Vehicle Steering Tactile Feedback Gain Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
In vehicles with variable steering gear ratios, the challenge is to enhance the occupant's recognizability of the steering angle, especially in conditions that require fine control, such as slippery roads, without losing the benefits of gear ratio variability or reducing the reproducibility of vehicle behavior.
Innovation Solution
An information presentation device that includes a vibration waveform generator, vibrator, and gain adjusters to increase sound pressure and tactile feedback in accordance with the steering operation, using Pacini's corpuscles for sensitivity in the 100-400 Hz frequency band, and adjusting output gain based on tire pressure and visibility to ensure the occupant's predictability and control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a slow gear ratio is set in the low-speed region, then steering resolution is improved for slippery roads, but the merit of variable gear ratio (ease of handling) is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic adjustment of tactile feedback characteristics based on driving conditions and steering state. The tactile output device adapts its output in real-time, providing stronger feedback cues when fine resolution is needed (slippery roads) and softer feedback when ease of handling is prioritized (normal conditions), thus resolving the contradiction between precision and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameters of tactile feedback (intensity, frequency, pattern) based on steering gear ratio and driving conditions. By dynamically adjusting these parameters, the system provides appropriate tactile guidance for both quick and slow gear ratios, maintaining ease of handling while ensuring sufficient steering resolution when needed.
2Adaptability or versatility
If gear ratio is changed flexibly according to vehicle behavior, then adaptability is improved, but reproducibility of vehicle behavior by steering angle is lowered causing driver anxiety
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs feedback mechanisms where the tactile output device communicates vehicle behavior and steering state back to the driver. This feedback loop allows the driver to understand the relationship between steering input and vehicle response even when gear ratio changes occur, maintaining reproducibility and reducing anxiety while preserving adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent provides preliminary tactile warnings or cues before gear ratio changes occur or when vehicle behavior may change. This allows the driver to anticipate and prepare for changes in steering characteristics, maintaining a sense of control and reproducibility while enabling flexible gear ratio adjustment.
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
Enhances the occupant's predictability and controllability of vehicle behavior by providing finer resolution of steering angle recognition, reducing anxiety, and ensuring ease of driving in variable gear ratio conditions.
Implementation Method 1
the vibration waveform has a frequency in a frequency band of 100 to 400 Hz, and the skin sensation by which the occupant perceives the sound is generated using Pacini's corpuscles
Data Source
AI summary
An information presentation device is configured to be provided in a vehicle including a steering device that steers a wheel and has a variable steering gear ratio. The information presentation device includes: an amount-of-steering-operation detector configured to detect an amount of a steering operation by a driver; a steering gear ratio detector 10 configured to detect the steering gear ratio; a vibration waveform generator configured to generate a vibration waveform; a vibrator configured to cause vibration of one or both of the air around an occupant and a member in contact with the occupant, using the vibration waveform; and a gain adjuster configured to increase an output gain of the vibration waveform in accordance with an increase in an absolute value of a differential value of a value obtained by multiplying the amount of the steering operation by a reciprocal of the steering gear ratio.