Automotive Ambient Lighting with Projected Soft Keys
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ambient lighting systems in automobiles cannot provide specific visual feedback concerning the functionality being controlled, limiting their effectiveness as a human-machine interface.
Innovation Solution
An ambient lighting system with RGB LED light sources, a control unit, touch sensors, and a projector that activates soft keys and projects images on a contact surface to provide visual feedback corresponding to user commands, allowing the system to function as an interactive human-machine interface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If conventional ambient lighting systems are used to provide visual feedback, then the system can show animation lighting effects and change color/intensity, but the system cannot provide specific visual feedback concerning different human machine interface functions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the contact surface interactive and reconfigurable. The contact surface transitions from a static lighting element to a dynamic interface that can display different images, symbols, and logos based on user interactions and system states. This allows the same physical surface to adapt its information display capability without requiring multiple fixed displays.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses projection technology to create visual copies (images, symbols, logos) on the contact surface. Instead of having physical buttons or displays, the system projects virtual representations of interface elements onto the lighting surface, allowing flexible duplication of visual information without adding physical complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If hard buttons with symbols and logos are used for human machine interface, then specific functionalities can be indicated, but the symbols and logos cannot be changed on such hard buttons
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses projected images as virtual copies of buttons and symbols on the contact surface. These projected symbols can be dynamically changed, moved, or removed without any physical reconfiguration, eliminating the limitation of fixed hard buttons while maintaining a simple physical structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical hard button system with an optical projection system. Instead of physical buttons with fixed symbols, the system uses light projection to create virtual interface elements that can be changed electronically, substituting mechanical complexity with optical flexibility.
3Loss of information
If screens and displays are used as human machine interface, then different symbols, icons and logos can be shown, but the screens have large dimensions and are not designed to be an ambient lighting device
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges two previously separate functions into a single integrated system: ambient lighting and human-machine interface display. The contact surface simultaneously serves as both a lighting element and an information display medium, eliminating the need for separate screens while providing comprehensive visual feedback.
Solution Approach 2:
The contact surface is designed with universal functionality, serving multiple purposes: it provides ambient lighting, displays visual feedback, shows interface symbols and logos, and responds to user touches. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for dedicated display components while maintaining comprehensive interface capabilities.
4Ease of operation
If ambient lighting systems are configured to receive inputs from users with touch sensors, then the system can detect user interactions, but the system does not provide specific indications through images of the functionalities that can be controlled
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements comprehensive feedback by immediately displaying relevant images, symbols, or logos on the contact surface in response to user touches. This real-time visual feedback confirms the detected interaction and indicates the controlled functionality, creating a closed-loop interface that enhances user understanding and control.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables clear identification of soft keys and their associated functionalities, providing intuitive visual feedback to users, enhancing the system's interaction capabilities and usability.
Implementation Method 1
at least one projector in communication with the control unit and configured to project an image on the at least one contact surface
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of RGB LED light sources configured to emit light rays
Implementation Method 3
diffuse homogeneously the light rays emitted by the RGB LED sources
Implementation Method 4
at least one touch sensor in communication with the control unit and configured to detect a touch of the contact surface by a body portion of a user
Data Source
AI summary
An ambient lighting system for automobiles configured to illuminate a passenger compartment, comprises: an optical system in turn comprising: a plurality of RGB LED light sources; a structural support on which the light sources are placed; and a contact surface on which a user can interact, and through which light rays can exit. The ambient lighting system also includes: a control unit configured to control the RGB LED light sources in order to present light animations; and a touch sensor configured to detect touch of the contact surface in a defined region, which is configured to define, along the optical system at least one soft key. The ambient lighting system further includes: a voice command recognition system electronically connected to the control unit and configured to recognize voice commands; and a projector configured to project an image, such as a symbol and/or logo, on the contact surface.