Steering Wheel Grip Touch Sensor Control for Accidental Input Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing steering wheel operation systems require drivers to remove their hands from the grip to operate onboard equipment, which can be inconvenient and may lead to accidental operation of switches on the circular portion, compromising safety during normal driving.
Innovation Solution
A control apparatus with touch sensors mounted on the steering wheel's grip portion, allowing drivers to perform specific input operations without removing their hands, using dynamically set areas for grip detection, operation input, and invalid zones to prevent unintended interactions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If operation switches are located on the circular portion of the steering wheel, then the driver can operate the switches without removing hands from the grip, but the switches may cause adverse effects on the driver and are not preferable to be located on the gripping area
Solution Approach 1:
The circular portion of the steering wheel is divided into multiple detection areas: a first detection area for detecting grip state, a second detection area for detecting operation input, and a third detection area for invalid operations. This segmentation allows the system to distinguish between intentional operation and accidental contact, enabling switches to be placed on the circular portion without adverse effects on the driver.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If operation switches are located on the connection area between the circular portion and center portion, then the switches are positioned away from the grip area, but the driver is required to remove or widely slide hands from the circular portion to operate the switches
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from traditional mechanical switches to a touch sensor-based system that utilizes the surface area of the circular portion. By detecting touch patterns, pressure, and duration in different areas, the system enables operation without requiring hand removal or wide sliding, thus improving ease of operation while avoiding adverse effects.
3Ease of operation
If touch sensors are mounted on the grip portion for operation, then the driver can control devices without removing hands, but accidental operation may occur during normal driving when hands are simply gripping the wheel
Solution Approach 1:
Different areas of the touch sensor are assigned different functions: the first detection area detects grip state, the second detection area detects operation input, and the third detection area is set as invalid. This local quality differentiation ensures that only intentional operations in the second area trigger device control, while accidental contacts in the third area are ignored, thus maintaining reliability while improving ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides feedback by detecting the state of the first area (grip detection) and using it to determine whether to respond to inputs in the second area. When grip is detected, operation inputs are enabled; when only gripping without operation intent is detected, inputs are ignored. This feedback mechanism prevents accidental operation while allowing convenient control.
Data Source
AI summary
A setting unit dynamically sets a first area and a second area on a touch sensor mounted on a grip portion that a driver grips on a steering wheel. A first detector is configured to detect a state where a first area in a touch sensor mounted on a grip portion that a driver grips on a steering wheel is touched. A second detector is configured to detect a state where a particular input operation is performed on a second area located on the upper side of the first area in the touch sensor. A controller is configured to control an operation target device to be operated with the touch sensor according to the particular input operation when the first detector detects the state where the first area is touched and the second detector detects the state where the particular input operation is performed.