Acoustic Cabin Detection Using Vehicle Audio
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle cabins are vulnerable to unauthorized entry and precipitation damage when openable surfaces like windows or roof panels are left open, and existing solutions like adding sensors increase vehicle weight and cost, or rely on unreliable manual tracking.
Innovation Solution
An acoustic technique that broadcasts a signal through the vehicle's speaker and detects the returned sound using its microphone, comparing it to an expected signal to determine if the cabin is open, without requiring sensors on the cabin surfaces, and alerts the user via a wireless signal if the signal differs significantly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sensors are added to detect open cabin surfaces, then detection reliability is improved, but vehicle weight and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical sensors with an acoustic detection system that uses the vehicle's existing speaker and microphone to detect open cabin surfaces. The system broadcasts acoustic signals and analyzes returned signals to determine cabin status, eliminating the need for additional mechanical sensors on cabin surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the vehicle's existing audio components (speaker and microphone) for the detection function, allowing the vehicle's own infrastructure to serve the detection purpose without requiring external sensor additions. This self-service approach maintains reliability while avoiding weight and cost increases.
2Reliability
If sensors are added to detect open cabin surfaces, then detection reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical sensor installations with a software-based acoustic analysis system that processes signals from existing vehicle components, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining detection reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the vehicle's audio system multi-functional by using the speaker and microphone for both their original audio purposes and for cabin detection, thereby reducing the need for dedicated detection components and simplifying the overall device architecture.
3Device complexity
If manual tracking is used to monitor cabin surfaces, then device complexity is reduced, but detection reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces unreliable manual tracking with an automated acoustic detection system that objectively monitors cabin surface status, improving reliability while keeping device complexity low by using existing vehicle components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements an automated feedback mechanism where acoustic signals are continuously broadcast and returned signals are analyzed to provide real-time information about cabin surface status, eliminating the need for manual tracking while ensuring reliable detection.
4Weight of moving object
If acoustic signals are broadcast to detect open cabin surfaces, then detection cost and weight are reduced, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses periodic acoustic signal broadcasting rather than continuous operation, energizing the speaker and microphone only when cabin status needs to be checked. This intermittent operation significantly reduces energy consumption while maintaining the ability to detect open surfaces when needed.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method effectively detects open vehicle cabin surfaces without adding weight or cost, ensuring user notification to secure the cabin, especially during inclement weather, and can identify open panels without specifying which one is open.
Implementation Method 1
broadcasting the acoustic signal including a frequency component configured to excite a resonant frequency of the vehicle cabin
Data Source
AI summary
A method for detecting that a vehicle cabin is open includes broadcasting an acoustic signal through an aural transducer in the vehicle cabin, detecting a returned signal using an aural detector in the vehicle cabin, comparing the returned signal to an expected signal using processing circuitry in the vehicle, and determining that the vehicle cabin is open when the returned signal differs from the expected signal by a predetermined amount, and outputting an indication that the vehicle cabin is open. Outputting the indication that the vehicle cabin is open may include sending a wireless signal to a remote user device to alert a user that the vehicle cabin is open. The method may be performed in response to inclement weather, which may be detected by a rain sensor or by receiving, from an external wireless source, data indicating approaching inclement weather.