Dynamic Reconfigurable Display Knobs for Vehicle Interfaces

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current vehicle user interfaces lack flexibility and efficiency in reconfiguring controls to manage various vehicle systems, limiting user convenience and system integration.

Innovation Solution

A device with a display and input interface that detects touch, rotation, and push inputs, generating control instructions for vehicle systems, and projects menus or controls onto a surface, allowing for dynamic reconfiguration and magnetic mounting to an in-vehicle computing system via a lollipop-shaped printed circuit board.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a fixed control interface is used in the vehicle, then the device complexity is reduced, but the adaptability to different vehicle systems and user preferences deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereconfigurability of controlsVSAvoidinterface configuration system
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control interface transitions from a static fixed design to a dynamic reconfigurable system where controls can be programmatically adjusted based on user preferences and vehicle system requirements, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The control interface is designed to serve multiple vehicle systems (climate control, audio, navigation, etc.) through a single unified reconfigurable control mechanism, eliminating the need for separate fixed controls for each function

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple separate controls are provided for different vehicle systems, then the adaptability to specific functions is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to increased complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefunction-specific control capabilityVSAvoiduser interaction complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

A single control interface is designed to handle multiple vehicle systems through programmable configuration, allowing users to access different functions (climate, audio, navigation) through one unified control rather than multiple separate controls, thereby improving ease of operation while maintaining adaptability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of manufacture

If traditional fixed controls are used, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the productivity of system integration deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol device productionVSAvoidsystem integration efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The control interface is designed as a dynamic reconfigurable system that can be programmatically adapted to different vehicle systems, allowing for faster system integration and deployment across different vehicle platforms without requiring custom manufacturing for each application

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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

Enables user-configurable control of vehicle systems with enhanced interaction methods, improving user experience and system integration by allowing dynamic reconfiguration of controls and menus based on user input.

Implementation Method 1

one or more of the device, the second display, and the lollipop-shaped printed circuit board includes or is coupled to one or more magnetic structures, the device being removably mounted to the second display via magnetic coupling provided by the one or more magnetic structures

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic coupling: Magnetism

Implementation Method 2

the controller of the device configured to project light onto the second display

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight projection: Light

Data Source

PatentEP3377358B1Dynamic reconfigurable display knobs
Publication Date: 2021.04.21 HARMAN INT IND INC
  • EP3377358B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3377358B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3377358B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Embodiments are disclosed for systems and methods for operating a display actuator to provide user-configurable actions. An example device for a human-machine interface includes a display on a first surface of the device, an input interface adapted to detect one or more of touch input, rotation input, and push input directed to the device, a controller configured to generate control instructions based on input received from the input interface, the control instructions including display instructions for controlling output on the display, and an output interface configured to send at least a subset of the control instructions from the controller to a receiving device, the device being removably coupled to the receiving device.