Steering Wheel Light Gesture Controls for Eyes-On-Road Operation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle interfaces, such as steering wheels, require drivers to take their hands off the wheel and eyes off the road to navigate complex menus and controls, posing safety and convenience issues.
Innovation Solution
A light-based touch control system integrated into the steering wheel, utilizing an array of light emitters and detectors to detect gestures and objects within a cavity, allowing drivers to control entertainment and navigation systems without physically interacting with buttons, using multiple detection zones and sensors to interpret hand movements and gestures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional button controls are mounted on the steering wheel, then drivers can control vehicle functions without taking hands off the wheel, but drivers must still take eyes off the road to navigate complex menus
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical button controls with a light-based optical detection system. Arrays of light emitters and detectors create detection zones that sense hand gestures and object positions without physical contact, eliminating the need for complex menu navigation buttons while maintaining steering wheel control accessibility
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces light beams as an intermediary between the driver's hand and the control system. The light-based detection zones act as a mediator that translates hand gestures into control commands, allowing drivers to operate vehicle functions through intuitive gestures without visual attention to screens or menus
2Adaptability or versatility
If touch screen menus are used on the dashboard, then comprehensive control of vehicle functions is achieved, but drivers must divert visual attention from the road to navigate menus
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces visual touch screen interfaces with a light-based gesture recognition system. Arrays of light detectors create detection zones that interpret hand gestures and object positions, providing comprehensive vehicle control functionality through intuitive physical gestures rather than visual menu navigation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from two-dimensional touch screen interaction to three-dimensional spatial gesture recognition. The light-based detection zones capture hand position, movement direction, and gesture type in 3D space, enabling versatile control functionality through natural hand movements without visual attention
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple buttons and controls are added to the steering wheel, then more vehicle functions can be controlled, but the device complexity and difficulty of operation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal light-based detection system that can interpret multiple different hand gestures and object positions to control various vehicle functions. The same array of light emitters and detectors serves multiple control purposes, eliminating the need for separate buttons for each function while maintaining comprehensive control capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses light beams as informational copies of hand gestures and object positions. The light-based detection zones create optical representations of physical interactions, translating hand movements into control commands without requiring physical buttons or switches for each function
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 safe and convenient operation of vehicle systems by allowing drivers to control functions like volume, phone calls, navigation, and other settings through intuitive gestures while keeping their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road, enhancing user experience and safety.
Implementation Method 1
an array of light emitters connected to a processor that project light beams across the cavity and an array of light detectors connected to the processor that detect the projected light beams
Data Source
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AI summary
A system for use in a vehicle, comprising: a steering element (400) situated opposite a driver seat in a vehicle, wherein a hollow cavity (501, 510) extends through the steering element from the driver-facing side of the steering element to the side of the steering element opposite the driver-facing side, the steering element comprising: an array of light emitters (104, 106 - 108) that project near-infrared light beams (606 - 608) across the cavity; and an array of light detectors (204) that detect the near-infrared light beams projected by said light emitters; and a processor housed in the vehicle, connected with said light emitters and with said light detectors, that detects an object inserted in the cavity, the object interrupting the near-infrared light beams projected by said light emitters, and controls functions of the vehicle in response to detection of the object inside the cavity.