U.S. patent application number 14/502514 was filed with the patent office on 2016-03-31 for hands accelerating control system.
This patent application is currently assigned to Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.. The applicant listed for this patent is Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.. Invention is credited to Armando Ahron Campos-Gomez, Ruben Alejandro Diaz-Jimenez, Alejandra Enriquez-Perez, Kevin Adonai Madrid-Lopez.
Application Number | 20160090104 14/502514 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 55486047 |
Filed Date | 2016-03-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160090104 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Diaz-Jimenez; Ruben Alejandro ;
et al. |
March 31, 2016 |
HANDS ACCELERATING CONTROL SYSTEM
Abstract
A touch vehicle control system having a gesture interface device
with one or more touchless sensors that detect a position of a
driver's appendage within a range of movement detected by the
sensors. The touchless sensors send a signal to the controller that
is indicative of the position of the driver's appendage within the
range of movement which is then interpreted to be a vehicle command
signal for a vehicle's mechanical system. Command signals include,
but are not limited to acceleration, braking, parking brake, turn
signals, etc.
Inventors: |
Diaz-Jimenez; Ruben Alejandro;
(Guadalajara, MX) ; Campos-Gomez; Armando Ahron;
(Tlaquepaque, MX) ; Enriquez-Perez; Alejandra;
(Zapopan, MX) ; Madrid-Lopez; Kevin Adonai;
(Zapopan, MX) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Continental Automotive Systems, Inc. |
Auburn Hills |
MI |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Continental Automotive Systems,
Inc.
Auburn Hills
MI
|
Family ID: |
55486047 |
Appl. No.: |
14/502514 |
Filed: |
September 30, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
701/70 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60K 2370/146 20190501;
B60W 2540/10 20130101; B60W 50/10 20130101; B60W 2540/12 20130101;
G06F 3/017 20130101; B60K 26/02 20130101; G06F 3/0325 20130101;
B60K 2026/029 20130101; B60W 2420/42 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B60W 50/10 20060101
B60W050/10 |
Claims
1. A touch free vehicle control system comprising: a controller
capable of controlling acceleration and braking of a vehicle; and a
gesture interface device having one or more touchless sensors being
one of the group consisting of Leap Motion.RTM. and charge coupled
device that directly detect a one more gestures and a position of a
driver's appendage within a range of movement without any physical
touching between said one or more touchless sensors and said
driver's appendage, wherein said one or more touchless sensors send
a signal to said controller that is indicative of said one or more
gestures and said position of said driver's appendage within said
range of movement, wherein different movements of said driver's
appendage cause said controller to generate different command
signals from said controller; and at least two or more spring
loaded finger pedals positioned at a location relative to said one
or more touchless sensors allowing said one or more sensors to send
a signal to said controller that is indicative of the position of
said appendage, which is a driver's finger within said range of
movement, where a first one of the said two or more finger pedals
are interpreted by said controller to be one of said one or more
gestures and defines a range of movement for an accelerator pedal
and a second of said two or more finger pedals is interpreted by
said controller to be a second one of said one or more gestures and
defines a range of movement for a brake pedal, wherein depressing
the accelerator causes said controller to cause acceleration of
said vehicle and depressing the brake pedal causes said controller
cause braking of said vehicle based solely on said position of said
driver's finger in said range of movement, wherein said position of
said driver's fingers within the range of movement controls a
magnitude of acceleration or a magnitude of braking.
2. (canceled)
3. (canceled)
4. The touch free vehicle control system of claim 1 wherein said
gesture interface device further includes an enclosed well
containing said one or more touchless sensors and said two or more
finger pedals, said enclosed well having an aperture where said
driver places said fingers within said enclosed well to access said
two or more finger pedals to prevent accidental movement in the
area of said one or more sensors.
5. The touch free vehicle control system of claim 1 wherein said
gesture interface device further includes an enclosed well
containing said one or more touchless sensors, said enclosed well
having an aperture where said driver places said appendage within
said enclosed well so that movement of said appendage are detected
by said one or more sensors and accidental movement in the area of
said one or more sensors is prevented.
6. The touch free vehicle control system of claim 1 wherein said
gesture interface device further includes a glove having detection
points on said glove, wherein said glove is worn on a driver's hand
and said one or more touchless sensors detect said detection points
on said glove and determine driver commands based on movements of
said detection points.
