Vehicle Bed Step Pressure Sensing for Tailgate Activation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for activating vehicle bed features, such as tailgates and lights, are inconvenient as they often require access to a key fob or buttons within the vehicle cabin, and motion sensors can lead to false activations, decreasing user convenience.
Innovation Solution
A system that uses a bed step with a pressure sensor to detect force patterns, allowing users to activate and deactivate vehicle functions like tailgates and bed lights by exerting specific amounts and durations of force, with authentication via a key fob proximity sensor to prevent false activations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If motion sensors are used to detect tailgate activation, then activation speed is improved, but false detection increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bed step is divided into multiple pressure-sensitive zones (first zone and second zone) that can be independently activated. Different zones or combinations of zones can trigger different vehicle functions, allowing for more precise and reliable detection while maintaining fast activation speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes from detecting motion (motion sensor) to detecting pressure distribution and duration (pressure sensor with multiple zones). By monitoring pressure magnitude, duration, and zone activation patterns, the system achieves both fast response and high reliability by distinguishing intentional activation from false triggers.
2Reliability
If buttons within vehicle cabin are used for feature activation, then activation reliability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The bed step serves as an intermediary control interface between the user and vehicle functions. Instead of requiring users to enter the cabin or handle key fobs, the bed step itself becomes the activation point, providing both reliability through pressure pattern recognition and ease of operation through external accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The bed step structure itself incorporates the sensing and control functionality. The pressure-sensitive zones and spring mechanism work together to automatically detect user intent and trigger appropriate functions without requiring additional controls or user actions beyond stepping on the designated zone.
3Reliability
If key fob access is required for feature activation, then activation reliability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The activation functionality is extracted from the key fob and repositioned to the bed step. This allows users to activate vehicle functions without needing to access or manipulate the key fob, especially convenient when hands are occupied with loads, while maintaining reliable activation through pressure pattern detection.
4Ease of operation
If pressure sensor detects force on bed step, then ease of operation is improved, but false activation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bed step is segmented into multiple pressure-sensitive zones with different activation thresholds and patterns. By requiring specific zone combinations or pressure duration patterns, the system achieves hands-free convenience while minimizing false activation from accidental contact or environmental factors.
Solution Approach 2:
The system monitors multiple pressure parameters simultaneously (magnitude, duration, zone distribution) rather than relying on a single pressure threshold. This multi-parameter detection approach enables hands-free operation convenience while significantly reducing false activation through pattern recognition.
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
Enhances user convenience by allowing hands-free activation of vehicle bed features without the need for key fobs or cabin buttons, reducing false positives and enabling safe, intuitive operation of tailgates and lights, especially when carrying heavy loads.
Implementation Method 1
a pressure sensor configured to measure the amount of force exerted onto the bed step
Implementation Method 2
a spring coil configured to control the vertical movement of the bed step
Data Source
AI summary
A method of activating a vehicle function is provided. The method includes detecting a force exerted onto a bed step of a vehicle using a pressure sensor. A controller detects whether the amount of force exerted onto the bed step is greater than a force threshold. When the force exertion force exceeds the force threshold, one of a plurality of pressure patterns is detected. One of a plurality of vehicle functions is then activated based on the detected pressure pattern.