Capacitive Vehicular Door Sensor Mode Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicular door operation detecting apparatuses face challenges in promptly detecting user presence due to increased intermittent sensing times, which can lead to delayed detection and increased battery consumption, while also risking wrong door operations from small animals or objects.
Innovation Solution
A vehicular door operation detecting apparatus with a first and second electrode configured to be capacitively coupled to a user's body, featuring a switch member that switches between conductive and open states to sense total and individual capacitances, allowing for intermittent sensing when the user is not present and continuous sensing when the user is approaching, thereby reducing battery consumption without delaying detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the intermittent sensing time is increased to reduce battery consumption, then energy efficiency is improved, but the detection timing for user presence is delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The sensing operation is segmented into two distinct modes: intermittent sensing mode for power saving when no user is present, and continuous sensing mode for prompt detection when a user is detected. The control portion switches between these modes based on detection results, allowing the system to optimize between power consumption and detection speed at different operational states.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensing interval is made dynamic rather than fixed. The system transitions from long intermittent sensing intervals to short continuous sensing intervals when a user is detected, and can switch back to intermittent mode when the user is no longer detected. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to adapt to changing conditions and optimize both power consumption and detection responsiveness.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the intermittent sensing time is increased, then battery consumption is reduced, but the reliability of prompt door operation detection is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The control portion uses feedback from the capacitance sensor detection results to determine when to switch between intermittent and continuous sensing modes. When the sensor detects a user (capacitance exceeds threshold), the system switches to continuous sensing mode to ensure reliable and prompt door operation detection, thereby maintaining system reliability while optimizing power consumption.
3Speed
If the sensing is performed continuously, then the detection timing is improved, but battery consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs periodic intermittent sensing at extended intervals when no user is present, rather than continuous sensing. This periodic action significantly reduces battery consumption during idle periods while still maintaining the capability to detect users promptly when they approach, by switching to continuous sensing mode upon detection.
4Use of energy by moving object
If the intermittent time is increased, then energy efficiency is improved, but the detection ability to detect small animals or objects is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary intermittent sensing at extended intervals to detect the presence of users or objects. When a potential target is detected (capacitance exceeds threshold), the system switches to continuous sensing mode as a preliminary action to confirm the detection and enable prompt door operation, thereby maintaining detection accuracy while optimizing power consumption.
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 enables prompt and accurate detection of user operations while minimizing battery consumption by switching between sensing modes, ensuring reliable door operation and reducing the risk of false detections.
Implementation Method 1
a first electrode 11 and a second electrode 12 which are mounted at a vehicle 1 and positioned away from each other, and are individually capacitively coupled to a body of a user of the vehicle 1 approaching each of the upper electrode 11 and the lower electrode 12
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicular door operation detecting apparatus includes a first electrode and a second electrode mounted at a vehicle and positioned away from each other, a switch member switching the first electrode and the second electrode between a conductive state and an open state, and a control portion controlling the switch member and detecting an operation of the user relative to a door for the vehicle by sensing a total capacitance obtained by the first electrode and the second electrode in a first mode where the total capacitance is sensed each predetermined intermittent time and by sensing an individual capacitance of each of the first electrode and the second electrode in a second mode where the individual capacitance is sensed each detection time shorter than the predetermined intermittent time in a case where a presence of the user is determined because the total capacitance exceeds a detection threshold value.