Touch Surface Controller Strain Sensing for Intentional Maneuver Identification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing human-machine interface touch surface controllers struggle to accurately distinguish between user-intended operations and unintentional or incoherent maneuvers, leading to potential errors in vehicle control applications.
Innovation Solution
A human-machine interface device featuring a touch receiver with multiple touch surfaces and an elastic strain sensing element with linear strain gauges, coupled with a processor operating an algorithm utilizing multiple sensor signal processing and machine learning techniques to identify user intentions through an optimized trained neural network.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If multiple strain sensor signals are used to detect user operations, then the quantity of detected operations increases, but the ability to distinguish intended operations from unintentional inputs deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the multiple strain sensor signals into distinct operational categories by analyzing their temporal patterns, magnitude characteristics, and spatial distribution. The processor divides the complex signal set into identifiable maneuver types (e.g., intentional vs. unintentional inputs) through pattern recognition algorithms that evaluate each signal component separately before integrating them into a unified operation identification decision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the processor continuously monitors the strain sensor signals and adjusts its interpretation based on the consistency and coherence of the detected patterns. When unintentional or incoherent operations are detected through signal analysis, the system can provide feedback to filter these out, thereby improving the accuracy of operation identification while maintaining the use of multiple sensor signals.
2Speed
If the touch surface controller responds to all detected operations, then the responsiveness increases, but the reliability of command execution deteriorates due to unintentional inputs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by implementing signal filtering and validation algorithms that operate in advance of the command execution. The processor analyzes the detected operations against predefined criteria for intentional vs. unintentional inputs before triggering any vehicle control responses. This preliminary filtering ensures that only validated, intentional operations are executed, maintaining reliability without sacrificing response speed for genuine user commands.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs partial action by selectively responding to only those operations that meet the criteria for intentional user input, while ignoring or filtering out unintentional inputs. Rather than responding to all detected operations equally, the processor applies differential processing - full response to validated commands and no response to filtered-out inputs - thereby maintaining both responsiveness to intended operations and reliability of command execution.
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 accurate correlation of user operations with intended commands, effectively filtering out unintentional inputs and noise, thereby enhancing the reliability of user interactions in vehicle control applications.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic strain sensing element having a base and a plurality of legs extending from the base, wherein each leg is in contact with or attached to an associated overlying touch surface such that pressure applied to a touch surface causes strain in the associated leg
Implementation Method 2
A first linear strain gauge is mounted on each leg to detect strain along a first direction
Data Source
AI summary
A human-machine interface device includes a touch receiver having a plurality of touch surfaces in distinctly different planes, an elastic strain sensing element having a base and a plurality of legs extending from the base and contacting an associated touch surface, a first linear strain gauge mounted on each leg to detect strain along a first direction and a second strain gauge mounted on each leg to detect strain along a second direction that is different from the first direction, and a processor configured to receive the signals from the strain gauges and determines a command operation intended by a user of the human-machine interface device.