Vehicle Switch Device Brightness Control for Dark Environments
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing switch devices for vehicles do not effectively guide operators in selecting targeted switch portions, leading to difficulties in operability, especially in dark environments, as all light sources turning on when a finger approaches any switch portion can be obtrusive and hinder the ability to easily select other switch portions.
Innovation Solution
A switch device with switch portions, a detection portion, and a brightness adjustment portion that increases the brightness of all switch portions when a finger approaches, allowing the operator to recognize the area and target switch, and returns to original brightness when a switch is activated, ensuring easy selection and operation without remaining obtrusive.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If all light sources turn on when a finger approaches any switch portion, then the detection sensitivity is improved and the operator can see the switch portions in dark environments, but the operator cannot easily visually select other switch portions and the interface becomes obtrusive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making different parts of the interface have different brightness levels. When a finger approaches, only the design portions corresponding to unactivated switch portions maintain or increase brightness, while the activated switch portion's design portion returns to original brightness. This creates local visual differentiation that guides the operator's attention to available options rather than uniformly illuminating all switches.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by making the brightness of design portions changeable based on the operational state. The control portion dynamically adjusts brightness: increasing it when fingers approach unactivated switches, maintaining it during selection, and decreasing it after activation. This dynamic brightness adjustment provides real-time visual feedback about which switches are available for selection.
2Ease of operation
If the brightness of design portions is increased to guide the operator in selecting switch portions, then the operability in dark environments is improved, but the interface remains obtrusive after activation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action through temporal phases of brightness adjustment. The brightness increases periodically when a finger approaches, stays elevated during the selection process, and then decreases after activation. This periodic brightness pattern (increase-maintain-decrease) provides guidance only when needed during selection, while reducing obtrusiveness after the selection is complete.
Solution Approach 2:
The control portion dynamically adjusts the brightness based on the operational phase. During the approach phase, brightness increases to guide selection. During the activation phase, brightness is maintained. After activation, brightness decreases to reduce obtrusiveness. This dynamic adaptation ensures the interface is helpful during selection but not distracting afterward.
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 enables effective guidance for selecting switch portions, improving operability by maintaining increased brightness when the finger is near but not yet activated, and returning to normal after operation, enhancing user experience and reducing confusion.
Implementation Method 1
a detection portion that detects a capacitance change generated in accordance with a distance between a user's finger and each of the electrode portions
Data Source
AI summary
A switch device includes a control portion that performs brightness adjustment control. Under the brightness adjustment control, a detection portion acquires capacitance of several electrode portions. The control portion allows a brightness adjustment portion to increase brightness of design portions corresponding to all the electrode portions whose capacitance exceeds an approach determination threshold value so that the increased brightness is higher than original brightness. The control portion maintains brightness control by the brightness adjustment portion when the capacitance exceeds the approach determination threshold value and is lower than a switch-on determination threshold value. When the capacitance exceeds a predetermined switch-on determination threshold value, the control portion turns on a switch portion corresponding to the electrode portion to operate an instrument, and subsequently returns the brightness by the brightness adjustment portion to the original brightness.