Multitouch Chording Steering Wheel Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional steering wheels have limited buttons, requiring drivers to remove their hands to control auxiliary components, diverting attention and reducing safety.
Innovation Solution
A multitouch chording system with left-hand and right-hand touch sensing surfaces on the steering wheel allows drivers to control various vehicle components without removing their hands, using gestures to select modes and issue commands through a computing device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If fixed-function buttons are placed on the steering wheel, then the driver can control auxiliary components, but the number of controllable components is limited due to limited steering wheel area
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies multi-functionality by implementing touch-sensitive surfaces that can perform multiple functions through different gesture inputs. A single touch surface area can control multiple auxiliary components (climate control, audio, navigation, etc.) by interpreting different touch patterns, finger counts, and gesture types, thereby increasing the number of controllable components without adding physical buttons.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from two-dimensional physical button layouts to multi-dimensional gesture recognition. By incorporating temporal dimension (duration of touch), spatial dimension (position on touch surface), and configurational dimension (number of fingers, gesture patterns), the system expands control capabilities beyond the physical constraints of the steering wheel surface area.
2Ease of operation
If auxiliary components lack corresponding buttons on the steering wheel, then the steering wheel design remains simple, but the driver must remove hands from the steering wheel to control these components
Solution Approach 1:
The steering wheel control system performs self-service by providing comprehensive control of all auxiliary components directly at the steering wheel. The touch-sensitive surfaces enable the driver to access and control any auxiliary component (climate, audio, navigation, etc.) without needing to reach for separate controls, making the steering wheel a self-sufficient control hub that maintains driver hand placement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic control where the functions available on the touch-sensitive surfaces change based on context, selected modes, and active applications. The system dynamically adapts the control interface to provide relevant functions at any given moment, enabling comprehensive auxiliary component control while maintaining a clean, simple physical steering wheel design.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the driver removes hands from the steering wheel to control auxiliary components, then the driver can access more functions, but visual focus must be diverted and driving ability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The touch-sensitive surfaces act as an intermediary between the driver and auxiliary components. This intermediary interface is positioned within the driver's natural field of view and hand reach, eliminating the need to divert visual focus or move hands away from the steering wheel. The intermediary translates simple touch gestures into complex control commands for various auxiliary systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system prepares control functions in advance by pre-configuring touch-sensitive surface responses for commonly needed auxiliary components. Frequently accessed functions are made readily available through intuitive gesture patterns, allowing the driver to control auxiliary components with minimal cognitive load and without diverting attention from the road.
Data Source
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AI summary
A multitouch interface application provides a user with access to a multitouch chording language for controlling auxiliary components within a vehicle, where a particular command for a given auxiliary component is specified by a combination of a left-hand gesture and a right-hand gesture. The multitouch interface application receives left-hand gestures from a left-hand touch sensing surface, where a given left-hand gesture corresponds to a selection of mode associated within a given auxiliary component. The multitouch interface application also receives right-hand gestures from a right-hand touch sensing surface, where a given right-hand gesture, in conjunction with a left-hand gesture, corresponds to a command for the given auxiliary component. Upon receiving both a left-hand gesture and a right-hand gesture, the multitouch interface application issues the command to the auxiliary component associated with the selected mode.