Steering Wheel Haptic Feedback for Peripheral Vehicle Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional vehicles rely on visual cues for recognizing peripheral objects, which can be distracting and unsafe during operations like lane changes, as they do not provide direct feedback on the presence or absence of other vehicles without looking away from the road.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle equipped with a steering wheel featuring tactile sensation presentation units that vibrate based on detection by an other-vehicle-detector, providing haptic feedback to the driver about the presence or absence of nearby vehicles, allowing safer lane changes without visual confirmation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If visual cues are used for recognizing peripheral objects, then object recognition capability is improved, but driving safety deteriorates due to distraction and inability to maintain focus on the road

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveperipheral object recognitionVSAvoiddriving safety

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the visual system (eyes looking at displays or mirrors) with a tactile system (haptic feedback on the steering wheel). The tactile sensation presentation unit vibrates the steering wheel to convey information about peripheral objects, allowing the driver to receive object recognition information through touch rather than sight, thus maintaining focus on the road while still obtaining peripheral awareness information

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The steering wheel acts as an intermediary device that the driver is already in contact with during normal operation. By embedding tactile sensation presentation units in the steering wheel, the system uses an existing interface (the steering wheel that the driver is already touching) to deliver peripheral object information, eliminating the need for the driver to shift attention to separate visual displays

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of information

If visual displays are used to show peripheral images, then information presentation is improved, but driver attention is diverted from the road ahead

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveperipheral information feedbackVSAvoiddriver focus on road

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent substitutes visual information delivery with tactile information delivery. Instead of presenting peripheral images through visual displays that require the driver to look away from the road, the system uses vibration patterns on the steering wheel to convey the same information through the driver's sense of touch, allowing continuous visual attention on the road while receiving peripheral information feedback

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If tactile feedback is added to the steering wheel, then driving safety is improved through non-visual feedback, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedriving safetyVSAvoidsteering wheel structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The steering wheel is designed to serve multiple functions: its original steering function plus the new function of presenting tactile sensations for peripheral object recognition. By integrating the tactile sensation presentation units into the existing steering wheel structure, the system avoids adding separate dedicated devices and instead makes the steering wheel a multi-functional interface that combines mechanical control with information presentation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the information presentation function with the existing steering wheel structure. The tactile sensation presentation units are integrated into the steering wheel, combining the control interface and the feedback interface into a single unified device, thereby reducing overall system complexity compared to having separate visual displays and control mechanisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

Enhances driving safety by enabling drivers to recognize the presence or absence of other vehicles through tactile sensations, reducing the need for frequent visual checks and allowing focus on the road ahead during lane changes.

Implementation Method 1

The tactile sensation presentation unit is for presenting a tactile sensation to an operator by vibrating the steering switch

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVibration: Vibration

Implementation Method 2

an other-vehicle-detector, which is for detecting another vehicle

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRadar: Radar

Data Source

PatentUS11608102B2Vehicle and in-vehicle control method

Publication Date: 2023.03.21 KYOCERA CORP

AI summary

A vehicle comprising a steering wheel; a steering switch disposed on the steering wheel; an other-vehicle-detector for detecting another vehicle; a tactile sensation presentation unit for presenting a tactile sensation to an operator by vibrating the steering switch; and a controller configured to, according to detection by the other-vehicle-detector, cause the tactile sensation presentation unit to vibrate the steering switch to present a tactile sensation to the operator.