Steering Wheel Capacitive Sensor With Multi-Zone Touch Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing steering device sensors, such as capacitive steering wheel sensors, face challenges in accurately and robustly detecting control gestures due to limited installation space and increased costs associated with multiple sensors, which affects their reliability and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A capacitive steering device sensor with an electrically insulating support and a single electrical conductor forming multiple measuring zones of varying sensitivity, allowing for reliable detection of control gestures with reduced installation space requirements and cost-effectiveness, where the measuring zones are designed to produce distinct output signals based on touch or approach, enabling precise location determination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple sensors are used to detect control gestures, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and installation space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The single electrical conductor is segmented into multiple measuring zones along its length, each with different measuring sensitivity. This segmentation allows the sensor to detect control gestures at multiple locations using only one physical sensor component, achieving the detection accuracy of multiple sensors without the corresponding increase in device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
Different sections of the electrical conductor are assigned different measuring sensitivities based on their position along the conductor. This local differentiation of quality enables the single sensor to provide location-specific detection capabilities, resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and device complexity
2Measurement precision
If multiple sensors are used to detect control gestures, then measurement precision is improved, but installation space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple sensing functions are merged into a single electrical conductor by creating multiple measuring zones along its length. This combining approach achieves the measurement precision of multiple separate sensors while occupying the space of only one sensor component, directly resolving the contradiction between detection accuracy and installation space requirements
3Reliability
If multiple sensors are used to detect control gestures, then detection reliability is improved, but costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The single electrical conductor is designed to perform multiple sensing functions simultaneously through its different measuring zones with varying sensitivities. This multi-functionality allows one universal sensor component to replace multiple specialized sensors, improving detection reliability while avoiding the cost and complexity increases associated with multiple separate sensors
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
The solution enables reliable and cost-effective detection of control gestures with improved spatial resolution and reduced complexity, allowing for accurate determination of touch location along the steering device sensor, enhancing the robustness and efficiency of the sensor system.
Implementation Method 1
the conductor on the support forms multiple measuring zones of different measuring sensitivity... when designed as a capacitive steering device sensor for approach or touch sensing
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a steering device sensor comprising an electrically insulating support, which can be integrated in a steering device for a vehicle, and an electric conductor, which is connected to the support, characterised in that the conductor forms multiple measurement zones of different measuring sensitivity on the support. The invention also relates to a measurement system comprising two steering device sensors. The invention also relates to an operator control system using a measurement system comprising two steering device sensors. The measurement system and the operator control system can be used in a steering device such as a steering wheel.