Method and system for operating a touch-sensitive display device of a motor vehicle

A system for operating a touch-sensitive display device of a motor vehicle, the touch-sensitive display device having a single display with a driver-side display region on a first portion of the single display closest to a driver-side of the motor vehicle and a passenger-side display region on a remaining portion of the single display closest to a front-seat-passenger-side of the motor vehicle, comprising:

• a detection device detecting which of a driver and a front-seat passenger of the motor vehicle would like to operate the touch-sensitive display device;
• and
• a control device
• operating the touch-sensitive display device in a first operating mode in which a graphic user interface is displayed exclusively in the driver-side display region of the touch-sensitive display device when only the driver would like to operate the touch-sensitive display device;
• operating the touch-sensitive display device in a second operating mode in which the graphic user interface is displayed exclusively in the front-seat-passenger-side display region of the touch-sensitive display device when only the front-seat passenger would like to operate the touch-sensitive display device;
• operating the touch-sensitive display device in a third operating mode in which the graphic user interface is displayed in the driver-side display region and at least part of the graphic user interface is also displayed in the front-seat-passenger-side display region, when both the driver and the front-seat passenger of the motor vehicle would like to operate the touch-sensitive display device;
• and
• operating the touch-sensitive display device in a fourth operating mode in which the graphic user interface is displayed exclusively in one of the driver-side display region and a central display region, formed of less than all of the touch-sensitive display device, substantially equidistant between the driver- and the front-seat passenger, when neither the driver nor the front-seat passenger would like to operate the touch-sensitive display device.

A motor vehicle, comprising:

• a touch-sensitive display device having a single display with a driver-side display region on a first portion of the single display closest to a driver of the motor vehicle and a passenger-side display region on a remaining portion of the single display closest to a front-seat passenger of the motor vehicle;
• a detection device detecting which of the driver and the front-seat passenger of the motor vehicle would like to operate the touch-sensitive display device;
• and
• a control device
• operating the touch-sensitive display device in a first operating mode in which a graphic user interface is displayed exclusively in the driver-side display region of the touch-sensitive display device when only the driver would like to operate the touch-sensitive display device;
• operating the touch-sensitive display device in a second operating mode in which the graphic user interface is displayed exclusively in the passenger-side display region of the touch-sensitive display device when only the front-seat passenger would like to operate the touch-sensitive display device;
• operating the touch-sensitive display device in a third operating mode in which the graphic user interface is displayed in the driver-side display region and at least part of the graphic user interface is also displayed in the passenger-side display region, when both the driver and the front-seat passenger of the motor vehicle would like to operate the touch-sensitive display device;
• and
• operating the touch-sensitive display device in a fourth operating mode in which the graphic user interface is displayed exclusively in one of the driver-side display region and a central display region, formed of less than all of the touch-sensitive display device, substantially equidistant between the driver- and the front-seat passenger, when said detecting detects that neither the driver nor the front-seat passenger would like to operate the touch-sensitive display device.