Vehicle Dial Knob Control for Infotainment Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Drivers face challenges in safely operating vehicle infotainment systems and navigation while driving, as they need to search for and press buttons, which can divert attention and increase accident risks.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus using a dial knob to control vehicle functions, where rotation and pressing actions generate numerical values and symbols that are stored and compared to control data, allowing for intuitive operation without looking away from the road.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple buttons and switches are provided for vehicle functions, then the functionality and versatility of the vehicle system is improved, but the complexity of the control interface increases and drivers must search for and press multiple buttons which diverts attention from the road
Solution Approach 1:
The dial knob is designed to perform multiple functions through a single interface element. By rotating the dial knob in different directions (first direction for numerical values, second direction for symbols) and combining these operations, the system can control various vehicle functions including navigation, multimedia, and communication without requiring separate buttons for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the control of numerical values and symbols into a single dial knob interface. The rotation in the first direction generates numerical values while rotation in the opposite second direction generates symbols, allowing both types of input to be merged into one unified control mechanism rather than requiring separate controls.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple buttons and switches are provided for vehicle functions, then the functionality of the vehicle system is improved, but the number of control elements and interface complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The dial knob serves as a universal control element that can access multiple vehicle functions through different rotation directions and combinations. This single multi-functional interface replaces what would otherwise require multiple dedicated buttons, switches, or dials for navigation, multimedia, communication and other vehicle systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The control operations are segmented into distinct rotational directions (first direction for numbers, second direction for symbols) and time-based sequences. This segmentation allows the single dial knob to encode multiple types of information through different operational modes, reducing the need for multiple physical control elements.
3Ease of operation
If drivers search for and press buttons to operate vehicle infotainment systems, then the ease of operation for each specific function is improved, but the time required for operation increases and accident risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system stores operation data in advance based on the dial knob's rotation operations. When the stored operation data corresponds to control data, the corresponding vehicle function is automatically controlled without requiring the driver to search for or press additional buttons. This preliminary action reduces both operation time and the need for continuous driver attention to the control interface.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of controlling a vehicle using a dial knob includes steps of generating a first numerical value obtained by numeralizing a degree of rotation of the dial knob in a first direction and storing operation data reflecting the first numerical value, controlling the vehicle using control data, if the stored operation data corresponds to the control data, generating a second numerical value obtained by numeralizing a degree of rotation of the dial knob in a second direction opposite to the first direction and storing operation data reflecting the second numerical value, if the operation data does not correspond to the control data, and controlling the vehicle using the control data if the stored operation data corresponds to the control data, and returning to the step of generating the first numerical value if the operation data does not correspond to the control data.