Steering wheel controls
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of vibration sensors configured to be fixed to a steering wheel at given positions of the steering wheel; and
a controller communicatively configured to receive vibration information from the vibration sensors and to determine, based on the received vibration information and expected propagation of vibration along the steering wheel, whether a user has caused vibration to the steering wheel and at which section of the steering wheel the vibration has been caused;
whereinthe section of the steering wheel where the vibration has been caused to the steering wheel is a touch section; and
the controller is further configured responsive to the determination of the touch section to;
determine a user command; and
send to a controllable device a control command corresponding to the user command.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method where vibration information is received from a plurality of vibration sensors fixed to a steering wheel at given positions of the steering wheel. It is then determined, based on the received vibration information and expected propagation of vibration along the steering wheel, whether a user has caused vibration to the steering wheel and at which section of the steering wheel the vibration is caused. The section of the steering wheel where the vibration is caused to the steering wheel is referred to as a touch section. Responsive to the determination of the touch section, a user command is determined and a corresponding control command is sent to a controllable device so that a user can command the controllable device in a desired manner e.g. by tapping a particular section of the steering wheel.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a plurality of vibration sensors configured to be fixed to a steering wheel at given positions of the steering wheel; and a controller communicatively configured to receive vibration information from the vibration sensors and to determine, based on the received vibration information and expected propagation of vibration along the steering wheel, whether a user has caused vibration to the steering wheel and at which section of the steering wheel the vibration has been caused;
whereinthe section of the steering wheel where the vibration has been caused to the steering wheel is a touch section; and the controller is further configured responsive to the determination of the touch section to; determine a user command; and send to a controllable device a control command corresponding to the user command. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method comprising:
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receiving vibration information from a plurality of vibration sensors fixed to a steering wheel at given positions of the steering wheel; and determining, based on the received vibration information and expected propagation of vibration along the steering wheel, whether a user has caused vibration to the steering wheel and at which section of the steering wheel the vibration has been caused;
whereinthe section of the steering wheel where the vibration has been caused to the steering wheel is a touch section; and responsive to the determination of the touch section; determining a user command; and sending to a controllable device a control command corresponding to the user command. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium having computer executable program code stored thereon, which when executed by at least one processor causes an apparatus at least to perform:
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receiving vibration information from a plurality of vibration sensors fixed to a steering wheel at given positions of the steering wheel; and determining, based on the received vibration information and expected propagation of vibration along the steering wheel, whether a user has caused vibration to the steering wheel and at which section of the steering wheel the vibration has been caused;
whereinthe section of the steering wheel where the vibration has been caused to the steering wheel is a touch section; and the computer readable medium further having computer executable program code stored thereon, which when executed by the at least one processor causes the apparatus at least to perform, responsive to the determination of the touch section; determining a user command; and sending to a controllable device a control command corresponding to the user command.
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20. An apparatus comprising:
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means for receiving vibration information from a plurality of vibration sensors fixed to a steering wheel at given positions of the steering wheel; and means for determining, based on the received vibration information and expected propagation of vibration along the steering wheel, whether a user has caused vibration to the steering wheel and at which section of the steering wheel the vibration has been caused;
whereinthe section of the steering wheel where the vibration has been caused to the steering wheel is a touch section; and the apparatus further comprises means for, responsive to the determination of the touch section; determining a user command; and sending to a controllable device a control command corresponding to the user command.
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Specification