Haptic Feedback Touch Surface for Vehicle Gear Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Motor vehicle control elements, such as selector lever knobs and paddle shifters, lack feedback mechanisms to inform drivers of the currently selected gear, requiring them to look away from the road to check the instrument panel, compromising driving safety and preventing optimal gear changes.
Innovation Solution
A touch-sensitive control element with actuators that provide haptic feedback, allowing drivers to feel the engaged gear through vibrations, temperature, size, contour, or surface texture changes, enabling gear detection without visual distraction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If shift paddles or selector lever knob are used for transmission control, then the driver can operate transmission without taking hands off steering wheel, but the driver receives no feedback about currently selected gear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms that provide haptic and tactile information to the driver about the currently selected gear. When the driver touches the touch-sensitive contact surface, actuators generate noticeable effects (vibrations, resistance changes, temperature variations) that convey gear position information, eliminating the need to visually check the instrument panel.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical feedback mechanisms with actuator-based systems that can dynamically generate haptic feedback. The actuators (piezoelectric, electromagnetic, or electrostatic) substitute for mechanical springs and detents, providing programmable tactile feedback that adapts to different gear positions and driving conditions.
2Loss of information
If the driver looks at the instrument panel to check gear selection, then the driver can see which gear is engaged, but the driver must take eyes off the road
Solution Approach 1:
The feedback mechanism provides immediate tactile confirmation of gear selection through the touch-sensitive contact surface. When the driver touches the surface, the system generates haptic signals that encode gear position information, allowing the driver to perceive gear status through touch rather than sight, maintaining eyes on the road.
Solution Approach 2:
The touch-sensitive contact surface acts as an intermediary between the driver and the gear selection information. Instead of requiring direct visual contact with the instrument panel, the driver interacts with the contact surface which mediates the information transfer through haptic feedback, enabling indirect but safe information acquisition.
3Loss of information
If actuators are added to provide haptic feedback on the contact surface, then gear information can be transmitted tactilely, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The actuator system serves multiple functions: providing haptic feedback for gear position indication, generating vibrations for gear change recommendations, and creating tactile patterns for different driving modes. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate feedback mechanisms and justifies the complexity through consolidated design.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes physical parameters of the contact surface (vibration frequency, amplitude, temperature, resistance) to encode different gear positions and driving information. By modulating these parameters dynamically, the system conveys multiple types of information through a single feedback channel, reducing overall system complexity.
4Productivity
If gear change recommendations are provided through the touch surface, then optimal gear changes can be suggested, but the means to generate recommendations must be integrated
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges gear position indication and gear change recommendation functions into a single touch-sensitive contact surface. The same actuator array that provides gear position feedback also generates vibration patterns and tactile signals for gear change recommendations, consolidating multiple feedback functions into one integrated interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses periodic vibration patterns and rhythmic tactile feedback to communicate gear change recommendations. By employing temporal patterns (frequency, duration, rhythm) rather than static feedback, the system can convey multiple layers of information (current gear, recommended gear, urgency) through time-varying signals from the same actuator system.
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
Enhances driving safety by allowing gear recognition without visual attention and informs optimal gear changes, enabling more ecological and sporty driving styles.
Implementation Method 1
the actuator is designed as a piezoelectric actuator which responds to an applied voltage signal with mechanical vibrations
Implementation Method 2
the actuator is designed as an electromagnetic actuator which responds to an applied electrical current with mechanical vibrations
Implementation Method 3
the actuator is designed as an electrostatic actuator which responds to an applied voltage signal with mechanical vibrations
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The invention relates to an operating element for a motor vehicle, comprising a touch-sensitive surface. The invention is characterized in that the touch-sensitive surface (12) includes means (14) which can be controlled by actuators, is perceptible through an operator's sense of touch and provides feedback to the operator about the gear in which the motor vehicle transmission currently is.