Motorcycle Smartphone Control Switching to Reduce Rider Distraction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motorcycle systems with integrated control units for display and navigation devices on the handlebars distract riders, posing a significant safety risk, and are inflexible with proprietary systems requiring additional data lines and assembly efforts.
Innovation Solution
A motorcycle system featuring a display unit, an operating unit, and a multifunctional device with a detachable screen that allows control commands to be generated for both the display and the multifunctional device using a switching device, enabling the selection and control of applications like navigation, music, and communication without additional handlebar controls, using wireless communication standards like Bluetooth for flexibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If additional operating units are added to the handlebar to control navigation and multimedia functions, then the functionality of the motorcycle system is improved, but the rider distraction and safety risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the control of the display unit and the multifunctional device into a single operating unit. The control unit integrated in the display unit can generate control commands for both the display unit itself and the multifunctional device (smartphone, tablet, or multimedia player), eliminating the need for separate control units on the handlebar and reducing rider distraction while maintaining full functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The operating unit is designed with universal control capabilities that can operate both the motorcycle's native display unit and external multifunctional devices. The control unit can switch between controlling the display unit and controlling the multifunctional device, providing a unified interface for multiple functions without requiring additional specialized controls.
2Reliability
If proprietary integrated systems are used for display and navigation, then the system reliability is improved, but the device complexity and assembly effort increase due to additional data lines
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit integrated in the display unit is designed with universal communication capabilities that can interface with both the motorcycle's internal systems and external multifunctional devices. This eliminates the need for separate proprietary data lines and complex wiring harnesses, reducing assembly effort while maintaining reliable control of all functions through a single unified control interface.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a smartphone is mounted in the cockpit area, then the navigation functionality is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates because touchscreens cannot be used while wearing motorcycle gloves
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces the display unit with its integrated control unit as an intermediary between the rider and the multifunctional device. The display unit receives control commands from the rider through its control elements (which can be operated with gloves), processes them, and transmits appropriate control commands to the multifunctional device, enabling indirect but effective operation of touchscreen functions without direct contact.
4Device complexity
If the control unit is integrated in the display unit, then the device complexity is reduced, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit is merged with the display unit, combining what were previously separate components into a single integrated unit. This reduces the overall number of control units in the system and simplifies the architecture, though it does require precise integration of the control functions within the display unit housing and circuit board layout.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~4a
Figure 4b~6
AI summary
Motorcycle with: • a display unit (3) for displaying information on the driving status and operating parameters of the motorcycle (10), • a control unit (1) from which control commands for controlling the display unit (3) can be generated, • a multifunction device (2) with a screen, preferably designed as a smartphone, which can be detachably mounted in a holder (12), wherein an application can be installed on the multifunction device (2) with which further applications installed on the multifunction device (2) can be opened, wherein the selection of further applications that can be opened by the application can be displayed on the screen in the form of pictograms, • a control unit with which control commands for controlling the application and the further applications that can be opened by the application can be transmitted to the multifunction device (2),wherein the control commands for controlling the application and the other applications that can be opened by the application can be generated by the operating unit (1), wherein a switching device is provided for switching between the control of the display unit (3) and the control of the multifunction device (2).