WO2017016734A1 - Apparatus and method for outputting a control signal, and corresponding system - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention provides a method and an apparatus for outputting a control signal (81) and also a corresponding system (1). The method comprises the steps of: display (S01) of a graphical user interface (50) having a graphics element (52); indication (S02), by means of an input device (14), of a first position (61) in the graphical user interface (50); display (S03) of a selection menu (54) in the graphical user interface (50) if the indicated first position (61) is inside the graphics element (52); wherein the selection menu (54) has at least two control symbols (56); removal (S04) of the selection menu (54) if the input device (14) is used to indicate a second position (62) outside the displayed selection menu (54); generation (S05), when an operator control element (16) of the input device (14) is operated while the selection menu (54) is presented and while the input device (14) is used to indicate a third position (63) that is arranged inside a control symbol (56), of a control signal (81) on the basis of the control symbol (56); and output (S06) of the generated control signal (81).

Description

 description

title

 Device and method for outputting a control signal as well

corresponding system

The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for outputting a control signal and to a corresponding system. In addition, the invention relates to a system for testing a device under test. A device under test should in particular be understood as electronic devices to be tested.

State of the art

When testing electronic devices for fitness, specialized test devices are often used. For example, such test devices may generate input signals for the device under test and receive and evaluate thereon output signals of the device under test. Furthermore, test devices can use model calculations to determine a desired value which the output signal of the test object should ideally assume. For a complete test, it is advantageous to be able to quickly change an input signal or a plurality of input signals for the test object and / or the model calculation. The input signal or signals may in particular be setpoints.

For such test devices, special devices are often used for outputting control signals, which are also used as control computers,

Operating PC or, English, as operating PC can be called. The test apparatus can be controlled in real time by means of such operating computers, and values output by the test apparatus can be displayed in real time. Such a system consisting of a test device and an operator computer is also referred to as a hardware-in-the-loop system, in short: HIL system. Operating computer, ie devices for outputting control signals, are often made very compact, so that they are portable and versatile.

Thereby, the space on the device which is usable for displaying and inputting values is limited. At the same time, the operator computers should often be able to display and / or evaluate response signals based on the generated control signals.

Conventionally, rotary control elements are used to set values, while pointer elements are used to display values. In EP 0805340 Bl a conventional pointer element is described with a mounted on a rotatably mounted hub pointer vane.

Thus, there is a need for an apparatus for issuing

Control signals, by means of which particularly space-saving values can be displayed and entered, and by means of which the values to be entered can be entered particularly quickly and precisely.

Disclosure of the invention

The present invention discloses a device having the features of claim 1, a system having the features of claim 9, and a method having the features of claim 10.

Accordingly, the invention provides an apparatus for outputting a control signal, comprising: a display device configured to display a graphical user interface in a first state of the device; being part of the graphical user interface

Graphic element is displayed; an input device with an actuatable operating element; wherein by means of the input device positions in the graphical user interface are indexable; a control device, which is designed to automatically move the device into a second state when a first position is indexed by means of the input device, which is arranged within the graphic element, while the

Device is in the first state; wherein the screen device in the second state is a selection menu in the graphical user interface displays; wherein the selection menu comprises at least two control symbols; wherein the control device is further configured to automatically control the screen device, to remove the displayed selection menu again, and to automatically return the device to the first state when a second position is indexed by the input device, which is arranged outside all displayed control symbols while the device is in the second state; the

Control means is further adapted to when the control element of the input device is actuated while the selection menu is displayed and while using the input device a third position is indexed, which is arranged within a control symbol, in response to the corresponding control symbol to generate a control signal; and one

Interface device, which is designed to output the generated control signal.

The graphic element can be designed or illustrated in particular in the form of a button or button. By indexing a position, it is intended to mean, in particular, touching a position, pointing to a position with the aid of a pointing device, electronically detecting positions interpreted by the pointing device, or any other suitable method for determining a particular position on a graphic Surface for automatically subsequent electronic and / or logical processing. Furthermore, the invention provides a system with an inventive

 Device for outputting control signals and a test device, which is designed to be used by the interface device of the

Receive device output control signal based on the received control signal to generate a response signal and to transmit the generated response signal to the interface device of the device.

