Detection system for approach recognition

• US 8,390,592 B2
• Filed: 05/28/2009
• Issued: 03/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Grundmann, Holmer-Geert, Meier-Arendt, Guido
• Primary Examiner(s): Liang, Regina
• Application Number:
  US12/995,857
• Publication Number:
  US 20110141063A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,377 Days
• Field of Search: 345173-175, 345/177, 178/18.01, 178 1803- 1811
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/141 Activation of instrument input devices by approaching fingers or pens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/143 Touch sensitive instrument input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1438 Touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/141 Activation by approaching fingers or pens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/143 Touch sensitive input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/1438 Touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• 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 3/0304 Detection arrangements using opto-electronic means constructional details of pointing devices not related to the detection arrangement using opto-electronic means G06F3/033; optical digitisers G06F3/042
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/962 Capacitive touch switches

Abstract

A detection system for the approach recognition of a hand or arm movement in the direction a display or control unit. The detection takes place in two stages by way of long-range detection and close-range detection. The first stage detects using at least one optical or acoustic sensor.

Claims

1. A detection system for vehicles configured to recognize an approach of an appendage in a direction of an operating unit, comprising:

a long range detector comprising at least one of;

at least one optical sensor and at least one acoustic sensor configured for long range detection at a first distance from the operating unit;

a close range detector configured for close range detection at a second distance from the operating unit configured for short range detection at the second distance from the operating unit, the second distance being less than the first distance; and

an evaluation unit, configured such that the long-range detection automatically triggers the close-range detection when the appendage moves from the long range to the short range.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one optical sensor is a reflection infrared light barrier.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one acoustic sensor is an ultrasonic sensor.

4. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the long range, as measured between the operating unit and a user, is between about 1 and 50 cm.

5. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the display and operating unit further comprises a display.

6. The system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the display and operating unit is integrated in a center console of a vehicle.

7. The system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the display is a touch screen.

8. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the operating unit is integrated in a center console of a vehicle.

9. A method for operating a detection system for vehicles for recognizing an approach of an appendage in a direction of an operating unit in a vehicle interior, the system perfoming two-stage detection in which a long-range detector comprises at least one of at least one optical sensor and at least one acoustic sensor, the method comprising:

beginning long-range detection with a detection of movement of the appendage in the direction of the operating unit;

triggering close-range detection automatically as a result of the appendage movement directly approaching the operating unit.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9, further comprising:

triggering a change in the operating concept as a result of the operating unit being approached in the close range.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10, further comprising:

setting the operating unit in a user-specific manner to at least one of a driver and a passenger based at least in part on the long-range detection recognizing a direction from which the operating unit is approached.

12. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the operating unit is set in a user-specific manner to at least one of a driver and a passenger by the long-range detection recognizing a direction from which the operating unit is approached.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein appendage is a hand or an arm and the long-range detection begins with an immediate start of the appendage movement in the direction of the operating unit.

14. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein appendage is a hand or an arm and the long-range detection begins with an immediate start of the appendage movement in the direction of the operating unit.

15. The method as claimed in claim 14, further comprising:

adapting an operating concept of the operating unit based at least in part on the close-range detection.

16. The method as claimed in claim 9, further comprising:

adapting an operating concept of the operating unit based at least in part on the close-range detection.

17. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the close-range detection is performed by at least one capacitive sensor.

18. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the close-range detection is performed by at least one capacitive sensor.

19. The method as claimed in claim 18, further comprising capacitively injecting a signal to perform close-range detection.

20. The method as claimed in claim 9, further comprising capacitively injecting a signal to perform close-range detection.