7. The touch free vehicle control system of claim 1 further
comprising at least two or more spring loaded foot pedals
positioned at a location relative to said one or more touchless
sensors allowing said one or more sensors to send a signal to said
controller that is indicative of the position of said appendage,
which is a driver's foot within said range of movement, where a
first one of the said two or more foot pedals is interpreted by
said controller to define a range of movement for an accelerator
pedal and a second of said two or more foot pedals is interpreted
by said controller to be a range of movement for a brake pedal,
wherein depressing the accelerator causes said controller to cause
acceleration of said vehicle and depressing the brake pedal causes
said controller cause braking of said vehicle based solely on said
position of said foot in said range of movement.
8. The touch free vehicle control system of claim 7 wherein said
position of said driver's foot within the range of movement
controls a magnitude of acceleration or a magnitude of braking.
9. The touch free vehicle control system of claim 1 wherein said
different command signals generated from said controller include
signals operating one or more of the following vehicle functions
selected from the group consisting of: parking brake on, parking
brake release, door lock, door unlock, window actuators, door
actuators, hood release switch, fuel door release switch, radio
controls, telephone controls, navigation controls, interior light
controls, exterior light controls, cruise controls, turn signal
controls, hazard signal controls, odometer controls, vehicle
information center controls, media player controls and window wiper
controls and combinations thereof.
10. (canceled)
11. The touch free vehicle control system of claim 1 wherein the
gesture interface devices includes two buttons mounted to the
vehicle steering wheel for positioned at a location relative to
said one or more touchless sensors allowing said one or more
touchless sensors to send a signal to said controller that is
indicative of the position of said appendage, which is a driver's
finger within said range of movement, where a first one of the said
two buttons are interpreted by said controller to be one of said
one or more gestures and defines a range of movement for an
accelerator pedal and a second one of said two buttons is
interpreted by said controller to be a second one of said one or
more gestures and defines a range of movement for a brake pedal,
wherein depressing the accelerator causes said controller to cause
acceleration of said vehicle and depressing the brake pedal causes
said controller cause braking of said vehicle based solely on said
position of said driver's finger in said range of movement.
12. A touch free vehicle control system comprising: a controller
capable of controlling acceleration and braking of a vehicle; and a
gesture interface device having an enclosed well containing one or
more touchless sensors being one of the group consisting of Leap
Motion.RTM. and a charge coupled device, wherein said one or more
sensors directly detect a one more gestures and a position of a
driver's appendage within a range of movement without any physical
touching between said one or more touchless sensors and said
driver's appendage, wherein said one or more touchless sensors send
a signal to said controller that is indicative of said one or more
gestures and said position of said driver's appendage within said
range of movement, wherein different movements of said driver's
appendage cause said controller to generate different command
signals from said controller, said enclosed well having an aperture
where said driver places said appendage within said enclosed well
so that movement of said appendage are detected by said one or more
sensors and accidental movement in the area of said one or more
sensors is prevented; and a glove having detection points on said
glove, wherein said glove is worn on a driver's hand and said one
or more touchless sensors detect said detection points on said
glove and determine driver commands based on movements of said
detection points; at least two or more spring loaded finger pedals
positioned at a location relative to said one or more touchless
sensors allowing said one or more sensors to send a signal to said
controller that is indicative of the position of said appendage,
which is a driver's finger within said range of movement, where a
first one of the said two or more finger pedals are interpreted by
said controller to be one of said one or more gestures and defines
a range of movement for an accelerator pedal and a second of said
two or more finger pedals is interpreted by said controller to be a
second one of said one or more gestures and defines a range of
movement for a brake pedal, wherein depressing the accelerator
causes said controller to cause acceleration of said vehicle and
depressing the brake pedal causes said controller cause braking of
said vehicle based solely on said position of said driver's finger
in said range of movement, wherein said position of said driver's
fingers within the range of movement controls a magnitude of
acceleration or a magnitude of braking.
13. The touch free vehicle control system of claim 12 wherein said
different command signals generated from said controller include
signals operating one or more of the following vehicle functions
selected from the group consisting of: parking brake on, parking
brake release, door lock, door unlock, window actuators, door
actuators, hood release switch, fuel door release switch, radio
controls, telephone controls, navigation controls, interior light
controls, exterior light controls, cruise controls, turn signal
controls, hazard signal controls, odometer controls, vehicle
information center controls, media player controls and window wiper
controls and combinations thereof.
