Capacitive Sensor Vehicle Safety Triggering

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle safety device triggering systems require manual operation of an ID transmitter, which can be inconvenient when the user's hands are occupied, leading to discomfort and potential unauthorized access.

Innovation Solution

A system utilizing capacitive sensors to detect and evaluate movement patterns, allowing for non-contact triggering of safety device functions by recognizing predefined patterns, such as approaching and pivoting movements, without the need for active actuation of the ID transmitter.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual operation of ID transmitter is required, then security code transmission is reliable, but user convenience deteriorates when hands are occupied

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser convenienceVSAvoidauthentication reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service authentication by detecting movement patterns (such as kicking or approaching motions) to automatically trigger the safety device function. The control device autonomously evaluates whether the detected movement pattern corresponds to an authorized user's characteristic movement, eliminating the need for manual ID transmitter operation while maintaining security through pattern recognition

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical/manual operation of the ID transmitter with a capacitive sensor-based detection system. The capacitive sensor detects changes in capacitance caused by movement (such as kicking motions or approaching), and the control device processes these signals to authenticate users without requiring physical contact or manual button pressing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of operation

If capacitive sensor detects movement patterns, then hands-free operation is enabled, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehands-free operationVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control device integrates multiple functions: it manages capacitive sensor input, evaluates movement patterns, stores authorized patterns, and triggers safety device functions. By making the control device universal and multi-functional, the patent avoids adding separate dedicated components for each function, thereby limiting the increase in overall system complexity while enabling hands-free operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If movement pattern recognition is used, then unauthorized access is prevented, but measurement precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccess securityVSAvoidmovement detection precision
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by storing authorized movement patterns in advance in the control device's memory. During authentication, the detected movement pattern is compared against these pre-stored reference patterns. This preliminary preparation of reference data enables reliable security verification without requiring complex real-time analysis, thereby managing measurement precision requirements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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

Enhances convenience and security by allowing hands-free activation of safety device functions while ensuring authorized access, as the system evaluates specific movement patterns to authenticate users and trigger functions like opening vehicle doors.

Implementation Method 1

A first change in capacitance due to a movement of an object can be registered by the first capacitive sensor

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCapacitance: Capacitance

Data Source

PatentEP2943937B1System for a vehicle for triggering at least one function of a safety device
Publication Date: 2020.11.04 HUF HÜLSBECK & FÜRST GMBH & CO KG
  • EP2943937B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2943937B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2943937B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

System (1) for a vehicle (12) for triggering at least one function of a safety device (14), wherein the safety device (14) is electrically connected to a control device (10). According to the invention there is provision that the control device (10) has at least a first capacitive sensor (16), wherein the first capacitive sensor (16) can register a first change in capacitance through a movement of an object (18) and can communicate it to the control device (10), the control device (10) can determine and evaluate a first movement pattern of the object (18) by means of the first change in capacitance, wherein in the case of a positive evaluation the function of the safety device (14) can be triggered.