Vehicle Operating Device Automatic List Selection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Modern vehicles face challenges in displaying and selecting information efficiently due to excessive data, leading to driver distraction and difficulty in quickly accessing relevant information, especially with complex menu structures and nested lists.

Innovation Solution

A method and operating device that highlight a list entry upon actuation, allowing selection after a defined time interval without further action, and dynamically change list entry positions and image parameters to facilitate intuitive navigation through the data structure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If complex menu structures with nested lists are used to organize information, then information can be comprehensively displayed, but the number of operating steps increases and driver distraction increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveamount of information displayedVSAvoidnumber of operating steps
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by automatically highlighting the next list entry in advance and automatically selecting entries after a defined time interval without requiring further user action. This eliminates the need for multiple manual selection steps while maintaining comprehensive menu structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The selection process becomes self-service through automatic highlighting and automatic selection mechanisms. The system autonomously manages the selection flow by detecting time intervals and automatically selecting highlighted entries, reducing the burden on the driver to manually navigate through multiple operating steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Quantity of substance

If comprehensive information is displayed in the instrument cluster, then the driver can access relevant information without taking eyes off the road, but the driver cannot grasp desired information quickly due to information overload

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomprehensive information displayVSAvoidtime to grasp desired information
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of treating all displayed information equally, the system applies local quality by dynamically highlighting specific list entries to draw the driver's attention to the currently relevant information. This visual differentiation allows quick identification of desired information within the comprehensive display without requiring the driver to scan through all content.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system prepares information for quick access by pre-highlighting relevant list entries before the driver needs to select them. This preliminary visual preparation reduces the time required to grasp desired information by eliminating the need for active searching through the comprehensive display.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If automatic selection after time interval is implemented, then the number of operating steps is reduced, but the system must accurately detect and respond to user inaction

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of operating stepsVSAvoiddetection and response mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring the state of the operating element and detecting whether it has been actuated within the defined time interval. Based on this feedback, the system automatically determines whether to proceed with selection or wait for further user input, creating a closed-loop control mechanism that balances automation with user intent.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP2137021B1Method for the selection of a list item and operating device for performing said method
Publication Date: 2012.04.11 VOLKSWAGEN AG
  • EP2137021B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2137021B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2137021B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a method for the selection of a list item from a list comprising a plurality of list items by means of an operating element (15) and a display device (2) for displaying information regarding the operation of the vehicle, said list items each being associated with additional information. In the method according to the invention, by the actuation of the operating element (15), a certain list item is brought into a state in which it is highlighted as compared to at least one other list item. Furthermore, the highlighted list item is automatically selected if the operating element (15) has not been actuated for a defined time interval. The invention further relates to an operating device in a vehicle comprising an operating element (15) for the selection of a list item from a list comprising a plurality of list items and a display device (2) for displaying information regarding the operation of the vehicle, said the display device (2) comprising a control device (4) that is coupled to the operating element so as to exchange data and that controls said display. The operating device according to the invention is characterized in that the control device (4) is designed such that, when the operating element (15) is actuated, a certain list item may be brought into a state in which it is highlighted as compared to at least one other list item, and in that a selector unit (14) is provided that comprises a timer unit by means of which it is possible to determine how long the operating element (15) has not been actuated, wherein the selector unit (14) is designed such that it automatically selects the highlighted list item if the operating element (15) has not been actuated for a defined time interval.