Capacitance Sensors for Low-Power Vehicle Trunk Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing non-contact vehicle trunk lid actuation systems face issues with high power consumption from ultrasound or radar sensors, leading to intermittent monitoring and potential malfunctions due to false triggering by animals or objects.
Innovation Solution
The use of capacitance sensors with individually defined detection areas, configured as horizontal and vertical sensors, allows for low-energy continuous monitoring by detecting specific motion patterns of a person's leg and foot, preventing unauthorized actuation and reducing power consumption to less than 100 μA.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If ultrasound or radar sensors are used for non-contact detection, then detection capability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces ultrasound or radar sensors with capacitance sensors to detect the user's approach. Capacitance sensors operate with significantly lower power consumption while maintaining the ability to detect objects in the detection area, thus resolving the contradiction between detection capability and power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the detection parameter from acoustic or electromagnetic wave detection (ultrasound/radar) to electrical field detection (capacitance). This parameter change enables continuous monitoring with low power consumption, as capacitance sensors can operate continuously without the high energy demands of ultrasound or radar systems.
2Reliability
If continuous monitoring is implemented, then reliability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes high-power ultrasound or radar sensors with low-power capacitance sensors, enabling continuous monitoring operation. The capacitance sensors can remain active continuously without depleting the vehicle battery, thus achieving both continuous monitoring (improved reliability) and low power consumption simultaneously.
3Area of stationary object
If detection area is not specifically defined, then detection coverage is improved, but false triggering increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the detection space into specifically defined detection areas using means for defining detection areas. By segmenting the overall detection space into distinct zones, the system can monitor specific regions (e.g., near the trunk lid) without being triggered by objects in other areas, thus maintaining detection coverage while reducing false triggering.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by assigning different detection characteristics to different spatial locations. The means for defining detection areas create zones with specific detection properties, allowing the system to focus monitoring resources on critical areas while ignoring irrelevant regions, thereby reducing false positives while maintaining adequate coverage.
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
Enables reliable and continuous monitoring of the vehicle area with low energy consumption, ensuring the non-contact actuation system remains operational, accurately detecting user intent and preventing improper trunk lid activation.
Implementation Method 1
the first detection means is configured as a first capacitance sensor and the second detection means is configured as a second capacitance sensor
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a device for actuating a moving part (10) of a vehicle (1), particularly a trunk lid (10.1), a side door (10.2), or the like, without contact, comprising a first detection means (11) for detecting an object in a first detection area (11a) and a second detection means (12) for detecting an object in a second detection area (12a) so that the actuation of the moving part (10) can be activated through the detection means (11, 12). According to the invention, the first detection means (11) is designed as a first capacitance sensor (11), and the second detection means (12) is designed as a second capacitance sensor (12), wherein means (13, 14) are provided, with which the detection areas (11a, 12a) can be specified in areas separated from each other.