Rotatable Control Knob and Optical Button Assembly for Vehicle Media Playback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current media playback systems in vehicles are not user-friendly, as they require complex interfaces and fine motor skills to operate, are not customizable, and often drain battery power, while also facing challenges in noisy environments and limited network availability.
Innovation Solution
A personal media streaming appliance system with a simplified user interface, including a media playback device with a rotatable control knob and physical buttons, that connects directly to a media content server via cellular networks, and features noise-cancellation technology for voice interaction, allowing easy control of media playback without disrupting driving or navigation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a sophisticated user interface with touch screens is used, then media content accessibility is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to fine motor skill requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The control interface is segmented into distinct physical buttons (play/pause, skip forward, skip backward) rather than a unified touch screen. Each button performs a specific function, allowing users to control media playback without needing fine motor skills for complex touch gestures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical touch screen interaction with optical sensing technology. The control buttons include light sources (LEDs) and light sensors that detect button presses through optical changes, eliminating the need for direct mechanical contact while maintaining simple physical button operation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If mobile devices are used for media playback, then personalized media content is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to legal restrictions and battery power limitations
Solution Approach 1:
The media playback device is designed as a universal system that can function both as a standalone device with its own media content storage and as a companion to mobile devices. It can receive media content from mobile devices via wireless communication while also having independent control capabilities through its physical buttons.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a dedicated media playback device as an intermediary between mobile devices and the audio output system. This intermediary handles the complex processing and control functions, allowing mobile devices to remain simple remote controls while the intermediary manages media playback, buffering, and control signal processing.
3Measurement precision
If light is emitted toward the press input sensor, then detection precision is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The light source in the button assembly operates periodically rather than continuously. The LED emits light pulses at specific intervals to detect button presses, rather than remaining constantly illuminated. This periodic operation maintains detection precision while significantly reducing overall energy consumption compared to continuous lighting.
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
Provides a customizable, easy-to-use media playback experience in vehicles, reducing battery drain and improving usability in noisy environments by enabling seamless media streaming and voice control, ensuring safe operation while driving.
Implementation Method 1
The reflective ring is configured to reflect the light from the lighting device within the boundary and concentrate the light toward the light guide protrusion
Implementation Method 2
The first light source includes a white LED, and the second light source includes a RGB LED
Data Source
AI summary
A system is provided for streaming media content in a vehicle. The system includes a personal media streaming appliance system configured to connect to a media delivery system and receive media content from the media delivery system at least via a cellular network. The personal media streaming appliance system operates to transmit a media signal representative to the received media content to a vehicle media playback system so that the vehicle media playback system operates to play the media content in the vehicle.