Powered Center Console Cover With Valuables Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle consoles lack an efficient mechanism to automatically secure items within the storage compartment, particularly when occupants leave the vehicle, leaving valuable items exposed and vulnerable to theft or loss.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle console with a powered cover that moves between open and closed positions, equipped with an imaging camera, image processing, and a controller. The system captures images of the storage compartment, detects valuable items, and automatically closes the cover when an item of value is detected.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a manual lid is used for the storage compartment, then the device complexity is low, but the security and automation level is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses image capture and processing to automatically detect valuable items in the storage compartment, triggering the powered cover to close without human intervention. This self-service mechanism enhances security by automatically securing items while reducing the need for manual monitoring.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the purely mechanical manual lid system with an integrated system that incorporates imaging sensors, image processing algorithms, and a powered actuator. This substitution of mechanical systems with automated systems directly improves security while accepting increased device complexity.
2Ease of operation
If the cover remains open for easy access, then the ease of operation is high, but valuable items are exposed and vulnerable to theft or loss
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of valuable items using image capture and processing before the cover closes. By identifying items of value in advance, the system can selectively close the cover to protect these items while maintaining ease of access for non-valuable items, thus preventing theft or loss without compromising operational convenience.
Solution Approach 2:
The image processing system continuously monitors the storage compartment and provides feedback to the control logic. When valuable items are detected, the system responds by closing the powered cover, creating a feedback loop that dynamically adjusts security measures based on the presence of valuable items, thereby protecting against theft while maintaining ease of access when unnecessary.
3Reliability
If automated item detection and cover closing is implemented, then the security is improved, but the device complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the storage compartment monitoring function from the cover operation function. The image capture and processing independently identify valuable items, and only trigger the powered cover closure when such items are detected. This segmentation allows the system to maintain simplicity for non-valuable items while providing enhanced security for valuable items, thereby managing overall system complexity effectively.
4Reliability
If the powered cover is used to automatically close, then the protection against unauthorized access is enhanced, but the use of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The powered cover operates periodically rather than continuously - it remains open by default for ease of access and only closes when the image processing system detects valuable items. This periodic action significantly reduces energy consumption compared to continuous operation, while still providing enhanced protection against unauthorized access when needed.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle includes a console having a base housing having a first compartment having an open top end, a powered cover coupled to the base housing and configured to move between an open compartment position exposing the first compartment, and a closed compartment position covering the first compartment, at least one sensor including an imaging camera located in the vehicle and orientated to capture images of the first compartment when the cover is in the open compartment position, and image processing for processing the captured images and detecting one or more objects determined to be of value located within the first compartment. A controller controls the powered cover to move the powered cover from the open compartment position to the closed compartment position when an item of value is detected located within the first compartment.