Vehicle Gesture Input with Haptic Feedback
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle control systems, such as touch screens and voice-controlled systems, distract drivers by requiring visual or auditory attention, leading to safety concerns and accidental system activation, as they lack tactile feedback and are prone to noise interference.
Innovation Solution
A gesture-based input system integrated with haptic feedback, utilizing a gesture detection device, controller, and haptic actuator to provide tactile confirmation of inputs without diverting the driver's attention from the road, allowing control of vehicle systems like navigation, climate, and entertainment systems through detected gestures and voice commands.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If touch screen controls are used, then vehicle system control functionality is improved, but driver distraction increases due to lack of tactile feedback requiring visual attention
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces haptic feedback as an intermediary between the driver and the control system. The haptic actuator provides tactile sensations that serve as a mediator, allowing the driver to interact with virtual controls through touch rather than sight, thus reducing distraction while maintaining full control functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements haptic feedback loops where the haptic actuator responds to touch screen interactions with tactile sensations. This feedback mechanism allows the driver to confirm control actions through touch rather than visual confirmation, reducing the need to look at the screen and thereby reducing distraction
2Ease of operation
If voice-controlled systems are used, then hands-free operation is improved, but system reliability deteriorates due to noise interference and accidental activation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple input modalities - gesture recognition and haptic feedback - into a unified control system. This merging allows the system to distinguish between intentional commands (confirmed by haptic interaction) and accidental movements, thereby improving reliability while maintaining hands-free operation benefits
Solution Approach 2:
The system requires preliminary haptic confirmation before executing voice commands. The haptic actuator provides tactile feedback that serves as a preliminary confirmation step, ensuring the driver intentionally activated the command before it is processed, thus preventing accidental activations
3Device complexity
If virtual buttons are used instead of physical buttons, then device complexity is reduced, but ease of operation worsens due to inability to locate controls by touch
Solution Approach 1:
The haptic actuator serves as an intermediary that bridges the gap between virtual buttons and tactile detection. It provides localized tactile feedback at specific screen positions, allowing drivers to locate and identify virtual controls through touch sensations rather than visual inspection or memorization
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 safe and intuitive control of vehicle systems by providing tactile feedback, reducing driver distraction and minimizing accidental activations, while enhancing user experience through haptic confirmation of commands without the need to visually or audibly interact with the control interface.
Implementation Method 1
provide feedback to the user in a manner that the user is not distracted from the primary task of driving the vehicle
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
A system for controlling vehicle systems includes a haptic actuator, a gesture detection device, a controller, and a plurality of vehicle systems. The gesture detection device captures movements of a vehicle driver or passenger and outputs data representing a gesture made by the vehicle driver or passenger. The controller is coupled to the gesture detection device and receives a signal from the gesture detection device indicative of the gesture. The controller is coupled to the haptic actuator, and selects a haptic effect based on the detected gesture and sends a signal to the haptic actuator to provide the selected haptic effect. The controller is also coupled to the vehicle systems, and based on the detected gesture, the controller sends a signal to one of the vehicle systems to perform a particular action. The particular action of the vehicle system is matched with the selected haptic effect.