Vehicle Interior Lighting Gesture Control via Segmented Sensor Units

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing interior lighting devices for motor vehicles face challenges with complex mechanical designs that are costly, space-intensive, and prone to wear and noise, while purely electronic systems lack flexibility in light distribution adjustment.

Innovation Solution

A sensor-controlled interior lighting system with multiple actuatable lighting units, each associated with a local section of the sensing area, allowing for intuitive gesture control by activating and deactivating units based on the position of an operator control object, mimicking the flexibility of mechanically adjustable systems without the mechanical complexity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a mechanical Cardan interior lighting device is used to manually alter the direction of radiation, then the lighting device can be flexibly adjusted to illuminate different areas, but the device becomes costly, space-intensive, and prone to wear and noise

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflexibility in light distribution adjustmentVSAvoidmechanical design complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical Cardan suspension system with an electronic sensor-controlled system. Instead of using mechanical components to physically redirect light, the system uses sensor data to electronically control which lighting units are activated, achieving the same flexibility without mechanical complexity, wear, or noise

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The lighting device is divided into multiple individually controllable lighting units rather than a single mechanically adjustable unit. Each lighting unit can be independently activated or deactivated based on sensor input, allowing flexible light distribution without requiring mechanical movement of the entire device

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Device complexity

If purely electronic interior lighting devices with wide-angle radiation are used, then the device structure is simplified, but the flexibility in light distribution adjustment is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice structure simplicityVSAvoidlight distribution adjustment flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The lighting device consists of multiple individually controllable lighting units arranged in different directions. By selectively activating specific units based on sensor input, the system achieves flexible light distribution while maintaining a simple electronic structure without mechanical components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different lighting units are positioned and oriented to illuminate different local areas. The sensor system identifies which local section requires illumination and activates only the corresponding lighting unit, providing localized light control while maintaining overall system simplicity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Device complexity

If sensor-controlled lighting devices with single-direction gesture recognition are used, then the device structure is simplified, but the operational flexibility and user control options are limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensor system simplicityVSAvoidgesture control flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The sensing area is divided into multiple local sections, each associated with specific lighting units. The sensor system can detect gestures in any direction by identifying which local section is activated, enabling flexible directional control while maintaining a relatively simple sensor structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The sensor device is designed to recognize gestures in multiple directions by evaluating sensor data from different local sections. This universal gesture recognition capability allows the system to control lighting in various directions using the same sensor hardware, enhancing operational flexibility without proportionally increasing complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

The system provides increased flexibility in light distribution, avoiding mechanical faults and noise, while offering intuitive gesture control and additional lighting states, resembling the operation of a mechanically adjustable Cardan interior lighting device.

Implementation Method 1

capacitive sensors with overlapping sensing areas

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapacitive sensing: Capacitance

Data Source

PatentUS10293746B2Method for operating an interior lighting device for a motor vehicle, interior lighting device for a motor vehicle and motor vehicle

Publication Date: 2019.05.21 HELLA GMBH & CO KGAA

AI summary

Method for operating an interior lighting device for a motor vehicle, comprising a lighting device and a sensor device, which senses a position of an operator control object for the lighting device in its sensing area, wherein the lighting device is controlled on the basis of sensor data from the sensor device, wherein the lighting device has multiple actuatable lighting units that each have an associated local section defined in the sensing area, wherein when an operator control object is detected in a local section, the associated lighting unit is activated and activated lighting units not associated with the local section are deactivated.