Vehicle Door Foot-Zone Projection for Hands-Free Opening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hands-free vehicle-door opening/closing apparatuses face challenges in allowing users to easily open vehicle doors without visual recognition of the laser beam's radiation range, making it difficult for users to determine where to place their foot.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle control apparatus that projects text or graphics onto a road surface, allowing users to open vehicle doors by stepping on the projected areas, with a noncontact sensor detecting the user's foot position to ensure safe operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If a laser beam is used for hands-free door opening, then the door can be opened without contact, but the user cannot visually recognize the radiation range and location
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a projection unit that projects visible light patterns onto the road surface as an intermediary between the laser beam and the user. This visible projection serves as a mediator that conveys the radiation range information to the user's visual system, allowing them to understand where to place their foot without direct contact with the invisible laser beam.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses visible light projection that creates visual patterns on the road surface. The projection unit emits visible light that forms distinguishable patterns, allowing users to see the radiation range through optical visualization. This transforms the invisible laser radiation into a visible visual indicator through optical projection.
2Ease of operation
If the laser beam is projected immediately under the vehicle, then the door opening function is achieved, but the user cannot identify where to put their foot
Solution Approach 1:
The projection unit creates a visible light pattern on the road surface that acts as an intermediary indicator. This visual projection is positioned at the same location where the laser beam would be projected, providing the user with visual information about the radiation location without requiring them to see the invisible laser beam itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions the information presentation from a three-dimensional invisible laser beam in space to a two-dimensional visible projection pattern on the road surface. This dimensional transformation makes the radiation location information visually accessible to the user by mapping it onto the surface plane where the user can easily perceive and locate it.
3Reliability
If a noncontact sensor is added to detect foot position, then safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit is designed to perform multiple functions: it controls the projection unit to create visual patterns, processes signals from the noncontact sensor to detect foot position, and manages the door opening operation. By making the control unit multi-functional, the patent adds safety capabilities without requiring separate dedicated control systems, thereby minimizing the increase in overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the projection unit, noncontact sensor, and control unit into an integrated system. The control unit merges the functions of coordinating the projection timing, processing sensor data, and controlling door operation into a single centralized control mechanism, reducing system complexity compared to having separate independent systems for each function.
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
Enables users to easily and safely open vehicle doors by clearly indicating the action area on the road surface, reducing the risk of accidental contact with the door and allowing for operation while carrying baggage.
Implementation Method 1
a projection unit which projects text or graphics on a road surface
Implementation Method 2
a noncontact sensor which detects an object in an area where text or graphics are projected
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The vehicle control apparatus according to the present invention causes a door of a vehicle to be safely opened, included are a projection unit configured to project text or graphics onto a road surface, a noncontact sensor configured to detect an object in an area where text or graphics are projected, and a control unit configured to output a control signal which causes a component of a vehicle to operate when the noncontact sensor detects an object.