Vehicle Touch Input Calibration for Reliable Actuation Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing user input apparatuses in motor vehicles struggle with distinguishing between intentional actuations and inadvertent touches on touch-sensitive surfaces due to production tolerances and mechanical tensions, leading to false positive or negative detections.
Innovation Solution
A two-step calibration method is employed to determine and correct the relationship between actuating force and sensor signal, compensating for production and installation variations, using a distance sensor and evaluation unit to set a reliable threshold for actuation detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single calibration is performed before installation, then the initial sensor relationship is established, but production tolerances and installation stresses cause false detections
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs a first calibration before installation to establish the initial relationship between actuating force and sensor signal. This preliminary calibration captures the sensor characteristics under controlled conditions, which is then used as a baseline for subsequent correction after installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a second calibration after installation where the actual sensor signal is measured and used to correct the previously determined relationship. This feedback mechanism compensates for installation-induced variations and maintains measurement precision throughout the product lifecycle.
2Reliability
If actuating force threshold is used to distinguish intentional acts, then intentional actuations can be detected, but production variations cause false positives and false negatives
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the calibration process into two distinct segments: a first calibration before installation and a second calibration after installation. Each segment serves a specific purpose - the first establishes the baseline relationship, while the second corrects for installation effects. This segmentation allows the system to maintain simplicity while achieving high reliability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If touch-sensitive surface is used for smart surfaces, then design and functionality are enhanced, but inadvertent touches cannot be distinguished from intentional acts
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary calibration before installation to establish the relationship between actuating force and sensor signal. This allows the touch-sensitive surface to be configured with appropriate detection thresholds that account for individual component variations, thereby distinguishing intentional touches from inadvertent contacts.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the detection parameter from simple touch presence to actuating force magnitude. By measuring and comparing the force applied during touch events against calibrated thresholds, the system can differentiate between intentional user actions and inadvertent contacts, maintaining the versatility of smart surfaces while improving detection accuracy.
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 the reliability of detecting intentional actuations by accounting for individual part-dependent variations and mechanical stresses, ensuring accurate differentiation between intentional and inadvertent touches.
Implementation Method 1
a distance sensor, which is arranged on the circuit carrier and is configured to generate a sensor signal depending on a distance of the reference element from the distance sensor
Data Source
AI summary
A method for calibrating a user input apparatus for a motor vehicle is disclosed. The user input apparatus includes a component including a touch-sensitive surface and a reference element mechanically connected to the component, a circuit carrier, distance sensor, and an evaluation unit. The method includes determining, in a first calibration step, a first relationship between a change of the actuating force and a chance of the sensor signal, installing the user input apparatus in the motor vehicle in an installation step after carrying out the first calibration step, determining, in a second calibration step after carrying out the installation step, a first actual value of the sensor signal, and correcting the first relationship depending on the actual first value.