Optical-Effect Touchpad on Steering Wheel for Finger Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing steering wheel touchpad systems lack flexibility due to dedicated buttons and require electronic components and cabled connections, which are not road-safe and expensive, especially when using 3D cameras for gesture detection.
Innovation Solution
A system using an interface pad with a movable plate and inclined edges that changes optical reflection patterns when pressed, detected by an imaging sensor, allowing for reliable detection of gestures without electronics in the steering wheel or cabled connections, utilizing near-infrared light and a conventional imaging sensor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If a 3D camera is used to detect finger gestures on a transparent pad, then gesture detection capability is improved, but system cost and complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the complex 3D camera system with a conventional 2D imaging sensor combined with an optical contrast mechanism. The movable plate's inclined edges create optical contrasts that convert 3D positional information into 2D image plane contrasts, allowing a simple 2D camera to detect finger gestures without requiring expensive 3D sensing technology.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the optical parameters of the detection system by introducing inclined edges on the movable plate that create contrast effects in the imaging sensor's field of view. This transformation converts depth/distance information into 2D contrast variations that can be detected by conventional imaging sensors, eliminating the need for complex 3D cameras.
2Ease of operation
If dedicated control buttons are placed in the steering wheel spokes, then control functionality is provided, but flexibility and adaptability are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal touchpad interface on the steering wheel rim that can detect multiple types of finger gestures (touch, slide, click, double-click, etc.). This single multi-functional interface replaces multiple dedicated buttons, providing the same control functionality while significantly increasing adaptability and flexibility for different control needs.
3Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If electronics and cabled connections are installed in the steering wheel, then detection system functionality is achieved, but road safety and system simplicity are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes all electronic components and cabled connections from the steering wheel structure. The detection system uses only optical elements (light source, movable plate with inclined edges, and imaging sensor) that can be positioned externally, eliminating the need for electronics inside the rotating steering wheel and thereby improving road safety and reliability.
4Ease of operation
If the movable plate is pressed to activation position, then gesture detection signal is generated, but mechanical precision and optical contrast reliability must be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses asymmetric inclined edges on the movable plate that create distinct optical contrast patterns when the plate is in different positions. The asymmetric geometry ensures that even small movements of the movable plate produce significant and reliable contrast changes in the imaging sensor, maintaining manufacturing precision while ease of operation.
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
Enables reliable detection of finger gestures like 'click' and 'double-click' with high precision, keeping hands on the wheel for safety, and integrates with existing camera systems for cost-effectiveness and simplicity.
Implementation Method 1
at least one light source that emits an optical beam mainly in the near-infrared band toward the interface pad, an imaging sensor, for capturing at least images steered by the interface pad away from the driver
Implementation Method 2
said first and second inclined edges together generate an effect of contrast, in the images of the interface pad that are captured by the imaging sensor, between the rest position and the activation position
Data Source
AI summary
A system for detecting command gestures made by a finger of a motor vehicle driver, including at least one interface pad, a light source that emits an infrared optical beam toward the interface pad, an imaging sensor, in order to capture images steered by the interface pad away from the driver, the interface pad including a base frame and a movable plate that is movable between a rest position and at least one activation position, the base frame including a first inclined edge and the movable plate including a second inclined edge, the first and second inclined edges forming a zone of contrasts of interest as seen by the imaging sensor, and being separated by a space or brought closer together depending on the position of the movable plate, and generating a contrast effect in the images of the interface pad that are captured by the imaging sensor.