Steering Wheel Switch for Selecting Vehicle or External Voice Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle dashboards often have complex user interfaces with numerous control switches and buttons, making it difficult for operators to easily distinguish and activate voice control systems, both internal and external, which can lead to increased complexity and safety risks due to the need for additional buttons and potential airbag considerations.
Innovation Solution
A single switch with dual functionality allows selection and activation of either the vehicle voice control system or an external communication device's voice control system, using signal interpretation and communication means to send activation signals, reducing the need for extra buttons and simplifying the user interface by using time or click duration to differentiate between systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate buttons are provided for vehicle voice control system and external communication device voice control system, then each system can be activated independently, but the user interface complexity increases and dashboard space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
A single button is designed to serve multiple functions: it can activate the vehicle voice control system, activate the external communication device voice control system, or deactivate an active voice control system. The processing unit interprets the button press in context to determine which system should be activated, making one component universal for multiple voice control activation purposes.
2Adaptability or versatility
If additional buttons are added for voice control activation, then system selection is possible, but safety risks increase due to airbag considerations and hands-off-wheel requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The single button on the steering wheel is designed with multi-functionality to handle different voice control system activations without requiring additional buttons. This reduces the number of controls the driver must locate and operate, keeping hands on the wheel and reducing safety risks associated with additional steering wheel components near airbag deployment zones.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple switches are provided for different voice control systems, then system activation is possible, but the time to locate and activate the correct system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The processing unit automatically determines which voice control system should be activated based on the current context and system state, without requiring the driver to manually select or locate the appropriate button. The system serves itself by interpreting the button press contextually, reducing the driver's cognitive load and activation time.
Data Source
AI summary
An arrangement is provided for facilitating selection and activation of a voice control system by a vehicle operator. The arrangement may include a switch selectively switchable between a first switch position (P1) and a second switch position (P2) and arranged to emit a signal when switched between the switch positions (P1, P2). The arrangement may further include a processing unit arranged to select, based on an interpretation of the signal, one of the vehicle voice control system or a voice control system of an external communication device and to communicate an activation signal to the selected one of the vehicle voice control system and the external communication device voice control system.