In addition, the invention provides a method for issuing a

A control signal comprising the steps of: displaying a graphical user interface comprising a graphic element; Indexing, by means of an input device, a first position in the graphical user interface; automatically Displaying a selection menu in the graphical user interface if the indexed first position is located within the graphics element; wherein the selection menu comprises at least two control symbols; Automatic removal of the displayed selection menu when a second position is indexed by the input device, which is outside the displayed

 Selection menus is arranged; Generate when a control of the

Input device is actuated while the selection menu is displayed and while using the input device, a third position is indicated, which is arranged within a control symbol, a control signal in

Depending on the corresponding control symbol; and outputting the generated control signal.

ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION The underlying realization of the present invention is that, by switching back and forth between two different operating states of a device for outputting a control signal, without having to operate a control element, a particularly space-saving and particularly easy and intuitive device can be created to output control signals.

An operable control element is in particular an actuatable switch element, for example a click button of a mouse for performing a mouse click, a key of a keyboard, a shift lever, a pedal or the like.

Advantageous embodiments and further developments emerge from the dependent claims and from the description with reference to the figures.

According to an advantageous development of the device according to the invention, the input device is a mouse, a trackball or a joystick

formed, by means of which or in each case a pointer in the graphical user interface is displaceable. For example, the pointer may be a

Mouse pointer, a cursor, a hand-shaped symbol or something similar. A position may be indexable in the graphical user interface by sliding the pointer to the appropriate position. Thus, a position to be indexed is particularly easy and conveniently indexable.

According to a further preferred development, the screen device and the input device are integrated as a touch screen, that is to say a touch-sensitive screen. A position in the graphical user interface may be indexable by contacting the touchscreen at the appropriate location. For example, can be done by contacting the touch screen with a human finger or a stylus. By dragging a line on the touch screen without terminating the contact, that is, releasing the contact, a plurality of positions corresponding to the solid line in the graphic can be obtained

User interface be indexed. Thus, a particularly simple and intuitive indexing of positions is possible.

According to a further preferred refinement, a touch sensor system of the touchscreen can function as a control element of the input device, for example a capacitive touch sensor system. Pressing the

Control can be done by terminating an existing contacting the touch screen. Thus, a particularly comfortable way by touching the touch screen, moving the the touch screen

contacting object on the touch screen and ending the

Contacting the touchscreen a variety of different positions in the graphical user interface are indexed and operate the operating element. That is, by the described, particularly simple sequence of movements, the selection menu can be opened and a

Control signal are output.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the operating element of the input device is designed as a click button, for example as a mouse button of a mouse as an input device.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the command symbols are arranged in the selection menu in a grid. This makes it possible that after indexing the first position within the graphics element, only a short distance has to be traveled in order to achieve a desired third position for selecting the control signal to be output. In particular, control symbols can be selected with particularly frequent ones

Control signals are linked, are arranged in the grid of the selection menu closer to the graphic element. A tax symbol is with a

Control signal then linked when the corresponding control signal is generated when the third position, which is indexed, arranged within the corresponding control symbol.

According to a further preferred development, the selection menu is always displayed in the same relative position with respect to the graphic element. Thus, a user can intuitively always make the same movement to get to a particular control symbol, that is, to select a particular control signal for outputting. The device is thus particularly fast and easy to use.

A graphic element, a control symbol and a response object are to be understood in each case as graphical elements which can be displayed on the screen device of the device according to the invention and which include positions of the graphical user interface.

Brief description of the drawings

The present invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the embodiments illustrated in the schematic figures of the drawings. Show it:

1 is a schematic block diagram of an apparatus for outputting a control signal according to an embodiment of the present invention and a system according to another embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a schematic view of the graphical user interface of the device in the first state; Fig. 3 is a schematic view of the graphical user interface of the apparatus in the second state;

4 is a schematic flowchart for explaining a method of outputting a control signal according to still another

 Embodiment of the present invention; and

5 is a schematic flowchart for explaining a method of testing a device under test according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

In all figures, the same or functionally identical elements and devices - unless otherwise stated - provided with the same reference numerals. The numbering of method steps is for the sake of clarity and, in particular, should not, unless otherwise indicated, imply a particular chronological order. In particular, several can

Procedural steps are carried out simultaneously.

Description of the embodiments

1 shows a schematic block diagram of a device 10 for

Outputting a control signal according to an embodiment of the present invention and a system 1 according to another embodiment of the present invention.

