Capacitive Sensor Rain Detection for Vehicle Windows
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle window auto-close systems for rain detection are costly and inefficient, particularly due to the need for additional sensors, and do not adequately consider safety factors such as temperature changes within the vehicle cabin.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing existing capacitive sensors from passive keyless entry systems to detect rain conditions, sending alerts to a mobile device for confirmation before performing auto-close actions, thereby leveraging existing components to reduce costs and enhance safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If dedicated rain sensors are added to detect precipitation for auto-close window functionality, then rain detection capability is improved, but parts cost and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reuses existing capacitive sensors from the passive keyless entry system for multiple purposes: original keyless entry functionality plus rain detection. This eliminates the need for dedicated rain sensors, reducing parts cost while maintaining rain detection capability through the multi-functional use of existing sensor infrastructure
Solution Approach 2:
The existing capacitive sensors serve themselves by performing both their original keyless entry function and rain detection function without requiring additional dedicated components. The system leverages the self-existing sensor infrastructure to provide rain detection services
2Reliability
If windshield rain sensors are used to detect rain for auto-close feature, then rain detection is achieved, but key-off-load electrical current consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic sampling of capacitive sensor values at predetermined time intervals rather than continuous monitoring. This periodic action reduces key-off-load electrical current consumption while still enabling effective rain detection by checking sensor states at regular intervals
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of the capacitive sensors by adjusting sampling frequency and using threshold-based detection. By monitoring capacitance changes against predetermined thresholds rather than continuous analog monitoring, the system achieves rain detection with reduced electrical current 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
The system effectively closes vehicle openings during rain events while minimizing additional part and power consumption costs, and ensures safety by considering user confirmation and temperature changes within the vehicle cabin.
Implementation Method 1
identifying a rain condition according to a capacitive change across sensor data received from a plurality of external capacitive sensors of the vehicle
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle controller may receive notification settings to apply when determining rain conditions. The controller may identify a rain condition sensor data, and send a rain alert to a mobile device to obtain confirmation to perform rain condition actions specified by the notification settings. The mobile device may receive, from the vehicle controller, the rain alert requesting confirmation to perform rain condition actions specified by the notification settings; and may send, responsive to user input to the mobile device, a confirmation to perform the rain condition actions.