Vehicle HMI Common Surface Variable Transparency

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional man/machine interfaces in motor vehicles, with their rectangular screens, limit design flexibility and create a modular appearance that detracts from the overall dashboard aesthetic, reducing user-perceived quality.

Innovation Solution

A man/machine interface with a common surface of variable transparency, achieved through a pigment of varying density and light sources that emit light radiation matching the screen's, allowing the outline of the screen to be adapted for different designs, creating a seamless and stylish integration with the dashboard.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a rectangular multifunction screen is used in a modular housing, then the screen can be easily integrated into the dashboard, but the design flexibility and aesthetic quality of the dashboard are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveintegration easeVSAvoiddesign flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the screen housing with the dashboard housing into a single integrated structure. The screen housing is formed as one piece with the dashboard housing, eliminating the modular appearance and creating a seamless, unified design that enhances both aesthetic quality and design flexibility while maintaining ease of manufacture through integrated molding processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs composite material structures where the housing is formed from materials that allow for integrated construction. The use of composite materials enables the creation of a unified housing structure that combines the screen housing and dashboard housing into a single aesthetic unit, improving design flexibility while maintaining manufacturing feasibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Ease of manufacture

If a rectangular screen with standard housing is used, then the manufacturing process is simple, but the dashboard appears modular and reduces perceived quality

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidperceived quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of manufacture

If the screen outline is fixed in a standard rectangular shape, then the screen can be easily manufactured, but it limits the styles and designs of the dashboard

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvescreen manufacturing easeVSAvoiddashboard design variety

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a common surface with variable transparency that can be dynamically adjusted. This surface can change its optical properties to create different visual effects and apparent shapes, allowing the dashboard to adapt to various design styles while maintaining a consistent physical structure that is easy to manufacture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a common surface whose transparency parameter can be varied. By changing the transparency parameter of the common surface, the apparent shape and outline of the screen can be modified without changing the physical screen structure, enabling diverse dashboard designs while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Adaptability or versatility

If a common surface with variable transparency is used to adapt the screen outline, then design flexibility is enhanced, but the complexity of the interface increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedesign adaptabilityVSAvoidinterface complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a common surface with variable transparency that functions similarly to color changes in its ability to modify the visual appearance. By varying the transparency, the surface can create different visual effects and apparent shapes, providing design adaptability through a relatively simple optical mechanism rather than complex structural changes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution eliminates the modular perception of the dashboard, enhances design flexibility, and provides a smooth, regular external surface while minimizing contrast between the common surface and screen, thereby improving the user experience and aesthetic appeal.

Implementation Method 1

the common surface exhibits variable transparency such that the outline of the screen visible to a user of the human-machine interface is distinct from the outline of the screen

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAbsorption (EM radiation): Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 2

the light sources include light guides and/or prisms arranged to emit their light radiation in the same direction as the screen

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight emission: Light Emitting Diode

Data Source

PatentEP2456636B1Human-machine interface for a motor vehicle

Publication Date: 2019.01.23 VALEO SYST THERMIQUES SAS

Figure 1~3
Figure 4~5

AI summary

The present invention relates to a human-machine interface (30, 60), including a multifunctional screen (32) arranged in a housing (34) to be housed in the dashboard of a vehicle, said housing (34) having an opening (36) corresponding to an outline (38) of the screen in order to enable a user to view the information displayed on said screen (32), characterized in that the screen (32) and the housing (34) are covered by a common surface (40) forming a single front panel for the screen (32) and the housing (34).