Designing Next-Generation Automotive Center Consoles
下一代汽车中控台设计
Prem Kumar Arora – Product Manager Automotive HMI
Manu Verma – Automotive Biz Dev Manager Asia and Pacific
Cypress Semiconductor Corp. Prem Kumar Arora –汽车HMI产品经理
With the trend of increased adoption of consumer electronics in the automotive industry， the design of the center console is undergoing a major shift. This article covers some of the emerging trends which are finding increasing adoption in the center console. These technologies not only provide a seamless human machine interface for when the passenger uses a cell phone or the car navigation unit， but also enable automobile manufacturers to save money， improve reliability， and create a shift in the aesthetics of the car.
摘要:
随着汽车行业中采用消费电子产品的趋势日益增加，中控台的设计正进行重大转变。本文介绍了一些新兴的趋势，它在中控台的采用日益增多。这些技术不仅能给乘客提供使用手机或汽车导航设备的无缝人机界面，还可以让汽车制造商节省成本，提高可靠性，并营造汽车美学设计。
With greater emphasis being placed on the user experience and an increased need for design differentiation， automotive human machine interface (HMI) has gone through a paradigm shift and is taking the user experience to a whole new level. The center console， located in the center of the front interior of an automobile， has a display and control switches for Infotainment， HVAC， communication modules， and other functions. It is an essential component of an automobile interior as it consolidates access to these systems and provides the user with all the relevant information required for an enhanced and controlled driving experience.
随着我们把重点放在用户体验和个性化需求设计上，汽车人机界面(HMI)也经历了一个转折，正把用户体验向前迈到了一个全新的水平。座落在汽车内部前方中心的中控台，有一个用于娱乐的显示面板和控制开关，包含暖风和空调系统（HVAC），通信模块和其他功能。中控台是汽车内部重要的组成部分，因为它可以访问这些系统并为用户提供所有控制和增强驾驶体验的相关信息。
Traditionally center consoles have been a stack-up of Infotainment and HVAC modules with mechanical control switches on relatively flat plastic overlay. These modules work independently of each other， have different design formats， and utilize separate communication channels. To implement this architecture， there are dedicated companies supporting car manufacturers for one or more of these modules. Consumers also have the option of buying these modules separately from aftermarket distributors.
传统上，中控台一直以来都是带有塑料覆盖的机械控制开关的娱乐系统及通风空调系统模块构成的。这些模块彼此独立工作，有不同的设计模式，并使用各自的通讯通道。要实现这个架构，有专门的汽车配套产品制造商来提供一个或多个这种模块。消费者也可以选择从售后分销商分别购买这些模块。
Some of the components generally incorporated in center console include:
中控台通常由下面组件构成
HVAC (Heating Ventilating & Air Conditioning): Controls inside car temperature， humidity， and air flow， thus making sure that these parameters remain under desired limits.
HVAC (暖风和空调):控制车内的温度，湿度和空气流动，从而确保这些参数保持在预期的范围内。
| | Navigation: Implemented through an LCD screen embedded in the center console. Aids in navigation
of the automobile from one place to another.
导航:通过一个嵌在中控台的LCD荧屏实现。汽车导航从一个地方到另一个地方。
| | Audio: CD/DVD music player， generally equipped with the latest technologies like MP3， USB， etc.
音乐:CD / DVD音乐播放器，一般支持最新的技术，如MP3， USB等。
| | Park Assist System: An optional safety system in high demand. Assists the driver in parking maneuvers where visibility is restricted.
停车辅助系统:高端需求中一个可选的安全体系。它协助司机在视线受限的地方停车。
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The emerging center console
新兴的中控台
With the availability of advanced technologies coupled with increased focus on the human machine interface aspect of center console design， a change is being ushered into the design model of center consoles. Technologies prevalent in the consumer space are being adopted for the automotive environment and are enabling engineers and designers greater freedom in design of the console.
随着中控台设计对人机界面关注的增加，以及很多其它先进技术可以利用，中控台设计模式发生了改变。通常用在消费品上的技术正在汽车应用中使用，这使得工程师和设计者对控制台设计有更大的自由。
The brick model is now giving way to a more HMI-centric， integrated design model. This design model distributes control panels (HMI centric) from the actual electro-mechanical unit of each center console element. Such a design methodology enables designers to focus on the actual HMI of the center console as a whole without having to interface with individual discrete components and create an integrated look and feel.
This concept is illustrated in the diagram and explained below.
