Apparatus and method for manipulating in-vehicle devices using steering wheel

• US 9,926,010 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2016
• Issued: 03/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Inventors: Kim, Jin Kwon, Lee, Byoung Joon, Ryu, Seong Sook, Jung, Ho Choul, Kim, Sam Yong
• Primary Examiner(s): CHEUNG, CALVIN K
• Application Number:
  US15/193,979
• Publication Number:
  US 20170158055A1
• Time in Patent Office: 638 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/143 Touch sensitive instrument input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1446 Touch switches
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/782 on the steering wheel
• 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: B60K 35/60 Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0082 mounted on the steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/021 Determination of steering angle

Abstract

An apparatus for manipulating in-vehicle devices using a steering wheel includes a reference signal input unit for inputting a reference signal to a driver through a charged plate, a touch sensor for receiving the reference signal through human body communication and for detecting a touch of the driver, and a controller for generating a control signal on the basis of the results detected by the touch sensor.

Claims

1. An apparatus for manipulating in-vehicle devices using a steering wheel, the apparatus comprising:

a storage for storing a table in which steering angle ranges according to vehicle speed are recorded;

a steering angle sensor for detecting a steering angle of the steering wheel;

a vehicle speed sensor for detecting a vehicle speed;

a touch sensor for detecting a touch of a driver; and

a controller for determining that the touch of the driver is intended for manipulating when the steering angle detected by the steering angle sensor is within a steering angle range corresponding to the vehicle speed detected by the vehicle speed sensor on the basis of the table stored in the storage, analyzing a touch pattern of the driver, and generating a control signal corresponding thereto.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, in the table, as the vehicle speed is increased, the steering angle ranges are narrowed.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the touch sensor includes a plurality of sensors mounted on the steering wheel.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a reference signal input unit for inputting a reference signal to the driver through a charged plate.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the touch sensor receives the reference signal through human body communication to detect the touch of the driver.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the controller performs a filtering operation for removing noise from the reference signal received by the touch sensor.

7. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of sensors is provided as a capacitive coupling sensor.

8. A method for manipulating in-vehicle devices using a steering wheel, the method comprising:

storing, by a storage, a table in which steering angle ranges according to vehicle speed are recorded;

detecting, by a touch sensor, a touch of a driver;

detecting, by a steering angle sensor, a steering angle of the steering wheel;

detecting, by a vehicle speed sensor, a vehicle speed;

determining, by a controller, whether or not the detected steering angle is within a steering angle range corresponding to the detected vehicle speed;

determining that the touch of the driver is intended for manipulating when the detected steering angle is within the steering angle range, analyzing a touch pattern of the driver, and generating a control signal corresponding thereto; and

determining that the touch of the driver is intended for steering unless the detected steering angle is within the steering angle range.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein, in the table, as the vehicle speed is increased, the steering angle ranges are narrowed.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein, in the detecting of the touch of the driver, the touch of the driver is detected by using a plurality of sensors mounted on the steering wheel.

11. The method according to claim 8, wherein, in the detecting of the touch of the driver, when a reference signal is input to the driver through a charged plate, the reference signal is received through human body communication to detect the touch of the driver.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising filtering for removal of noise from the received reference signal.