Interface Module Gesture Boundary Dead Zone

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing interface modules for vehicle passenger compartments face conflicts between gesture recognition and pressure sensor inputs due to overlapping gesture execution and approach movements, leading to misinterpretation of commands.

Innovation Solution

The introduction of a dead zone in the detection space by a gesture sensor, combined with a press sensor and a control unit that differentiates between gestures and approach movements, ignoring gestures executed partially in the dead zone and introducing latency to prevent misinterpretation, along with environmental sensor integration to dynamically adjust the gesture boundary.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a gesture sensor and pressure sensor are combined in the same interface module to increase the number of controlled functions, then the functionality is improved, but conflicts arise between gesture interpretation and approach movements to press the sensor

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovefunctionalityVSAvoidgesture interpretation accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The detection space is segmented into a dead zone and an active zone along the axis directed by the normal to the touch surface. The dead zone is positioned between the gesture sensor and the active zone. This spatial segmentation allows the system to distinguish between approach movements (in the dead zone) and intentional gestures (in the active zone), resolving the conflict between gesture recognition and press approach detection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If the gesture sensor detects all movements in the detection space, then the gesture detection capability is improved, but false triggers occur due to approach movements being misinterpreted as commands

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegesture detection capabilityVSAvoidcommand execution accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Different zones of the detection space are assigned different functional qualities. The dead zone is configured to detect approach movements without triggering commands, while the active zone is configured to detect and interpret intentional gestures that execute commands. This local differentiation of zone properties eliminates false triggers while preserving full gesture detection capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Measurement precision

If the dead zone is positioned closer to the touch surface to better differentiate approach movements, then the differentiation accuracy is improved, but the active gesture detection space is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegesture differentiation accuracyVSAvoidactive detection space
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The gesture boundary between the dead zone and active zone is made dynamically adjustable based on environmental conditions. The control unit receives signals from environmental sensors (such as speed sensors, gaze direction sensors, luminosity sensors, or accelerometers) and adjusts the position of the gesture boundary accordingly. This allows the system to optimize the balance between differentiation accuracy and active detection space according to current driving situations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2936282B1Interface module
Publication Date: 2019.05.08 DAV
  • EP2936282B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2936282B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The invention relates to an interface module comprising: a gesture sensor (7) that can detect and interpret the execution of a gesture by a user in a detection space (E); a pressure sensor (3) that can detect a pressure from the user; and a control unit (11) configured to execute at least one command according to the detected and interpreted gesture. According to the invention, the gesture sensor (7) is configured to detect if the gesture is executed in a distal or proximal position in relation to a gesture distance defining a gesture boundary (F2) between an active zone (za) and a dead zone (zm). In addition, the control unit (11) is configured to at least partially ignore a detected gesture if it is executed at least partially in the dead zone (zm), said gesture then being interpreted as an approaching movement in order apply a pressure on the pressure sensor (3).