Retractable handwheel gesture control

• US 10,442,441 B2
• Filed: 06/14/2016
• Issued: 10/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation (Nexteer Automotive Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation (Nexteer Automotive Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Kaufmann, Timothy W., Lubischer, Frank P., Ryne, Patrik M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zanelli, Michael J
• Application Number:
  US15/181,887
• Publication Number:
  US 20160362117A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,218 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0229 for displays, e.g. cathodic tubes
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/001 Vehicle control means, e.g. steering-wheel or column
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/00 Input parameters relating to occupants
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/10 Interpretation of driver requests or demands
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/04 Hand wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/183 adjustable between in-use and out-of-use positions, e.g. to improve access
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/0285 Parking performed automatically
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/021 specially adapted to land vehicles

Abstract

An embodiment of a control system includes a sensing element configured to detect a gesture from at least one user in a vehicle including a handwheel, and a gesture control module configured to receive gesture information from the sensing element and control at least one of the handwheel and the vehicle based on the gesture information.

Claims

1. A control system comprising:

a panel comprising a sensing element and an interface, the sensing element configured to detect a gesture from at least one user in a vehicle including a handwheel, and the interface configured to display information related to control of at least one of the handwheel and the vehicle; and

a gesture control module configured to receive gesture information from the sensing element and control at least one of the handwheel and the vehicle based on the gesture information, the gesture being performed to cause the gesture control module to move the handwheel between a driving position and a retracted or stowed position.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the gesture is performed to cause the gesture control module to steer the vehicle.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface is configured to generate a holographic image, the holographic image configured to be interacted with by the user to control at least one of the handwheel and the vehicle.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the holographic image is an image of the handwheel.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the sensing element is configured to detect the gesture in relation to the holographic image and steer the vehicle based on the gesture.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensing element includes a camera configured to record the gesture.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface is disposed at a center hub of the handwheel.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface is disposed at a location in the vehicle that is available to the user upon stowing the handwheel.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the panel is positioned over the handwheel when the handwheel is in the retracted or stowed position.

10. A method of controlling an aspect of a vehicle, comprising:

detecting, by a sensing element, a first gesture from at least one user in a vehicle including a handwheel;

receiving first gesture information from the sensing element by a gesture control module;

controlling at least one of the handwheel and the vehicle based on the first gesture information, the first gesture being performed to cause the gesture control module to move the handwheel from a driving position to a retracted or stowed position;

detecting, by the sensing element, a second gesture from the at least one user in the vehicle;

receiving second gesture information from the sensing element by the gesture control module; and

controlling at least one of the handwheel and the vehicle based on the second gesture information, the second gesture being performed to cause the gesture control module to move the handwheel from the retracted or stowed position to the driving position, the first gesture and the second gesture being the same gesture.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein one of the first gesture and the second gesture is performed to cause the gesture control module to steer the vehicle.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the sensing element is connected to an interface configured to display information related to control of at least one of the handwheel and the vehicle.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the interface is configured to generate a holographic image, the holographic image configured to be interacted with by the user to control at least one of the handwheel and the vehicle.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the holographic image is configured to be displayed when the handwheel is in a stowed position and interacted with by the user to steer the vehicle.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the sensing element is configured to detect at least one of the first gesture and the second gesture in relation to the holographic image and steer the vehicle based on the at least one of the first gesture and the second gesture.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the interface is disposed at a center hub of the handwheel.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the interface is disposed at a location in the vehicle that is available to the user upon stowing the handwheel.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein the sensing element includes a camera configured to record the first gesture and the second gesture.

19. The method of claim 10, wherein the first gesture and the second gesture comprise a user waving both hands of the user with palms toward the sensing element.

20. A control system comprising:

a sensing element configured to detect a gesture from at least one user in a vehicle including a handwheel, the sensing element being disposed at a center hub of the handwheel;

an interface configured to display information related to control of at least one of the handwheel and the vehicle, the interface being disposed at the center hub of the handwheel; and

a gesture control module configured to receive gesture information from the sensing element and control at least one of the handwheel and the vehicle based on the gesture information, the gesture being performed to cause the gesture control module to move the handwheel between a driving position and a retracted or stowed position.