Steering Wheel Display Lighting for Automated Driving Mode Awareness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current automated driving systems inadequately display automation status on the steering wheel, leading to suboptimal driver awareness and reaction times, as information is typically shown remotely in the instrument cluster or HUD rather than directly on the steering wheel.
Innovation Solution
A driving system with a steering wheel display featuring lighting means that differentiate between various automation modes through color, area, intensity, and pattern, providing intuitive feedback directly on the steering wheel, including a hands-on request feature using capacitive sensors to detect hand presence.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If automation status is displayed in the instrument cluster or HUD, then information can be shown, but driver awareness and reaction time are reduced due to remote location
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by displaying automation status information directly on the steering wheel at the location where the driver naturally focuses attention during operation. Different regions of the steering wheel display different information (automation status, hands-on requests, takeover requests) so that critical information is presented locally where the driver's hands and eyes are already positioned, eliminating the need to shift attention to distant instrument clusters or HUDs.
2Loss of information
If multiple automation modes are displayed with detailed information, then driver awareness is improved, but the display complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the steering wheel display into multiple independent display regions, each responsible for showing specific types of information (automation status, hands-on requests, takeover requests). This segmentation allows complex information to be distributed across different zones of the steering wheel, making the overall system manageable while providing comprehensive information coverage without overwhelming complexity in any single display element.
Solution Approach 2:
The display system dynamically adapts its content and characteristics based on the current automation mode and driving situation. Different automation modes trigger different display patterns, colors, and information priorities on the steering wheel, allowing the system to present only relevant information at any given moment rather than displaying all possible information simultaneously, thus reducing perceived complexity while maintaining information availability.
3Loss of information
If the steering wheel display uses multiple lighting states to indicate different automation modes, then information differentiation is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs color changes in the steering wheel display to differentiate between various automation modes and system states. Different colors or color intensities indicate different levels of automation engagement, hands-on requirements, or takeover requests. This use of color coding provides intuitive visual differentiation that is easily perceived by the driver without requiring complex display mechanisms, as color variation can be achieved through relatively simple lighting technology.
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 driver awareness and reaction speed by providing intuitive, localized feedback on the steering wheel about automation modes and hand presence, improving safety and usability in automated driving scenarios.
Implementation Method 1
including a hands-on request feature using capacitive sensors to detect hand presence
Data Source
AI summary
A driving system is operatable at least in a first automated driving mode with automated longitudinal and/or lateral control, and in a different second automated driving mode with automated longitudinal and/or lateral control. The driving system has a steering wheel display with luminous elements for illuminating the steering wheel, which can be operated in different illumination states that are distinguishable by the driver. The luminous elements may illuminate the steering wheel rim, and are typically integrated into the steering wheel rim. The driving system specifies which illumination state of the different illumination states the steering wheel display has. The driving system specifies that, during operation of the driving system in the first driving mode, the steering wheel display is illuminated in a first illumination state. During operation of the driving system in the second driving mode, the steering wheel display is illuminated in a second illumination state that can be distinguished from the first illumination state by the driver.