Steering Wheel Heating Zones with Capacitive Hand Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle steering wheel heating systems consume excessive energy as they heat the entire rim, which is inefficient, particularly for electric vehicles.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle steering wheel with multiple heating zones featuring conductive circuitry that functions as both a capacitive sensor and a heater, controlled by a controller to selectively heat only the zones where the driver's hand is detected, reducing energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the entire steering wheel rim is heated with a heater mat, then the heating coverage is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The steering wheel rim is divided into multiple heating zones, each with independent heating elements. This allows selective activation of only the zones where the driver's hand is detected, rather than heating the entire rim. The segmentation enables localized heating that reduces energy consumption while maintaining adequate heating coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
Different zones of the steering wheel rim are heated based on local needs detected by capacitive sensors. The system adjusts heating characteristics (activation, intensity, duration) according to the specific location and presence of the driver's hand, providing locally optimized heating rather than uniform heating across the entire rim.
2Use of energy by stationary object
If multiple heating zones with sensors are implemented, then energy efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The capacitive sensor circuitry and heating circuitry are merged into a single integrated system where the same conductive elements serve dual purposes. The sensor and heater share common electrical pathways and control logic, reducing the need for separate components and minimizing overall system complexity despite the advanced functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The conductive circuitry in each heating zone is designed to perform multiple functions: it operates as a capacitive sensor to detect the driver's hand and as a heating element to provide thermal comfort. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate sensor and heater components, thereby reducing device complexity while achieving energy efficiency.
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 allows for targeted heating, minimizing energy usage by only heating the portion of the steering wheel in contact with the driver's hand, thereby conserving energy in electric vehicles and improving efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a capacitive sensor for sensing location of a user's hand on the steering wheel
Implementation Method 2
The heater, typically in the form of an electric heater mat, generally extends over a substantial portion of the steering wheel rim such that a substantial portion of the steering wheel rim is heated when the heater is activated
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle steering wheel is provided that includes a rim having a core structure, a plurality of heating zones surrounding at least a portion of the core structure, each heating zone having conductive circuitry to define a heater and a capacitive sensor for sensing location of a user's hand on the steering wheel, and a controller controlling the conductive circuitry in each heating zone to operate as the capacitive sensor to sense a presence of the user's hand in at least one heating zone and to switch to operate as the heater to heat the at least one heating zone when the hand is sensed in the at least one heating zone.