Steering Wheel Gesture Interface Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motor vehicle user interfaces require drivers to visually locate and manually switch between different components, leading to distraction and inefficiency, especially in noisy environments and when switching between multiple interfaces.
Innovation Solution
A motor vehicle system that uses an optical detection device to recognize a single, predetermined alternating gesture, allowing seamless switching between user interfaces without visual attention, using a carousel-like sequence for quick access to navigation, media playback, and telephony functions, with confirmation announcements to maintain focus on the road.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If dedicated keys are used to switch between user interfaces, then component selection is reliable, but driver distraction increases due to visual searching
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical button pressing with optical gesture recognition. A detection device captures images of the steering wheel, and a recognition device identifies specific gesture patterns (such as rotating the steering wheel a certain number of times or pressing it in specific directions) to switch between user interfaces. This eliminates the need for visual searching while maintaining reliable component selection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary system consisting of the detection device, recognition device, and control device. The detection device monitors steering wheel gestures, the recognition device interprets these gestures as interface switching commands, and the control device executes the interface changes. This intermediary layer allows the driver to interact with the system through natural steering wheel movements without visual attention.
2Ease of operation
If voice control is used for component selection, then hands-free operation is achieved, but recognition fails in noisy environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes voice-based acoustic control with optical gesture recognition. Instead of relying on voice commands that fail in noisy environments, the system uses a detection device with an image sensor to capture visual information about steering wheel gestures. The recognition device processes these visual data to identify specific gesture patterns, providing reliable hands-free control independent of acoustic conditions.
3Ease of operation
If multiple dedicated buttons are provided for each component, then component access is direct, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the steering wheel a multi-functional control device. Instead of having separate dedicated buttons for each component (navigation, media, telephone), the steering wheel is equipped with a detection device that can recognize multiple different gesture patterns. Each gesture pattern corresponds to a different function or interface switching command, allowing a single universal control device to replace multiple specialized buttons.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple control functions into the steering wheel. The detection device, recognition device, and control device are integrated into the steering wheel system, combining navigation control, media playback control, and interface switching capabilities into one unified control interface. This reduces the number of separate control elements while maintaining comprehensive functionality.
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
Enables drivers to switch between user interfaces quickly and reliably with minimal distraction, maintaining attention on the road while allowing easy access to frequently used functions like navigation, media, and telephony with a single gesture, reducing the need for visual searching and minimizing the complexity of button operations.
Implementation Method 1
detection device which is designed to optically detect an operating gesture performed by a user
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The invention relates to a motor vehicle (10) with an operating device (16) for operating at least two different components (18, 20, 22) of the motor vehicle (10), wherein the operating device (16) comprises a display device (D) and is designed to display a graphical user interface (18', 20', 22') on the display device (24) for each of the components (18, 20, 22), wherein only one of the user interfaces (18', 20', 22') is active at any given time. A detection device (14) is designed to optically detect an operating gesture performed by a user with the hand (32) and to recognize whether the user is performing a single, predetermined switching gesture (42), and upon detection of the switching gesture (42) to transmit a switching signal (S) to the operating device (16).The operating device (16) is designed to cyclically switch from the currently active user interface (18') to the next user interface (20') in the switching sequence (30) and activate it upon receiving the switching signal (S) according to a predetermined switching sequence (30).