Vehicle Touch Control Surface Force Detection via Acceleration Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing touch-sensitive control devices in motor vehicles face challenges in accurately measuring forces applied by occupants due to interference from vehicle accelerations and vibrations, requiring expensive acceleration sensors and high computation power for real-time corrections.
Innovation Solution
A touch-sensitive control device with a control surface and detection unit that measures space-resolved deflections to distinguish between force-induced and acceleration-induced deflections, allowing for precise determination of forces applied by occupants without the need for separate acceleration sensors, using capacitive detection and pattern recognition to differentiate between point forces and distributed accelerations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If acceleration sensors are installed to correct force measurements, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the separate acceleration sensor component by integrating acceleration compensation functionality directly into the force sensor system. The control unit now performs acceleration compensation using data from existing vehicle acceleration sensors, removing the need for dedicated acceleration sensors on the touchscreen assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the force measurement and acceleration compensation functions into a single integrated system. The control unit combines signals from the force sensor and vehicle acceleration sensors to calculate compensated force values, eliminating the need for separate acceleration sensing hardware on the touchscreen.
2Measurement precision
If acceleration sensors are installed to correct force measurements, then measurement precision is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the expensive acceleration sensor component from the touchscreen assembly by utilizing acceleration data already available from the vehicle's existing sensor system, thereby reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the vehicle's existing acceleration sensors serve a dual purpose: both vehicle dynamics monitoring and touchscreen force measurement compensation, eliminating the need for dedicated acceleration sensors and reducing overall system cost.
3Measurement precision
If real-time acceleration correction is performed, then measurement precision is improved, but computation power requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary processing by pre-calculating compensation factors and storing characteristic deflection patterns for different acceleration conditions. During operation, the control unit retrieves and applies pre-computed compensation values rather than performing complex real-time calculations, reducing computational burden.
4Measurement precision
If separate acceleration measurement is performed independently, then measurement precision is improved, but system reliability decreases due to parallel independent measurements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the acceleration measurement into the force measurement processing chain. The control unit now processes acceleration data and force sensor data together in a unified compensation algorithm, ensuring both measurements are evaluated jointly rather than independently, which improves system reliability.
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 reliable and accurate force measurement, reducing computational burdens and eliminating the need for separate acceleration sensors, thereby enhancing the reliability of function triggering and providing a robust force feedback experience similar to mechanical keys.
Implementation Method 1
a detection unit which is configured to detect a space-resolved deflection of the control surface
Data Source
AI summary
A touch-sensitive control device for a motor vehicle, with a control surface; a detection unit which is configured to detect a space-resolved deflection of the control surface; a control unit which is configured to distinguish a characteristic of a deflection of the control surface due to a force exerted on the control surface purely with at least one finger from a characteristic of a deflection of the control surface due to an acceleration acting on the entire control surface. On the basis of this, the force exerted on the control surface purely with the finger, as well as to trigger a function as a function of the determined force exerted purely with the finger is determined.