Rotary Touchscreen Vehicle Interface With Reduced Screen Obstruction
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Solution Overview
Problem
The integration of a control member with a touchscreen in motor vehicles results in a significant loss of display area due to the obstruction caused by the control member's structure, which affects the usability and functionality of the screen.
Innovation Solution
An interface design featuring a movable grip element with conductive indicators that rotates over both the display screen and a capacitive sensor, allowing for the detection of angular position without obstructing the screen's surface area, utilizing a capacitive sensor with electrodes arranged adjacent to the display screen to minimize the overlap and maintain screen space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a control member is integrated with a touchscreen display, then the control functionality is improved, but the display area is reduced due to obstruction by the control member structure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent moves the capacitive sensor electrodes from the display screen plane to an adjacent area, effectively changing the spatial dimension where the sensing function occurs. This allows the control member to rotate without obstructing the display area, as the detection mechanism is relocated to a different spatial plane while maintaining the integrated control functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary capacitive sensor positioned in an adjacent area that mediates between the control member's mechanical rotation and the digital processing system. This intermediary detects the angular position through conductive indicators without requiring the control member to physically block the display screen, thus preserving both control functionality and display area
2Ease of operation
If the control member structure is placed on the touchscreen, then the control operation is enabled, but the surface area loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the sensing function (capacitive sensor electrodes) from the display screen and places it in an adjacent area. This separation allows the control member to be operated without its structure occupying valuable display surface area, while the control operation remains fully functional through the extracted sensing mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
By relocating the electrode array to an adjacent area rather than embedding it in the display screen, the patent utilizes a different spatial dimension for the sensing function. This dimensional shift enables control operation while preserving the display surface area that would otherwise be obstructed
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 configuration reduces the obstructed area on the screen, allowing for more space to display functions while maintaining the functionality of the control member, and can be implemented at a lower cost using standard display screens and existing capacitive measurement circuits.
Implementation Method 1
a capacitive sensor (6) comprising a plurality of electrodes (12) configured to detect a change in the angular position of the conductive indicators
Data Source
AI summary
An interface for controlling at least one function of a unit of a motor vehicle, comprising a display screen (7) and at least one control member (2) comprising a mobile gripping element (2a) that is rotatably mobile about an axis (A), at least two conductive indicators (10) that are borne by the mobile element (2a) and that are mobile together with same and a guide (2b), the interface being characterized in that it comprises a capacitive sensor (6) comprising a plurality of electrodes (12) that are configured to detect a variation in the angular position of the conductive indicators (10) and in that the guide (2b) is at least partly fixed to the display screen (7) such that the mobile element (2a) partially covers the screen, the electrodes (12) being arranged in a contiguous region (6a) of the screen (7), such that the indicators (10) are movable so as to face the electrodes (12) when the mobile element (2a) is moved about its axis.