Steering Handle Grip Sensing for Parking Assistance Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current parking assistance systems in motor vehicles require inconvenient and potentially error-prone manual input for selecting between different levels of autonomous parking functions, distracting drivers in traffic and posing safety risks.
Innovation Solution
The system automatically selects between available parking assistance functions based on the driver's gripping status of the steering handle, using capacitive sensors or optical detection, allowing for intuitive and safe switching between levels of autonomy without additional driver input.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual input is used to select between parking assistance functions, then the driver can choose the desired level of assistance, but the driver becomes distracted from traffic and safety risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically detects the driver's gripping status through sensors and autonomously selects the appropriate parking assistance function without requiring manual input. The system serves itself by interpreting the gripping status as the driver's implicit selection preference, eliminating the need for the driver to search for and activate selection options while maintaining safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical interaction of manually pressing buttons or touching screen elements with a sensor-based detection system. Capacitive or optical sensors detect the electrical or optical properties of the driver's hand gripping the steering wheel, substituting physical manual selection operations with automated sensing and interpretation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If special operating elements are provided for selecting parking assistance functions, then function selection is possible, but the operating convenience deteriorates and error susceptibility increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system eliminates special operating elements by using the driver's natural gripping action as the selection input. The sensor system automatically interprets the gripping status to determine which parking assistance function the driver wants, making the system self-serve the selection process without requiring the driver to locate or activate dedicated controls.
Solution Approach 2:
The steering wheel serves multiple functions: it remains the primary steering control while simultaneously acting as the input device for selecting parking assistance functions through gripping status detection. This universal use of the steering wheel eliminates the need for separate specialized controls.
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
This solution enhances operating convenience and safety by allowing drivers to focus on traffic while automatically adjusting the level of autonomy during parking procedures, ensuring a suitable assistance function is always active based on their control input.
Implementation Method 1
using capacitive sensors or optical detection
Implementation Method 2
using capacitive sensors or optical detection
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a motor vehicle and to a method for operating a motor vehicle for carrying out a parking procedure, wherein the motor vehicle comprises at least a first parking assistance function and a second parking assistance function, which may be selected as desired, and wherein the method comprises: detecting a gripping status of a steering handle of the motor vehicle by a driver; and automatically selecting the first or the second parking assistance function depending on the gripping status.