Flexible Center Stack Display with Projection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle center stack displays are limited by their planar design, high cost, limited size availability, susceptibility to damage, and reduced styling flexibility, especially in bright ambient light conditions.
Innovation Solution
A center stack display system utilizing a pliable translucent material with a projection system that projects graphical content onto its surface, accompanied by manipulable input devices such as switches or touch grids, providing tactile feedback and minimizing complexity and cost.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If a planar TFT or LCD display is used in the center stack, then the display provides clear graphical content, but the design flexibility of the center stack is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by replacing the static planar display with a flexible display that can be bent or curved. The flexible display comprises a flexible substrate with display elements that can be configured in various shapes, allowing the center stack design to be dynamically adjusted while maintaining clear graphical content presentation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent directly applies this principle by using a flexible display constructed with thin film transistor (TFT) technology on a flexible substrate. This allows the display to be bent or curved without breaking, enabling diverse center stack designs while preserving the display's functionality and visual clarity.
2Shape
If translucent materials are used to achieve design flexibility, then styling flexibility is improved, but the displays become expensive and susceptible to external damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining the flexible substrate with protective layers and encapsulation structures. This creates a multi-layer composite that maintains the flexibility needed for styling while providing protection against external damage, thus improving reliability without sacrificing design flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies beforehand cushioning by incorporating protective coatings and encapsulation layers on the flexible display before it is installed in the center stack. These protective elements are pre-applied to cushion against potential external damage, reducing susceptibility to environmental factors and physical harm.
3Ease of operation
If a camera is disposed behind the translucent material to detect button actuation, then button functionality is achieved, but valuable space behind the instrument panel is occupied
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the taking out principle by removing the camera component from the system. Instead of using a camera to detect button actuation, the flexible display integrates touch-sensitive capabilities directly into the display structure, eliminating the need for separate detection hardware and freeing up space behind the instrument panel.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies merging by combining the display function with the input detection function into a single integrated flexible display structure. The display elements themselves serve as the sensing elements, merging what were previously separate components (display and camera/detector) into one unified system that saves space.
4Ease of operation
If traditional switches or touch screens are used, then input functionality is provided, but the number of components and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing the flexible display to perform multiple functions simultaneously. The same flexible display structure provides both visual output and input detection capabilities, eliminating the need for separate switches or touch screen overlays, thus reducing component quantity while maintaining full input functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies merging by integrating the input device functionality directly into the flexible display structure. Rather than having separate input components, the display elements themselves respond to user input, combining what were traditionally separate systems into one unified component that reduces overall complexity.
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
This solution enhances design flexibility, reduces costs, and maintains functionality while providing tactile feedback, even in bright conditions, by using a pliable translucent material and a projection system with manipulable input devices.
Implementation Method 1
a projection system adapted to project a light beam containing graphical content onto the second surface of the translucent material, wherein the graphical content is visible on the first surface of the material
Data Source
AI summary
A display system for a center stack of a vehicle is disclosed including a translucent material and a projection system. Dynamic graphical content derived from an input by a passenger of the vehicle via at least one of simulated controls and hard-tooled switches is projected onto the material by the projection system.