Hands-Off Detection (HOD) & Steering Switch System

As vehicles advance toward higher levels of assisted and autonomous driving, automakers must accurately determine when the driver is physically engaged with the steering wheel to ensure safe and timely transitions between manual and automated control.

This design addresses this need by integrating hands-off detection (HOD), steering‑wheel heating, and touch‑based interaction into a unified steering interface that enhances both safety and user experience. By combining contact-impedance sensing, based on a steering sensor controller (SSC), with capacitive control and haptic feedback, the system can detect driver presence and enable responsive interaction.

System Benefits:

• SSC-based multi-channel impedance sensing delivers precise hands-off detection, even with gloves or moisture.
• Shared HOD and heater electrodes reduce BOM cost and wiring complexity.
• IPD-driven heater control with built-in protection and diagnostics enhances system reliability.
• MCU capacitive touch sensing with active shielding enables reliable water-resistant interaction.