Steering Wheel Switches with Head-Up Display Menu Mapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional in-vehicle input systems require drivers to look away from the road and take their hands off the steering wheel to operate multiple equipment functions, compromising safety and eye comfort.
Innovation Solution
An in-vehicle input unit featuring a head-up display projecting a hierarchical menu onto the windshield and switches on the steering wheel, allowing drivers to operate equipment without leaving the wheel or diverting their gaze, with switches arranged to surround a central switch for intuitive operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If switches are provided on the steering wheel for operating in-vehicle equipment, then ease of operation is improved, but the number of switches is limited and driver safety deteriorates when many switches are needed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent projects the menu interface from a traditional 2D display onto the 3D windshield surface using head-up display technology. This allows the menu to be displayed in the driver's forward field of view without requiring the driver to shift gaze to a separate display location, thereby maintaining safety while providing comprehensive control options.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the menu interface on the windshield that mirrors the switch arrangement. The hierarchical menu structure and selection items are projected to correspond one-to-one with the physical switches, allowing the driver to operate switches while seeing the menu contents without looking away from the road.
2Loss of information
If a display is provided inside the vehicle for showing hierarchical menu, then information display is improved, but driver safety deteriorates as the driver must turn eyes away from front visibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions the display from the traditional interior dashboard plane to the windshield plane using head-up display technology. This positions the menu display in the driver's forward field of view, allowing the driver to see menu contents while maintaining focus on the road ahead without eye movement.
3Ease of manufacture
If switches are arranged in a conventional layout, then manufacturing is simplified, but ease of operation deteriorates as switches are not intuitively accessible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions switches at specific locations on the steering wheel where the driver's fingers naturally rest during normal operation. This localized arrangement ensures that frequently used switches are within easy reach without requiring the driver to move hands from the optimal gripping position, enhancing operational ease while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.
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 safe and comfortable operation of in-vehicle equipment by maintaining the driver's focus on the road and reducing eye strain, as they can manipulate switches without looking away or releasing the steering wheel.
Implementation Method 1
a head-up display which projects a hierarchical menu for operating a plurality of pieces of in-vehicle equipment onto a windshield in front of a driver's seat, and displays the hierarchical menu as a virtual image ahead of the windshield
Data Source
AI summary
An in-vehicle input unit is provided which includes: a head-up display which projects a hierarchical menu for operating a plurality of pieces of in-vehicle equipment onto a windshield in front of a driver's seat, and displays the hierarchical menu as a virtual image ahead of the windshield; and a plurality of switches which are disposed in a steering wheel so that several switches adjoin and surround one central switch, in which the head-up display displays selection items on the hierarchical menu as the virtual image so that the selection items correspond one to one to the plurality of switches disposed in the steering wheel.