Adaptive Power Door-Lock System for Vehicle Theft Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing power door-lock systems for vehicles do not effectively prevent theft when the user is temporarily away from the vehicle within a predetermined distance, as they either fail to lock the vehicle or cause repetitive locking and unlocking, leading to user inconvenience and potential theft risks.
Innovation Solution
A power door-lock system that uses in-vehicle ECUs, a communicator, and sensors to assess the security situation based on the vehicle's position and surrounding data, determining an appropriate transition time to lock the vehicle after the driver has exited, thereby minimizing user inconvenience and theft risks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the system locks the vehicle automatically when the key device is away from the vehicle by a predetermined distance or more, then theft prevention is improved, but user convenience deteriorates when the user needs to temporarily leave the vehicle within the predetermined distance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the door-lock transition time variable rather than fixed. The control unit dynamically adjusts the transition time based on the security situation identified from position data and security data. When the security situation is high risk, the transition time is shortened for immediate locking; when low risk, the transition time is extended for user convenience. This resolves the contradiction by making the system adaptive to different contexts.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of transition time based on security situation. Instead of using a single fixed threshold distance for automatic locking, the system modifies the locking behavior by adjusting the transition time parameter according to identified security situations. This allows the system to maintain theft prevention while accommodating user needs for temporary vehicle departure.
2Ease of operation
If the system uses position data and security data to identify security situation and adjust locking behavior, then user convenience is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by having the control unit perform multiple functions: it manages both the basic automatic door-locking function and the advanced security situation identification function. The same control unit processes position data, acquires security data, identifies security situations, and determines transition time. This multi-functionality approach improves user convenience without proportionally increasing device complexity, as existing control infrastructure is leveraged.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces security data as an intermediary element that bridges position information and locking decisions. Rather than directly converting position data into locking commands, the system acquires security data about the region and uses it to mediate the decision-making process. This intermediary layer simplifies the overall system architecture by providing a structured way to handle security considerations.
Data Source
AI summary
A power door-lock system includes a door-lock controller, a current position data obtainer, a security data obtainer, and a security situation identifier. The door-lock controller controls door-lock of a vehicle. The current position data obtainer acquires position data regarding a current position of the vehicle. The security data obtainer acquires security data regarding a region including the current position of the vehicle. The security situation identifier identifies a security situation of the current position of the vehicle based on the position data and the security data. The power door-lock system determines, based on the security situation identified by the security situation identifier, transition time from a door-unlocked state of the vehicle after a determination that a driver has got off to power door-lock, and allows the door-lock controller to make the power door-lock after an elapse of the transition time.