Concave Touch Input Device for Vehicle Function Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

The increasing number of vehicle functions leads to a higher driver operation load, reducing concentration and safety, as traditional input devices can be complex and difficult to operate, especially for drivers who are not familiar with them.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle with a touch input device featuring a concave region that detects touch gestures and pressure, allowing for intuitive selection and operation of vehicle functions by moving gestures from the periphery to the center, with a controller that displays selections and changes based on detected gestures and pressure, reducing the complexity of input operations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If various functions are provided in the vehicle, then the convenience for passengers is improved, but the driver's operation load increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevehicle functionsVSAvoiddriver operation load
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The touch input device is divided into multiple regions (first region at the periphery and second region at the center) of the concave portion, allowing different operations to be performed in different regions. This segmentation enables intuitive gesture-based control where the direction and destination of finger movement directly correspond to selection operations, reducing the cognitive load and complexity of operating multiple vehicle functions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If the number of functions increases, then the convenience is improved, but the difficulty of operation increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of functionsVSAvoiddifficulty of operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically detects the driver's finger movement trajectory within the concave portion and automatically determines the selected object based on the movement's destination region. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for the driver to manually navigate through complex menus or remember specific input sequences, as the system interprets the natural gesture to directly select functions, thereby reducing operational difficulty while maintaining access to multiple functions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of operation

If a touch input device is used, then the operation complexity is reduced, but the input accuracy may be insufficient without proper structural design

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperation complexityVSAvoidinput accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The concave portion is divided into regions with different functional qualities: the first region at the periphery and the second region at the center. Each region is assigned specific detection functions, with the second region serving as the precise target area for confirming object selection. This local quality differentiation ensures that while the overall device remains simple to operate, the input accuracy is enhanced by having a clearly defined target zone that the driver's finger must reach to confirm selection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3125099B1Vehicle and method of controlling the same
Publication Date: 2021.03.31 HYUNDAI MOTOR CO LTD
  • EP3125099B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3125099B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3125099B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A vehicle is provided and includes a display which displays a selection of an object by detecting a touch gesture moving from an edge of a concave region to a center thereof and a method of controlling the same. The vehicle includes a display configured to display a user interface (UI) having a plurality of objects and a touch input device that has a concave region configured to detect a touch gesture. Additionally, a controller is configured to operate the display to display a selection of an object that corresponds to a first position among the plurality of objects when a gesture moving from the first position on a periphery of the concave region to a center thereof is detected.