Retractable handwheel gesture control

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016362117-A1
Application number	US-201615181887-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 14, 2016
Priority date	Jun 15, 2015
Publication date	Dec 15, 2016
Grant date	—

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 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.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the gesture is performed to cause the gesture control module to move the handwheel between a driving position and a retracted or stowed position.

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

4 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising an interface configured to display information related to control of at least one of the handwheel and the vehicle.

5 . The system of claim 4 , 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.

6 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the holographic image is an image of the handwheel.

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

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

9 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the interface is disposed at a center hub of the handwheel.

10 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the interface is disposed at a location in the vehicle that is available to the user upon stowing the handwheel.

11 . A method of controlling an aspect of a vehicle, comprising:
detecting, by a sensing element, a gesture from at least one user in a vehicle including a handwheel; receiving gesture information from the sensing element by a gesture control module; and controlling at least one of the handwheel and the vehicle based on the gesture information.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the gesture is performed to cause the gesture control module to move the handwheel between a driving position and a retracted or stowed position.

13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the gesture is performed to cause the gesture control module to steer the vehicle.

14 . The method of claim 11 , 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.

15 . The method of claim 14 , 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.

16 . The method of claim 15 , 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.

17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the sensing element is configured to detect the gesture in relation to the holographic image and steer the vehicle based on the gesture.

18 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the sensing element includes a camera configured to record the gesture.

19 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the interface is disposed at a center hub of the handwheel.

20 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the interface is disposed at a location in the vehicle that is available to the user upon stowing the handwheel.

Assignees

• Steering Solutions Ip Holding

Inventors

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

Classifications

• B60W2540/00

  Input parameters relating to occupants · CPC title

• B62D1/04

  Hand wheels · CPC title

• B62D1/28 Primary

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

• B60R2011/001

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

• B62D1/283

  for unmanned vehicles · CPC title