Auxiliary Control Device for Hands-Free Terminal Operation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mobile phone usage during driving is inconvenient and poses safety risks as drivers often need to operate the phone with their hands off the steering wheel, lacking a convenient and safe method to perform tasks like making calls or controlling applications.
Innovation Solution
An auxiliary terminal-control apparatus with a back plate sticker, control key, and communications module that recognizes roll and press operations to generate corresponding instructions, allowing hands-free operation of terminal devices through wireless or wired connections, enabling users to control applications or trigger services without taking hands off the wheel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If drivers operate mobile phones with hands off the steering wheel, then convenience of use is improved, but driving safety deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an auxiliary terminal-control apparatus as an intermediary device that mediates between the driver and the mobile phone. This apparatus includes a control key with roll ball and key that can be mounted on the steering wheel, allowing drivers to operate the terminal device through this intermediate control interface without taking hands off the steering wheel, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and driving safety
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the control functions by separating the terminal control operations from the steering wheel operations. The auxiliary control apparatus divides the mobile phone control into discrete, simplified actions (roll operations and press operations on the control key) that can be performed while maintaining steering wheel contact, allowing drivers to access essential functions without compromising safety
2Ease of operation
If drivers hold the steering wheel with one hand and operate mobile phone with the other hand, then mobile phone operability is improved, but driving safety deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the steering wheel control and mobile phone control into a single integrated interface. By mounting the auxiliary terminal-control apparatus on the steering wheel, the control keys are combined with the steering wheel structure, allowing drivers to perform both steering and terminal operations from the same location without needing to use a separate hand for phone operations
3Reliability
If an auxiliary terminal-control apparatus is introduced, then driving safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making the auxiliary control apparatus highly localized and focused. The control key is a simple, localized component with specific functions (roll ball for selection, key for confirmation) that is mounted at a specific location on the steering wheel. This localized approach provides the necessary safety functionality without introducing complex system-wide changes, resolving the contradiction between improved safety and increased complexity
Data Source
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AI summary
This application provides an auxiliary terminal-control apparatus, where the apparatus includes a back plate sticker, a control key embedded into the back plate sticker, a communications module, and a control module. The control module is configured to recognize a target operation on the control key, and generate, based on the target operation, a corresponding target operation instruction, where the control key includes a roll ball and/or a key, operations on the roll ball include a roll operation and a press operation, and an operation on the key includes a press operation; and the communications module is configured to establish a communication connection to a terminal device to send the target operation instruction to the terminal device, where the target operation instruction is used to operate an application program on the terminal device or trigger a service. In embodiments of this application, the auxiliary terminal-control apparatus serves as a peripheral of the terminal device, and can operate an application program on the terminal device or trigger a service by using the roll ball and/or the key. Therefore, in scenarios with inconvenience of using a terminal device, application programs or services on the terminal device can be operated conveniently.