Vehicle Switch Arrangement with Push-Type Starter and Seesaw Lamp Controls
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle switch arrangement structures and meter devices face usability issues due to inadequate switch placement and unit indication design, leading to discomfort and operational complexity.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle switch arrangement structure with a switch box housing distinct lamp and starter switches, positioned on the instrument panel near the steering wheel, and a vehicle meter device using a segment display with adjacent display elements for unit indication, allowing for efficient space usage and easy differentiation of switches and units.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If lamp switches and starter switch are collectively arranged on the vehicle body panel, then the arrangement structure is simplified, but the usability for the increased switches is not considered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the switch arrangement into two distinct parts: a switch box containing lamp switches and a separate main switch area. This segmentation allows each switch to have its own optimized position and operation characteristics, improving usability while maintaining structural simplicity through modular design.
2Adaptability or versatility
If both kilometer and mile indications are provided on the segment display, then the meter device can serve multiple destinations, but the screen area is enlarged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the kilometer and mile indication segments into a shared display area where both units can be shown simultaneously or alternatively. This combining approach allows the meter to serve multiple destination requirements without proportionally increasing the total screen area, as both unit systems share the same physical space.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent arranges the unit indication segments in a vertical stacking configuration rather than horizontal placement. This dimensional change from horizontal to vertical arrangement allows both kilometer and mile indicators to coexist within a compact area, reducing the overall screen footprint while maintaining versatility.
3Device complexity
If unit indication positions are fixed on the segment display, then the layout is simple, but the positional relationship between numerical characters and units changes with switching
Solution Approach 1:
The patent assigns different positional characteristics to different display elements: numerical characters maintain their primary position while unit indicators are positioned in a dedicated area that can independently adjust. This local differentiation allows the unit position to adapt to different measurement systems without disrupting the overall layout simplicity or numerical character positioning.
Data Source
AI summary
A switch box includes an optical-axis-changeover switch for headlamps, an on/off-changeover switch for the headlamps and a starter switch arranged on the same operation board. A main switch can turn on and off a main electric source of an MUV 1 in cooperation with a portable key. The switch box and the main switch are arranged on the instrument panel. The switch box is partially or fully disposed in a projective area of the steering wheel in a driver's eyesight. The starter switch is made to be of a push-type, whereas the optical-axis-changeover switch and the on/off-changeover switch for the headlamps are made to be of a seesaw-type. A segment display of a meter device includes a unit indication member for switchably indicating kilometer indication and mile indication by displaying only an arbitrary display element of a plurality of display elements arranged adjacently to each other in a horizontal direction.