Rear-View Mirror Touch Control With Free-Drag Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle rear-view mirror adjustment systems require drivers to constantly look at the screen to control mirror positions, increasing the risk of accidents as they must divert attention from the road.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle rear-view mirror adjustment system using a graphical user interface (GUI) that allows users to select a rear-view mirror and initiate a drag motion from any location on the screen, eliminating the need to follow a fixed origin, enabling unguided and free drag motions to control mirror positions without constant screen attention.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a fixed origin virtual control element is used to guide drag motions, then the control precision of mirror position is improved, but the user must keep looking at the screen at all times which increases the risk of accidents

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol precisionVSAvoidaccident risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The control interface is segmented into two distinct regions: a first region with touch-enabled icons for mirror selection and a second region for drag motion control. This segmentation allows the user to select the mirror in one area and perform intuitive drag gestures in another area, reducing the need to constantly monitor the screen while maintaining control precision through the structured layout.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of requiring the user to follow a fixed origin virtual control element, the patent inverts the approach by allowing drag motions to originate from any location in the second region. The system interprets the drag motion vector (direction and magnitude) to control the mirror, eliminating the need for the user to locate and follow a specific origin point, thus reducing screen attention time while maintaining control precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Ease of operation

If a fixed origin virtual control element is displayed to guide drag motions, then the ease of operation is improved through guidance, but the user attention time on screen is increased which reduces driving safety

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoiduser attention time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The control system transitions from a static fixed origin virtual control element to a dynamic drag motion detection system. The system dynamically detects the start position, end position, and motion vector of the user's drag gesture, and uses this dynamic information to control the mirror position. This dynamic approach maintains ease of operation through intuitive gestures while significantly reducing the time users must attend to the screen.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides self-service by automatically interpreting the drag motion vector without requiring the user to follow guidance elements. The user simply performs a natural drag gesture, and the system self-interpret the gesture's direction and magnitude to control the mirror, eliminating the need for continuous screen monitoring while maintaining operational ease.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Device complexity

If the drag motion origin is fixed at the centre of the virtual control element, then the control system complexity is reduced, but the user must constantly monitor the screen to ensure correct control which increases accident risk

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol system complexityVSAvoidaccident risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The second region of the touch screen serves multiple functions: it acts as both the control area for drag motions and the reference frame for interpreting those motions. Any location within this region can serve as the effective origin for drag motions, eliminating the need for a separate fixed origin marker. This multi-functionality reduces screen clutter and complexity while maintaining control accuracy, allowing users to operate with less screen attention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3671421B1A vehicle rear-view mirror adjustment control system, a computer-implemented method and a computer program, for controlling the position of rear-view mirrors on a vehicle
Publication Date: 2023.11.29 SEAT SA
  • EP3671421B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3671421B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The present invention relates to a vehicle rear-view mirror adjustment control system, comprising: - a GUI displaying: - a first region (R1) displaying touch-enabled icons for selecting a rear-view mirror; - a second region (R2) displaying an adjustment control screen associated to the selected rear-view mirror; and sequentially detecting: - a contact on the first region (R1), to select a rear-view mirror to be controlled; - an initial contact on any location of the second region (R2); and - a drag motion from that initial contact; - and a computing entity (C) generating rotating control signals, for rotating the selected rear-view mirror about a first and/or second rotation axis according to desired rotation directions, that are determined based on the path and direction followed by the drag motion. A computer-implemented method and a computer program adapted to operate the system are also provided by the present invention.