Vehicle Control Buttons for Mobile Device Display Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Modern motor vehicles face challenges in efficiently controlling and managing the increasing amount of information displayed to operators, which can lead to distraction and safety risks, especially when using mobile user devices during operation.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that establish a connection between a mobile user device and a motor vehicle, allowing control buttons on the vehicle to operate applications on the device and modify information displayed on the user device or head-up display without direct interaction, utilizing swiping movements and automatic pairing for intuitive control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If control elements are increased to manage multiple assistance systems, then the ability to control settings is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol capabilityVSAvoidnumber of control elements
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The mobile user device serves multiple functions: it displays information from multiple assistance systems, provides control interfaces for various system settings, and acts as a remote control for vehicle functions. This consolidates what would otherwise require multiple separate control elements into a single universal device, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining comprehensive control capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Device complexity

If menus and submenus are used to reduce control elements, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to cumbersome navigation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of control elementsVSAvoidsetting accessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The control interface is segmented into multiple independent virtual buttons on the mobile device screen, each corresponding to specific assistance system functions. This allows direct access to different control functions without hierarchical menu navigation, as each segmented button provides immediate access to its associated function or setting

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If mobile user devices are used to access information, then the ease of operation is improved, but operator distraction increases posing safety risks

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation accessibilityVSAvoidoperator distraction
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-configures the mobile device interface with large, clearly visible virtual buttons and organizes information in an easily scannable format before the operator needs to interact with it. This preliminary organization reduces the time and cognitive effort required to locate and interpret controls, minimizing distraction duration and intensity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4144559A1Method, computer program and apparatus for controlling display of information in a motor vehicle
Publication Date: 2023.03.08 VOLKSWAGEN AG
  • EP4144559A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4144559A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4144559A1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The present invention is related to a method, a computer program, and an apparatus for controlling display of information in a motor vehicle. The invention is further related to a mobile user device for use in such a method and to a motor vehicle, which makes use of such a method or apparatus. In a first step, a connection between a mobile user device and the motor vehicle is established (10). At least a first control button of the motor vehicle is then associated (11) with an application running on the mobile user device. Furthermore, a second control button of the motor vehicle may be associated (12) with a head-up display of the motor vehicle. Responsive to a user input via the first control button, information displayed by the application running on the mobile user device is modified (13). Accordingly, responsive to a user input via the second control button, information displayed by the head-up display may be modified (14).