Hand-Detected Lever Control Without Neutral Return
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing manually actuated levers, such as joysticks, require users to return to a neutral position before actuation, leading to inconvenience and reduced user comfort.
Innovation Solution
A control method for manually actuated levers that enables actuation based on sensor-based palm detection, generating a control command aligned with the lever's deflection state, allowing smooth transition to desired functions without additional user action.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the lever requires return to neutral position before actuation, then safety and control precision are improved, but user comfort and operational efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of the user's activating intention through sensor-based palm detection before actual actuation is required. This allows the system to prepare for actuation in advance, eliminating the need for the user to return the lever to neutral position while maintaining safety through intentional detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical neutral-position-based actuation system with a sensor-based detection system. Instead of relying on mechanical return to neutral, the system uses sensors to detect palm contact and evaluate activating intention, substituting mechanical constraints with intelligent detection.
2Reliability
If the lever requires return to neutral position before actuation, then unexpected reactions are prevented, but operational time and efficiency worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The system detects activating intention in advance through sensor-based palm detection, allowing actuation to be prepared before the user completes the neutral return motion. This preliminary detection eliminates unnecessary time loss while maintaining safety through intentional verification.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors sensor signals to detect palm contact and evaluate activating intention in real-time. This feedback mechanism allows the system to respond immediately when activation is intended, eliminating delays associated with mandatory neutral position returns while preventing unexpected reactions through continuous monitoring.
3Ease of operation
If sensor-based palm detection is implemented, then user comfort is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a sensor matrix as an intermediary between the user's hand and the actuation system. These sensors detect palm contact and provide signals for intention evaluation, serving as a mediator that enables comfortable operation without requiring complex direct control mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces complex mechanical actuation mechanisms with sensor-based detection and electronic control. Instead of intricate mechanical linkages and neutral-position mechanisms, the patent uses sensors to detect intent and electronically controls actuation, reducing mechanical complexity while improving user comfort.
Data Source
AI summary
In a control method for actuating a manually actuated lever provided for actuating an operation and/or work function, the manually actuated lever includes a device for hand detection, which releases an actuation of the operation and/or work function when a sensor-based evaluation of the positioning of a palm resting on a handle piece of the manually actuated lever surmises an activating intent on the part of an operator. In the event that the manually actuated lever is deflected from a neutral or rest position, an operating command corresponding to the current deflection state is generated, wherein a control command intended to execute the operation and/or work function is matched, according to a predefined transition function and via a control unit, to the operating command resulting from the deflection state, as soon as the actuation of the operation and/or work function is released by the device for hand detection.