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DE-102025144234-A1 - STEERING DEVICE FOR A VEHICLE

DE102025144234A1DE 102025144234 A1DE102025144234 A1DE 102025144234A1DE-102025144234-A1

Abstract

Steering device for a vehicle, wherein the steering device comprises one or more sensors configured to detect a variety of hand movements from an operator of the vehicle, and one or more circuits coupled to the one or more sensors, wherein the one or more circuits are configured to adjust one or more elements of the vehicle based on a detected hand movement in such a way that the operator of the vehicle can adjust the operation of the vehicle.

Inventors

  • Benjamin Gallais
  • Andre Pereira
  • Dinesh Kumar Apoorva

Assignees

  • RENESAS ELECTRONICS AMERICA INC.

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20251029
Priority Date
20241111

Claims (20)

  1. Steering device for a vehicle, wherein the steering device comprises: one or more sensors configured to detect a variety of hand movements by an operator of the vehicle; and one or more circuits coupled to the one or more sensors; wherein the one or more circuits are configured to adjust one or more elements of the vehicle based on a detected hand movement, enabling the operator of the vehicle to adjust the operation of the vehicle.
  2. Steering device according to Claim 1 , whereby the operator can adjust the operation of the vehicle without removing one or more of his hands from the steering device.
  3. Steering device according to Claim 1 , wherein one or more sensors have one or more conductive films.
  4. Steering device according to Claim 1 , which further comprises one or more paddle shifters, wherein the paddle shifters are arranged on a rear left side and/or a rear right side of the steering device.
  5. Steering device according to Claim 4 , wherein one or more sensors are arranged on one or more rocker switches.
  6. Steering device according to Claim 1 , wherein one or more sensors are arranged on the front of the steering device.
  7. Steering device according to Claim 1 , wherein one or more sensors are arranged on the rear side of the steering device.
  8. Steering device according to Claim 1 , wherein one or more sensors are arranged on the left side of the steering device.
  9. Steering device according to Claim 1 , wherein one or more sensors are arranged on the right side of the steering device.
  10. Steering device according to Claim 1 , wherein one or more sensors are arranged on a front, a back, a left side and a right side of the steering device.
  11. Steering device according to Claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensors are arranged such that they define a plurality of detection zones, each detection zone being connected to each of the one or more circuits to adapt one or more elements of the vehicle.
  12. Steering device according to Claim 11 , wherein the sensors include impedance sensors and/or torque sensors.
  13. Steering device according to Claim 1 , where the multitude of hand movements is a multitude of touch movements.
  14. Steering device according to Claim 13 , wherein the multitude of touch movements includes capturing one or more fingers, grasping a hand, grasping two hands, releasing a hand, releasing two hands, a swiping motion from left to right, a Swiping motion from right to left, a single tap of one hand, two or more taps of one hand, a single tap of two hands and/or two or more taps of two hands.
  15. Steering device according to Claim 14 , where each touching movement in the multitude of touching movements is associated with a change in the operation of an element of the vehicle.
  16. Steering device according to Claim 1 , wherein one or more circuits have an impedance measurement system.
  17. Steering device according to Claim 16 , wherein the one or more sensors each have a linked impedance such that when one or more of the one or more sensors detect one of the hand movements in the multitude of hand movements, the linked impedance changes.
  18. Steering device according to Claim 17 , wherein the impedance measurement system is configured to detect the change in the linked impedance and to adjust one or more elements of the vehicle based on the change in the linked impedance.
  19. Steering device according to Claim 18 , where the change in the linked impedance exhibits an increase or a decrease in the linked impedance.
  20. Steering device according to Claim 1 , wherein one or more elements of the vehicle include at least one of a display system, a heating system, a calling system, a volume control system, an autonomous driving system, a display system, a navigation system and/or a driving mode system.

Description

The present disclosure relates to a steering device for a vehicle, in particular, but not limited to, a steering wheel having one or more sensors, to enable an operator of the vehicle to adjust the operation of the vehicle without removing one or more of his hands. BACKGROUND Vehicles can have a number of dials, buttons, or switches that allow the operator to perform a variety of functions. These dials, buttons, and switches are part of the so-called human-machine interface (HMI). For example, if the vehicle is a car, the functions that can be controlled via the HMI might include adjusting the climate control, heating, music volume, setting the car's driving mode, or activating warning lights to alert other drivers of a problem. Typically, HMI elements are mechanical. More recently, capacitive switches have been used. However, both mechanical and capacitive HMI elements require the vehicle operator to move their hands away from the device used to steer the vehicle (for example, a steering wheel if the vehicle is a car). This can result in the vehicle operator having a reduced attention span or impairing their ability to use the steering device. To overcome this, some HMI elements have been integrated into the steering mechanism. For example, window or volume controls in a car can be integrated into the steering wheel. However, such integration of HMI elements into the steering mechanism increases the complexity of the device. Furthermore, when integrated into the steering mechanism, the HMI elements are only capable of performing a single function. Therefore, a larger number of HMI elements may be required, which is undesirable. Therefore, a new way of implementing HMI elements in a vehicle's steering system is needed that overcomes these problems. SUMMARY According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, a steering device for a vehicle is provided, wherein the steering device comprises: one or more sensors configured to detect a plurality of hand movements from an operator of the vehicle; and one or more circuits coupled to the one or more sensors; wherein the one or more circuits are configured to adjust one or more elements of the vehicle based on the detected hand movement in such a way that the operator of the vehicle can adjust the operation of the vehicle. Optionally, the operator can adjust the operation of the vehicle without removing one or more of their hands from the steering device. Optionally, one or more sensors may have one or more conductive films. Optionally also with one or more paddle shifters, wherein the paddle shifters are arranged on a rear left side and/or a rear right side of the steering device. Optionally, one or more sensors can be arranged on one or more rocker switches. Optionally, one or more sensors can be arranged on the front of the steering device. Optionally, one or more sensors can be located on the back of the steering device. Optionally, one or more sensors can be located on the left side of the steering mechanism. Optionally, one or more sensors are located on the right side of the steering mechanism. Optionally, one or more sensors can be arranged on the front, back, left side and right side of the steering device. Optionally, the one or more sensors are arranged in such a way as to define a multitude of detection zones, with each detection zone being connected to each of the one or more circuits to adapt one or more elements of the vehicle. Optionally, the sensors include impedance sensors and/or torque sensors. Optionally, the multitude of hand movements can be a multitude of touch movements. Optionally, the variety of touch gestures includes capturing one or more fingers, grasping one hand, grasping two hands, releasing one hand, releasing two hands, swiping from left to right, swiping from right to left, a single tap from one hand, two or more taps from one hand, a single tap from two hands and/or two or more taps from two hands. Optionally, each touch movement in the multitude of touch movements is linked to a change in the operation of an element of the vehicle. Optionally, one or more circuits may include an impedance measurement system. Optionally, one or more sensors each have a linked impedance, so that when one or more of the one or more sensors detect one of the hand movements in the multitude of hand movements, the linked impedance changes. Optionally, the impedance measurement system is configured to detect changes in the linked impedance and to adjust one or more elements of the vehicle based on changes in the linked impedance. Optionally, the change in the linked impedance may result in an increase or a decrease in the linked impedance. Optionally, one or more elements of the vehicle may include at least one of a display system, a heating system, a calling system, a volume control system, an autonomous driving system, a display system, a navigation system and/or a driving mode system. Optionally, changing the operation of the vehicle includes at