Vehicle Touch Interface Segmentation for Application Navigation

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Solution Overview

Problem

The complexity of touch control interfaces in vehicles, resulting from the multitude of accessible applications, makes it difficult for drivers to navigate and quickly access desired functions, especially during manual driving when minimizing gaze diversion from the road is crucial.

Innovation Solution

A touch control interface with a home configuration providing a synthetic overview and direct access to applications by category, using tactile controls with pictograms for switching between main and sub-menu displays, and a side strip for ventilation/air conditioning information, reducing the need for complex navigation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a traditional touch control interface with a single main display zone is used, then the display can show detailed information for one application at a time, but the user must navigate through complex sub-menus to access different applications, increasing navigation time and complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveApplication navigation easeVSAvoidTime to access desired application
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The display surface is divided into multiple display zones (first display zone, second display zone, third display zone, fourth display zone) arranged around the central main display zone. Each peripheral zone contains touch icons representing different application categories, allowing users to quickly access applications without navigating through complex sub-menus. This spatial segmentation enables parallel information presentation and direct access to multiple applications simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If the touch interface includes comprehensive application access options, then users can access more applications, but the interface complexity increases making it harder for drivers to understand and navigate

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveApplication accessibilityVSAvoidInterface structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The interface is segmented into functional zones: a central main display zone for detailed application information and four peripheral display zones for category-based application access. This segmentation organizes the multitude of applications into manageable categories, reducing perceived complexity while maintaining comprehensive access.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different zones of the display surface have different functional qualities. The central zone provides detailed view quality, while peripheral zones provide quick-access icon quality. This local differentiation allows the interface to present information at appropriate levels of detail in different locations, making the overall system easier to understand while maintaining versatility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of operation

If the driver needs to access applications during manual driving, then the driver can control vehicle functions, but the driver must divert gaze from the road, reducing driving safety

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveApplication control accessibilityVSAvoidDriving safety risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Application categories and frequently used applications are pre-organized in peripheral display zones with visual icons before the driver needs to access them. This preliminary organization allows drivers to quickly identify and select desired applications with minimal cognitive processing and gaze diversion, reducing the time and attention required for interaction compared to navigating through hierarchical menus.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3765951B1Touch-sensitive interface for controlling vehicle applications
Publication Date: 2022.06.22 PSA AUTOMOBILES SA
  • EP3765951B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3765951B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5

AI summary

The invention relates to a touch-sensitive interface for controlling vehicle applications, comprising a touch-sensitive screen and a display module capable of managing the display of said applications on the screen and configured to display, on the latter, a home configuration in which the display surface (22) thereof comprises a main area (24) representing at least the majority of this surface and being divided into a plurality of sub-areas (24A, 24B, 24C, 24D) each dedicated to a respective category of applications, said display module also being configured so that, when an application of the corresponding category is in operation, each sub-area displays a reduced representation of said application and, when no application of the corresponding category is in operation, displays a predetermined number of touch-sensitive icons (C1, C2, C3, D1, D2, D3) representing applications of the corresponding category and enabling the starting of these applications and display of same on the entirety of said main area (24).