Contactless Gesture Actuation for Hygienic Public Transport Controls
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Solution Overview
Problem
Bacterial transmission through direct contact with actuation devices in public transportation vehicles, particularly in sanitary rooms, is a significant concern.
Innovation Solution
An actuation device capable of being actuated by a predetermined contactless gesture, equipped with a sensor unit and evaluation unit to detect and verify specific motion patterns, thereby eliminating the need for direct contact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If direct contact actuation is used, then ease of operation is improved, but bacterial transmission increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical contact-based actuation system with an optical sensing system. The sensor unit detects contactless gestures (such as hand waving or approaching motions) and converts them into actuation signals, eliminating the need for physical contact with the actuation device while maintaining ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary detection mechanism (sensor unit) that mediates between the user's gesture and the actuation device. The sensor unit captures optical information from contactless gestures and transmits it to the evaluation unit, which then triggers the controlled device, serving as a hygienic intermediary that prevents direct contact.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If contactless actuation is implemented, then bacterial transmission is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor unit is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a contactless actuation detector and as a means to recognize specific gesture patterns. The evaluation unit integrates multiple functions including gesture validation, false actuation prevention, and control signal generation, reducing the need for separate components and minimizing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the sensor unit and evaluation unit into an integrated actuation system. The sensor unit and evaluation unit work together as a unified system to detect gestures, validate patterns, and trigger actuation, merging multiple functions into a compact design that minimizes complexity while maintaining contactless operation.
3Reliability
If gesture pattern recognition is added, then erroneous actuations are prevented, but measurement precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The evaluation unit is pre-programmed with specific gesture patterns that constitute valid actuation commands. Before triggering actuation, the system preliminarily checks whether the detected gesture matches one of the predefined patterns, ensuring that only intentional and recognized gestures result in device actuation, thereby preventing erroneous triggers.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring the sensor signals and comparing them against predefined gesture patterns. The evaluation unit provides feedback by validating whether the detected motion sequence matches an expected actuation gesture, and only generates control signals when the pattern recognition is successful, ensuring high actuation accuracy.
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
Prevents bacterial transmission and reduces erroneous actuations by ensuring that only valid contactless gestures activate the device, enhancing hygiene and reliability.
Implementation Method 1
The sensor unit has been set up to generate a sensor signal and to communicate the sensor signal to the evaluation unit when an object, in particular a finger or a hand of a person, is executing a motion at a distance from the actuation device within a detection space of the sensor unit, the signal being dependent on the sequence of movements of the motion
Data Source
AI summary
An actuation device for a public transport vehicle to avoid transmission of bacteria during the actuation. The device can be actuated by a predefined contactless actuation gesture, the device having a sensor unit that measures without contact and an evaluation unit, which is connected to the sensor unit. The sensor unit can generate a sensor signal transmit the sensor signal to the evaluation unit when an object, in particular a finger or a hand of a person, performs, within a detection space of the sensor unit, a movement at a distance from the actuation device, the signal being dependent on the movement sequence of the movement. The evaluation unit can check whether the movement is a predefined contactless actuation gesture, by which the actuation device can be actuated. If the movement is such an actuation gesture, a control signal is generated for a device of the vehicle.