Programmable Vehicle Paint Surfaces With Depth-Sensed Color Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for customizing the exterior color of vehicles with electronically programmable color cells are limited, as users cannot directly interact with the vehicle surface to make specific changes without referring to a programming station, and current interfaces do not allow for real-time visualization of color changes.
Innovation Solution
A system that enables users to interact directly with the exterior surface of a vehicle using depth-sensing technology to detect user actions and identify specific electronically programmable color cells, allowing for immediate color changes without the need for a programming station.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If users use an interface inside the vehicle or a separate mobile device to select and change colors, then color customization is enabled, but users cannot directly interact with the vehicle surface and must refer back to the programming station to see changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses depth-sensing technology as an intermediary to capture user gestures in space and map them to specific color cells on the vehicle surface. The system mediates between the user's physical gestures and the digital color selection interface, enabling indirect interaction with the vehicle surface without requiring direct contact or reference to a programming station.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides real-time visual feedback by displaying selected colors on a 3D model of the vehicle and updating the actual vehicle surface in real-time. This feedback loop allows users to see changes immediately after making a selection, eliminating the need to refer back to a programming station and providing continuous visualization of customization options.
2Ease of operation
If extensive touch sensors are installed across the vehicle surface to enable direct user interaction, then user control and customization capability are improved, but system complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/electrical touch sensor system with an optical depth-sensing system. Instead of installing conductive materials or capacitive sensors across the vehicle surface, the system uses depth-sensing cameras or LIDAR to detect user gestures in the air space around the vehicle, substituting a complex sensor network with a more manageable optical detection system.
Solution Approach 2:
The depth-sensing technology acts as an intermediary that captures user intent through gestures in space, eliminating the need for direct contact sensors on the vehicle surface. This intermediary system translates physical gestures into digital commands, providing direct interaction capability without requiring extensive sensor installation on the vehicle itself.
3Loss of information
If a 3D modeling tool with all programmable surfaces mapped is provided, then users can visualize the vehicle model, but the interface cannot detect the specific part of the vehicle the user wants to customize and users cannot see changes while selecting
Solution Approach 1:
The depth-sensing system serves as an intermediary that bridges the gap between the user's intended target and the 3D model interface. By capturing the spatial location of user gestures, the system identifies which specific vehicle part the user wants to customize and highlights or selects that area on the 3D model, enabling precise localization without requiring the user to manually navigate through the interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides immediate visual feedback by highlighting the selected area on the 3D model and displaying the chosen color on that specific region. This real-time feedback allows users to see which part they are customizing and what the result will look like, combining precise location detection with visual confirmation in a single integrated interface.
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 allows for intuitive and direct customization of vehicle exterior colors, providing immediate feedback and increased user control, while also being cost-effective by eliminating the need for extensive touch sensors across the vehicle surface.
Implementation Method 1
a depth-sensing device to monitor for a user action and identify a location of an interaction point between the user action and the exterior surface
Data Source
AI summary
System and methods are described for changing the exterior color of a vehicle with an exterior surface comprising a plurality of electronically programmable color cells. The systems and methods describe receiving a request to begin color programming mode on the vehicle and in response to determining that a state of the vehicle permits the color programming mode, activating a depth-sensing device configured to monitor for and detect a user action associated with the exterior surface. The systems and methods further describe receiving, at a user device communicatively coupled to the vehicle and to the depth-sensing device, a color selection; identifying, by the depth-sensing device, the location of an interaction point between the user action and the exterior surface determining, based on data captured by the depth-sensing device, an electronically programmable color cell that is located at the identified interaction point; and transmitting to the vehicle an instruction to change the color of the determined electronically programmable color cell to the selected color.