Segmented Touch Control Element for Space-Saving Vehicle Gestures
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern vehicles face the challenge of designing user interfaces that allow drivers to easily and intuitively operate various functional devices while minimizing the required installation space.
Innovation Solution
An operating device with an elongated touch-sensitive element divided into a middle segment and two outer segments, equipped with a detection device to differentiate between global and context-dependent operating gestures, allowing for flexible control of multiple functions without increasing space requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple functional devices are controlled via a user interface, then the functionality and versatility of the vehicle is improved, but the installation space required for the user interface increases
Solution Approach 1:
The touch-sensitive operating element is divided into multiple segments (first segment, second segment, third segment) that can be independently operated. Each segment can recognize different gesture types (sliding gestures in different directions, tapping gestures), allowing a single compact component to provide multiple control functions that would otherwise require separate controls.
Solution Approach 2:
The operating element is designed as a multi-functional control device where a single touch-sensitive component can perform numerous functions through different gesture combinations. The detection device distinguishes between various gesture types (sliding directions, tapping patterns) to generate different control signals, making one element replace multiple specialized controls.
2Adaptability or versatility
If an elongated touch-sensitive element is divided into multiple segments with distinguishable gestures, then the operational versatility is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Different segments of the operating element are assigned different functions based on their position. The first segment, second segment, and third segment each can recognize the same types of gestures (sliding, tapping), but the combination of segment position and gesture type creates distinct control commands. This local differentiation allows complex functionality without requiring each segment to be structurally different.
Solution Approach 2:
The detection device continuously monitors touch gestures on the operating element and provides feedback by generating appropriate control signals. The system recognizes gesture patterns (direction, duration, position) and translates them into meaningful control commands for various vehicle functions, managing complexity through systematic pattern recognition rather than hardware complexity.
3Ease of operation
If context-dependent gestures are implemented, then the ease of operation is improved, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring gestures increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system establishes a framework for gesture recognition in advance, defining specific gesture types (sliding gestures in four directions, tapping gestures) and their corresponding control signals. By pre-defining the gesture vocabulary and detection criteria, the system makes context-dependent operation intuitive while managing detection complexity through systematic classification.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to an operator control device having an elongated touch-sensitive operator control element (1) which is divided at least into a central segment (1-3) and two external segments (1-1, 1-2), which are arranged on either side next to the central segment (1-3), and having a detection device (2), which is configured to detect operator control gestures which are carried out on a surface (9) of the operator control element (1). In the operator control device according to the invention, the detection device (2) is configured to detect, both at the central segment (1-3) and at the two external segments (1-1, 1-2), respectively different operator control gestures in such way that they can be differentiated, said operator control gestures respectively comprising both a sliding gesture and a tapping gesture. In addition, the operator control device comprises a control device (3) which is coupled to the detection device (2) and is configured so that a control signal which is assigned to the detected operator control gesture is thereby generated for a function which is assigned to the detected operator control gesture. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for detecting an operator control gesture and for generating a control signal, which can be carried out by means of this operator control device.