Vehicle Window Control System Single Drive Button Logic
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing power window control systems in vehicles are cumbersome, requiring multiple user inputs to control multiple windows, making them inefficient and difficult to operate.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle window control system featuring a single drive button and multiple selector buttons, where the drive button controls multiple windows based on the status of the selector buttons, with indicators to show selected windows and the ability to lock or open windows based on predefined durations of button actuation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If multiple separate control switches are used for each window, then each window can be controlled independently, but the control system becomes complex and requires multiple user inputs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple window control functions into a single control switch that can control all windows through different actuation modes. The single switch integrates functions that previously required separate switches for each window, thereby reducing control system complexity while maintaining ease of operation through intelligent mode differentiation.
Solution Approach 2:
The single control switch is designed to perform multiple functions: controlling individual windows, controlling multiple windows simultaneously, and providing warning functions. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate dedicated switches for each window, simplifying the overall control system architecture.
2Device complexity
If a single drive button controls multiple windows, then the control system becomes simpler, but it requires predefined duration actuation to determine specific functions
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic or duration-based actuation patterns to differentiate between functions. Short presses, long presses, and repeated presses of the same button trigger different window control behaviors. This temporal differentiation allows a single button to control multiple windows with distinct functions without requiring complex switching mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters (actuation duration, number of presses) of the single control switch to achieve different window control functions. By varying these parameters, the system can determine whether the user wants to control one window, multiple windows, or activate warning functions, thereby simplifying hardware while maintaining operational flexibility.
3Loss of information
If selector buttons are illuminated to show selected windows, then user awareness of selected windows is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses illumination (color/light changes) of selector buttons to provide visual feedback about which windows are selected for control. This optical indication method effectively communicates system state to the user without requiring complex display mechanisms, achieving good information feedback with relatively low energy consumption compared to full graphical displays.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle window system may include a switching mechanism having a plurality of window selector buttons each corresponding to one of a plurality of windows, and a single drive button for receiving input to move one or more of the windows according to statuses of the selector buttons. The window system may also include a controller configured to lock one of the windows in response to an indication that the window selector button corresponding to the one of the windows has been depressed for at least a predefined amount of time.