Vehicle Touchscreen Dual-Controller Testing Without Input Interruption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current safety testing methods for touch screen displays in vehicles are complex and expensive, requiring multiple electronic control units, which prevents simultaneous user input and data acquisition during testing, leading to potential malfunctions and safety hazards.
Innovation Solution
A touch screen display system with a single control unit that includes two touch screen controllers and a decoupling block, allowing for parallel processing of user commands and predefined signals to assess the correct functioning of the display, enabling simultaneous testing and data acquisition without user input interruption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple ECUs are used for safety testing, then safety and reliability are improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The single ECU is segmented into two independent touch screen controllers that process signals separately. Each controller independently processes touch signals and generates digital outputs, allowing parallel safety testing without requiring multiple ECUs. This segmentation enables internal redundancy while maintaining a single control unit architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the functions of multiple ECUs into a single ECU by integrating two touch screen controllers within one control unit. This consolidation achieves the safety testing capability of multiple ECUs while reducing overall device complexity and cost by eliminating redundant external components.
2Reliability
If safety tests are executed on multiple ECUs, then safety is improved, but productivity decreases due to inability to simultaneously acquire user commands
Solution Approach 1:
The two touch screen controllers operate continuously and simultaneously - one processes user touch commands while the other executes safety tests. This parallel operation ensures that data acquisition from user interactions continues uninterrupted during safety testing, maintaining productivity while ensuring safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The safety testing function is preliminarily integrated into the single ECU architecture through dual controllers. This preliminary integration allows the system to perform safety tests and user command processing concurrently without requiring sequential operations or system reconfiguration, enabling continuous productive operation.
3Reliability
If multiple ECUs are deployed, then safety testing capability is improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the functionality of multiple ECUs into a single ECU by integrating two touch screen controllers within one control unit. This merging reduces component count, simplifies manufacturing, and lowers overall system cost while maintaining the safety testing capabilities that would require multiple separate ECUs.
Solution Approach 2:
The single ECU is designed with universal functionality to perform both safety testing and user command processing through its dual controllers. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated safety testing hardware, reducing manufacturing complexity and cost while maintaining comprehensive safety capabilities.
Data Source
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AI summary
Group (30') comprising a touch screen display (10) and a control unit (32). The touch screen display (10) comprises: a touch sensor (14) to detect a touch of a display surface (20) and to generate a touch signal (Stouch); a decoupling block (34) to receive the touch signal (Stouch) and a test signal (Stest) from the control unit (32), and to generate a first controller input signal (Sin1) and a second controller input signal (Sin2); and a first and a second touch screen controller (36, 38) to receive the first and, respectively, the second controller input signal (Sin1, Sin2) and to generate a first and, respectively, a second controller output signal (Sout1, Sout2). The decoupling block (34) is configured to operate according to a first, a second or a third operative condition, and the control unit (32) is configured to receive the first controller output signal (Sout1) and the second controller output signal (Sout2) and to generate a first, a second or a third error signals.