surface can also be directly or indirectly covered by the cover. In this way it is possible to prevent the vehicle from being no longer drivable as a result of the covering of the interior surface, since a driver who may be in the interior does not have a clear view of the traffic.

If the visual appearance includes a GUI, the hiding may include removing the GUI from a display area. In other words, the display can be optically modified so that it corresponds to a standard version. Alternatively or additionally, a predefined file can be loaded and displayed (e.g. a JPEG, a graphic, a screenshot of a previous visual design of the GUI, or similar). It can thus be prevented that the optical appearance of the graphical user interface becomes known prematurely, in particular is photographed and published in the media.

Since the present invention is a pre-series or prototype solution, it can be provided that the components are only temporarily installed in the means of transport and that no major modifications or damage to the interior surface are accepted, which reduces the value of the means of transportation could fall dramatically. The signal can therefore be read out, for example, from an OBD socket, via which, for example, a speed, a clamp state, a locking state, etc., of the means of transportation can be read out. A corresponding plug can therefore be plugged into the OBD socket, which supplies a technical device for concealing the design of the optical appearance of the interior with the signal. In this way, after the end of the test, the hardware according to the invention can be removed from the test vehicle (means of transport) almost without leaving a trace, without having a lasting negative effect on the residual value of the means of transport.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a device for masking an interior space of a means of transportation that is being tested is proposed. The device is set up to carry out the steps of a method according to the first-mentioned aspect of the invention. For this purpose, the device has a data input, a data output and an evaluation unit. The evaluation unit can be understood as an electronic control unit, through which a signal for masking the interior is received. For this purpose, the data input can be connected in terms of information technology to a bus and/or another signal transmitter. The device is thus set up to receive a signal for masking the interior. This does not mean that the signal has already been generated outside of the device for this purpose, but rather that the device is capable of interpreting the signal as one which is to be used in a manner according to the invention for masking the interior space. By means of the data output, the device is set up to automatically hide a design of an optical appearance of the interior of the means of transportation in response to the reception. In this way, the device can, for example, instruct a screen to assume a different, less critical visual appearance or an already known or meaningless visual appearance. In this way, the device according to the invention is also set up to implement the features, combinations of features and the resulting advantages of the method according to the invention in a corresponding manner, so that reference is made to the above explanations to avoid repetition.

In addition, a roller blind can be provided in the device, which is unwound in particular by an electric motor, in particular a stepping motor, in order to hide the visual appearance of the interior surface when the signal is received. The blind can include a fabric blind and/or a slatted blind. The electric motor can be an electromotive rotary machine or can include a linear drive.

The electric motor and/or the roller blind and/or the evaluation unit can be set up by means of screws and/or clamps on an interior surface of the means of transportation to be attached. For example, they can be screwed onto a structure of the dashboard and/or into a bezel of a screen, so that a secure and durable attachment can take place. In particular, the fastening can take place on such a (small and in particular inexpensive) part of the interior surface, which can be replaced easily and inexpensively after the end of the test. For example, a cover of a screen, a frame of a control panel or the like can be used for attachment and replaced after removal of the device according to the invention in order to obtain an (almost) new interior. Alternatively or additionally, an electronic control unit and/or a laptop computer and/or a tablet or the like can be used to control the electric motor and/or the roller blind. In other words, in response to the receipt of the above signal, these processing devices can output an electrical signal to the electric motor or at least to an electrical connection via which the electric motor and/or the roller blind are used to conceal the interior area to be protected.

In particular, guide rails for guiding the roller blind can also be arranged in the interior of the means of transportation and be provided as part of the device according to the invention. For example, the guide rails can be delivered as a one-piece assembly with the roller blind. The guide rails can also have means for fastening using screws or clamps, in particular screw holes. In this way, the roller blind can be fixed in a stable and permanent manner in the means of transportation.

The electric motor can, for example, be supplied with electrical energy via the 12-volt vehicle electrical system, in particular an vehicle electrical system socket, or via a 5-volt vehicle electrical system (e.g. a USB socket). A separate voltage conversion can thus be dispensed with. In particular, a reversible and completely value-neutral insertion and removal of the device according to the invention is possible via the aforementioned plug-in connections.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, a means of transportation with a device according to the invention is proposed. The means of transportation can be designed as a car, van, motorcycle, truck, aircraft and/or water vehicle. The device according to the invention can, in particular, be temporarily arranged in the means of transportation and integrated into the sensors and/or the on-board power supply system of the means of transportation. The means of transportation can in particular be a test vehicle (“prototype”, “Erlkönig”, “pre-series vehicle”, or similar). Thus, the means of locomotion according to the invention can also implement the features, feature combinations and advantages of the above aspects in a corresponding manner.

• 1 eine schematische Darstellung einer Situation eines erfindungsgemäß ausgestalteten Fortbewegungsmittels, in welchem eine erfindungsgemäße Vorrichtung angeordnet ist;
• 2 eine Detailansicht von Komponenten einer erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung; und
• 3 ein Flussdiagramm veranschaulichend Schritte eines Ausführungsbeispiels eines erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens.

