Cold Mirror Cover for Biometric Vehicle Sensor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional keyless entry systems for vehicles lack advanced authentication protocols, leading to potential unauthorized access and require users to carry specific devices, while also desiring a seamless vehicle appearance without visible keypads. Additionally, there is a need to identify users based on unique biometric characteristics for personalized settings.
Innovation Solution
An electromagnetic-based sensor system with a mirror that senses non-visible electromagnetic radiation, allowing for biometric authentication and gesture detection, where the mirror is reflective to visible light and transmissive to the non-visible radiation, enabling a concealed sensor assembly that does not require users to carry devices and provides personalized vehicle settings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a visible keypad or sensor interface is installed for keyless entry, then user authentication capability is improved, but vehicle appearance smoothness is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
A cold mirror is introduced as an intermediary component between the sensor and the external environment. The cold mirror reflects visible light to maintain a smooth vehicle appearance while transmitting non-visible electromagnetic radiation (infrared) to enable sensor operation. This mediator allows the sensor to be concealed behind the mirror surface, eliminating visible keypads while preserving authentication functionality.
2Reliability
If conventional keyless entry systems are used, then basic access control is achieved, but security against unauthorized access is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from detecting only visible light or simple proximity to detecting non-visible electromagnetic radiation parameters (infrared spectrum). By sensing infrared radiation patterns and characteristics that are unique to legitimate users, the system enhances security parameters while maintaining basic access control functionality. The cold mirror enables this parameter change by blocking visible light while transmitting infrared radiation.
3Shape
If sensors are concealed behind a mirror, then vehicle appearance is improved, but sensor detection capability is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The cold mirror exhibits different optical properties for different wavelengths of radiation. For visible light, it has high reflectivity to maintain appearance smoothness. For non-visible infrared radiation, it has high transmissivity to enable sensor detection. This local quality differentiation across the electromagnetic spectrum allows the mirror to simultaneously improve appearance while preserving detection capability for the specific radiation type used by the sensor.
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 enhances security by using biometric authentication and gesture detection, ensuring secure vehicle access without visible keypads, while maintaining a sleek appearance and allowing personalized vehicle settings based on user identification.
Implementation Method 1
the mirror which is reflective to visible light
Implementation Method 2
transmissive to the non-visible electromagnetic radiation sensed by the electromagnetic-based sensor
Data Source
AI summary
An electromagnetic-based sensor system includes a sensor assembly with a biometric identification sensor to determine a unique biometric characteristic of a user using a first non-visible electromagnetic radiation. Specifically, a palm vein sensor may measure a unique pattern of veins in a user's palm using near-field infrared light. A gesture sensor uses a second non-visible electromagnetic radiation, such as infrared or radio frequency to detect movement in a specific gesture pattern. An object detection sensor uses a third non-visible electromagnetic radiation to detect the presence of an object. A mirror overlies the sensor assembly and is reflective to visible light and transmissive to the non-visible electromagnetic radiation. The sensor assembly may be used within a vehicle to authenticate an individual user as an authorized user to unlock the vehicle. One or more settings of the vehicle may be set to predetermined values depending on the identity of the user.