The device 10 comprises a screen device 12, which is designed to display a graphical user interface 50 in a first state of the device 10. The first state is also called

Display mode (English "display mode")

User interface 50 includes a graphic element 52 in the first state.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of the graphical user interface 50 with the graphic element 52 in the first state of the device 10. The device 10 further comprises an input device 14 with an actuatable operating element 16. Hereinafter, for example, a mouse as input device 14 and a click button of the mouse as the actuatable operating element 16 are assumed. A variety of other input devices with corresponding operable controls are also usable. By means of the mouse as input device 14 are

Positions in the graphical user interface 50 can be indexed by moving a mouse pointer to the corresponding position to be indexed. The mouse pointer may be formed, for example, in an arrow shape, dot shape, hand shape, or any other shape.

The device 10 further comprises a control device 18, which is designed to automatically move the device 10 into a second state when a first position 61, which is arranged within the graphic element 52, is indexed by means of the input device 14, while the device 10 is in the first state. In particular, the

Device 10 is immediately placed in the second state, when said conditions are met. In the second state, the

Screen device 12, in particular as long as the device 10 is in the second state, a selection menu 54 in or as part of the graphical user interface 50, as shown in Fig. 3.

The selection menu 54 includes at least two control symbols 56. In Fig. 3, the selection menu 54 is shown with twelve control symbols 56 arranged in a grid of three equal-sized columns and four equal-sized rows. Each control symbol is associated with a respective individual control signal, which is preferably indicated by a graphic icon or text on the control symbol. In the second state, the

Selection menu 54 preferably concealing over the graphic element 52 and / or centered on the graphic element 52, displayed. This will be the

It minimizes distances from the indexed first position 61 to other positions within the control symbols 56 overall on average assuming that all control symbols are selected the same number of times. Is the graphic element 52 so close to a screen edge 13 of

Display device 12 arranged that the selection menu 54 centered on the graphic element 52 could not be displayed completely within the screen device 12, the selection menu 54 is automatically shifted from the position centered on the graphic element 52 minimally so that the selection menu 54 is completely displayed by the screen device 12 can be. Thus, the familiar to the user change

Movements, which he has to perform about with the mouse to click the control icons 56 in a minimal way, whereby the device 10 is particularly comfortable to use.

The controller 18 is further adapted to automatically the

Screen device 12 to remove the displayed selection menu 54 again and automatically return the device 10 in the first state when using the input device 14 any second position 62 outside all control symbols 56 and / or outside the selection menu 54 is indexed while the device 10 is in the second state. The second state, in which, preferably only in which, the selection menu 54 is displayed, can also be designated as a selection mode (English "selection mode").

Preferably, the selection menu 54 is momentarily removed once the above conditions are met. In particular, for switching from the first state to the second state of the device 10 and for a change from the second state to the first state of the device 10 is only one

Moving the mouse and in particular no click, that is, no operation of the control element 16, required. Thereby, the switching between the first and the second state of the device 10 can be made particularly simple and comfortable, without fatiguing the user permanently.

The control device 18 is further designed to be when the

Operating element 16 of the input device 14 is actuated while the

Selection menu 54 is displayed and while using the input device 14, a third position 63 is indexed, which is arranged within a control command symbol 56, in dependence on the corresponding control symbol 56 a To generate control signal 81. In the present example, with a mouse as input device 14, this means that one individual control signal 81 is generated each time the mouse clicks on each of the control symbols 56. For example, a control signal 81 is generated, which is circumscribed with a term "standby" when moved with the mouse in the in

3, a control icon 56-1 located in the first column and the first row of the selection menu 54, labeled "Standby", is clicked in. As shown in Figure 3, the device 10 includes a cable-based, wireless, or software implemented interface device 20 designed to do so to output the generated control signal 81.

Preferably, the device 10, in particular automatically and instantly, is put back into the first state by the control device 18 as soon as the control signal 81 is generated, the selection menu 54 being removed again and the graphic element 52 being displayed again.

The device 10 may be part of a system 1 according to the invention according to another embodiment of the present invention. The system 1 may include, in addition to the device 10, a test device 60 which is adapted to receive the control signal 81 output by the interface device 20 of the device 10 and based on the control signal

received control signal 81 to generate a response signal 82. The

Test device 60 may further be configured to generate the generated

Reply signal 82 to the interface device 20 of the device 10 to transmit.