Further details, features and advantages of the invention result from the following description and the figures. Show it:

• 1 a schematic representation of a situation of a means of transportation designed according to the invention, in which a device according to the invention is arranged;
• 2 a detailed view of components of a device according to the invention; and
• 3 a flow chart illustrating steps of an embodiment of a method according to the invention.

1 shows a means of transportation 10 according to the invention in the form of a car, which is in a pre-series condition worthy of protection. A passer-by 2 tries to look through the driver's door and thereby satisfy his curiosity. By means of an optical sensor 9 arranged in the outside mirror, the presence of the passer-by 2 in the detection area 8 is detected and, in response to this, a roller blind 7 is lowered in the direction of an arrow P in order to stop prying eyes. A screen 4, a new steering wheel 6, an optical design of a new dashboard 5 and other areas of the interior are also hidden from prying eyes. Alternatively, the roller blind 7 could have already been lowered when the driver's door 1 is closed, in order not to prevent the view only when the passer-by 2 approaches. A surveillance camera 3 in the predefined environment of the means of transportation 10 is also determined via a front camera 18 . Since the surveillance camera could in principle also be used to view the interior of the means of transportation 10 , the presence of the surveillance camera 3 could already automatically give a signal to hide the interior surfaces by lowering the roller blind 7 .

2 shows a dashboard 5 of a means of transportation, which is protected from the prying eyes of passers-by and paparazzi by components of a device according to the invention. An electric motor 14 is set up to lower a blind 7, which is guided by guide rails 19 in front of a screen, if necessary. If the vehicle is to be made operational again, the electric motor 14 is caused to roll up the roller blind 7 in the reverse operating direction. The roller blind 7 itself is fixed to the dashboard 5 by means of screws 17 . The electric motor 14 is supplied with electrical energy via an output 13 of an electronic control unit 11 . The roller blind 7 is lowered by evaluating a signal received via the OBD socket 16 and the OBD plug 15 as well as a data input 12 representing falling below a predefined speed of 2 km/h as a signal for concealing the interior surface of the means of transport.

3 shows steps of an embodiment of a method according to the invention for masking an interior surface of a means of transportation. In step 100, a signal for masking the interior is received. This can be read, for example, by an environment sensor and/or by a bus system. In step 200, in response to receiving the electrical signal, a design of a visual appearance of the interior of the vehicle is automatically hidden. For this purpose, the graphical user interface of the means of transport is hidden by the screen being switched off via a switch plugged in between the screen connector and an on-board network. Additionally, the signal will be used to pull a shade over a dashboard and center console. These operations are motorized automatically in response to receipt and interpretation of the signal. Of course, the signal can also be generated by the user pressing a corresponding button or a corresponding actuating device.

Reference List

1

Drivers door

2

passerby

3

Security Camera

4

Screen

5

dashboard

6

steering wheel

7

roller blind

8th

detection range

9

optical sensor

10

means of transportation

11

electronic control unit

12

data input

13

data output

14

electric motor

15

OBD connector

16

OBD socket

17

screw

18

front camera

19

guide rail

100, 200

process steps

Claims (11)

Method for masking an interior of a means of transportation (10) comprising the steps: • receiving (100) and responding to a signal for masking the interior space • automatic hiding (200) of a design of an optical appearance of the interior of the means of transportation (10). procedure after claim 1 , The signal in response to - falling below a predefined speed and/or - locking of the means of transportation (10) and/or - opening a door (1) of the means of transportation (10) and/or - an automatically determined presence - of a Person (2) and / or - an optical sensor (3) is generated in a predefined environment of the means of transport (10). procedure after claim 1 or 2 , wherein the visual appearance of the interior of an interior surface, in particular - a screen (4) or a GUI displayed on this and / or - a dashboard (5) and / or - a center console and / or - a door panel and / or - a seat cover and/or - is assigned to a steering wheel (6) of the means of transportation (10). procedure after claim 3 , the concealment being effected by means of a cover (7) which can be automatically moved over the interior surface. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the visual appearance comprises a GUI and the concealing comprises removing the GUI from a display area. procedure after claim 5 , wherein the removing comprises displaying a differently designed GUI and/or a predefined graphic. Method according to one of the preceding claims, in which the signal is determined from an OBD socket (16). Device for masking an interior of a means of transport (10) comprising: • a data input (13), • a data output (12) • an evaluation unit (11), the evaluation unit (11) being set up by means of the data input (13) to transmit a signal for to receive masking of the interior and • is set up by means of the data output (12) in response to the reception to automatically hide a design of an optical appearance of the interior of the means of transport (10). device after claim 8 further comprising a roller blind and an electric motor (14), in particular a stepper motor, which is set up to unwind the roller blind. device after claim 9 , wherein the electric motor (14) and/or the roller blind are set up to be fastened to an interior surface of the means of transportation (10) by means of - screws (17) and/or - clamps and/or - by means of an electronic control unit (11), in particular by means of a bus subscriber to be controlled. Means of locomotion comprising a device according to one of the preceding Claims 8 until 10 .

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