14. (canceled)
15. (canceled)
16. (canceled)
17. A touch free vehicle control system comprising: a controller
capable of controlling acceleration and braking of a vehicle; and a
gesture interface device having one or more touchless sensors, the
one or more touchless sensors are one or more of the group
consisting of Leap Motion.RTM. and a charge coupled device that
directly detect a one more gestures and a position of a driver's
appendage within a range of movement without any physical touching
between said one or more touchless sensors and said driver's
appendage, wherein said one or more touchless sensors send a signal
to said controller that is indicative of said one or more gestures
and said position of said driver's appendage within said range of
movement, wherein different movements of said driver's appendage
cause said controller to generate different command signals from
said controller; and at least two or more spring loaded finger
pedals positioned at a location relative to said one or more
touchless sensors allowing said one or more sensors to send a
signal to said controller that is indicative of the position of
said appendage, which is a driver's finger within said range of
movement, where a first one of the said two or more finger pedals
are interpreted by said controller to be one of said one or more
gestures and defines a range of movement for an accelerator pedal
and a second of said two or more finger pedals is interpreted by
said controller to be a second one of said one or more gestures and
defines a range of movement for a brake pedal, wherein depressing
the accelerator causes said controller to cause acceleration of
said vehicle and depressing the brake pedal causes said controller
cause braking of said vehicle based solely on said position of said
driver's finger in said range of movement, wherein said position of
said driver's fingers within the range of movement controls a
magnitude of acceleration or a magnitude of braking.
18. The touch free vehicle control system of claim 17 wherein said
different command signals generated from said controller include
signals operating one or more of the following vehicle functions
selected from the group consisting of: parking brake on, parking
brake release, door lock, door unlock, window actuators, door
actuators, hood release switch, fuel door release switch, radio
controls, telephone controls, navigation controls, interior light
controls, exterior light controls, cruise controls, turn signal
controls, hazard signal controls, odometer controls, vehicle
information center controls, media player controls and window wiper
controls.
19. (canceled)
20. (canceled)
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a touch free vehicle
accelerator and braking control system.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] In current motor vehicles, the acceleration, braking, and
other physical interactions with a vehicle, such as opening a
vehicle hood, turning on and off turn signals, wipers, wiper mist
features, headlights, and applying the parking brake all require
the movement of several different components. In particular, a
vehicle accelerating and braking system relies upon the use of a
driver interface device commonly referred to as the accelerator
pedal and brake pedal. All of the various individual components
have different sensors and interfaces which add different
components to the vehicle. In particular, the accelerator and brake
pedals have sensors located at the foot of the driver and a driver
must have a fully functioning foot and be positioned at an
appropriate position relative to the pedals for them to operate
properly. It is desirable to reduce the number of interfaces in a
vehicle, but still provide the same number of mechanical features
with relatively little modification of current vehicle designs. It
is also desirable to provide a practical driver interface that does
not necessarily require a driver to have fully functioning legs or
fully functioning fingers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The present invention relates to a touch free vehicle
control system having a controller that is capable of controlling
an accelerator and a brake of a vehicle. The controller may act
directly in connection with the accelerator or braking mechanisms
or may send signals to a vehicle control unit for subsequently
operating the accelerator or brake. The touch free vehicle control
system includes a gesture interface device having one or more
touchless sensors that detect a position of a driver's appendage
within a range of movement. The one or more touchless sensors
operate without any physical touching between the one or more
touchless sensors and the driver's appendage. The one or more
touchless sensors send a signal to the controller that is
indicative of the position of the driver's appendage within the
range of movement.
[0004] In an alternate embodiment, the system is used in connection
with foot or finger pedals that are spring loaded and capable of
moving between two points to define a range of motion or a specific
gesture. One pedal is interpreted to be an accelerator pedal and
the second pedal is a gesture interpreted as a brake pedal. It is
possible for the pedals to be interpreted as different gestures for
different vehicle functions.
[0005] Further areas of applicability of the present invention will
become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter.
It should be understood that the detailed description and specific
examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the
invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are
not intended to limit the scope of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] The present invention will become more fully understood from
the detailed description and the accompanying drawings,
wherein:
[0007] FIG. 1 is an illustrated view of a touch free vehicle
control system and its operation within an interior of a
vehicle;
[0008] FIG. 2 is an illustrated view of a touch free vehicle
control system and its operation within an interior of a
vehicle;
[0009] FIG. 3 is a side plan view of a touch free vehicle control
system used in connection with a foot pedal;
[0010] FIG. 4 is a side plan view of a touch free vehicle control
system used in connection with a hand pedal;
[0011] FIG. 5 is an overhead plan view of a glove on a user's hand
used in connection with the touch free vehicle control system in
accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; and
[0012] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing the overall operation
of the touch free vehicle control system.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0013] The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is
merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the
invention, its application, or uses.
