Integrated Brake Grip Shift Switch for One-Handed Operation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Physically disabled drivers face difficulties in operating both the normal brake and engine brake while driving, especially on downhill slopes, due to poor operability and the risk of not activating the engine brake appropriately when using a conventional paddle shift switch with one hand.
Innovation Solution
A driving assistance apparatus with a brake operation portion near the steering wheel, featuring a grip portion with integrated shift-down switch, allowing manual shift-down operations without hand separation, mirroring the paddle shift switch layout on the steering wheel for improved operability and safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a paddle shift switch is provided on the steering wheel to enable engine brake operation, then the driver can activate engine brake, but the operability deteriorates when the driver must use one hand for steering and the same hand for shift change operation
Solution Approach 1:
The brake operation portion is divided into distinct functional elements: a grip portion for holding and a shift-down switch for operation. This segmentation allows the driver to operate the shift-down switch with thumb or index finger while maintaining grip with other fingers, enabling reliable engine brake activation without compromising steering control
Solution Approach 2:
The brake operation portion acts as an intermediary device between the driver and the brake system. By providing a dedicated shift-down switch on the grip portion, it mediates the shift change operation separately from the steering wheel, allowing independent control of engine brake without affecting steering operation
2Ease of operation
If the driver uses one hand for both steering and brake operation, then the operability improves for physically disabled drivers, but the risk increases of not activating engine brake appropriately on downhill slopes
Solution Approach 1:
The shift-down switch is merged with the grip portion of the brake operation portion, creating an integrated control unit. This merging ensures that the engine brake activation function is combined with the brake control, allowing physically disabled drivers to reliably activate engine brake while maintaining one-handed operation capability
Solution Approach 2:
The shift-down switch provides immediate feedback to the driver when activated, confirming engine brake engagement. This feedback mechanism ensures that physically disabled drivers can reliably detect whether engine brake has been activated, preventing inappropriate driving conditions on downhill slopes
Data Source
AI summary
A driving assistance apparatus that includes a brake operation portion that applies a brake to a vehicle, the brake operation portion allowing a manual brake operation by a hand of a driver of the vehicle, the brake operation portion including a brake operation body and a grip portion to be gripped by the hand of the driver, the grip portion being provided at an upper end of the brake operation body, and a shift-down switch that shifts-down the vehicle is provided on the grip portion, the shift-down switch allowing a manual shift-down operation by the hand of the driver.