Steering Wheel Vibrator Tactile Feedback Energy Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional information presentation devices for vehicles, which use vibrators to transmit tactile stimuli to the thigh and back, require high intensity vibrations due to low sensitivity in these areas, leading to increased energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
An information presentation device that incorporates vibrators into a steering wheel, allowing for controlled vibration patterns and intensities to be transmitted directly to the operator's hands, using a controller to generate frequency-modulated, amplitude-modulated, and time-phase controlled drive signals to accurately convey information with reduced energy usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If vibrators are arranged on the seat surface to transmit tactile stimuli to the thigh and back, then information can be presented to the operator, but the stimulus intensity must be increased to overcome low sensitivity, leading to increased energy consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by selecting specific body parts (fingertips, palms, or back of hand) with higher tactile sensitivity for vibration transmission. The controller selectively activates vibrators corresponding to these sensitive areas, allowing effective information transmission with lower vibration intensity compared to using less sensitive areas like the thigh or back.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of vibration transmission location from low-sensitivity areas (thigh, back) to high-sensitivity areas (fingertips, palms, back of hand). This parameter change in transmission location enables effective tactile feedback with reduced vibration intensity and energy consumption.
2Loss of information
If high vibration intensity is used to transmit tactile stimuli to low-sensitivity areas, then information can be securely transmitted, but the amount of energy consumed increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system exploits the local quality difference in tactile sensitivity across body parts. By targeting high-sensitivity areas (fingertips with dense organoleptic cells), the system achieves reliable information transmission without requiring high vibration intensity, thereby reducing energy consumption compared to stimulating low-sensitivity areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical approach of using high-intensity vibrations on low-sensitivity areas with a more efficient approach of using low-intensity vibrations on high-sensitivity areas. This substitution optimizes the mechanical vibration system by matching the stimulus intensity to the sensory capabilities of the target body part.
3Reliability
If multiple vibrators are driven with different vibration frequencies, times, amplitudes, and intervals to represent hazardous situations, then alert information can be presented, but the control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the tactile feedback system into multiple independent vibrators that can be selectively activated. Each vibrator corresponds to a specific alert condition or direction, allowing the controller to present complex alert information through simple on/off or intensity variations of individual segments rather than complex coordinated patterns.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements multi-functionality by using the same set of vibrators to convey multiple types of information (normal operation, alerts, directional guidance, hazardous situations). The controller universally applies vibration patterns across different body locations (fingertips, palms, back of hand) to present diverse information types, reducing the need for separate dedicated actuators 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
The device effectively transmits information with weak tactile stimuli to the operator's hands, reducing energy consumption and enhancing sensitivity, allowing for precise communication of vehicle information without the need for high intensity vibrations.
Implementation Method 1
at least one vibrator attached to the manual operation part; and a vibration transmitter that transmits vibration of the vibrator, applied to the manual control part, as a tactile stimulus to an operator's hand
Data Source
AI summary
An information presentation device transmits information of a car navigation system, installed in a vehicle, to a driver in form of tactile stimuli, wherein a controller controls a plurality of vibrators attached to a steering wheel. The vibrators are arranged in proximity to vibration transmitters, corresponding to holding parts of a steering wheel, so that they are controlled with desired vibration intensity and vibration start timing in response to drive signals from the controller. Two vibrators are arranged in the holding parts of a steering wheel which come in contact with driver's hands and are controlled to generate a virtual vibrating source, thus rendering a driver feeling a sensation as if a vibrating source is moving in upward-downward directions, left-right directions, and far-near directions in the front side of a driver. Thus, it is possible to present accurate information with a small amount of energy consumption in driving vibrators.