[0014] Referring now to FIG. 6, a schematic diagram outlining the
operation of a touch free vehicle control system 10, 100 is shown.
The touch free vehicle control system 10, 100 includes a gesture
detection device 12, 12', 112 that includes one or more touchless
sensors. The gesture detection device 12, 12', 112 and one or more
touchless sensors may include a combination of sensors and may
particularly include a Leap Motion.RTM. device, charge couple
device, infrared sensors, digital cameras, motion detectors, and
combinations thereof. The gesture detection device 12 is physically
connected to a controller 14, which may be a car computer, or a
separate electronic control unit (ECU). The connection between the
gesture detection device 12, 12', 112 and the controller 14 may be
a first connection 16 such as a physical bus (e.g. universal serial
bus (USB)) connection or the first connection 16 may be a wireless
connection. The controller 14 includes gesture classification
software 18 programmed thereon, which is capable of interpreting
the signals generated by the gesture detection device 12, 12',
112.
[0015] The gesture for classification software 18 processes the
signals from the gesture detection device 12 and then transmits a
command signal through a second connection 20, which may be a
physical or wireless bus where the signal is passed onto a
mechanical system 22 of a vehicle. The mechanical system 22 of the
vehicle may include a signal classification controller 24 that
receives the command signals from the controller 14 and then sends
or directs the command signal onto vehicle functions 26.
[0016] The vehicle functions 26 include, but are not limited to,
acceleration, braking, parking brake on, parking brake release,
door lock, door unlock, window actuators, door actuators, hood
release switch, fuel door release switch, radio controls, telephone
controls, navigation controls, interior light controls, exterior
light controls, cruise controls, turn signal controls, hazard
signal controls, odometer controls, vehicle information center
controls, media player controls, and window wiper controls. The
different vehicle functions 26 receive a signal from the signal
classification controller 24, which is shown to be part of the
mechanical system 22 of the vehicle; however, it is within the
scope of this invention for the signal classification controller 24
to be part of the controller 14 and signals from the signal
classification controller 24 will be sent directly from the
controller 14 to the specific vehicle functions 26, thereby
eliminating the need for the second connection 20 between the
controller 14 and the signal classification controller 24.
[0017] Referring now to FIG. 1, an environmental view showing the
touch free vehicle control system within an interior 28 cabin of a
motor vehicle is shown. The gesture interface device 12 in this
particular embodiment is connected to a vehicle instrument panel 29
and has a detection zone 30 which is an area where the gesture
interface device 12 may detect gestures from an appendage 32 of a
driver. The appendage 32 as shown in FIG. 1 is the driver's hand,
but may be other appendages such as the driver's fingers as shown
in FIG. 2, or the driver's foot as shown in FIG. 3. It is also
possible for the detection zone to be moved or changed to detect
movements at other locations. FIG. 1 shows an alternate location
having pedals 34 located on a steering wheel 36 where the pedals 34
would operate in a manner similar to the pedals shown in FIGS. 2-4,
which will be described later.
[0018] Another alternate embodiment shown in FIG. 1 includes a
gesture interface device that is a microphone for receiving audio
signals. The microphone 12' can be used to receive audio gestures
instead of movements of a driver's appendage. The microphone 12'
can be used in connection with the movement oriented gesture
interface device 12 or may be used independently.
[0019] As shown in FIG. 1, the driver's appendage 32 is placed
within the detection zone 30 and different gestures or movements
may be made in order to define a specific command. For example, as
shown in FIG. 1, the driver's appendage 32 is a flat hand which may
indicate a brake command, an acceleration command or some other
type of command. The detection zone 30 also defines a range of
movement for a specific gesture.
[0020] For example, if the driver's appendage 32 is a flat hand
indicating stop or braking a clenched fist or a position between a
flat hand and a clenched fist, then the range of motion between a
fully clenched fist and a flat hand could be interpreted by the
gesture interface device 12 to be a command to accelerate the
vehicle. The position of the driver's fingers between a flat hand
and a clenched fist will be interpreted by the gesture interface
device 12 to be the degree of acceleration from a full brake
position (e.g. a flat hand) and a fully accelerated position (e.g.
a clenched fist).
