Vehicle Interior User Interface with Light Guide Touch Sensor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle user interface systems lack integration with the vehicle interior, leading to a disjointed user experience and requiring separate display units for command confirmation, and are prone to accidental activation.
Innovation Solution
A user interface apparatus featuring light sources, touch sensors, and light guides integrated with a top cover to project images onto the vehicle interior, allowing for unified design and intuitive command input recognition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional input units are manufactured separately and installed in the vehicle, then manufacturing flexibility is improved, but sense of unity with vehicle interior deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the input unit directly into the vehicle interior panel structure, merging previously separate components (input unit, display unit, and panel) into a unified assembly. This eliminates the need for separate manufacturing and installation while achieving visual integration with the vehicle interior.
2Ease of operation
If conventional input units are always active, then user input capability is improved, but accidental activation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic display system where the input unit's visibility is controlled based on operational state. The display unit transitions between visible and invisible states, being visible when a command is detected and invisible otherwise, thereby enabling user input only when needed and preventing accidental activation.
3Loss of information
If separate display units are added for command confirmation, then information display capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the display unit with the input unit to form an integrated component. The display unit is positioned adjacent to the input unit within the same assembly, allowing command confirmation to be displayed without requiring a separate, independent display device, thus reducing overall system complexity.
4Shape
If input unit is integrated into vehicle interior, then sense of unity is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the integrated assembly into distinct functional modules: the input unit, the display unit, and the panel structure. Each module can be manufactured separately using standard techniques, then assembled together, which reduces the complexity of manufacturing the entire integrated unit as a single piece while maintaining the visual integration benefit.
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 provides a visually integrated user interface that enhances user experience by allowing command input recognition and confirmation within the vehicle's interior, reducing accidental activations and improving aesthetics.
Implementation Method 1
light guides configured to transfer light generated by the light sources
Implementation Method 2
top cover configured to cover the light sources, the touch sensor and the light guides and to transmit light emitted from the light guides to the interior of a vehicle so as to project an image
Implementation Method 3
color filters configured to change wavelengths of light supplied from the light guides and then to provide the light having changed wavelengths to the first to third regions of the top cover
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a
Figure 2b
AI summary
Disclosed herein is a user interface apparatus for vehicles including light sources, a touch sensor to sense touch, light guides to transfer light generated by the light sources, and a top cover to cover the light sources, the touch sensor and the light guides and to transmit light emitted from the light guides to the interior of a vehicle. The light sources includes a first light source and at least one second light sources, the light guides includes first and second light guides to receive light generated by the first light source and to transfer the light to first and second regions and at least one third light guide configured to receive light generated by the at least one second light source and to transfer the light to a third region, and light generated by the first light source is dispersed and provided to the first and second light guides.