Steering Wheel Capacitive Controller for Gesture-Based GUI Selection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing in-car technologies often distract drivers by requiring them to navigate complex menus or switch between controls, diverting attention from safe vehicle operation.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of capacitive controllers on the steering wheel allows drivers to scroll through and select application functions with one hand and a single finger, maintaining focus on driving while interacting with in-car systems.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If traditional in-car control interfaces are used, then drivers can access various functions, but driver distraction increases and attention to safe operation decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of function selectionVSAvoiddriver distraction

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the control interface from the traditional center console or dashboard location and places it directly on the steering wheel. This allows drivers to access functions without removing hands from the wheel, eliminating the distraction of reaching for separate controls while maintaining full functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The capacitive controller acts as an intermediary between the driver and the vehicle's infotainment system. It provides a simplified touch interface that mediates complex menu navigation, allowing drivers to select functions through intuitive gestures without dealing with complicated control sequences.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If complex menu navigation is required, then comprehensive control is achieved, but operation time increases and productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefunction control capabilityVSAvoidtime to select function

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The control interface is segmented into distinct functional zones on the steering wheel, with each zone corresponding to specific functions or categories. This segmentation allows drivers to quickly locate and access desired functions without navigating through comprehensive menus, reducing selection time while maintaining adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system prepares and pre-organizes function categories and frequently used options in easily accessible locations on the steering wheel interface. Common functions are positioned for immediate access, eliminating the need for time-consuming menu navigation while preserving comprehensive control capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If hands are removed from the steering wheel to operate controls, then full interaction with the system is possible, but safety decreases due to reduced wheel control

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem interaction capabilityVSAvoidvehicle control safety

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the control interface with the steering wheel structure itself, integrating touch-sensitive controls directly into the wheel. This allows drivers to interact with the system using fingers while keeping hands positioned on the wheel, simultaneously maintaining both full system interaction capability and continuous vehicle control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The capacitive controller detects finger proximity and touch gestures without requiring physical contact or hand removal. The interface serves itself by interpreting subtle finger movements over the wheel surface, enabling full interaction capability while hands remain positioned for safe steering.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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 reduces driver distraction, enhances safety by keeping hands on the wheel, and allows for effortless interaction with frequently used functions like media, navigation, and phone services.

Implementation Method 1

a capacitive controller positioned on a steering wheel of the vehicle

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapacitance: Capacitance

Data Source

PatentUS20250147653A1Steering wheel capacitive control

Publication Date: 2025.05.08 ATIEVA INC(US)

AI summary

This disclosure provides systems, devices, apparatus, and methods, including computer programs encoded on storage media, for activating a function by selecting a graphical user interface (GUI) element on a screen of a vehicle using a capacitive controller. In some implementations, the method can include detecting an active selection of a first GUI element on the screen of the vehicle selectable using the capacitive controller positioned on a steering wheel of the vehicle. In addition, the method can include detecting a movement of a finger of a driver in the vehicle across the capacitive controller on the steering wheel of the vehicle. The method can further include determining a direction of the movement of the finger. The method can additionally include automatically moving the active selection to a second selectable GUI element on the screen based on the direction of the movement of the finger.