Seat Armrest Rotary Controller for PBV Function Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing purpose-built vehicles (PBVs) face complexity in manipulating and controlling various convenience functions, making it difficult to efficiently utilize their functionalities.
Innovation Solution
A controller with a rotatable control unit and integrated manipulation surfaces on a seat armrest, allowing occupants to conveniently control travel and convenience functions like air conditioning, lighting, and sound through a single interface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If multiple separate control interfaces are provided for different functions, then each function can be controlled independently, but the device complexity increases and ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple control functions (air conditioning, lighting, sound, seat adjustment) into a single rotatable control unit with multiple manipulation surfaces. This consolidation reduces the number of separate control interfaces from multiple distributed controls to one integrated unit, directly resolving the contradiction by improving ease of operation while maintaining functional independence through modular manipulation surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotatable control unit is designed as a universal interface that can control multiple different convenience functions through its various manipulation surfaces. Each surface contains operators for specific functions, allowing a single device to perform multiple control roles, thereby reducing overall system complexity while preserving comprehensive functionality.
2Ease of operation
If a rotatable control unit with multiple manipulation surfaces is provided, then ease of operation improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit is segmented into multiple manipulation surfaces that can be selectively exposed through rotation. Each surface contains specific operators for particular functions (e.g., first surface for air conditioning, second surface for lighting). This segmentation allows the complex control functions to be organized into manageable, function-specific groups while maintaining a unified rotational interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit incorporates rotational movement to dynamically switch between different manipulation surfaces. This dynamic reconfiguration allows the interface to adapt to different control needs without requiring multiple static control panels, thereby managing complexity through motion rather than through static structural multiplication.
3Ease of operation
If control functions are integrated into the seat armrest, then ease of operation improves for seated occupants, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The seat armrest serves as an intermediary structure that hosts the rotatable control unit. This placement provides ergonomic accessibility for seated occupants while isolating the control system from the vehicle's main control architecture. The armrest acts as a mediator between the occupant and the control functions, improving ease of operation without requiring deep integration into the vehicle's structural systems.
Data Source
AI summary
A controller allows an occupant, who is seated in a seat, to conveniently manipulate a traveling function and various convenience functions, which are provided in an internal, by use of a single control unit so that the convenience in using convenience functions, such as autonomous driving functions, manual traveling functions, air conditioning, sound, and internal brightness, may be improved, improving the satisfaction of the occupant.