Vehicle Window Touch Control With Icon-Free Drag Operation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle window adjustment control systems require users to constantly look at the screen to control window operations, which can be hazardous for drivers and inefficient, as they need to accurately touch specific icons for opening or closing windows.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle window adjustment control system that allows users to select windows using touch-enabled icons on a GUI and then perform drag motions on a larger icon-free region to control window operations without needing to look at the screen, with control signals generated based on the direction and speed of the drag motion, enabling efficient and intuitive control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If users must accurately touch specific icons on the touch screen to control window operations, then control precision is improved, but the time users must look at the screen increases and safety decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol precisionVSAvoidtime to look at screen
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The touch screen is divided into two functional regions: a first region displaying touch-enabled icons for window selection, and a second region without icons for drag operations. This segmentation allows users to complete selection in the first region and then perform control operations in the second region without needing to look at the screen, resolving the contradiction between control precision and time spent looking at the screen.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system requires users to preliminarily select the window to be controlled by touching the corresponding icon in the first region before performing the actual open/close operation. This preliminary selection action allows subsequent drag operations in the second region to be executed without visual attention, reducing the time users must look at the screen while maintaining control precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If users must constantly look at the screen to control window operations, then control accuracy is improved, but driving safety deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol accuracyVSAvoiddriving safety
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the touch screen into a first region for selection and a second icon-free region for operation, the system enables users to perform drag operations without visual attention. This maintains control accuracy through the preliminary selection step while eliminating the safety hazard of drivers looking at the screen during operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces an intermediary selection mechanism where users first touch an icon to select the target window, then perform drag operations in the second region. This intermediary step acts as a mediator that preserves control accuracy while allowing subsequent operations to be performed without visual attention, thereby improving driving safety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Device complexity

If the touch screen displays icons for each window in a limited area, then device complexity is reduced, but the area available for control operations decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinterface complexityVSAvoidcontrol area
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The touch screen is segmented into a first region displaying window icons and a second region without icons. This segmentation allows the control area to be significantly larger than the icon display area, enabling users to perform drag operations in the second region without needing to see the icons, thus resolving the contradiction between interface complexity and control area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system separates the selection dimension (touching icons in the first region) from the operation dimension (dragging in the second region). This dimensional separation allows the control area to extend beyond the limited icon display area, providing ample space for operations while maintaining simple interface design.

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

4Measurement precision

If the touch screen requires accurate touching of small edge area icons, then control precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol precisionVSAvoidease of window control
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the interaction into two phases: precise icon selection in the first region, followed by intuitive drag operations in the second region. This segmentation maintains control precision during selection while significantly improving ease of operation during the actual window control phase, as users can drag without looking at the screen.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The preliminary icon-tapping action establishes the target window for control, after which users can perform intuitive drag operations in the second region without needing to precisely locate or look at icons. This preliminary action separates the precision requirement from the operation phase, improving overall ease of operation while maintaining control precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3671417B1A vehicle window adjustment control system, a computer-implemented method and a computer program, for controlling a plurality of windows on a vehicle
Publication Date: 2023.09.27 SEAT SA
  • EP3671417B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3671417B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The present invention relates to a vehicle window adjustment control system, comprising: - a GUI displaying: - a first region (R1) displaying touch-enabled icons for selecting window(s); - a second region (R2) displaying a window adjustment control screen associated to the selected window(s); and sequentially detecting: - a contact on the first region (R1), to select a window to be controlled; - an initial contact on any location of the second region (R2); and - a drag motion from that initial contact; - and a computing entity (C) generating: - an opening control signal when the drag motion comprises a Y component, according to a first direction, and - a closing control signal when the drag comprises a Y component, according to a second direction opposite to the first direction. A computer-implemented method and a computer program adapted to operate the system are also provided by the present invention.