Retractable handwheel gesture control

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10442441-B2
Application number	US-201615181887-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 14, 2016
Priority date	Jun 15, 2015
Publication date	Oct 15, 2019
Grant date	Oct 15, 2019

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.

First claim

Having thus described the invention, it is claimed:

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.

Assignees

• Steering Solutions Ip Holding

Inventors

• Kaufmann Timothy W
• Lubischer Frank P
• Ryne Patrik M

Classifications

• B62D1/28 Primary

  non-mechanical {, e.g. following a line or other known markers} · CPC title

• B60W50/10 Primary

  Interpretation of driver requests or demands · CPC title

• B62D1/183

  adjustable between in-use and out-of-use positions, e.g. to improve access · CPC title

• B62D1/283

  for unmanned vehicles · CPC title

• B60R2011/001

  Vehicle control means, e.g. steering-wheel or column · CPC title