Steering Wheel Temperature Display Using LED Grip Indicators
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional steering wheel heaters do not allow drivers to visually confirm whether the temperature is suitable for gripping, lacking convenience in low-temperature environments.
Innovation Solution
A display device with a display unit and control unit on the steering wheel that adjusts its display mode based on the temperature, using LED bars to indicate the current temperature through color, area, and pattern changes, and includes a grip sensor to stop display when the wheel is gripped.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a display device is added to show steering wheel temperature, then driver convenience and visual confirmation are improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the temperature display function with the existing steering wheel heater control system. The display unit is integrated into the heater control assembly, and the same temperature sensor serves both heating control and display purposes. This merging approach adds the display capability without requiring a completely separate system, thus improving driver convenience while limiting the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The temperature sensor in the steering wheel heater system is made multi-functional by using it for both heating control and temperature display. The display unit can show temperature information to the driver while the heater control unit uses the same sensor data to regulate heating. This universal usage of components adds the display function without proportionally increasing system complexity.
2Illumination intensity
If LED bars are used to display temperature information, then visual recognition is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The LED bars are controlled to illuminate periodically or intermittently rather than continuously. The display can be activated only when the driver approaches or grips the steering wheel, or when temperature changes occur. This periodic action maintains good visual recognition when needed while significantly reducing overall energy consumption compared to continuous illumination.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of illuminating the entire steering wheel or large areas, the patent uses localized LED bars at specific positions on the steering wheel. Only the necessary display areas are illuminated with light, providing sufficient temperature information to the driver while minimizing energy consumption. The light emission is concentrated in specific local regions rather than distributed broadly.
3Loss of information
If the display operates continuously to show temperature, then information availability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The display unit operates periodically based on trigger conditions such as driver approach detection, grip detection, or temperature changes. Instead of continuous operation, the display activates only when information is needed or when temperature status changes, maintaining information availability when relevant while reducing overall power consumption during non-critical periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The display system can automatically activate based on sensor inputs without requiring continuous power supply. When the temperature sensor detects a change or when grip sensors detect driver presence, the display self-activates to show temperature information. This self-service approach ensures information is available when needed while minimizing power consumption during idle periods.
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 drivers to intuitively recognize the steering wheel's temperature, saving power by stopping display when gripped, and reducing costs by using a single temperature sensor for both wheel and heater control.
Implementation Method 1
using LED bars to indicate the current temperature through color, area, and pattern changes
Implementation Method 2
includes a grip sensor to stop display when the wheel is gripped
Data Source
AI summary
A display device according to the present disclosure includes a display unit and a control unit. The display unit is disposed on an operation unit of a steering device. The control unit is electrically connected to the display unit, and controls a display mode of the display unit according to a temperature of the operation unit.