# US 2019/0315230 A1 · Operating device for an infotainment system of a motor vehicle, and a method for determining the location of an operator of such an operating element > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0315230 A1 - Document ID: US20190315230A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/466,598 - Filed: 2017-11-08 - Published: 2019-10-17 - Earliest claimed: 2016-12-09 - Assignees: ZF Friedrichshafen AG - Applicants: Zf Friedrichshafen AG - Inventors: Werner RIEGEL; Mirko MORGENTHUM-NEURODE - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190315230A1 ## CPC - B60K 35/60: Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles (arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10) - B60K 35/10: Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor - B60K 35/28: characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver - B60K 35/29: Instruments characterised by the way in which information is handled, e.g. showing information on plural displays or prioritising information according to driving conditions - B60K 35/65: Instruments specially adapted for specific vehicle types or users, e.g. for left- or right-hand drive - B60K 2360/126: Rotatable input devices for instruments - B60K 2360/141: Activation of instrument input devices by approaching fingers or pens - B60K 2360/143: Touch sensitive instrument input devices - B60K 2360/164: Infotainment - B60K 2360/197: Blocking or enabling of input functions - B60K 2360/48: Sensors - B60K 2360/741: Instruments adapted for user detection - B60K 2360/774: on or in the centre console - B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES ## Abstract The invention relates to an operating device for an infotainment system of a motor vehicle that has an operating element (3a) for operating the infotainment system (2), a sensor device (6) for determining at least one finger position (10, 11, 12) of an operator on the operating element (3a), and an evaluation device (7) for determining the location of the operator based on the at least one finger position (10, 11, 12) determined by the sensor device (6), wherein the evaluation device (7) is configured to activate a predetermined function of the infotainment system (2) when the location of the operator meets a predetermined criterion. The invention also relates to a method for determining the location of the operator of an operating element for an infotainment system. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An operating device for an infotainment system of a motor vehicle that has an operating element for operating the infotainment system, a sensor device for determining at least one finger position of an operator on the operating element, and an evaluation device for determining the location of the operator based on the at least one finger position of the operator determined by the sensor device, wherein the evaluation device is configured to activate a predetermined function of the infotainment system when the location of the operator meets a predetermined criterion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The operating device according to claim 1, characterized in that the operating element is a control element that can rotate about an axis. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The operating device according to claim 1, characterized in that the sensor device has a sensor surface that is located at least in segments along the circumference of the operating element. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The operating device according to claim 1, characterized in that the sensor surface of the sensor device of the operating element is divided into at least two segments. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The operating device according to claim 4, characterized in that the first segment of the sensor surface is dedicated to a driver of the motor vehicle, and a second segment of the sensor surface is dedicated to a passenger of the motor vehicle. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The operating device according to claim 5, characterized in that at least on third segment is located between the first segment and the second segment on the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The operating device according to claim 1, characterized in that there is a comparison device for comparing fingerprints and a memory for storing fingerprints, wherein the sensor device is configured to identify the fingerprint of the operator, and the comparison device is configured to compare the identified fingerprint of the operator with a fingerprint of an authorized individual stored in the memory. ### Claim 8 A method for determining the location of an operator of an operating element for an infotainment system in a motor vehicle by means of a sensor device, characterized in that the positions of the fingers of the operator on the operating element are determined in a first step by means of the sensor device, and the location of the operator is determined by means of an evaluation device in a second step based on the determined finger positions. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8, characterized in that the sensor device has a sensor surface, which is divided into at least two segments, wherein a first segment of the sensor surface is dedicated to a driver of the vehicle, and a second segment of the sensor surface is dedicated to a passenger of the vehicle, and the driver is identified as the operator when it is determined that a finger is touching the first segment of the sensor surface, and the passenger is identified as the operator when it is determined that a finger is touching the second segment of the sensor surface. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method according to claim 9, characterized in that the driver is identified as the operator when it has been determined that a finger is touching the first segment and a third segment of the sensor surface, and that the passenger is identified as the operator when it has been determined that a finger is touching the second segment and a third segment, wherein the third segment is located between the first segment and the second segment. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1, 8) A motor vehicle that has an operating device for an infotainment system according to claim 1 for executing a method according to claim 8. ### Claim 12 (depends on 2) The operating device according to claim 2, characterized in that the sensor device has a sensor surface that is located at least in segments along the circumference of the operating element. ### Claim 13 (depends on 2) The operating device according to claim 2, characterized in that the sensor surface of the sensor device of the operating element is divided into at least two segments. ### Claim 14 (depends on 3) The operating device according to claim 3, characterized in that the sensor surface of the sensor device of the operating element is divided into at least two segments. ### Claim 15 (depends on 2) The operating device according to claim 2, characterized in that there is a comparison device for comparing fingerprints and a memory for storing fingerprints, wherein the sensor device is configured to identify the fingerprint of the operator, and the comparison device is configured to compare the identified fingerprint of the operator with a fingerprint of an authorized individual stored in the memory. ### Claim 16 (depends on 3) The operating device according to claim 3, characterized in that there is a comparison device for comparing fingerprints and a memory for storing fingerprints, wherein the sensor device is configured to identify the fingerprint of the operator, and the comparison device is configured to compare the identified fingerprint of the operator with a fingerprint of an authorized individual stored in the memory. ### Claim 17 (depends on 4) The operating device according to claim 4, characterized in that there is a comparison device for comparing fingerprints and a memory for storing fingerprints, wherein the sensor device is configured to identify the fingerprint of the operator, and the comparison device is configured to compare the identified fingerprint of the operator with a fingerprint of an authorized individual stored in the memory. ### Claim 18 (depends on 5) The operating device according to claim 5, characterized in that there is a comparison device for comparing fingerprints and a memory for storing fingerprints, wherein the sensor device is configured to identify the fingerprint of the operator, and the comparison device is configured to compare the identified fingerprint of the operator with a fingerprint of an authorized individual stored in the memory. ### Claim 19 (depends on 6) The operating device according to claim 6, characterized in that there is a comparison device for comparing fingerprints and a memory for storing fingerprints, wherein the sensor device is configured to identify the fingerprint of the operator, and the comparison device is configured to compare the identified fingerprint of the operator with a fingerprint of an authorized individual stored in the memory. ### Claim 20 (depends on 2, 8) A motor vehicle that has an operating device for an infotainment system according to claim 2 for executing a method according to claim 8.