Vehicle HVAC Touch Interface for Intuitive Climate Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle air conditioning device operating systems are not intuitive and quick enough for drivers to use effectively while driving, often requiring distraction from the road to navigate complex controls.
Innovation Solution
An operating device with a touch-sensitive display that generates a graphic representation of the vehicle's interior, allowing drivers to adjust air conditioning settings through intuitive touch inputs on a touchscreen, including symbols for inflow direction, rate, and temperature, with proximity detection to highlight actuable elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional mechanical controls and displays are used for air conditioning adjustment, then the device structure is simple and reliable, but the ease of operation deteriorates because drivers find it difficult to operate quickly and intuitively while driving
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical controls and displays with a touch-sensitive display that detects inputs through capacitive, resistive, or other sensing mechanisms. This allows drivers to adjust air conditioning settings by touching the display surface directly, eliminating the need for separate mechanical knobs and buttons, thereby improving ease of operation while managing device complexity through integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The touch-sensitive display creates a graphical copy or representation of the air conditioning controls on the display surface itself. Symbols and indicators are displayed directly where controls would traditionally be located, allowing drivers to interact with visual representations rather than physical mechanisms, enhancing intuitiveness and operational speed.
2Ease of operation
If complex control interfaces are used to provide comprehensive air conditioning settings, then the adaptability and functionality are improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates because drivers become distracted and cannot operate quickly
Solution Approach 1:
The system displays all available air conditioning settings and options in advance on the touch-sensitive display. Drivers can see temperature controls, fan speeds, and distribution settings simultaneously laid out before interaction, allowing them to make quick selections without navigating through multiple menus or steps, thereby reducing operation time while maintaining comprehensive functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The interface dynamically responds to touch inputs with immediate visual feedback, allowing drivers to adjust settings through simple gestures. The system adapts to the driver's actions in real-time, providing an intuitive and responsive interaction model that reduces the time needed to make adjustments while maintaining full control capabilities.
3Ease of operation
If a touch-sensitive display with graphic representation is used, then the ease of operation is improved by making controls intuitive and quick, but the device complexity increases due to additional detection devices and control logic
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the display function and control input function into a single integrated touch-sensitive display unit. The display surface simultaneously presents information and detects user inputs, eliminating the need for separate control panels and reducing overall device complexity through functional integration despite the added sophistication of the touch interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The touch-sensitive display serves multiple functions: it displays air conditioning settings, detects user inputs through various touch mechanisms, provides visual feedback, and controls the climate system. This multi-functionality consolidates what would traditionally require multiple separate components into a single universal interface, improving ease of operation while managing complexity through consolidation.
Data Source
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Figure 3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The present invention relates to an operating device (6) for adjusting an air conditioning device (9) of a vehicle (10), the air conditioning device having air inlet elements (12-1, 12-2) for air-conditioning the interior (11) of the vehicle (10), which operating device comprises a display surface (2), an input device (4) for entering control commands for the air conditioning device (9) of the vehicle (10), and a control device (3) which is coupled to the display surface (2) and to the input device (4) and which can be used to generate graphic data for a display on the display surface (2) and to convert control commands entered by means of the input device (4) into control signals for the air conditioning device (9) of the vehicle (10). The operating device is characterised in that the control device (3) is designed such that graphic data of this kind are generated, such that a graphic representation (14) of the interior (11) of the vehicle (10) is depicted on the display surface (2), switching symbols (16-1, 16-2) which represent the inflow direction and/or the inflow rate and/or the inflow temperature of the air flowing into the interior (11) via the air inlet elements (12-1, 12-2) being displayed in the graphic representation (14) of the interior (11) of the vehicle (10), and is further characterised in that the input device (4) has a detection device (4; 18) by means of which a user's inputs are detected that are performed with respect to the switching symbols (16-1, 16-2) on or in front of the display device (2). The invention further relates to a method for adjusting an air conditioning device (9) of a vehicle (10), which can be performed using this operating device (6).