Dynamic Steering Wheel Touch Area Adaptation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing touch input devices on steering wheels are fixed and uncomfortable for drivers, as they do not adapt to the driver's hand position, leading to reduced usability and convenience.
Innovation Solution
A dynamically adjustable touch area system on the steering wheel, controlled by a touch controller that sets up touch areas based on the driver's palm position and adjusts offsets based on input points, allowing for comfortable and intuitive control of vehicle components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a fixed touch input device is disposed on the steering wheel, then the device structure is simple, but it is difficult to manipulate when the driver changes hand positions and reduces usability
Solution Approach 1:
The touch area is made dynamic rather than fixed. The touch controller determines the driver's palm touch area and dynamically sets up a touch area for manipulation around the palm touch area with a predetermined offset. This allows the touch input area to adapt to different hand positions on the steering wheel, improving ease of operation while maintaining reasonable system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The position and size parameters of the touch area are changed based on the detected palm touch area. The touch controller adjusts the touch area parameters (position, size, offset) according to the driver's hand position, transforming the static touch interface into an adaptive one that improves usability without requiring complex mechanical structures.
2Ease of operation
If the touch area is set with a large offset from the palm touch area, then there is more space for manipulation, but it increases the distance the driver's finger must travel reducing comfort
Solution Approach 1:
The offset parameter of the touch area is dynamically adjusted based on the detected palm touch area characteristics. The touch controller sets the touch area at a predetermined offset from the palm touch area, optimizing the balance between manipulation space and finger movement distance. This parameter optimization improves ease of operation while minimizing unnecessary finger travel time.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple touch areas are activated simultaneously, then more functions are accessible, but it increases power consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The activation state of touch areas is made dynamic. The touch controller activates or deactivates touch areas for manipulation based on whether they receive touching inputs. When a touching input is received in one touch area, other touch areas are deactivated, and when no input is received, deactivated areas are reactivated. This dynamic state management provides versatility when needed while reducing power consumption during idle periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The touch controller periodically checks for touching inputs in activated touch areas and switches between active and deactivated states. This periodic monitoring and state switching allows the system to maintain accessibility to multiple functions when needed while conserving energy when fewer functions are required, balancing adaptability and power consumption.
Data Source
AI summary
A steering wheel with a touch area dynamically set up based on the driver's hand position may include touch input configured to receive a touching input of a driver; and a touch controller configured to set up a touch area for manipulation on the touch input to control components of a vehicle based on a touch area, in which the touching input is received, wherein the touch controller is further configured to determine a palm touch area of the driver and set up a touch area for manipulation around the palm touch area.