堆砌式的结构现在已经让位于一种中央HMI，集成度更高的设计模式。这个设计模式分布式控制(中央HMI)每一个中控台单元的实际机电元件。这种设计方法使得设计人员可以关注实际的中控台人机界面，可以把它看作一个整体。而不需要与单个分立元件打交道，可以建立一个整体的外观和感觉。这个概念在如下图所示。
The brick design model:
In the brick design， each center console component is a complete unit comprised of the controls/switch panel as well as the actual electro mechanical box. For example， a center console is composed of a number of independent components including the HVAC， Audio， and Navigation units， and each unit is a complete system comprising the controls， electronic components and mechanical actuators， etc. This design approach enables a distributed development amongst tier one suppliers with each one specializing in one or more of the individual components. The car manufacturer is responsible for integrating each system in the center console almost independently of each other.
堆砌式设计模型。
在堆砌式设计中，每个中控台组件都是由控制/开关面板以及实际电气机械盒子组成的完整单元。例如，一个中控台是由许多独立部件组成(包括空调，音响和导航系统)，每个单元都是一个完整的系统，包含控制，电子元件和机械部件等等。该设计方法可以进行分布式开发，可以使专注于某方面的供应商开发一个或多个独立的部件。汽车制造商负责整合中控台中几乎独立于彼此的各个系统。
The limitations of such a design methodology is that the car manufacturer has only limited control in being able to provide a uniform look and feel. Likewise， the component designers also have limited freedom to design center consoles with various restrictions on styling.
There is also an increased cost adder to allow for tooling costs associated with additional grooves and harnesses. Due to the increased number of mechanical components， there is also an increased chance of failure.
这种设计的局限性是汽车制造商在提供统一的外观和感觉方面受到限制。同样地，组件设计者也只有有限的自由，设计中控台造型时会受到各种各样的限制。当需要额外的开槽时，模具加工成本也会增加。随着机械部件数量的上升，就会存在着更多的失败风险。
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The integrated design model:
With the integrated design model， the control for all elements of the center console are unified into a single front panel with the actual electro-mechanical systems connected through a data bus. The distribution and integration of the control panel allows HMI designers greater flexibility in styling as well as greater control over uniform look and feel. Such a design also reduces tooling charges and increases reliability. Because of overall integration and a reduce set of controls， such designs also reduce the total cost of systems.
集成式设计模式:
使用集成式设计模式，中控台的控制所有元素统一成一个单一的前面板，它与实际机电系统通过一个数据总线连接。控制面板的分布和集成使得人机界面设计者造型设计更灵活，同时统一外观和感觉方面更容易控制。这种设计也可以降低模具费用并可以提高可靠性。由于这种设计整体集成并减少控制组件，所以系统的总成本也会减少。
Such designs are being made possible by improved HMI technologies which leverage the standard automotive communication protocols for data communication. These HMI technologies include:
这种设计将会风行，它改善了人机界面技术，它利用标准汽车通讯协议进行数据通讯。这些HMI技术包括:
Capacitive Touch Sensing:
Put simply， a capacitive sensor is composed of a pair of adjacent electrodes. When a human being (or any other conductive object) comes in proximity to these electrodes， there is additional capacitance between the electrodes and the object which can be measured to detect the object’s presence.
电容式触摸感应:
简单地说，一个电容式传感器是由一对相邻电极构成的。当一个人(或任何其他导体)接近这些电极之间，就会在电极之间产生额外的电容，就可以测量到检测对象的存在。
Using this technology， it is possible to build touch sensors acting as buttons， sliders， trackpads， etc. Alternately， capacitive sensing can also be used for proximity sensing where no contact is required between the sensor and the user's body. Such technology becomes even more powerful in conjunction with programmable mixed-signal controllers. These integrated devices enable the measurement of capacitance intelligently to detect human proximity across range， direction of approach， gesture recognition， etc. They also enable the possibility of integrating other functions like controlling motors and LEDs to provide feedback to the user based on touch/proximity.
使用这项技术，它可以设计触摸传感器作为按钮、滑条、触摸板等。并且，电容式感应也可用于接近感应，传感器和使用者身体不需要接触。这种技术结合可编程混合信号控制器后就显得更为强大了。这些集成器件使得电容测量可以智能地检测到人接近的范围、方向、手势识别等。这也使得结合其他功能成为可能，如控制电机和LED, 采用触摸/接近方式给用户提供及时反馈。
Capacitive touch sensing can also be used in conjunction with mechanical buttons to provide enhanced， hybrid buttons that respond differently to touch (i.e.， a preview function) and to a mechanical button press (activation of the function)， as illustrated below.
电容式触摸感应也可以结合机械按钮来提供增强的混合按钮，对两种方式都有响应：触摸(例如，预览功能)和物理按压按钮(例如，启动功能)，如图所示。
Capacitive touch to preview function | Mechanical press to select function |
Because of the possibility of integrating a flat panel with capacitive sensors， designers have greater freedom to use curves in the consoles， thereby provide a better overall styling of front panels. Such designs also enhance reliability and reduce system cost.
