Steering Wheel Contact Position Detection Using RC Conductor Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for detecting contact with a steering wheel struggle to precisely locate the position of contact, requiring additional components and increasing installation effort, beyond mere contact detection.
Innovation Solution
A method involving an alternating voltage applied to a conductor arrangement with significant ohmic resistance, allowing for the determination of current profile, resistance components, capacitance, and phase shift to evaluate the position of contact, enabling precise position determination and gesture analysis using a minimal number of components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If additional lines and components are used for location determination, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies multi-functionality by enabling a single conductor arrangement to perform both contact detection and contact location determination. The evaluation device analyzes multiple parameters (capacitance, resistance, phase angle) from the same conductor arrangement to derive both whether contact exists and where contact occurs, eliminating the need for separate sensor lines for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes by measuring multiple electrical parameters (capacitance, resistance, phase angle) from the conductor arrangement under different conditions (contact vs. no contact, different contact positions). By analyzing how these parameters change, the system determines both contact presence and contact location without adding physical sensors.
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional capacitive sensors are used for contact detection, then ease of manufacture is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The conductor arrangement serves multiple functions: it acts as both a signal conductor and a capacitive sensor. The evaluation device extracts both contact detection signals and location information from the same conductor, making the existing conductor arrangement universal for both purposes without requiring separate sensor components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces physical sensor components with electrical measurement methods. Instead of using separate capacitive sensors or mechanical switches for location detection, the system uses electrical parameter analysis (phase angle, capacitance, resistance) of the conductor arrangement to determine contact position, substituting mechanical/sensor-based detection with field-based measurement.
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 approach allows for accurate and efficient detection of contact position and movement patterns, reducing installation complexity and cost, while enabling continuous monitoring and versatile function triggering.
Implementation Method 1
determining the capacitance or the change in capacitance of the conductor arrangement
Implementation Method 2
at least one conductor line of the conductor arrangement has an appreciable ohmic resistance in comparison to, for example, a conventional copper wire line
Implementation Method 3
determining the phase shift (phase angle)
Data Source
AI summary
A method for detecting contact with a manually activated steering or control device, in particular a vehicle steering wheel, comprises the following steps: applying an alternating voltage to at least one conductor arrangement (10) which is arranged on the steering or control device, and has at least one conductor line with a significant ohmic resistance; determining the current profile in the conductor arrangement (10); determining the real component and the virtual component of the instantaneous alternating current resistance of the conductor arrangement (10); determining the capacitance or the change in capacitance of the conductor arrangement (10); determining the phase shift; and evaluating the determined values. A device for carrying out the method comprises a steering or control device, in particular a vehicle steering wheel, a conductor arrangement (10) which is arranged on the steering or control device and which has at least one conductor line with a significant ohmic resistance, and a control and evaluation device which is configured to apply an alternating voltage to the conductor arrangement (10), to measure the current profile in the conductor arrangement (10) and to evaluate the determined values.