Interiors supplier Grupo Antolin and Uniphy, which makes 3D smart-surface technology, have signed an agreement to collaborate on next generation in car user interfaces.
Grupo Antolin will combine its advanced decorative and lighting technology with Uniphy’s Canvya smart surface products to enable new, 3D touch control surfaces which are said to be “beautiful, intuitive, robust, safe, and economic”.
The resulting HMIs (Human Machine Interfaces) will take advantage of unparalleled design freedom to deliver high performance touch, touch contours such as longitudinal or circular sliders, concave/convex touch surface dials, touch gesture, and proximity recognition, together with the integration of displays and advanced lighting solutions.
“Grupo Antolin’s extensive expertise and state of the art car interior technology, together with its integration experience of third party solutions into its products, will be paired with Uniphy’s revolutionary Canvya 3D smart surface technology to deliver user interfaces with great added value,” the companies said in a joint statement.
Unlike standard capacitive surfaces, Uniphy’s patented technology uses novel optical sensing with a free-form and affordable three-layer optical laminate, powered by low power electronics to improve the quality, functionality, and performance of the solution. The collaboration is set to create a completely new touch interface.
“Uniphy and Antolin are a perfect fit. Together we can produce unique smart 3D surfaces that can be seamlessly integrated into all interior parts of next generation vehicles. As part of this program, Uniphy will collaborate closely with our lighting & HMI business unit as well as Walter Pack, Antolin’s strategic partner in films and decorative surfaces”, said Marta Cuevas, the unit’s director.
Uniphy’s 3D smart surface products combines novel algorithms and patented technology to allow standard materials/components and mainstream manufacturing processes to be used to deliver “feature rich and freeform 3D smart interfaces”.
The technology goes Beyond Touch and unifies non-conductive, finger pressure sensitive touch sensing with the integration of physical HMI features including dials, buttons & sliders. It also supports haptic feedback, proximity and touch-gesture recognition whilst also being able to host additional proprietary HMI features.