Gear Selection System Using Touch Gestures
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gear selection methods in vehicles are inefficient, as they require continuous display of gear selection screens on the center console, which is unnecessary and distracting, and accidental gear changes can occur due to the small size of the console and the need to focus on selecting the correct gear representation.
Innovation Solution
A gear selection system that uses a touch-sensitive interface to display a gear selection GUI only when a predefined vehicle condition is met, such as low speed or brake activation, allowing users to change gears with drag gestures on a touch-sensitive display screen, providing audio and haptic feedback for confirmation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If the gear selection screen is displayed continuously on the centre console, then the user can always see the gear selection options, but it takes up useful space on the centre console and is unnecessary and distracting
Solution Approach 1:
The gear selection screen is displayed periodically or on-demand rather than continuously. It appears when the user presses the brake pedal or interacts with the touch-sensitive interface, and disappears when not needed, eliminating unnecessary visual clutter while maintaining information availability when required.
2Ease of operation
If the gear selection screen is displayed only when the user presses the brake, then the centre console space is preserved, but the gear selection screen may be displayed unintentionally when the user stops at a stop light
Solution Approach 1:
The system requires a deliberate preliminary action (touching or pressing near the gear selection area) before the gear selection screen is activated. This preliminary interaction distinguishes intentional gear selection attempts from incidental brake pressing, preventing accidental gear changes while maintaining ease of access.
3Area of stationary object
If the centre console is made small to save space, then the vehicle interior is more compact, but it becomes difficult to accurately press the chosen gear representation and easy to accidentally select the wrong gear
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from two-dimensional button pressing to multi-dimensional interaction by incorporating touch-sensitive surface gestures, drag operations, and proximity detection. This allows accurate gear selection on a compact console by recognizing gesture patterns and trajectories rather than relying solely on precise point contact.
Solution Approach 2:
The touch-sensitive interface provides immediate visual and tactile feedback when the user interacts with the gear selection area. The system recognizes drag gestures, confirms selected gears through display updates, and provides haptic feedback, ensuring accurate selection even on a small console surface.
4Measurement precision
If the user is required to look at the display screen to select gear, then accurate gear selection is possible, but the user cannot maintain awareness of surroundings
Solution Approach 1:
The touch-sensitive interface automatically detects and interprets user gestures without requiring visual confirmation. The system self-adjusts by recognizing drag patterns, proximity touches, and gesture sequences, allowing the user to select gears through intuitive physical interactions while keeping eyes on the road.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are a gear selection system for a vehicle, and a method of selecting a gear in a vehicle, wherein a touch-sensitive user input device is configured for receiving user input in the form of user touch gestures, a display screen is configured for displaying a gear selection Graphical User Interface, and a control apparatus is configured to control the display screen to display the gear selection GUI. A control signal indicative of a selected gear is generated by the gear selection system in response to a drag gesture being received on the touch-sensitive user input device.