Vehicle Elbow Support for Input Operation Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle input-operation devices struggle to accurately distinguish between normal and unintended operation of an operation member during vehicle travel, leading to potential disabling of intended operations due to vibrations or inertial forces, resulting in erroneous operation.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle input-operation assistance device with a traveling state detection section, operation state detection section, and a support section that can be controlled to project and support the occupant's elbow based on detected information, preventing unintended movement and operation of the operation member.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the controller determines operation normality based solely on operation signal and traveling state signal, then the determination process is simple, but the accuracy of determining normal operation is reduced due to vibrations or inertial forces during travel
Solution Approach 1:
A support section is introduced as an intermediary mechanical element between the occupant's elbow and the vehicle interior. This support section provides physical stabilization to the occupant's arm during vehicle travel, preventing vibrations and inertial forces from causing unintended operation member movements. The support section acts as a mediator that isolates the operation input from external disturbances.
2Reliability
If the controller disables operation when vibrations are detected, then erroneous operation is reduced, but normal intended operations are also disabled causing loss of functionality
Solution Approach 1:
The support section is activated in advance before vibrations or inertial forces can cause unintended operation. By providing elbow support beforehand, the system prevents the occurrence of erroneous operation rather than reacting after detection. This preliminary mechanical support ensures that when vibrations occur, the occupant's arm is already stabilized, allowing normal operations to proceed without interruption.
3Reliability
If no physical support is provided for the occupant's elbow, then the device structure is simple, but the occupant's arm moves due to disturbances during travel causing unintended operation
Solution Approach 1:
The support function is extracted as a separate, dedicated component (support section) rather than being integrated into the existing operation member structure. This extracted support section can be independently controlled and optimized for its specific function of stabilizing the occupant's arm, while the operation member itself remains unchanged. The support section includes a support body and support member that can be extended or retracted as needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The support section is designed with dynamic characteristics, being capable of extending and retracting based on detected vibration levels or inertial forces. The support member can be dynamically adjusted to provide support only when needed during vehicle travel, rather than being constantly extended. This dynamic behavior allows the system to adapt to changing vehicle conditions while maintaining a relatively compact structure when support is not required.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle input-operation assistance device includes: a traveling state detection section that detects a traveling state of a vehicle; an operation state detection section that detects an operation state of an operation member gripped by an occupant during operation; a support section that is capable of being stowed in an interior component of the vehicle, and that is capable of projecting from the interior component to a support position where the support section is capable of supporting an elbow of the occupant when the occupant is operating the operation member; and a controller that determines whether or not the elbow of the occupant operating the operation member needs to be supported based on information detected by the traveling state detection section and the operation state detection section and, in cases in which support is determined to be needed, controls the support section to project to the support position.