Input device, vehicle having the input device, and method for controlling the vehicle

• US 10,095,313 B2
• Filed: 11/13/2015
• Issued: 10/09/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Inventors: Lee, Jeong-Eom, Min, Jungsang, Hong, Gi Beom, Joo, Sihyun
• Primary Examiner(s): Khan, Ibrahim A
• Application Number:
  US14/941,514
• Publication Number:
  US 20170010675A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,061 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/141 Activation of instrument input devices by approaching fingers or pens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/48 Sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/682 Arrangements to cover or hide instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0362 with detection of 1D translations or rotations of an operating part of the device, e.g. scroll wheels, sliders, knobs, rollers or belts

Abstract

An input device includes an input module, a detector for detecting a position of a wrist of a user, and a controller for controlling a movement of the input module based on information about the position of the wrist of the user detected by the detector.

Claims

1. An input device comprising:

an input module;

a bio-signal sensor for detecting a position of a wrist of a user;

a pressure sensor for sensing a position of an elbow of the user;

an arm rest on which the user rests his/her arm; and

a controller for controlling a movement of the input module based on information about the position of the wrist of the user detected by the bio-signal sensor and the position of the elbow of the user sensed by the pressure sensor,

wherein the controller is configured to control a portion of the arm rest having the bio-signal sensor to be moved to a point located a predetermined first distance away from the sensed position of the elbow.

2. The input device of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to control the input module to be moved to a point located a predetermined second distance away from the position of the wrist of the user detected by the bio-signal sensor.

3. The input device of claim 1, wherein the bio-signal sensor is for collecting a biological signal of the user.

4. The input device of claim 3, wherein the bio-signal sensor comprises at least one selected from a group comprising a Charge Coupled Device (CCD) camera module and a photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor module.

5. The input device of claim 1,

wherein the arm rest includes:

a first arm rest that constitutes an exterior, and

a second arm rest movably formed inside the first arm rest.

6. The input device of claim 5, wherein

the pressure sensor is installed inside the first arm rest for collecting data of pressure applied onto the first arm rest, and

the bio-signal sensor is installed inside the second arm rest for collecting a biological signal of the user.

7. The input device of claim 6, wherein the bio-signal sensor is movably formed inside the second arm rest.

8. The input device of claim 6, wherein the controller is configured to control movement of the second arm rest based on pressure information collected from the pressure sensor.

9. The input device of claim 8, wherein the controller is configured to control the arm rest to be moved to a point located a predetermined third distance away from the determined position of the elbow.

10. The input device of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to control the input module to be moved to a predetermined reference position if the vehicle is started.

11. The input device of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to control the input module to be moved to a predetermined initial position if an engine of the vehicle is turned off.

12. A vehicle comprising:

an input module for receiving a control command;

a bio-signal sensor for detecting a position of a wrist of a user;

a pressure sensor for sensing a position of an elbow of the user;

an arm rest on which the user rests his/her arm; and

a controller for controlling a movement of the input module based on information about the position of the wrist of the user detected by the bio-signal sensor and the position of the elbow of the user sensed by the pressure sensor,

wherein the controller is configured to control a portion of the arm rest having the bio-signal sensor to be moved to a point located a predetermined first distance away from the sensed position of the elbow.

13. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the controller is configured to control the input module to be moved to a point located a predetermined second distance away from the position of the wrist of the user detected by the bio-signal sensor.

14. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the bio-signal sensor is for collecting a biological signal of the user.

15. The vehicle of claim 12,

wherein the arm rest includes

a first arm rest that constitutes an exterior, and

a second arm rest movably formed inside the first arm rest.

16. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein:

the pressure sensor is installed inside the first arm rest for collecting data of pressure applied onto the first arm rest, and

the bio-signal sensor is installed inside the second arm rest for collecting a biological signal of the user.

17. The vehicle of claim 16, wherein the bio-signal sensor is movably formed inside the second arm rest.

18. A method for controlling a vehicle including an input module and an arm reset, the method comprising steps of:

collecting, by a bio-signal sensor, a biological signal of a user;

collecting, by a pressure sensor, a data of pressure of the user;

detecting a position of a wrist of the user from the collected biological signal data and a position of an elbow of the user from the collected data of pressure;

controlling a portion of the arm rest having the bio-signal sensor to be moved to a point located a predetermined first distance away from the detected position of the elbow; and

controlling the input module to be moved to a point located a predetermined second distance away from the position of the wrist based on the detected information about the position of the wrist.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the arm reset comprises a first arm rest that constitutes an exterior and a second arm rest movably formed inside the first arm rest,

the method further comprising:

collecting data of pressure applied onto the first arm rest;

controlling the second arm rest to be moved to a point located a predetermined third distance away from the position of the elbow based on the detected information about the position of the elbow.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of collecting, by a bio-signal sensor, a biological signal of a user comprises collecting a biological signal of the user while the bio-signal sensor is moving back and forth.