Steering Wheel Input Direction Adaptation for Driving Operability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional input devices with touch sensors on vehicle steering wheels do not effectively improve operability during driving, as they do not adapt to the arrangement of element images on the display, leading to inconsistent and complex operation inputs.
Innovation Solution
An input apparatus that includes an operation detecting unit, an operation input direction recognizing unit, and an operation input direction control unit, which detects and recognizes the direction of operation inputs corresponding to the arrangement of element images on the display, and adjusts the operation input direction accordingly to enhance operability during driving.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the operation receiving apparatus selects between predetermined first selection candidates and second selection candidates based on vehicle state, then the operation can be simplified for driving conditions, but the system becomes incompatible with arbitrary pre-generated images and may not always improve operability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the operation input direction adaptable and changeable based on the actual arrangement of element images on the display. The system dynamically adjusts the recognized operation input direction to match the current image layout, allowing it to work with any arbitrary image while maintaining ease of operation during driving.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of operation input direction recognition based on the arrangement characteristics of element images. By analyzing the spatial parameters of how element images are arranged and adjusting the recognized input direction accordingly, the system maintains compatibility with arbitrary images while simplifying operations during driving.
2Ease of operation
If the selection candidate is changed regardless of the property of the image, then the operation can be adapted to different vehicle states, but the operability may not be always improved for the operator
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by analyzing the actual arrangement of element images on the display and using this information to adjust the recognized operation input direction. The system continuously monitors the image properties and feedback from the display arrangement, then adapts the direction recognition accordingly, ensuring that operability improvements are consistent and reliable across different image types.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the operation input direction recognition based on real-time analysis of element image arrangements. This dynamic adaptation ensures that the operation method remains reliable and consistently improves operability regardless of the specific image properties or vehicle state, as it responds to actual display conditions rather than following fixed rules.
3Device complexity
If the operation input direction is not aligned with the arrangement of element images, then the input device can maintain a fixed operation mode, but the operation transitions between areas related to element images become disturbed and operability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making the operation input direction recognition specific to the local arrangement characteristics of element images. Instead of using a single fixed operation mode for the entire display, the system analyzes the local spatial arrangement of element images and adjusts the recognized input direction to match that specific local configuration, enabling smooth transitions while maintaining operational consistency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the recognized operation input direction based on the arrangement of element images while maintaining overall operational consistency. The direction recognition adapts to different image layouts without requiring fundamental changes to the operation mode, thus maintaining device complexity at an acceptable level while improving operational smoothness.
Data Source
AI summary
An operation detecting unit detects an operation input direction to an operation input unit attached to a steering wheel, and when an operation input direction recognizing unit recognizes that a vehicle is running, the operation input direction detected by the operation detecting unit is recognized to be a direction corresponding to an arrangement of element images constituting a part of an image to be displayed on an image display unit. Moreover, an operation input direction control unit uses the direction recognized by the operation input direction recognizing unit as the operation input direction related to at least any one of the element images.