Gear Selector Gesture Detection Heads-Up Display

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Solution Overview

Problem

Manual transmission drivers face distractions when shifting gears, as they need to look away from the road to determine the engaged gear, increasing the risk of accidents, especially in high-speed vehicles, and advanced transmission technologies provide less tactile feedback, complicating gear identification.

Innovation Solution

A method to display gear selection information on a secondary display within the driver's line-of-sight, triggered by gesture recognition using a time-of-flight camera, providing the currently engaged gear and engine speed before the driver interacts with the gear selector, minimizing distraction and maintaining focus on driving.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If the driver looks at the tachometer to determine the engaged gear, then the driver can identify the current gear, but the driver's attention is distracted from the road

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegear identificationVSAvoiddriver distraction

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by detecting when the driver's hand approaches the gear selector and proactively displaying the current gear information on the heads-up display before the driver needs to check it. This advance preparation eliminates the need for the driver to look away from the road to identify the engaged gear.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The heads-up display acts as an intermediary between the gear selector and the driver's vision. Instead of requiring the driver to look at the tachometer, the gear information is mediated through the heads-up display which presents the information directly in the driver's field of view, eliminating the distraction while maintaining gear identification capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If more forward gears are added to the transmission, then the transmission provides more gear options, but it becomes more difficult for the driver to identify the currently engaged gear

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegear optionsVSAvoidgear identification

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The heads-up display serves as an intermediary that clearly presents the current gear information to the driver. With more gear options available, the visual feedback from tactile alone becomes insufficient, but the heads-up display provides unambiguous digital indication of the engaged gear, making identification easy regardless of the number of available gears.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses visual display elements on the heads-up display to indicate the current gear. By presenting gear information through distinct visual signals rather than relying solely on tactile differentiation, the driver can easily identify the engaged gear even when many gear options are available.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

3Power

If the driver delays shifting until the engine approaches its rotational speed limit, then maximum engine performance is extracted, but the driver must look at the tachometer which causes distraction

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveengine performanceVSAvoiddriver distraction

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by displaying the current gear and engine speed information on the heads-up display before the driver needs to make a shifting decision. This allows the driver to monitor engine parameters and optimize performance without looking away from the road, as all necessary information is presented in the driver's field of view.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The heads-up display provides real-time feedback to the driver about the current gear and engine speed. This continuous visual feedback loop enables the driver to make informed shifting decisions to maximize engine performance while maintaining focus on the road, as the feedback is presented without requiring the driver to divert attention from driving.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution reduces driver distraction by providing essential gear information proactively, allowing the driver to maintain focus on the road while shifting gears, thereby enhancing vehicle safety and reducing the risk of accidents.

Implementation Method 1

gesture recognition using a time-of-flight camera

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTime of flight: Time of Flight

Data Source

PatentUS9644737B2Motor vehicle and method for controlling a transmission in a motor vehicle

Publication Date: 2017.05.09 AUDI AG

AI summary

A method controls a transmission in a motor vehicle. The method involves displaying transmission information on a primary display, determining when a hand is approaching a gear selector, and initiating a display of, and then displaying, gear selection information on a secondary display when the hand is approaching the gear selector, before the hand touches the gear selector, the secondary display being a multi-use changeable display that, at different times, displays information for different systems of the motor vehicle. The method may therefore provide the information to the driver when it is needed, before the gear is shifted.