Vehicle Gesture Control for Safe In-Car Function Access

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional in-vehicle touch panels require operators to visually check the image display section, leading to decreased focus on driving, as they necessitate complex operations to access functions not displayed, compromising safety during vehicle operation.

Innovation Solution

The in-vehicle apparatus determines gesture inputs from the touch panel to operate modes other than the displayed mode based on the vehicle's running state, allowing easy access to non-displayed functions without diverting the operator's attention from the road.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If a touch panel is provided on the image display section to reduce mechanical buttons and increase display area, then the display area is increased, but the operator must visually check the display section to perform operations, which decreases driving concentration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay areaVSAvoiddriving concentration
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the touch panel's operational characteristics change based on vehicle motion state. When the vehicle is detected to be in motion, the touch panel enables gesture operations that do not require visual confirmation, dynamically adapting the interaction mode to maintain driving safety while preserving full display area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the operational parameters of the touch panel based on vehicle motion detection. When motion is detected, the system switches from requiring visual confirmation to enabling gesture-based operations, changing the interaction parameter from visual-touch to gesture-only, thereby maintaining driving concentration while preserving the large display area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If functions not displayed on the image display section are made accessible, then operational versatility is improved, but the operation becomes more complex and requires more time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefunctional accessibilityVSAvoidoperation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the function access mechanism from the visual display domain and places it in the gesture domain. When the vehicle is in motion, functions not currently displayed on the screen can be accessed directly through specific gestures without requiring the operator to navigate through displayed menus or switch displays, thereby providing versatile access while maintaining simple operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces gesture recognition as an intermediary between the operator and the full set of functions. Instead of requiring direct visual interaction with displayed elements, the gesture intermediary allows access to any function regardless of its current display state, simplifying the path to functional access while maintaining operational versatility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If gesture operations are enabled during vehicle motion to access non-displayed functions, then operational simplicity is improved, but the system must accurately distinguish gesture intentions from accidental touches

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperation simplicityVSAvoidgesture detection accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by detecting vehicle motion state before enabling gesture operations. When motion is detected, the system activates gesture mode with enhanced detection algorithms that distinguish intentional gestures from accidental touches based on motion context, thereby enabling simple operations while maintaining high detection accuracy through pre-condition verification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2829440B1On-board apparatus
Publication Date: 2018.11.14 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO LTD
  • EP2829440B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2829440B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2829440B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3D

AI summary

Provided is an on-board apparatus such that a function that is not displayed on an image display unit can be safely operated in a simple operation even during travel without watching the image display unit. An on-board apparatus (10) is provided with: a touch panel (18) for detecting information about a position touched by an operator; a display mode recognition unit (32) that recognizes a mode displayed on an image display unit (17); a gesture recognition unit (33) that recognizes a gesture inputted via the touch panel; and an operation mode determination unit (34) that determines an operation mode depending on the travel status of the vehicle and on the basis of the gesture. Thus, the function that is not displayed on the image display unit (17) can be simply operated by the gesture for implementing the function that is limited during travel.