Vehicular Input Device Using Air Gesture Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicular input devices require non-intuitive hand movements and make it difficult for drivers to interpret the correspondence between input operations and their displayed results, as they need to move their hands significantly from the steering wheel to a touch pad, which is not aligned with the display device.
Innovation Solution
A vehicular input device with a detection unit placed between the display device and the driver's seat, using a capacitance sensor to detect finger movements and a display control unit to change the display mode accordingly, allowing drivers to perform intuitive input operations while maintaining focus on the display.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a touch pad is arranged on the center console away from the display device, then the driver can operate without being too close to the display device, but the operation becomes non-intuitive and the correspondence between input and output is difficult to interpret
Solution Approach 1:
A detection unit is introduced as an intermediary component positioned on the meter hood between the display device and the driver's seat. This detection unit detects finger movements in the air space and transmits this information to the display control unit, which then controls the display device to provide visual feedback. This intermediary mechanism enables intuitive operation without requiring the driver to physically touch a separate touch pad.
Solution Approach 2:
The input interface is extended from a two-dimensional touch pad surface to a three-dimensional air space in front of the display device. The detection unit detects finger movements in the air space along the vertical direction (vehicle front-back direction), which corresponds to the vertical direction on the display device screen. This dimensional extension allows the driver to perform intuitive pointing operations in the air space while maintaining correspondence with the display.
2Ease of operation
If the detection unit is arranged on the meter hood between the display device and the driver's seat, then intuitive input operation is enabled, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The meter hood is given multiple functions: it serves as both the housing for the meter and as the mounting structure for the detection unit. The display device serves both as the visual output device and as part of the input interface when combined with the detection unit. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components and simplifies the overall system structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The detection unit and display control unit are integrated into a unified input device system that works with the existing display device. The detection unit detects finger movements and the display control unit processes this information to control the display device, merging the detection and control functions into a coordinated system that enhances the existing display device rather than requiring completely separate input and output components.
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 drivers to perform input operations away from the display device while maintaining visual focus, with clear interpretation of input directions and results, enhancing operational efficiency and safety by reducing the need for separate hand operation units on the center console.
Implementation Method 1
a detection unit that is arranged at a side of the meter hood in space between the display device and the driving seat
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a vehicular input device, which is arranged in a vehicle having a meter hood protruding toward a driving seat from an instrument panel and surrounding a meter, for detecting an operation of a driver based on an input screen image displayed on a display device arranged on the instrument panel at a side of the meter hood. The vehicular input device includes: a detection unit that is arranged at a side surface of the meter hood and is arranged between the display device and the driving seat; and a display control unit that changes a display mode of the display device in response to an output of the detection unit.