[0021] Referring now to FIG. 2, an alternate embodiment of the
invention is shown where the touch free vehicle control system 10
utilizes two finger pedals 38, 40. The two finger pedals 38, 40
may, for example, be interpreted by the gesture interface device 12
to be a brake pedal 38 and accelerator pedal 40. It is within the
scope of this invention for additional pedals to be used, or for
the one or more pedals 38, 40 to be interpreted by the gesture
interface device to be a different type of pedal for generating the
various vehicle functions 26 as shown in FIG. 6. The one or more
pedals 38, 40 may pivot and have a spring 42 located under the
pedals for providing resistance in order to give the driver a more
resistant feel when depressing each of the one or more pedals 38,
40. The pedals 38, 40 define the range of motion for the gesture
interface device. The gesture interface device 12 in actuality is
detecting the movement of the driver's appendage 32 and not
necessarily the movement of the pedals 38, 40. Instead, the pedals
38, 40 are present in order to assist the driver in making the
proper gestures for the gesture interface device 12 and for
providing the driver with a feel of where the driver's appendage 32
is within the range of movement detected by the gesture interface
device 12.
[0022] Referring now to FIG. 3, an alternate embodiment of a touch
free vehicle control system 100 is shown. In this particular
embodiment, the touch free vehicle control system 100 is installed
near a driver's appendage 132 which is the driver's foot. The one
or more pedals 138, 140 are foot pedals that have a spring 142
connected to the underside of the foot pedal in order to provide
the driver with a resistance type feel in order to give the driver
a similar feel for where his or her appendage 132 is located within
a detection zone 130 of a gesture interface device 112. The gesture
interface device 112 detects the position of the driver's appendage
132 within the range of movement in a manner similar to the finger
pedals 38, 40 shown in FIG. 2.
[0023] The touch free vehicle control system 100 shown in the
present embodiment of the invention provides an alternate
arrangement to traditional vehicle accelerator and brake pedal
systems that detect the movement of the pedal using sensors or
mechanical connections such as a cable with the accelerator and
brake components of a vehicle. The touch free vehicle control
system 100 in the present embodiment of the invention eliminates a
number of different components by removing the physical wiring and
sensors that would traditionally be connected to the vehicle
accelerator pedal and brake pedal. This reduces the number of
components and also reduces physical wear that would occur with
traditional sensors located on the accelerator and brake pedal. The
touch free vehicle control system 100 as shown in FIG. 3 senses the
position of the driver's appendage 132 or foot and is not detecting
the position of the one or more pedals 138, 140.
[0024] FIG. 4 shows an alternate embodiment of the invention shown
in FIG. 2. In the present embodiment of the invention, the gesture
interface device 12 is located within a well 44 having an aperture
46. The well 44 may be formed in a surface of the vehicle interior
cabin 28 to allow a user to place their appendage 32 through the
aperture 46 into the well, which defines a detection zone 30'. The
detection zone 30' is thereby contained within the well 44, which
provides the advantage of eliminating the possibility of accidental
movements within the detection zone 30'. FIG. 4 also optionally
includes finger pedals 38, 40 which have springs 42 for providing
resistance and allowing the users appendage to interact with and
depress the finger pedals 38, 40. The purpose of providing the
finger pedals 38, 40 is the same as the embodiment shown in FIG. 2,
thereby providing the user with a feel for where their appendage 32
is within the range of motion of the detection zone 30'.
[0025] Referring now to both FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, additional
alternate embodiments are shown where the user's appendage 32 is a
hand that has a glove 48 on the appendage 32. The glove 48 has
detection points 50 located at the tips of the fingers, which are
detected by the gesture interface device 12. This embodiment allows
for only a person wearing the glove 48 to operate the touch free
vehicle control system 10 since the gesture interface device 12
will only detect movements of the detection points 50 of the person
wearing the glove 48. FIG. 4 shows an additional alternate
embodiment where the person wearing the glove 48 will still place
their hand through the aperture 46 of the well 44 in order to
operate the touch free vehicle control system. The use of a glove
48 with detection points 50 will prevent accidental operation of
the touch free vehicle control system 10, but also may provide more
precise movements or gestures to be read by the gesture interface
device 12 since the exact dimensions of the glove 48 and location
of the detection points 50 are known. The use of the glove 48 a
shown in FIG. 4 is optional and not required.
[0026] The description of the invention is merely exemplary in
nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of
the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention.
Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the
spirit and scope of the invention.
* * * * *