Continental Wins Innovation Award for 3D Touchscreen at CES

Continental used the CES 2018 show to unveil the world’s first touchscreen having a 3D surface, which combines a visual appearance with a brand-new operating concept at the CES 2018.

According to the company, the 3D touch surface display can be operated instinctively, thus increasing safety and making the user experience more meaningful. Continental won the the CES 2018 Best of Innovation Award in the “In-Vehicle Audio/Video” category, for the touchscreen on the basis of its innovative technology and state-of-the-art design.

Commenting on the touchscreen, Dr. Frank Rabe, head of the Instrumentation and Driver HMI business unit at Continental said that the display solution combines three elements: design, safety and user experience. The 3D surface not only has a striking visual design, but also makes it possible for drivers to operate the various functions without needing to take their eyes off the road, thus minimizing driver distraction. He said the company was delighted to receive the CES award as the award recognizes technologies for the very highest standards of design and engineering prowess.

Currently, customers are demonstrating growing demand for new features and digital content. This means that in-vehicle touchscreens need to be bigger and bigger. Conventional screens can conveniently display digital information, but they are not very user-friendly. This is why Continental developed a 3D surface for its new touchscreen. It is the 3D elements that allow for brand-specific individualisation of the high-quality plastic surface and, actually offers finger guidance that customers can feel.

When the screen is touched, Continental’s haptic feedback technology provides a haptic feedback. Thus, , motorists are able to operate the display instinctively without needing to look at the screen.

Rabe explained, “As human–machine interfaces become ever more complex, the combination of active, haptic feedback and passive feedback from the 3D surface ensures an outstanding user experience and significantly improves operational safety.”

Haptic feedback
Customers can use the touch-sensitive 3D elements on the sides of the display like sliders to customize functions that are frequently used like volume or temperature settings without moving away from the displayed menu. The center of the display has specific, virtual buttons that makes blind operation of a range of applications possible, and these can change depending on the current menu. In order to prevent the driver from triggering any functions accidentally while using the 3D elements, the touch force is measured (force sensing) before a command is executed.

Haptic feedback also serves to inform drivers when they have reached the edge of a screen element as they pass their finger over the screen. This allows them to differentiate between different virtual buttons without looking at the screen. Haptic feedback is provided in the form of a short and highly precise mechanical pulse that is transferred to the display surface. Mechanized movements of the display are not visible to the naked eye.