Vehicle Control Device Detection Zones for Intent Accuracy

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle operating devices often misinterpret a user's intention to operate one control element as an intention to actuate the user interface, leading to undesirable changes in the display content when the user does not intend to interact with the user interface.

Innovation Solution

The method involves arranging detection zones such that a movement parallel to the user interface causes the actuating element to change zones, and generating a signal for operation intention only when the actuating element remains in a zone beyond a limit value, which varies based on the zone's distance from the user's operating position, ensuring accurate detection of the user's intent to operate the user interface.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the detection area is divided into detection zones and the dwell time is measured, then the accuracy of detecting user intention is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection accuracyVSAvoidcontrol complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The detection area in front of the user interface is divided into multiple detection zones (first detection zone, second detection zone, etc.) arranged at different distances from the user interface. Each zone has associated dwell time limits, allowing the system to distinguish between intentional operations (longer dwell time in zones closer to the interface) and unintentional approaches (shorter dwell time or movement through zones). This segmentation enables more accurate intention detection without requiring complex additional hardware.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If the system responds to actuator approach by modifying display content, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability of intention detection deteriorates due to false positives

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveoperabilityVSAvoidintention detection reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by modifying the display content in advance when an actuating element is detected in the detection zones, but only after verifying that the dwell time exceeds the zone-specific limit values. This allows the system to prepare the interface for upcoming operations (such as enlarging buttons or switching to operating mode) while maintaining reliability by using dwell time as a filter against false positives. The preliminary modification occurs before actual contact with the user interface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the dwell time limits for different detection zones based on their distance from the user interface. Zones closer to the interface have shorter dwell time limits, while zones farther away have longer limits. This dynamic parameter adjustment allows the system to adapt its detection sensitivity to the user's movement stage, improving both ease of operation and detection reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Productivity

If the dwell time limit is reduced for faster response, then the productivity is improved, but the measurement precision deteriorates due to missed intentions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresponse speedVSAvoidintention detection accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses different dwell time limits for different detection zones to balance response speed and detection accuracy. Zones closer to the user interface have shorter dwell time limits, enabling faster response when the user is clearly intending to operate the interface. Zones farther away have longer limits to filter out unintentional approaches. This dynamic differentiation allows the system to respond quickly to genuine intentions while avoiding false positives.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2462497B1Method for operating a control device and control device in a car.
Publication Date: 2019.01.09 VOLKSWAGEN AG
  • EP2462497B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2462497B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2462497B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5B

AI summary

The present invention relates to a method for operating an operator control device, particularly in a vehicle, wherein the operator control device comprises an operating element having an operating interface (4), wherein a detection region (8) is formed for the method, said region being divided into a plurality of detection zones (8-1 to 8-n), and the duration of the presence of an actuating element (9) in the individual detection zones (8-1 to 8-n) is determined. The method according to the invention is characterized in that the detection zones (8-1 to 8-n) are disposed so that when the actuating element is actuated in a direction parallel to the operating interface (4), the actuating element (9) changes from one detection zone (8-1 to 8-n) into a different detection zone, and a signal for an operating intention of a user is generated when the duration of the presence of the actuating element (9) in a detection zone (8-1 to 8-n) exceeds a threshold value. The invention further relates to an operating device by means of which the above method can be performed.