Vehicle Access Control Using BLE-UWB Distance Switching
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle control systems face challenges in measuring the distance between a vehicle and a mobile terminal with reduced power consumption and high precision, especially when enabling operations from outside the vehicle.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle control apparatus that uses a combination of Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and Ultra Wide Band (UWB) communication specifications to measure the vehicle-terminal distance, with a high-precision distance measurement determining unit deciding when to switch between low-power BLE communication for initial positioning and high-precision UWB communication for precise distance measurement based on battery status and operational conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If high-precision distance measurement is performed continuously using UWB, then measurement precision is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between BLE and UWB communication modes based on operational conditions. BLE is used for initial connection and low-power operation, while UWB is activated only when high-precision distance measurement is required (e.g., when the mobile terminal approaches the vehicle for authentication). This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by making measurement precision variable rather than constant.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the measurement precision parameter based on operational context. When the mobile terminal is far from the vehicle, low-precision BLE-based measurement is sufficient. When the terminal approaches and authentication is needed, the system switches to high-precision UWB measurement. This parameter change strategy allows the system to maintain adequate measurement quality while minimizing power consumption.
2Use of energy by moving object
If low-power BLE communication is used for distance measurement, then power consumption is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The distance measurement process is segmented into two stages: initial positioning using low-power BLE communication, and precise measurement using UWB when needed. BLE handles the coarse positioning and maintains connection, while UWB provides fine-grained distance measurement only when the terminal is in the proximity zone requiring authentication. This segmentation allows the system to use each communication method for its optimal function.
Solution Approach 2:
BLE serves as an intermediary communication layer that bridges the vehicle and mobile terminal before activating UWB. The BLE connection allows the system to track the terminal's approach and trigger UWB-based precise measurement only when necessary. This intermediary role of BLE reduces overall power consumption while maintaining the capability for high-precision measurement when required.
3Measurement precision
If UWB communication is activated continuously, then measurement precision is maintained, but battery remaining amount decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous UWB activation, the system employs periodic measurement cycles. UWB is activated periodically when the mobile terminal enters the out-vehicle communication area, performs distance measurement for authentication, then returns to sleep mode. This periodic activation pattern maintains measurement precision when needed while extending battery life by avoiding continuous operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary distance estimation using low-power BLE before activating UWB. This preliminary action allows the system to determine whether the mobile terminal is within the authentication zone, triggering UWB activation only when necessary. By performing this preliminary check in advance, the system avoids unnecessary UWB operations that would deplete battery power.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle control apparatus includes a first vehicle communication unit performing communication with a mobile terminal, a first distance measuring unit measuring, with first precision, a vehicle-terminal distance being a distance between a vehicle and the mobile terminal, a terminal position information obtaining unit obtaining terminal position information transmitted from the mobile terminal, a second distance measuring unit measuring the vehicle-terminal distance with second precision being measurement precision lower than the first precision based on the terminal position information, and a high-precision distance measurement determining unit determining whether the first distance measuring unit is caused to measure the vehicle-terminal distance or not based on the vehicle-terminal distance measured by the second distance measuring unit.