Steering Wheel Sensor Surface with Mechanical Switches
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing number of vehicle functions to be controlled on a steering wheel poses a challenge due to limited space and the need to prevent unintentional or incorrect operations, while maintaining clarity and minimizing button count.
Innovation Solution
A touch-sensitive, three-dimensionally shaped sensor surface with mechanical switching elements underneath, allowing for individual operation by deforming the surface, and a changeover switch to activate/deactivate these elements, enabling flexible and precise control without additional buttons.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple buttons are arranged on the steering wheel to control increasing vehicle functions, then the number of controllable functions increases, but the visual clarity and cleanliness of the steering wheel deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple buttons into a single touch-sensitive sensor surface that can detect different touch positions, pressures, and patterns to control multiple vehicle functions. This merging approach maintains full functionality while preserving the clean visual appearance of the steering wheel.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds dimensional complexity to a single button by incorporating multi-dimensional touch detection capabilities including touch position (X, Y coordinates), touch pressure intensity, and touch duration. This allows one button to control multiple functions without adding physical buttons.
2Adaptability or versatility
If more buttons are added to the steering wheel to control additional functions, then functional versatility improves, but the device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The touch-sensitive sensor surface serves as a universal control interface that can detect and respond to multiple different touch inputs (position, pressure, duration, patterns) to control various vehicle functions, replacing what would traditionally require multiple separate buttons or switches.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes changes in touch parameters (position, pressure intensity, duration, and temporal patterns) to differentiate between multiple control functions, allowing a single sensor surface to replace multiple physical controls through parameter-based differentiation.
3Ease of manufacture
If a flat sensor surface is used, then manufacturing simplicity improves, but tactile feedback and operational precision deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality changes by creating three-dimensional structures (protrusions or depressions) at specific locations on the sensor surface corresponding to different control functions. These localized structural variations provide tactile feedback while maintaining the overall simplicity of the sensor surface design.
4Strength
If the sensor surface is made more rigid to improve durability, then resistance to damage improves, but flexibility to actuate mechanical switching elements deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the sensor surface into different functional zones with distinct mechanical properties. Certain areas are designed with localized flexibility to actuate mechanical switching elements, while other areas maintain higher rigidity for durability and tactile feedback, achieving both requirements through spatial segmentation.
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 simplifies operation of multiple functions, reduces distraction, and maintains a clean, ergonomic design by allowing tactile control without protrusions, while preventing accidental inputs through selective activation/deactivation.
Implementation Method 1
The sensor surface 20 can be a capacitive touch-sensitive sensor surface, for example, so that input can be made simply by touching the sensor surface.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
A control device for a vehicle steering wheel (10) has a closed, touch-sensitive, preferably three-dimensionally shaped sensor surface (20), at least two mechanical switching elements (22), which are arranged under the sensor surface (20) and can be actuated by deforming the sensor surface (20), the touch-sensitive sensor surface (20) being of flexible design such that the mechanical switching elements (22) can be actuated individually, and a selector switch (24), which can activate and/or deactivate the mechanical switching elements (22) and/or the touch-sensitive sensor surface (20).