Smart TAB Interface Controls for Vehicle Displays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional data entry systems using TABs consume significant display real estate, making them inefficient for navigation and information organization in vehicle control systems, particularly in aircraft environments where space is limited.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a 'Smart TAB' system that utilizes hierarchical graphical control elements, allowing top-level, second-level, and third-level controls to be displayed without consuming all display space, enabling efficient data entry while maintaining access to other system parameters and preserving primary function visibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional TAB systems are used to organize information and input fields, then navigation and information organization are achieved, but display real estate is consumed excessively
Solution Approach 1:
The TAB system is segmented into hierarchical levels (top-level TABs for major systems, second-level TABs for subsystems, third-level TABs for specific functions). This segmentation allows information to be organized in a structured manner while only displaying relevant portions at each level, reducing overall display space consumption while maintaining comprehensive navigation capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a single-dimensional linear TAB navigation to a multi-dimensional hierarchical structure. Users can navigate through multiple levels of TABs (top-level, second-level, third-level) organized in a tree-like hierarchy, enabling comprehensive information access within a compact display area by utilizing the vertical dimension and hierarchical organization rather than expanding horizontally.
2Loss of information
If hierarchical graphical control elements are displayed to enable efficient data entry, then information density increases, but display space for primary function may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The hierarchical TAB system implements local quality by displaying different levels of detail in different regions of the interface. Top-level TABs provide high-level system overview, while second-level and third-level TABs provide detailed information only when needed. This localized information presentation increases information density in relevant areas without overwhelming the entire display, maintaining adequate space for primary functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The TAB interface is dynamic, allowing users to expand and collapse different hierarchical levels as needed. The system adapts its information density based on user interaction - displaying detailed second-level and third-level TABs only when a top-level TAB is selected, otherwise maintaining a compact view. This dynamic behavior optimizes the balance between information density and available display space for primary functions.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A~3D
AI summary
A method of displaying information is provided. The method comprises: displaying, on a GUI page that displays a primary function, a plurality of top-level graphical control elements in a row on the GUI page; displaying, on the GUI page responsive to selection of one of the top-level graphical control elements, one or more second-level graphical control elements adjacent to the selected top-level graphical control element and an outline that encompasses the selected top-level graphical control element and the one or more second-level graphical control elements; receiving data entry for affecting the state of a system parameter via a graphical control element while simultaneously providing access to one or more unselected graphical control elements; and transferring the entered data value to appropriate equipment on the vehicle for implementation. The display size of the top-level and second-level graphical control elements allows the display device to continue to display the primary function.