Vehicle Gesture Control Interaction State Verification

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle control methods using hand gestures can result in involuntary function activation, particularly during interactions with passengers, and reduce the panel of available gestures, making them difficult for drivers to perform safely.

Innovation Solution

A method that detects control gestures and determines the interaction state of the individual with their environment, using monitoring devices to assess whether the gesture is voluntary, involving signal transmission and response confirmation to ensure intended function control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If hand gesture control is implemented for vehicle functions, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to involuntary function activation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoidreliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback by detecting the driver's interaction state through monitoring devices (cameras, microphones, sensors) and using this information to confirm or reject gesture commands. When a gesture is detected, the system checks whether the driver is actively interacting with the environment, and only executes the command if the interaction state confirms intentional use, thereby preventing involuntary activations while maintaining gesture control convenience

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary verification mechanism between gesture detection and function execution. The interaction state detection system acts as a mediator that analyzes contextual information (head position, eye direction, voice activity) to determine whether a detected gesture is intentional. This intermediary layer filters out involuntary gestures while preserving legitimate control commands

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If natural gestures are excluded to prevent involuntary control, then reliability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to reduced gesture panel

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovereliabilityVSAvoidease of operation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the interpretation of gestures based on the detected interaction state. The same physical gesture can be interpreted differently depending on context: if the driver is actively conversing with a passenger, the gesture is likely ignored; if the driver is alone or not engaged in conversation, the same gesture is executed. This dynamic interpretation allows natural gestures to be used intentionally while filtering out involuntary ones

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If interaction state verification is added to gesture control, then involuntary commands are reduced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovereliabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses multi-functional monitoring devices that serve both safety monitoring and gesture verification purposes. The same cameras, microphones, and sensors used for driver monitoring and safety systems are repurposed to detect interaction state for gesture control verification. This universal use of existing components adds verification capability without requiring entirely new hardware systems

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system leverages existing driver monitoring infrastructure and environmental sensors to automatically determine interaction state without requiring additional dedicated verification devices. The system uses information already being collected for other purposes (safety monitoring, telematics) to enable reliable gesture control, reducing the need for separate verification subsystems

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3373117B1Method for controlling at least one function of a vehicle by the completion of at least one control gesture associated with this function
Publication Date: 2020.11.25 VALEO COMFORT & DRIVING ASSISTANCE
  • EP3373117B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2

AI summary

The invention relates to a method of controlling at least one function of a vehicle by an individual present on board that vehicle, through the performance, by that individual, of at least one control gesture associated with that function, according to which it is provided for the steps of: a) detection of the control gesture (CG) performed by the individual in a detection zone of said vehicle, b) determination of a state of interaction (El) between said individual and his environment, and c) depending on the state of interaction determined in step b), control of the function associated with said control gesture detected in step a).