Armrest User Interface That Appears on Demand in Passenger Chairs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle information systems are complex and difficult for passengers to operate, requiring chair-mounted or tethered controllers that are cumbersome and often lead to passenger complaints during travel.
Innovation Solution
A user chair with an integrated user interface system where the interface is disposed within the armrests, becoming visible only when a user approaches, allowing for intuitive interaction with the information system without the need for separate handheld controllers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional vehicle information systems use chair-mounted or tethered handheld controllers, then passengers can access viewing content, but the system becomes complicated to operate and difficult to enjoy
Solution Approach 1:
The control interface is merged with the chair structure itself. The armrest contains a display screen and control buttons integrated into the chair furniture, eliminating the need for separate handheld controllers. This merging of the control system with the chair reduces operational complexity while maintaining accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The control interface is extracted from the traditional overhead cabin location and placed directly at the passenger's armrest. This extraction allows each passenger to have independent, localized control without interfering with other passengers or requiring complex shared control systems.
2Ease of operation
If handheld controllers are tethered to passenger chairs via wired communication, then control functions are provided, but the controllers become difficult to operate
Solution Approach 1:
The controller and display are merged into the chair's armrest structure. The armrest becomes both the furniture element and the control interface, eliminating the need for separate tethered controllers and reducing operational difficulty.
Solution Approach 2:
The chair itself provides the control interface through its integrated display and buttons. The system serves itself by having the chair structure perform the control functions that would otherwise require separate handheld devices.
Data Source
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AI summary
An integrated user interface system (360) being disposed at a chair (382) and methods for manufacturing and using same. The user interface system comprises one or more interface elements (366) that are disposed at an armrest (388) or other suitable chair location and that are obscured from view or otherwise de - emphasized when a user is distal from the user interface system. At least one selected interface element becomes emphasized when a user hand becomes proximate to the user interface system. The selected interface element can become emphasized, for example, by becoming visible and/or by forming a raised projection. Upon becoming emphasized, the selected interface element is activated for use and can be manipulated to interact with available system resources. The chair (382) advantageously can appear to be an ordinary chair when the user interface system is not in use and can present the user interface system when the user wishes to access the system resources.