Directional Hand-Approach Interface for Multi-Passenger Vehicle Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Vehicles face space constraints in dashboards and center consoles for implementing multiple user interfaces such as control buttons or knobs to control various functions for different passengers.

Innovation Solution

A user input device with a user interface and sensors that determine the direction of a user's hand approach, allowing the device to perform actions based on this direction, thereby reducing the number of required user interfaces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple separate user interfaces (control buttons or knobs) are implemented for different passengers, then each passenger can control individual subsystems, but the space required in the dashboard or center console increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveindividual passenger control capabilityVSAvoiddashboard space

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

A single user interface is designed to serve multiple passengers by detecting the direction from which a hand approaches. The same physical interface can control different subsystems for different passengers (driver, front passenger, rear passengers) based on the approach direction, eliminating the need for multiple separate control units and reducing dashboard space requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a new dimension for control differentiation - the spatial direction of hand approach. Instead of requiring separate interfaces for each passenger, the system uses the directional angle (azimuth) of the approaching hand as an additional parameter to determine which passenger's subsystem should be controlled, thereby multiplying the functionality of a single interface

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Area of stationary object

If a single user interface controls multiple subsystems for different passengers, then space requirements are reduced, but the complexity of determining which subsystem to control increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedashboard spaceVSAvoidcontrol logic complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex control logic with a physical sensing mechanism. Instead of requiring software-based identification of the active user (which would involve complex algorithms to determine user presence and intent), the system uses sensors to directly detect the physical direction of hand approach, providing a natural and intuitive way to disambiguate which subsystem should be controlled

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system automatically determines which subsystem should be controlled based on the physical direction of the approaching hand, without requiring the user to manually select or indicate their intent. The directional sensing performs the identification function automatically, reducing the perceived complexity for the user while maintaining precise control

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP4521201A1User input device

Publication Date: 2025.03.12 HARMAN BECKER AUTOMOTIVE SYST GMBH

Figure 1~3A
Figure 3B~4B
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AI summary

A user input device (200) comprises a user interface (20) and at least one sensor (22), wherein the at least one sensor (22) is configured to determine a direction from which a user's hand approaches the user interface (20), and the user input device (200) is configured to perform an action based on the direction determined by the at least one sensor (22).