Proximity Sensor User Interface for Contextual Vehicle Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle user interfaces, such as touch screens, can be distracting for drivers and often disable certain vehicle operations while in motion, causing annoyance for passengers who cannot access these functions.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising proximity sensors and a controller that determines the location of a user relative to the user interface, enabling contextual control by distinguishing between driver and passenger inputs, thereby allowing specific vehicle operations to be enabled or disabled based on the user's position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If vehicle operations are disabled while in motion to prevent driver distraction, then driver safety is improved, but passenger accessibility to vehicle functions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different operational permissions to different users based on their location. Driver-side operations (left of center) are restricted when the vehicle is in motion, while passenger-side operations (right of center) remain accessible. This spatial differentiation allows the system to maintain driver safety while preserving passenger functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts operational accessibility based on real-time conditions. When the vehicle transitions from stationary to motion, the system automatically modifies which operations are available, switching from a permissive state (all operations available) to a restricted state (driver operations limited, passenger operations maintained).
2Ease of operation
If all vehicle operations remain accessible while in motion to maintain ease of operation, then passenger accessibility is improved, but driver distraction and safety deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system spatially segments the user interface into driver-controlled regions (left of center) and passenger-controlled regions (right of center). This segmentation allows differential access control where driver operations are restricted during motion while passenger operations remain fully accessible, thereby preventing driver distraction without compromising overall system usability.
3Reliability
If proximity sensors and location determination systems are added to enable contextual control, then operational safety and contextual appropriateness are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces proximity sensors and location determination mechanisms as intermediary components that detect user position relative to the user interface and mediate access control decisions. These intermediaries provide the necessary contextual information to the controller, which then applies appropriate access restrictions based on detected user location and vehicle motion state.
Data Source
AI summary
In at least one embodiment, a system is provided that includes a user interface, a plurality of proximity sensors, and at least one controller. The user interface is configured to enable selection of one or more operations for a vehicle. The plurality of proximity sensors is positioned about or within the user interface and is configured to transmit first signals indicative of a location of a user relative to the user interface as the user selects the one or more operations for the vehicle with the user interface. The at least one controller is configured to determine the location of the user relative to the user interface in response to the first signals and to transmit a vehicle control signal to a vehicle subsystem to perform the one or more operations based on the location of the user relative to the user interface.