The device 10 may be configured to evaluate the response signal 82 received from the test device 60 via the interface device 20 and based thereon a response object 58 in the graphical

User interface 50 as shown in Fig. 2. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the control signal 81 described as "standby" is selected for outputting to the test device 60, which is indicated, in particular in real time, by the graphics element 52. Likewise, in particular in real time, the response object 58 indicate the response signal 82 received from the test device 60, or graphically illustrate. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the test device 60 sends by way of example a response signal 82, which indicates that the control signal 81 corresponds to a mode unknown to the test device 60. Therefore, the response object 58 displays, for example, the message "Mode unknown." Preferably, the response object 58 is always displayed, even if the graphic element 52 is displayed, ie in the first state of the device 10, and not always displayed, albeit the graphic element 52 is not displayed, ie in the second state of the device 10. Preferably, the test device 60 may be configured to be connected to the

Test device 60, a device under test 70 is connected to which, based on the output from the device 10 control signal 81, a generated by the test device 60 test signal 83 is transmitted. The test object 70 generates a test object response signal 84 which is transmitted to the test device 60 based on the received test signal 83. The

 Test device 60 generates response signal 82 based on received DUT response signal 84 and transmits it to device 10 so that response object 58 can be automatically adjusted by controller 18 based on response signal 82.

The device under test 70 may be an electronic device,

in particular, an electronic device in, or for use in, a motor vehicle act. The test object 70 may be, for example, an electronic control unit (English "electronic control unif), in particular an ECU for an engine of a motor vehicle.

The invention thus provides a system for testing a DUT, wherein in a particularly fast and particularly efficient manner a plurality of

various control signals 81 selected for testing the device under test 70 and particularly fast and clear based on a DUT response signal 84 of the device under test 70 based response signal 82 evaluated and the result of the evaluation can be displayed. At the same time, both for the

Displaying the result of the evaluation as well as for selecting the various control signals 81 necessary space required for the screen device 12 advantageously minimized. Thus, the screen device 12 with smaller Dimensions are formed or, with constant dimensions, provide additional space-consuming functions. A need to operate the operating element 16 of the input device 14 is minimized, which increases a user's comfort of the device 10 and the system 1, respectively.

It is particularly advantageous for a change of a dispensed

Control signal 81 to the test device 60 requires only a single actuation of the control element 16.

4 is a schematic flowchart for explaining a method of outputting a control signal 81 according to still another

Embodiment of the present invention. The method according to FIG. 4 is suitable in particular for carrying out with a device according to the invention, in particular the device 10 according to the invention, and in relation to all variants and developments described above,

in particular the device 10, and vice versa.

In a step S01, a graphical user interface 50 is displayed, which comprises a graphic element 52. In a step S02, an, in particular any, first position 61 in the graphical user interface 50 is indexed by means of an input device 14, for example by moving a mouse pointer to the first position 61.

In a step S03, a selection menu 54 is automatically displayed in the graphical user interface 50 if the indexed first position 61 lies within the graphic element 52. In particular, the automatic display S03 preferably takes place automatically as soon as the first position 61 within the graphic element 52 is initiated. The selection menu 54 has at least two control symbols 56, wherein each of the control symbols 56 is advantageously linked to a dispensable control signal 81. In a step S04, the displayed selection menu 54 is automatically removed when, in particular once, by means of the input device 14 a, in particular any, second position 62 is indicated, which lies outside of the displayed selection menu 54, in particular outside of all control symbols 56. In a step S05, a control signal 81 is generated when a control element 16 is operated on the input device 14, while the selection menu 54 is displayed and while by means of the input device 14 a, in particular any, third position 63 is indicated, which is within a control symbol 56 , The control signal 81 is generated in response to the corresponding control symbol 56, that is, in response to the control symbol 56 within which the third position 63 which is indexed is located. At the same time, the selection menu 54 may be removed and the device 10 may be transitioned from a second state to a first state, as described above. In a step S06, the generated control signal 81 is output, for example to a test device 60.

5 is a schematic flowchart for explaining a method of testing a device under test 70 according to still another embodiment of the present invention. The method according to FIG. 5 is a development of the method according to FIG. 4 and comprises all steps, which also include the method according to FIG. 4. In addition, the method according to FIG. 5 comprises the following steps:

In a step S07, the generated control signal 81 is transmitted to a device under test 70 or generated based on the generated control signal 81, for example by the test device 60, a test signal 83, which is transmitted instead of the control signal 81 to the DUT 70.

