Steering Wheel Touch Activation for Hill Descent Control Access

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Solution Overview

Problem

The overcrowding of controls near the steering wheel in motor vehicles, particularly due to the inclusion of less frequently used functions like hill descent control, leads to driver disorientation and reduces aesthetic appeal, necessitating an improved allocation of controls based on frequency of use.

Innovation Solution

A motor vehicle system where the hill descent control function is enabled through a dedicated user interface separate from the steering wheel, allowing activation only via a touch-sensitive portion on the steering wheel screen, ensuring the function is accessible only when needed and maintaining a clean aesthetic.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the hill descent control function is added to the steering wheel controls, then the function becomes easily accessible to the driver, but the steering wheel area becomes overcrowded and less aesthetically pleasing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccessibility of hill descent controlVSAvoidcontrol overcrowding on steering wheel

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The hill descent control activation button is extracted from the steering wheel control cluster and placed on the center console instead. This separation removes the less frequently used hill descent control from the primary steering wheel interface, maintaining a clean and minimalistic steering wheel design while still providing easy access to the function through the center console location.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Ease of operation

If multiple controls are placed near the steering wheel for frequent access, then frequently used functions are easily operable, but the steering wheel area becomes cluttered and causes driver disorientation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccessibility of frequently used functionsVSAvoiddriver orientation and aesthetic clarity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

Different control functions are assigned to different locations based on their usage characteristics. Frequently used controls remain on the steering wheel for immediate access, while less frequently used controls like hill descent control are placed on the center console. This spatial differentiation creates local quality variations in control accessibility, optimizing the interface for both aesthetic clarity and functional ease of use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP4613593A1Motor vehicle with hill descent control function which can be enabled by a dedicated command and enablement process of the hill descent control function

Publication Date: 2025.09.10 FERRARI SPA

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AI summary

A motor vehicle (1) includes a steering wheel (6) comprising a touch-sensitive portion (10), a user interface (13) comprising a control device (14) for triggering an enablement of a hill descent control function, and a control unit (ECU) coupled to the steering wheel (6) and to the user interface (13) as well as configured to detect the enablement of the hill descent control function by the control device (14) and to start the hill descent control function in response to a touch on the touch-sensitive portion (10) by a driver of the motor vehicle (1), provided that the hill descent control function is enabled.