Vehicle Control Mapping for Context-Aware Physical Buttons
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle control systems lack dynamic and context-aware functionality, leading to inefficient and user-unfriendly operation of physical controls based on the vehicle's state and environment.
Innovation Solution
An in-vehicle control system that detects vehicle states and environmental conditions to dynamically associate functions with physical controls, such as buttons and a scroll wheel, through context-based mapping, allowing adaptive control of vehicle systems like mirrors and garage door openers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If physical controls have fixed functions, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to different vehicle states and environments deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic function assignment for physical controls based on detected vehicle states and environmental conditions. The control system transitions from static to dynamic control mappings, where the same physical control can serve different functions depending on the current context (e.g., climate control when temperature is abnormal, security control when unauthorized access is detected).
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors vehicle states and environmental conditions, using this feedback to dynamically determine which functions should be associated with physical controls. The control unit receives feedback from various sensors and systems, processes this information, and adjusts control mappings accordingly, creating a closed-loop adaptive control system.
2Ease of operation
If physical controls are context-aware, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system automatically determines appropriate functions for physical controls based on detected vehicle states and environmental conditions, without requiring manual user configuration. The system serves itself by autonomously adapting control mappings to current operational contexts, reducing the cognitive burden on users while maintaining simplicity of interaction.
3Adaptability or versatility
If control functions are dynamically assigned, then adaptability is improved, but reliability may deteriorate due to system complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes physical controls universal by enabling them to perform multiple functions based on context. Rather than having dedicated controls for each function, the system allows a single physical control to serve multiple purposes depending on the detected vehicle state and environmental conditions, improving adaptability while maintaining a reliable centralized control architecture.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for associates functions with physical controls (e.g., buttons and/or a scroll wheel) of a vehicle based on a trigger. The vehicle includes a plurality of vehicle systems. One or more physical controls are mounted within the vehicle and configured to be manipulated by a user of the vehicle. An in-vehicle control system is coupled to the plurality of vehicle systems. The in-vehicle control system is configured to: detect a state of one or more of the plurality of vehicle systems; determine that a trigger for a context mapping is met by the state; and in response to determining that the trigger for the context mapping is met by the state associating functions defined for the one or more physical controls by the context mapping with the one or more physical controls.