Passenger-Aware Cockpit Display With Hidden Shy Button Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle cockpit systems lack an efficient mechanism to manage display functionality based on the presence of a passenger, leading to potential interference and reduced convenience for both the driver and passenger.
Innovation Solution
A cockpit system with a shy button that is activated or deactivated based on the presence of a passenger, utilizing a camera to monitor the seat and control display areas, including a see-through panel to provide simplified information during a low mode, and incorporating sensors for automatic activation/deactivation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the front display always shows all display areas including the shy button, then the passenger can always access controls, but the driver's view is blocked and aesthetic appeal is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The shy button display area dynamically changes its visibility state based on detected user presence. When a passenger is detected, the shy button becomes visible and accessible; when no passenger is present, it becomes indistinguishable from the background. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by providing passenger access only when needed, eliminating driver view obstruction when the passenger seat is empty.
Solution Approach 2:
The display area is divided into different regions with different visibility properties. The shy button area has distinct optical characteristics (transparency, reflectivity, or emission) that differ from other display areas, allowing it to be selectively activated or deactivated independently. This local differentiation enables the shy button to be hidden or shown based on passenger presence without affecting other display functions.
2Ease of operation
If the shy button is always visible, then passenger controls are accessible, but the display aesthetics and driver's field of view are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The shy button's visual appearance dynamically adapts to operational needs. It transitions between a visible state (with distinct buttons, icons, or text) and an invisible state (blending with the background or becoming transparent). This dynamic transformation maintains aesthetic appearance by hiding the shy button when not in use, while ensuring accessibility when a passenger is present.
Solution Approach 2:
The shy button area changes its optical properties such as color, transparency, or brightness based on detection signals. When deactivated, it may become transparent, match the background color, or reduce its emission intensity to blend with surrounding areas. When activated, it displays distinct visual characteristics to indicate controllability, thus maintaining aesthetics while enabling access.
3Reliability
If the camera continuously monitors the passenger seat to detect occupancy, then the shy button can be activated appropriately, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The camera operates periodically rather than continuously, activating only at relevant moments such as when the vehicle is started, when the display is turned on, or at scheduled intervals. This periodic operation maintains reliable passenger detection capability while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to continuous monitoring.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses existing sensors or detection mechanisms already present in the vehicle (such as weight sensors in the seat, proximity sensors, or existing camera systems used for other purposes) to detect passenger presence. By reusing existing detection capabilities, the system achieves reliable occupancy detection without requiring dedicated continuous camera operation, thus minimizing additional energy consumption.
Data Source
AI summary
A cockpit system and a vehicle thereof are provided. The cockpit includes: a front display disposed in front of a driver's seat and a passenger seat of the vehicle, the front display including display areas and a shy button included in at least one of the display areas; a camera to monitor the driver's seat or the passenger seat; and a controller that determines whether an occupant is in the driver's seat or the passenger seat, controls at least one of the display areas of the front display, makes the display area including the shy button indistinguishable from the other display areas in response to the shy button being deactivated, and activates the shy button, only when the occupant is detected in the passenger seat through the camera.