Steering wheel, vehicle having the steering wheel, and method for controlling the vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10635225-B2
Application number	US-201715828973-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 1, 2017
Priority date	Jul 21, 2017
Publication date	Apr 28, 2020
Grant date	Apr 28, 2020

Abstract

A steering wheel with a touch area dynamically set up based on the driver's hand position may include touch input configured to receive a touching input of a driver; and a touch controller configured to set up a touch area for manipulation on the touch input to control components of a vehicle based on a touch area, in which the touching input is received, wherein the touch controller is further configured to determine a palm touch area of the driver and set up a touch area for manipulation around the palm touch area.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A steering wheel comprising:
a touch input device configured to receive a touching input of a driver, and
a processor configured to set up a touch area for manipulation on the touch input device to control components of a vehicle based on a touch area, in which the touching input is received,
wherein the processor is further configured to determine a palm touch area of the driver and set up a touch area for manipulation around the palm touch area,
wherein the processor is configured to set up the touch area for manipulation when the touch area in which the touching input is received is larger than a predetermined threshold area,
wherein the processor is configured to activate the touch area for manipulation around the palm touch area by touching exceeding the predetermined threshold area of the steering wheel,
wherein the processor is configured to set up the touch area for manipulation based on a position of a palm touching input,
wherein the processor is configured to set an area in a predetermined offset away from the palm touch area to the touch area for manipulation,
wherein the touch area for manipulation includes a first touch area for manipulation and a second touch area for manipulation, and
wherein the processor is configured to set two areas in a predetermined offset away in clockwise and counterclockwise directions along a circumferential direction of the steering wheel, from the palm touch area to the first and second touch areas for manipulation, respectively.

2. The steering wheel of claim 1 , wherein the touch input device is disposed on a rim portion of the steering wheel.

3. The steering wheel of claim 1 , wherein, when the touching input is received in the touch area for manipulation, the processor is configured to change the predetermined offset based on a point at which the touching input is received in the touch area for manipulation.

4. The steering wheel of claim 3 , wherein the processor is configured to change the predetermined offset based on a distance between the point at which the touching input is received and a point in the palm touch area.

5. The steering wheel of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to set up a plurality of touch areas for manipulation, to activate the plurality of touch areas for manipulation, and when at least one of the plurality of touch areas for manipulation receives the touching input, to deactivate a rest of the plurality of touch areas for manipulation, in which no touching input is received.

6. The steering wheel of claim 5 , wherein the processor is configured to activate a deactivated touch area for manipulation when the at least one of the plurality of touch areas receives no touching input.

7. The steering wheel of claim 5 , wherein the processor is configured to deactivate an activated touch area for manipulation when no touching input is received in the activated touch area for manipulation.

8. A vehicle comprising:
a steering wheel;
a touch input device disposed on the steering wheel to receive a touching input of a driver; and
a processor configured to set up a touch area for manipulation on the touch input device to control components of the vehicle based on a touch area, in which the touching input is received,
wherein the processor is further configured to determine a palm touch area of the driver and set up a touch area for manipulation around the palm touch area,
wherein the processor is configured to set up the touch area for manipulation when the touch area in which the touching input is received is larger than a predetermined threshold area,
wherein the processor is configured to activate the touch area for manipulation around the palm touch area by touching exceeding the predetermined threshold area of the steering wheel,
wherein the processor is configured to set up the touch area for manipulation based on a position of a palm touching input,
wherein the processor is configured to set an area in a predetermined offset away from the palm touch area to the touch area for manipulation,
wherein the touch area for manipulation includes a first touch area for manipulation and a second touch area for manipulation, and
wherein the processor is configured to set two areas in a predetermined offset away in clockwise and counterclockwise directions along a circumferential direction of the steering wheel, from the palm touch area to the first and second touch areas for manipulation, respectively.

9. The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the touch input device is disposed on a rim portion of the steering wheel.

10. The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein, when a touching input is received in the touch area for manipulation, the processor is configured to change the predetermined offset based on a point at which the touching input is received in the touch area for manipulation.

11. The vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the processor is configured to change the predetermined offset based on a distance between the point at which the touching input is received and a point in the palm touch area.

12. The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the processor is configured to set up a plurality of touch areas for manipulation, activate the plurality of touch areas for manipulation, and when at least one of the plurality of touch areas for manipulation receives the touching input, deactivate a rest of the plurality of touch areas for manipulation, in which no touching input is received.

13. The vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the processor is configured to activate a deactivated touch area for manipulation when the at least one of the plurality of touch areas receives no touching input.

14. The vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the processor is configured to deactivate an activated touch area for manipulation when no touching input is received in the activated touch area for manipulation.

15. A method for controlling a vehicle, the method comprising:
receiving, by a touch input device disposed on a steering wheel of the vehicle, a touching input of a driver;
determining a palm touch area of the driver based on a touch area in which the touch input is received, and setting up a touch area for manipulation around the palm touch area to control components of the vehicle; and
activating the touch area for manipulation around the palm touch area by touching exceeding a predetermined threshold area of the steering wheel,
wherein the setting up the touch area for manipulation around the palm touch area to control the components of the vehicle includes setting up the touch area for manipulation the touch area in which the touching input is received, is larger than the predetermined threshold area,
wherein the setting up the touch area for manipulation around the palm touch area to control the components of the vehicle includes setting an area in a predetermined offset away from the palm touch area to the touch area for manipulation,
wherein the touch area for manipulation includes a first touch area for manipulation and a second touch area for manipulation, and
wherein the setting up the touch area for manipulation around the palm touch area to control the components of the vehicle includes setting two areas in a predetermined offset away in clockwise and counterclockwise directions along a circumferential direction of the steering wheel, from the palm touch area to the first and second touch areas for manipulation, respectively.

16. The method of claim 15 , further including: when the touching input is received in the touch area for manipulation, changing the offset based on a point at which the touching input is received in

Assignees

• Hyundai Motor Co Ltd
• Kia Motors Corp

Inventors

• Seok Donghee
• Kwon Gideok
• Lee Jong Bok
• Ro Heejin

Classifications

• B62D1/06

  Rims, e.g. with heating means; Rim covers (B62D1/11 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G06F3/0488

  using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures · CPC title

• B62D1/04 Primary

  Hand wheels · CPC title

• G06F3/0416 Primary

  Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers · CPC title

• B62D1/046 Primary

  Adaptations on rotatable parts of the steering wheel for accommodation of switches · CPC title