Context-Sensitive Vehicle UI for Unobstructed Driving Information

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Solution Overview

Problem

Digital user interfaces in vehicles are becoming increasingly complex, leading to reduced ease of use and user experience due to hidden functionality and the need for complex input sequences, which detracts from the enjoyment of operating the vehicle.

Innovation Solution

A unified user interface that dynamically updates based on contextual information, combining autonomous visualization, map information, and vehicle functionality controls, ensuring that important information remains unobstructed and accessible through intuitive interaction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If digital user interfaces are expanded to encompass more control and operation of a vehicle, then functionality and control capability are improved, but complexity increases and ease of use deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovefunctionalityVSAvoidcomplexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The user interface is segmented into multiple hierarchical levels or pages, where commonly used functions are displayed on the main page and additional functions are organized on subsequent pages. This allows comprehensive functionality while maintaining a clean, simple main interface that doesn't overwhelm the user.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The interface transitions from a two-dimensional static display to a multi-dimensional interactive experience by introducing hierarchical navigation levels. Users can navigate through multiple pages or layers of functionality, effectively adding a temporal and navigational dimension to the interface layout.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Adaptability or versatility

If more vehicle controls are integrated into the digital user interface, then adaptability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to hidden functionality and complex input sequences

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveadaptabilityVSAvoidease of operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-organizing functions into logical groups and pre-configuring multiple interface pages. Frequently accessed functions are placed on the main page, while less common functions are arranged on subsequent pages, so users don't need to search or memorize complex sequences to access them.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If the user interface presents comprehensive vehicle controls and information, then functionality is improved, but user experience deteriorates due to occlusion of important information by menus

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovefunctionalityVSAvoidinformation accessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The interface segments information display across multiple pages or sections. The main page displays critical driving information and commonly used controls, while additional controls and less critical information are organized on subsequent pages. This segmentation ensures that important information remains visible and accessible without being occluded by comprehensive menus.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4062127B1Context sensitive user interface for enhanced vehicle operation
Publication Date: 2025.10.22 TESLA INC
  • EP4062127B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP4062127B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP4062127B1 patent drawingFigure 2A

AI summary

Systems and methods for context sensitive user interfaces for enhanced vehicle operation. An example method is method implemented by a system of one or more processors, the system being included in a vehicle. The method includes causing presentation, via a display of the vehicle, of a unified user interface comprising a combined view which aggregates an autonomous visualization and map information, the autonomous visualization and map information being related to a zoom level, with the unified user interface being generated based on first contextual information indicative of operation of the vehicle. Second contextual information indicative of subsequent operation of the vehicle is accessed. The unified user interface is updated based on the second contextual information, with the combined view being adjusted, and with adjusting the combined view including adjusting a size of the combined view in the unified user interface or adjusting the zoom level.