Alps Electric has completed the development of the e-Click Changer multifunctional operation device for automobiles to facilitate the control of air conditioning and audio equipment.
This product will be on display at CEATEC JAPAN 2008, to be held at Makuhari Messe (Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture) from September 30 until October 4.
In recent years, vigorous development of devices that improve operability has been observed against the backdrop of trends for higher-performance and multifunctional devices for automobiles, including audio equipment and air conditioning.
The manipulation of devices used in automobiles requires operational ease and safety, given the special circumstances of operating automotive devices while driving. Therefore, there is a need for handling several different operations on a panel with many switches through the use of one button or dial in order to provide easier device manipulation for drivers.
The “e-Click Changer” is a controller for automobiles that enables three different operations with one dial. This product was originally developed for the manipulation of automotive air-conditioning functions. With two-layered rotating dials, the e-Click Changer provides three functions: (1) switching air-flow direction, (2) controlling temperature and (3) adjusting the air-flow force through the operation of the outer dial. It also provides fine adjustments for each function through the use of the inside dial.
The sensation of the dial operations will differ depending on the functions: For manipulations like controlling temperature, which require detailed settings in a wide range of possible options, this product provides a number of lighted detents, and for those that require fewer selections, like adjusting the force of air flow, it offers fewer detents, and they provide a less-solid sensation. Therefore, users can understand which function is being controlled through sensation in their fingertips and can easily manipulate the air-conditioning functions just by turning one knob.
The development of this device was due to the clockwork structure, which leverages Alps Electric's longstanding mechatronics engineering expertise. By turning the outside dial (the switch to select a function), the number of detents displayed by the inside dial will change.
In addition, “e” in the product name stands for “ecology.” Since the sensation suitable for switching the number of detents and functions is realized by the clockwork structure, the e-Click Changer does not require any motors or IC chips. This contributes to the power saving. Furthermore, the product is assembled with minimum components to make it compact, so that it can have the air-conditioning's control circuit built-in, contributing to flexible design.
Based on the concept of the human-machine interface, establishing a new relationship between humans and machines, Alps Electric has accumulated know-how to improve device operability in automobiles. We will continue to develop new products in pursuit of better usability.
