Mexican Media Brands
Hands-Off Controls: Making a Grand Gesture More Common
Low-cost tech promises to bring touchless systems to mainstream models
#interior #electronics
Share
Automakers began to offer gesture control systems in vehicles just a few years ago. To date, applications have been mostly limited to luxury models such as the BMW 7 Series.
But that soon may change.
Maxim Integrated Products, a San Jose, Calif.-based signal processing specialist, says it has developed a new sensor technology that is significantly smaller and as much as one-tenth the cost of current hand-gesture systems.
How It Works
Maxim’s MAX25205 system uses integrated optics and infrared sensors in place of the time-of-flight (ToF) cameras used in most gesture control systems.
Maxim gesture control system (Image: Maxim Integrated Products)
Coupled with an LED driver and internal low-dropout regulator, the array of 60 photo diodes is about one-fourth the size of a ToF-based unit, according to the supplier. The design also enables the use of a single (4-mm2) microcontroller in place of multiple units and a sophisticated microprocessor.
Maxim claims the integrated MAX25205 unit enables improved performance and less maintenance. The system recognizes nine different types of hand movements—including swipes, rotations, pinches and proximity sensing—with less lag time, the company says.
Formed in 1983, Maxim had 2019 sales of $2.3 billion. The company develops analog and mixed-signal products.
RELATED CONTENT
-
2018 Volvo XC60 T6 AWD Inscription
The thing about the 2018 Volvo XC60 T6 AWD Inscription: this all-new crossover from Sweden is the kind of vehicle that you want to be in when driving in and around Gothenburg, from which it hails, because it has the levels of comfort and capability that put you in good stead, regardless of the weather (although, oddly enough, as I am writing this it is 39 degrees F there and 14 degrees F here in Plymouth and there are several inches of snow on the ground, so don’t imagine that you need to go to Sweden to drive a vehicle that has what is described as “instant traction” all-wheel-drive (a BorgWarner Generation 5 coupling distributes torque as required based on on-going sensor inputs; as much as 50 percent of the torque can be distributed to the rear wheels when necessary). One of the things that you probably think about when you think “Volvo” is something that is imminently sensible.
-
Pacifica Hybrid Explained
Chrysler pioneered the modern-day minivan more than 30 years ago and has been refining and improving that type of vehicle ever since.
-
2016 Audi TTS
Dieter Rams is a German industrial designer who is well known in the design community for his 10 principles of good design.