On-Vehicle Human Sensing Switch for Dynamic Display Power Saving
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Solution Overview
Problem
Touch panel type switches in vehicles consume unnecessary power by constantly displaying switch images, which is uneconomical, and lack a seamless appearance with adjacent vehicle-mounted articles.
Innovation Solution
An on-vehicle human sensing switch with a light transmission type touch panel substrate and decorative body, featuring electrostatic capacitance type sensor and switch electrodes, displays the switch image only when in use, ensuring power efficiency and a uniform appearance with adjacent articles by using a light transmission type display and decorative body.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the switch image is constantly displayed on the touch panel, then the user can easily operate the vehicle-mounted electronic device, but power consumption increases unnecessarily
Solution Approach 1:
The switch image display state is made dynamic rather than static. The display transitions between displayed and non-displayed states based on detection results from the sensor electrode, which detects user approach or touch actions. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to consume power only when needed for operation, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The touch panel switch automatically detects user presence or interaction through the sensor electrode and autonomously controls the display state without requiring external intervention. When the sensor detects user approach or touch, the switch image is automatically displayed; when no user is present, the display is turned off to save power,实现ing self-service power management.
2Ease of operation
If the switch image is constantly displayed, then the switch is always accessible, but the appearance becomes non-uniform with adjacent vehicle-mounted articles
Solution Approach 1:
The visual appearance of the switch is made dynamic through conditional display. The switch image appears only when the sensor electrode detects user interaction, and disappears when no interaction is detected. This creates a seamless, uniform appearance with adjacent vehicle-mounted articles during non-use, while maintaining accessibility during use, resolving the contradiction between constant accessibility and appearance uniformity.
3Ease of operation
If the display always shows the switch image, then user interaction is facilitated, but the touch panel structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The touch panel substrate body is designed with multi-functionality by integrating both the sensor electrode for detection and the switch electrode for operation within the same structure. This universal design allows the same component to serve dual purposes: detecting user presence/approach and detecting user interaction, thereby facilitating user interaction without significantly increasing structural complexity.
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 reduces power consumption by displaying the switch image only when needed and maintains a seamless appearance with adjacent vehicle components, enhancing both functionality and aesthetics.
Implementation Method 1
an electrostatic capacitance type sensor electrode configured to detect approach of a detection target
Implementation Method 2
an electrostatic capacitance type switch electrode which is disposed at a position opposing the display area and is configured to detect an action of the detection target
Data Source
AI summary
An on-vehicle human sensing switch includes: a display having a display area for luminously displaying a switch image of a vehicle-mounted electronic device; a light transmission type touch panel substrate body disposed on the display; and a light transmission type decorative body disposed on the touch panel substrate body. The touch panel substrate body includes, on a substrate, an electrostatic capacitance type sensor electrode configured to detect approach of a detection target, and an electrostatic capacitance type switch electrode which is disposed at a position opposing the display area and is configured to detect an action of the detection target. When approach of the detection target is detected by the sensor electrode, the switch image is displayed on the display.