Vehicle Display Control Device for Dynamic Button Visibility
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In vehicles, the increasing number of input buttons makes it difficult for occupants to distinguish which buttons to operate, even when illuminated, due to varying use frequencies and types of equipment, leading to confusion in identifying operational units.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle display control device that detects the operation state of a driver's hands and adjusts the display mode of operation units, switching between a first and second mode based on the hand's engagement with the steering wheel, enhancing visibility of operational units that can be used when not operating the primary driving controls.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the number of input buttons is increased to provide more functions and equipment, then the functionality and versatility of the vehicle is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates because occupants cannot instantly distinguish which input button should be operated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making different parts of the control panel have different visibility characteristics. Specifically, the right-hand side buttons are illuminated more brightly than the left-hand side buttons, creating a spatial differentiation that guides the driver's attention to the more frequently used controls on the right side, thereby resolving the confusion caused by having many buttons
2Ease of operation
If the visibility of input buttons is increased by illumination to enhance distinguishability, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional lighting systems and control mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of uniformly illuminating all buttons which would increase overall complexity and energy consumption, the patent applies local quality by selectively illuminating only the right-hand side buttons with higher brightness. This targeted approach improves visibility where most needed while minimizing the complexity and resource requirements of the lighting system
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic illumination control where the brightness of buttons on the right-hand side is adjusted based on detected hand position. When a hand is detected on the right side, those buttons are illuminated more brightly, and when no hand is present, the illumination is reduced. This dynamic adjustment optimizes visibility on demand while reducing overall system complexity and energy usage compared to continuous full illumination
3Ease of operation
If the brightness of light source for illuminating operation surface is adjusted to change visibility, then the ease of operation is improved, but the use of energy increases due to continuous adjustment of illumination levels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic brightness adjustment based on detected hand position. When a hand is detected on the right-hand side, the illumination brightness for those buttons is increased to improve visibility. When no hand is detected, the brightness is reduced. This dynamic on-demand illumination provides visibility adjustment when needed while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to continuous high-level illumination
Solution Approach 2:
The system periodically detects hand position and adjusts illumination accordingly, rather than maintaining constant high brightness. This periodic adjustment based on actual need reduces energy consumption while still providing visibility enhancement when the driver is interacting with the controls
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle display control device, when a steering wheel is at a steering angle position of a neutral position or the vicinity thereof, if a right hand sensor detects gripping of the steering wheel, turns off light sources of memory buttons and operation buttons that can be operated with a right hand, and if a left hand sensor detects the gripping, turns off a light source of air conditioning related buttons and hides touch buttons of a touch panel display that can be operated with a left hand. The vehicle display control device, if the right hand sensor does not detect the gripping, turns on the light sources of the memory buttons and the operation buttons, and if the left hand sensor does not detect the gripping, turns on the light source of the air conditioning related buttons and displays the touch buttons on the touch panel display.