In a step S08, a test signal 82 is generated by the test object 70 based on the received control signal 81 or on the received test signal 83. Alternatively, the device under test can generate, based on the received control signal 81 or the received test signal 83, a device response signal 84 which is transmitted to the test device 60 which generates the response signal 82 based on the received device test response signal 84.

In a step S09, based on the generated response signal 82 in the graphical user interface 50, a response object 58 is displayed or adapted, in particular in real time.

Claims

claims A device (10) for outputting a control signal (81) comprising:  a screen device (12) which is adapted to display in a first state of the device (10) a graphical user interface (50) with a graphic element (52);  an input device (14) with an actuatable operating element (16); wherein by means of the input device (14) positions (61, 62, 63) in the graphical user interface (50) are indexable;  a control device (18), which is designed to, the Device (10) automatically to a second state when using the input device (14) a first position (61) is indexed, which is disposed within the graphic element (52), while the Device (10) is in the first state; the Screen means (12) in the second state displays a selection menu (54) in the graphical user interface (50);  wherein the selection menu (54) comprises at least two control symbols (56);  wherein the control device (18) is further adapted to automatically control the screen device (12) displayed Remove menu (54) again, and automatically return the device (10) to the first state when using the Input means (14) a second position (62) is indicated, which is arranged outside all displayed control symbols (56), while the device (10) is in the second state;  wherein the control device (18) is further configured to operate the control element (16) of the input device (14) while the selection menu (54) is displayed and while using the Input device (14) a third position (63) is indexed, which within a control symbol (56) is arranged, depending on the corresponding control symbol (56) to generate a control signal (81); and an interface device (20) adapted to output the generated control signal (81). 2. Device (10) according to claim 1,  wherein the input device (14) is designed as a mouse, a trackball or a joystick, by means of which or in each case a pointer in the graphical user interface (50) is displaceable; and  wherein a position (61, 62, 63) in the graphic User interface (50) is indexed by the pointer is pushed to the appropriate position (61, 62, 63). 3. Device (10) according to claim 1,  wherein the screen device (12) and the input device (14) are integrally formed as a touch screen;  wherein a position (61, 62, 63) in the graphic User interface (50) is indicated by the touch screen at the corresponding position (61, 62, 63) is touched. 4. Apparatus according to claim 3,  wherein the operation of the operating element (16) is effected by terminating the touchscreen touch. 5. Device (10) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the operating element (16) is designed as a click button. 6. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5,  wherein the command icons (56) in the selection menu (54) are arranged in a grid. 7. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the selection menu (54) is always displayed in the same relative position with respect to a position of the graphic element (52). 8. Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the graphic element (52) is adapted to index at least one current operating state of a test device (60) connectable to the device (10);  wherein the generated control signal (81) by means of Interface device (20) is transmitted to the test device (60); wherein the interface device (20) is adapted to receive a response signal (82) generated by the test device (60) based on the transmitted control signal (81); and  wherein the control device (18) is adapted to the Screen device (12) based on the received response signal (82) a response object (58) in the graphical User interface (52). 9. System (1) with:  a device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 8; and a test device (60) adapted to receive the data output by the interface device (20) of the device (10) Receive control signal (81) based on the received one Control signal (81) to generate a response signal (82) and to transmit the generated response signal (82) to the interface device (20) of the device (10). 10. A method of outputting a control signal (81) comprising the steps of:  Displaying (S01) a graphical user interface (50) comprising a graphic element (52);  Indexing (S02), by means of an input device (14), a first position (61) in the graphical user interface (50);  Automatically displaying (S03) a selection menu (54) in the graphical user interface (50) if the indexed first position (61) is located within the graphics element (52); wherein the selection menu (54) comprises at least two control symbols (56); Automatically removing (S04) the displayed selection menu (54) when a second item (62) located outside the displayed selection menu (54) is indexed by the input means (14);  Generating (S05), when a control element (16) of the input device ^) is actuated while the selection menu (54) is displayed and while by means of the input device (14) a third position (63) is indexed, which within a control symbol (56) is arranged, a control signal (81) in response to the corresponding control symbol (56); and  Outputting (S06) the generated control signal (81).