Steering Wheel Touch Input System for Driver Distraction Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing use of smartphones by drivers while driving leads to distraction and potential accidents, as they often fail to hold the steering wheel, compromising vehicle control.
Innovation Solution
A steering wheel design incorporating a touch input system where the rim serves as a touch input part, equipped with sensor electrodes and a controller to detect touch inputs and set up touch areas for controlling vehicle components, allowing drivers to manage vehicle functions without releasing the wheel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a touch input part is arranged on the steering wheel, then driver convenience is improved and distraction is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rim of the steering wheel is designed to serve dual functions: maintaining its primary steering function while simultaneously acting as a touch input part. The sensor electrode is integrated into the rim structure, allowing the same component to detect touch inputs without adding separate dedicated touch input devices, thereby improving driver convenience while minimizing increases in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor electrode is merged with the rim structure of the steering wheel. Instead of adding a separate touch input device, the sensor electrode is integrated directly into the rim, combining the structural component with the sensing function. This merging reduces the number of separate components and simplifies the overall system while enabling touch input functionality.
2Ease of operation
If the rim is used as a touch input part, then driver distraction is reduced by enabling control while holding the wheel, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor electrode is arranged only at specific locations on the rim where touch inputs are most needed, rather than covering the entire rim or adding complex sensing systems throughout. This localized approach allows the rim to maintain its original manufacturing processes for the majority of its structure while adding sensing capability only where required, thus improving driver convenience without significantly increasing manufacturing complexity.
3Measurement precision
If multiple sensor electrodes are arranged on the rim, then touch input detection accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rim is divided into multiple sensing zones with individual sensor electrodes arranged at different locations. Each sensor electrode detects touch inputs in its specific zone, and the controller determines the touch location based on which sensor electrode receives the input. This segmentation approach improves touch input detection accuracy by providing spatial resolution without requiring a single complex sensing system covering the entire rim.
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 convenience and reduces distractions by enabling hands-free control of vehicle components, thereby improving safety by ensuring the driver maintains control of the steering wheel during operation.
Implementation Method 1
a sensor electrode arranged on the base and configured to receive a driver's touch input; a sensor integrated circuit (IC) electrically connected to the sensor electrode and configured to detect an amount of change in capacitance of the sensor electrode
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a steering wheel. The steering wheel includes a wheel frame; a base coupled to cover the wheel frame; a sensor electrode arranged on the base and configured to receive a driver's touch input; and a controller configured to set up a touch area for manipulation to control components of a vehicle based on a touch area of the sensor electrode having received the touch input.