Vehicle Accessory Gesture Control via Motion Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle systems lack intuitive and hands-free methods for controlling vehicle accessories such as window wipers, roof assemblies, and door operations, which are typically operated manually or through complex infotainment systems.
Innovation Solution
Integration of personal activity tracking devices with vehicles, utilizing accelerometers and gyroscopes to detect hand gestures, allowing for wireless control of vehicle sub-systems like window wipers, roofs, and doors through Bluetooth or WiFi communication, enabling gesture-based activation of these components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual operation or complex infotainment systems are used to control vehicle accessories, then control functionality is achieved, but user convenience deteriorates and operation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical operations and complex infotainment interface interactions with gesture-based control using accelerometers and gyroscopes. Users control vehicle accessories through natural hand gestures detected by motion sensors, eliminating the need for physical buttons, switches, or complex touchscreen interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a motion detection system as an intermediary between the user and vehicle accessories. The accelerometers and gyroscopes detect hand gestures and translate them into control signals, serving as a natural mediator that simplifies the interaction while maintaining precise control functionality.
2Ease of operation
If manual operation is used for vehicle accessories, then control is achieved, but hands-free operation capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes manual mechanical control with automated gesture recognition. Accelerometers and gyroscopes automatically detect and interpret hand gestures, converting them into control commands for vehicle accessories without requiring manual operation of controls.
Solution Approach 2:
The motion detection system automatically identifies and processes gestures without requiring user intervention to activate or configure the control system. The system self-adjusts to detect various gesture types and automatically translates them into appropriate control actions for the accessories.
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 hands-free, intuitive control of vehicle accessories, enhancing user convenience and reducing the need for manual operation or complex interfaces, while allowing for proportional control based on detected hand motion speed and direction.
Implementation Method 1
personal activity tracking devices can measure movement of the wearer and are able to detect and record physical activity
Implementation Method 2
utilizing accelerometers and gyroscopes to detect hand gestures
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle includes a vehicle computing system (VCS) and a vehicle accessory system that may be a window wiper mechanism, a power lift gate, a door lock mechanism, a convertible mechanism or a sunroof mechanism. The VCS communicates with an activity tracking band worn on a wrist of a vehicle occupant. The activity tracking device detects motion of the wrist of the occupant, and is capable of exchanging that data with the VCS. The VCS generates at least one output signal based on data from the activity tracking device. For example, a controller may activate a window wiper mechanism based on signals indicative of a detected long wiping motion.