Vehicle Interior Lighting Control With Gesture Sequence Recognition

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing gesture recognition systems in vehicles face interference from parasitic movements, which can compromise recognition accuracy and safety by distracting the driver, and there is a need for a method to control interior lighting effectively without disturbing the driver's vigilance.

Innovation Solution

A gesture recognition control device that detects and captures specific gesture sequences to control lighting modules, allowing for the emission of distinct light beams based on recognized gestures, thereby enhancing safety and comfort by preventing parasitic movements from activating lighting functions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If gesture recognition is used to control interior lighting, then convenience and comfort are improved, but false activation by parasitic movements reduces reliability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelighting control convenienceVSAvoidgesture recognition accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the complexity and number of gesture requirements based on vehicle context. For example, during driving hours, a more complex multi-gesture sequence is required, while during parking hours, a simpler sequence suffices. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to maintain high reliability by increasing discrimination against parasitic movements when the vehicle is in use, while preserving ease of operation during low-risk periods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The control device changes the recognition parameters (such as gesture sequence length, movement speed thresholds, and positional accuracy requirements) based on the detected context. When the vehicle is in driving mode, the system increases the number of required gesture points and tightens the accuracy thresholds, effectively filtering out parasitic movements. This parameter adaptation resolves the contradiction by making the system more stringent when reliability is critical and more lenient when convenience is prioritized.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If complex gesture sequences are required to avoid false activation, then reliability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefalse activation preventionVSAvoidgesture execution complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adapts the gesture sequence complexity based on contextual information such as vehicle operating state, time of day, and detected occupancy. During driving hours, a more complex sequence with multiple control points is required to prevent false activation. During parking hours or when no occupants are detected, the system accepts simpler gesture sequences. This dynamic approach ensures high reliability when needed while maintaining ease of operation when the risk of false activation is low.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Different levels of gesture complexity are applied to different operational contexts. The system does not uniformly require complex gestures in all situations, but rather tailors the gesture requirements to the specific local context (driving vs. parking, day vs. night, occupied vs. unoccupied vehicle). This localized adaptation of gesture complexity resolves the contradiction by applying strict requirements only where necessary for safety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Measurement precision

If continuous monitoring of detection zone is performed, then gesture detection accuracy is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegesture detection accuracyVSAvoiddetection system energy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of continuous monitoring, the system uses periodic sampling of the detection zone combined with event-triggered activation. The detection device periodically checks for movement in the detection zone, and only when movement is detected does the system activate the full image capture and analysis sequence. This periodic monitoring approach maintains gesture detection accuracy by ensuring the system is ready to capture gestures when they occur, while dramatically reducing energy consumption compared to continuous full-resolution imaging and processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary low-power detection of movement in the detection zone before activating the full gesture recognition sequence. A simplified motion detection algorithm continuously monitors for any movement, and only when movement is detected does the system activate the higher-power image capture and detailed gesture analysis. This preliminary action ensures that the system maintains readiness for accurate gesture detection while minimizing energy consumption by keeping the full system dormant during periods of no activity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3222466B1Method for controlling an interior light of a motor vehicle
Publication Date: 2024.02.14 VALEO VISION SA
  • EP3222466B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

An interior lighting control device of a motor vehicle includes at least one lighting module (2) capable of emitting a light beam in the passenger compartment, and means for detecting (3, 4, 5) a plurality of gestures of a vehicle occupant forming a determined sequence triggering the control of said interior lighting module (2).