Reconfigurable Vehicle Control Device with Mechanical Switches
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle control devices face inefficiencies in space usage and cost due to overcrowded control panels, and safety hazards arise from drivers needing to stretch and divert attention from the road to operate functions, especially with touch screens lacking tactile feedback and capacitive buttons being confusing.
Innovation Solution
A reconfigurable control device with a display and array of mechanical switches that can change functions based on user input, reducing the number of hardware buttons and providing tactile feedback, allowing for multiple functions to be managed with minimal hardware and lower material costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a touch screen panel is used to reduce the number of buttons, then the space usage is improved and cost is reduced, but the user loses tactile feedback and the interface becomes expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the advantages of mechanical buttons (tactile feedback) with the advantages of touch screens (space efficiency, reconfigurability) by integrating a touch screen interface with physical button mechanisms. The touch screen displays virtual buttons that can be configured to match physical button locations, providing both visual and tactile feedback while maintaining space efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The control panel is designed to serve multiple functions through a single integrated system that combines touch screen display with mechanical button functionality. The same interface can display different functions based on context, and the physical buttons provide consistent tactile feedback regardless of the displayed function, making the system universally applicable to various control scenarios.
2Device complexity
If capacitive buttons are placed at the sides of the display, then the number of buttons is reduced, but the driver must stretch and divert attention from the road, creating safety hazards
Solution Approach 1:
The control panel distributes buttons across different locations on the display surface, allowing each region to have specialized controls optimized for its function. Important frequently-used controls are positioned in easily accessible locations near the driver, while less critical functions are placed in other areas, creating local optimization for both accessibility and functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The control panel dynamically reconfigures button positions and functions based on the current context, vehicle state, or selected mode. This allows the interface to adapt to different operational scenarios, placing relevant controls in optimal positions for driver accessibility while maintaining comprehensive functionality when needed.
3Adaptability or versatility
If more features are added to enhance user experience, then the functionality is improved, but the control panel becomes bigger and more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The control panel uses dynamic reconfiguration to display only the features and functions currently relevant to the driver's needs. The interface can change its layout, available functions, and button configurations based on vehicle mode, driver selection, or operational context, allowing comprehensive functionality to be delivered through a compact interface that adapts to different scenarios rather than displaying all functions simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the temporal dimension by allowing the control panel interface to change over time based on context. Different sets of functions are made available at different times or under different conditions, effectively adding a time-based dimension to the control interface. This allows the panel to provide comprehensive functionality across multiple time periods and scenarios while maintaining a compact physical footprint at any given moment.
Data Source
AI summary
A reconfigurable control device, in particular for use in a vehicle. Input keys on the reconfigurable control device allow a user to trigger different selection of modes. The control device is reconfigured by performing a first step of selecting a function mode by pressing one of the at least two input keys on the control device and a second step of selecting a function displayed on an array of mechanical switches. The selection of functions is refreshed with user trigger a fresh selection of mode.