Steering Device Grip Detection and Heater Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle steering devices do not effectively balance the detection of the gripped state by a driver with the warming of the steering wheel, as the intermittent operation of heaters can interfere with sensor accuracy and power efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A steering device with a sensor drive unit and a heater drive unit, where sensor driving is periodic and heater driving is alternated with sensor driving, and the interval of sensor driving is extended when the steering is gripped, ensuring accurate grip detection and efficient warming.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the heater is operated intermittently to warm the steering wheel, then the steering wheel temperature is improved, but the sensor detection accuracy deteriorates due to interference from heater operation
Solution Approach 1:
The heater is operated periodically with intermittent heating cycles rather than continuously, allowing the sensor to detect grip status during non-heating periods when interference is minimized, thus maintaining both warming function and detection accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The heater operation mode is dynamically adjusted based on detected grip status - when grip is detected, heater operation is restricted or stopped to prevent interference with ongoing sensor measurements, while when no grip is detected, heater operation proceeds normally to warm the steering wheel
2Measurement precision
If the sensor operates continuously to maintain high detection accuracy, then the grip detection accuracy is improved, but the power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor operates periodically rather than continuously, with detection cycles synchronized to occur during non-heating periods when the heater is off, reducing overall power consumption while maintaining adequate detection coverage
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from grip detection results to adjust sensor operation timing - when grip is detected, sensor detection frequency can be reduced since the state is stable, while when no grip is detected, detection frequency increases to monitor for grip onset, optimizing power usage based on actual operational needs
3Productivity
If the heater operates at high power to quickly warm the steering wheel, then the warming efficiency is improved, but the interference with sensor detection increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heater operates in high-power pulses during non-detection periods to achieve quick warming, while completely stopping during sensor detection periods to eliminate interference, thus maintaining both warming efficiency and detection accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The heater power level is dynamically adjusted based on the operational phase - high power during non-detection phases for efficient warming, and zero power during detection phases to prevent interference, creating an adaptive heating strategy
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 configuration allows for effective warming of the steering wheel when gripped while maintaining high accuracy in grip detection and achieving power savings when not gripped, by separating sensor and heater elements and adjusting driving intervals based on vehicle states.
Implementation Method 1
a heating element (heater wire) for warming the steering wheel
Data Source
AI summary
A steering device includes: a sensor drive unit configured to drive a sensor element provided in a steering to detect a gripped state of the steering; and a heater drive unit configured to drive a heater provided in the steering, in which the sensor drive unit executes driving of the sensor element periodically at an interval, the heater drive unit executes heater driving alternately with sensor driving by the sensor drive unit, and the interval of sensor driving is expanded in a state where the steering is gripped, compared with a state where the steering is not gripped.