由于可以集成带电容式传感器的平板，设计者们有更大的自由在控制台上使用曲线设计，从而可以提供整体造型更好的前面板。这种设计也能提高可靠性并降低系统成本。
Capacitive Touchscreens:
Touchscreens are a great value-add to the center console. Not only do they provide an excellent enhancement to the user interface but also serve as natural integrators of multiple controls onto one system through a flexible and dynamic interface. Traditional touchscreens have been dependent upon mechanical pressure from the user to change resistance levels to enable detection of touches. Such touchscreens， called resistive touch screens， are limited in the fact that they can only recognize a single finger touch at a time.
In addition， their accuracy deteriorates over time.
电容式触摸屏:
触摸屏对中控台的附加价值很大。他们不仅对用户界面有了很好的改观，通过它本身灵活、动态的接口，还起到了把多种控制集成到一个系统的作用。传统的触摸屏一直依赖于用户的机械按压来改变电阻值，从而检测到触摸。这种触摸屏，称之为电阻式触摸屏，事实上它的作用是有限的，某个时间他们只能识别到一个手指触摸。此外，其精确度也会随时间而变差。
With the proliferation of capacitive touchscreens in the consumer space which enable multiple finger recognition along with gesture decoding， superior light transparency， and increased sensitivity， adopting touchscreens into the car enables further design differentiation and an improved UI. An example of a multipurpose touchscreen dynamically controlling HVAC， Audio/Video and Navigation is shown below.
电容式触摸屏在消费领域应用日益增加，可以多个手指识别手势，透光性好，灵敏度高，在车里采用触摸屏可以使设计更有个性，从而可以改进用户界面。触摸屏多用途的例子如下图所示，它可以动态控制空调、音响、视频和导航。
Use of standard communication protocols:
Capacitive sensors and capacitive touchscreen controllers now support standard automotive communication protocols like Local Interconnect Network (LIN) and Controller Area Network (CAN). Such support of standard protocols enables direct interfacing of the control panel with the individual electro-mechanical units to enable standardized， robust communication between the HMI and control elements. Such integration of communication protocols with capacitive touch controllers also enables electronic engineers to easily create an integrated control panel.
使用标准的通信协议。
电容式传感器和电容式触摸屏控制器现在支持标准汽车通信协议，如局域互联网络（LIN)和控制器局域网络(CAN)。支持这些标准协议可以直接连接控制面板和分立的电机单元，使HMI和控制单元可以进行标准化的、鲁棒性的通信。这种通讯协议和电容式触摸控制器的整合也使得电子工程师非常容易建立一个集成的控制面板。
Some illustrations of an integrated front panel are provided below.
综合性前面板如下图所示。
Evolving ecosystem:
Such changes in design methodologies require a changing role amongst each member of the value chain. Car manufacturers traditionally have focused departments for each component of the center console that are responsible for the complete design of the component， including what will show on the front panel. However， the integrated design methodology requires that the user interface be directly handled by a collaborative team focused on HMI. Such changes enable greater focus on the actual HMI design.
产业进化
设计方法的如此改变要求价值链中的每一个成员都要转变角色。汽车制造商传统上都由不同的部门负责不同的部件，完成组件设计，包括将其显示在面板上。然而，综合设计方法要求用户界面由专门的HMI合作团队直接负责。这种变化使得设计者更关注真正的人机界面设计。
Such technologies also require greater cooperation between semiconductor and other technology companies with car manufacturers to enable creation of suitable devices and technologies. Such collaboration is resulting in greater dynamism in the ecosystem and providing a platform for accelerated technology development.
这种技术也需要半导体公司和其他科技公司与汽车制造商的更大合作，才能创造更适合的器件和技术。这种合作的结果是使产业产生更大的活力，并为加速科技发展提供了一个平台。
Availability of advanced HMI technologies like capacitive sensing and capacitive touchscreens with support for standard automotive communication protocols are ushering in a change in the design of the center console of the car which is now moving towards an integrated front panel. Such panels provide a number of advantages including better styling， uniform look and feel of front panels， lower number of grooves and mechanical components， lower tooling costs， and increased reliability
支持标准汽车通讯协议的先进人机界面技术（如电容感应和电容式触摸屏）的实用性是汽车中控台设计改变的基础，现在正朝着更加完善的方向挺进。这种面板可以带来很多优点，包括前面板造型更好、外观和感觉统一，可以降低凹槽和机械部件数目，降低加工成本并提高可靠性。
With semiconductor suppliers and technology companies working even more closely with car manufacturers such improvements in panel designs will continue to evolve and enable a superior driving experience.
随着半导体供应商、技术公司与汽车制造商工作更紧密，面板设计的这种改进将会继续发展，从而实现一个优越的驾驶体验。 | 
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