Recently, Volkswagen submitted a patent to the German Patent and Trademark Office. According to the patent drawings, Volkswagen is researching a detachable car instrument panel that can also be used as a dashboard for mobile phones or other tablet devices.
From the patent drawings, it can be seen that on the multifunctional two-spoke steering wheel, a larger and more powerful device can be placed in the original position of the instrument panel, or a smartphone or tablet device can be mounted in this position to replace the instrument panel and display vehicle information.
Behind this mobile display screen, there is also a traditional small LCD instrument panel that can be used to display driving information such as speed, energy consumption, and warning lights. As for the detachable mobile display screen or phone, it can be used to handle more information, such as navigation, media control, and in-car telephone functions.
Volkswagen officials stated that this detachable display screen will allow users to continuously update and upgrade car software without affecting the vehicle's operation. Users only need to download the designated app on their mobile devices, and the vehicle supports Bluetooth, NFC, and network connections, enabling the mentioned interaction between the phone and the vehicle.
