Vehicle Display Controller Gesture Edge Navigation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current information playback systems in vehicles lack intuitive operation, leading to driver distraction and reduced usability, as they require complex interactions to access and manage multiple functions simultaneously.

Innovation Solution

A controller system with an output device for content playback and an input device for user movements, allowing intuitive operation by recognizing gestures and movements to activate and manage content on a display area, enabling easy access to secondary functions adjacent to the edge of the display without leaving the primary content visible.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If complex menu navigation is used to access multiple functions, then all vehicle functions can be controlled, but driver distraction increases and usability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefunction access capabilityVSAvoiddriver distraction
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The display area is segmented into a first area for primary content and a second area for secondary content. This segmentation allows simultaneous display of multiple functions without requiring full menu navigation, enabling drivers to access secondary functions (like climate control) while maintaining visibility of primary content (like navigation), thus reducing distraction while preserving function access capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a spatial dimension to content organization by dividing the display into multiple areas. Instead of sequential access through menus (time dimension), the system allows parallel display of primary and secondary content in different spatial areas, enabling intuitive access to secondary functions through simple gestures without leaving the primary content visible

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Loss of information

If full-screen content is displayed to provide clear information, then information visibility is improved, but access to secondary functions becomes complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontent visibilityVSAvoidoperation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The display is segmented into a first area for primary full-screen content and a second area for secondary content. This allows the primary content to maintain its full-screen visibility while secondary functions are accessible in the segmented second area through simple gestures, reducing operation complexity without sacrificing information visibility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system displays only the necessary secondary content in the second area rather than requiring full menu navigation. This partial display approach provides access to secondary functions (like climate control icons) without overwhelming the driver with excessive information, simplifying operation while maintaining visibility of primary content

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Ease of operation

If multiple functions are displayed simultaneously to improve accessibility, then function access is simplified, but display space for primary content is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefunction accessibilityVSAvoidprimary content display area
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The display area is segmented into a first area for primary content and a second area for secondary content. The second area is positioned to utilize available display space without significantly reducing the primary content area, enabling simplified function access while preserving adequate display space for primary content through optimized spatial arrangement

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different areas of the display are assigned different qualities: the first area provides high-resolution primary content display, while the second area provides simplified secondary function access. This local differentiation allows secondary functions to be accessible without compromising the quality and size of the primary content display area

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP2808775B1Controller for an information display system for a vehicle
Publication Date: 2023.03.08 VOLKSWAGEN AG
  • EP2808775B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2808775B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2b
  • EP2808775B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3b

AI summary

Exemplary embodiments relate to a controller (101) for an information display system (100) for a vehicle, comprising an output device (102) for providing an output signal generated by the controller (101) that causes a display of content on a display surface (108) of a display device (106), and an input device (110) for receiving an input signal (110) that corresponds to a movement of a user relative to the display surface (108). The controller (101) is configured to generate a first output signal (104) that causes a display of at least one first content (120) on the display surface (108).The controller (101) is further configured to generate a second output signal (118) which causes an additional display of a second content (138) in the display area (108) when the input signal (110) corresponds to a movement of the user beginning at a predetermined edge (114) of the display area (108) and extending away from the edge (114), wherein the second output signal (118) causes the display of the second content (138) in a sub-area (116) of the display area (108) that is adjacent to the predetermined edge (114).