Steering wheel input device having gesture recognition and angle compensation capabilities
First Claim
1. A steering wheel input device mounted on a steering wheel of a vehicle, comprising:
- a pointer detection device comprising a pointer detection surface and an input detection unit, wherein the input detection unit is configured to detect on the pointer detection surface a single pointer event or multiple simultaneous pointer events, a movement or breaking of the pointer event, and a speed, velocity, and acceleration of the single pointer event or the multiple simultaneous pointer events, wherein the input detection unit is configured to output in response to a corresponding pointer detection signal;
a rotation angle sensor comprising an accelerometer configured to take a measurement related to an angle of rotation of the steering wheel and to output at least one corresponding rotation detection signal based on the angle of rotation measured; and
a processor configured todetermine the angle of rotation of the steering wheel with reference to the at least one corresponding rotation detection signal output by the rotation angle sensor,determine a gesture provided as input from a user from among a plurality of gestures that the pointer detection signal corresponds to with reference to the pointer detection signal and the angle of rotation of the steering wheel, andoutput a command corresponding to the gesture to a device in the vehicle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A steering wheel input device is mounted on a vehicle steering wheel and includes a pointer detection device detecting a pointer event on a pointer detection surface, any movement or breaking of the pointer event, and the speed, velocity, and acceleration of the pointer event, and outputs a corresponding pointer detection signal. The steering wheel input device also includes a rotation angle sensor and a processor. The rotation angle sensor takes measurements related to an angle of rotation of the steering wheel and outputs a corresponding rotation detection signal. The processor determines the angle of rotation of the steering wheel using the rotation detection signal, determines which gesture that the pointer detection signal corresponds to using the pointer detection signal and the angle of rotation of the steering wheel, and outputs a command corresponding to the gesture. The command can serve as input to control vehicular systems.
32 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A steering wheel input device mounted on a steering wheel of a vehicle, comprising:
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a pointer detection device comprising a pointer detection surface and an input detection unit, wherein the input detection unit is configured to detect on the pointer detection surface a single pointer event or multiple simultaneous pointer events, a movement or breaking of the pointer event, and a speed, velocity, and acceleration of the single pointer event or the multiple simultaneous pointer events, wherein the input detection unit is configured to output in response to a corresponding pointer detection signal; a rotation angle sensor comprising an accelerometer configured to take a measurement related to an angle of rotation of the steering wheel and to output at least one corresponding rotation detection signal based on the angle of rotation measured; and a processor configured to determine the angle of rotation of the steering wheel with reference to the at least one corresponding rotation detection signal output by the rotation angle sensor, determine a gesture provided as input from a user from among a plurality of gestures that the pointer detection signal corresponds to with reference to the pointer detection signal and the angle of rotation of the steering wheel, and output a command corresponding to the gesture to a device in the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method, comprising:
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detecting on a pointer detection surface of a steering wheel input device a single pointer event or multiple simultaneous pointer events, a movement or breaking of the pointer event on the pointer detection surface, and a speed, velocity, and acceleration of the single pointer event or the multiple simultaneous pointer events on the pointer detection surface, and generating in response thereto a corresponding pointer detection signal; taking measurements related to an angle of rotation of the steering wheel and generating at least one corresponding rotation detection signal based on the angle of rotation measured by an accelerometer; determining the angle of rotation of the steering wheel with reference to the at least one corresponding rotation detection signal; determining a gesture among a plurality of gestures that the pointer detection signal corresponds to with reference to the pointer detection signal and the angle of rotation of the steering wheel; and outputting a command corresponding to the gesture to an appropriate device of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A steering wheel input device of a vehicle comprising:
a touch input detection unit having a surface configured to detect a gesture input of a driver, the gesture input comprising a movement of a finger of the driver on the surface of the touch input detection unit, the touch input detection unit providing in response to detecting the gesture input a corresponding touch detection signal; a rotation angle sensor comprising an accelerometer configured to take a measurement related to an angle of rotation of the steering wheel and to output at least one corresponding rotation detection signal based on the angle of rotation measured; and a processor configured to receive the corresponding touch detection signal, receive the corresponding rotation angle signal, determine the gesture input provided as input from the driver based on the corresponding touch detection signal and the corresponding rotation angle signal, and output a command corresponding to the gesture input to a device in the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
Specification