Capacitive Door Handle Rain Detection for Auto-Close
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for automatically closing vehicle windows in rain conditions are not cost-effective due to the need for additional sensors and consume significant electrical current, and they fail to consider safety factors such as temperature changes that may occur when windows close.
Innovation Solution
A system using capacitive door handles to detect rain conditions by monitoring changes in capacitance, confirming the absence of a key fob and door opening, and initiating window closure through existing power actuators, thereby leveraging standard passive keyless entry systems for rain detection without additional incremental costs or power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If dedicated rain sensors are added to detect precipitation for automatic window close, then rain detection capability is improved, but parts cost and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The capacitive door handle sensors, originally designed solely for passive keyless entry detection, are made multi-functional by also detecting rain conditions. The same sensor hardware monitors both for key fob presence and for changes in capacitance indicative of rain, eliminating the need for dedicated rain sensors and reducing overall system complexity and parts cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the rain detection function with the existing capacitive door handle sensors used for keyless entry. By merging these two functions into a single sensor system, the patent eliminates redundant components and reduces parts cost while maintaining reliable rain detection capability.
2Reliability
If windshield rain sensors are used to detect wet glass for auto-close, then rain detection is achieved, but key-off-load electrical current consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic sampling of the capacitive door handle sensors at predetermined intervals when the vehicle is parked and off. This periodic action allows the system to detect rain conditions without continuously powering the sensors, thereby managing key-off-load electrical current consumption while maintaining effective rain detection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The existing capacitive door handle sensors, already powered during keyless entry operations, are made multi-functional to also detect rain. This eliminates the need for separate windshield rain sensors that would consume additional key-off-load current, as the same sensor infrastructure serves dual purposes.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If windows are automatically closed upon rain detection, then protection from rain is improved, but temperature increase in vehicle cabin may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system closes windows proactively upon detecting rain conditions to prevent rain from entering the vehicle. By taking preliminary action to seal the vehicle interior, the system protects occupants and vehicle interior from rain damage while the temperature issue only arises if windows remain closed for extended periods after rain stops.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors capacitive sensor data to detect changes in environmental conditions. By implementing feedback through continuous sensor monitoring, the system can detect when rain conditions have ceased and subsequently reopen windows to ventilate the cabin and reduce temperature buildup, thereby balancing rain protection with thermal comfort.
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 solution allows for effective and cost-efficient automatic window closure in rain conditions while ensuring safety by using existing capacitive sensors, reducing electrical current usage, and accounting for potential occupants or temperature changes.
Implementation Method 1
identifying, by a vehicle controller, a rain condition based on sensor data received from at least one capacitive handle of a vehicle
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle system may include a plurality of exterior capacitive sensors, such as door handles, and a controller in communication with the plurality of capacitive sensors. The controller may be configured to identify a rain condition based on sensor data received from at least one of the exterior capacitive sensors of the vehicle; ensure an absence of a key fob in proximity of the at least one locked handle and an absence of a subsequent door opening occurrence when unlocked to confirm the rain condition; and initiate a closure action to a power actuator associated with an open vehicle window for a confirmed rain condition.