Vehicle Door Handle Touch Sensor Driver ID Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current passive entry systems for vehicles fail to accurately apply driver preference settings when a driver enters the vehicle without using their key fob, leading to confusion and frustration, especially in shared vehicle ownership scenarios where the system defaults to the previous driver's settings.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that utilize a touch sensor on the door handle to detect driver presence, transmit an exterior search signal, and receive a unique ID code from a fob to assign the correct driver preference settings, including vehicle seat, mirror, and radio settings, ensuring the appropriate settings are applied based on the identified driver.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the vehicle uses the last valid fob identification to recall driver settings, then the system maintains simplicity and reliability, but the driver preference settings become inaccurate when multiple drivers share the vehicle and doors are left unlocked
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs a preliminary search for fob identifiers when the door handle is touched, before the driver actually enters the vehicle. This advance detection allows the system to identify the correct driver and apply appropriate preferences before the driving session begins, resolving the contradiction by ensuring accurate settings without requiring complex real-time detection during entry
Solution Approach 2:
The touch sensor on the door handle serves as an intermediary trigger that initiates the fob search process. This intermediate action bridges the gap between passive door opening and active driver identification, allowing the system to detect driver intent and perform identification without requiring direct fob interaction at the moment of entry
2Ease of operation
If the system requires active fob interaction for identification, then driver identification is accurate, but the ease of operation is reduced when drivers enter without using their key fob
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs automatic driver identification without requiring active participation from the driver. When the door handle is touched, the system autonomously searches for and identifies the associated fob, then applies the correct driver preferences automatically. This self-service approach maintains ease of operation while preventing loss of identification information through passive rather than active driver involvement
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides feedback by detecting the touch on the door handle and responding with an automatic fob search and identification process. This feedback loop ensures that the system actively seeks and recovers driver identification information even when the driver does not actively present their fob, thus preventing information loss while maintaining operational convenience
3Adaptability or versatility
If the vehicle doors are left unlocked in the garage, then accessibility is improved, but the system cannot detect the correct driver identification when someone enters without their fob
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs driver identification at the moment the door handle is touched, which is a preliminary action before the driver fully enters or starts the vehicle. This timing ensures that identification occurs regardless of door lock status, allowing the system to accurately detect the correct driver even when doors are left unlocked and no fob is actively presented
Solution Approach 2:
The door handle touch sensor acts as an intermediary that triggers the identification process without requiring the door to be locked or the fob to be actively presented. This intermediate trigger mechanism decouples the identification process from door lock status, maintaining both the flexibility to leave doors unlocked and the precision of driver identification
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
This solution ensures that the vehicle automatically applies the correct driver preference settings upon entry, eliminating confusion and ensuring that each driver's preferences are accurately set without the need for active fob interaction, enhancing user experience in shared vehicle ownership.
Implementation Method 1
determining whether a touch sensor disposed on a door handle of a driver door of the vehicle is triggered
Implementation Method 2
transmitting an exterior search signal from at least one antenna associated with the driver door upon determining that the touch sensor is triggered
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for applying driver preference settings for a vehicle. A electronic control unit (ECU) of the vehicle determines whether a touch sensor disposed on a driver door handle of the vehicle is triggered. Upon determining that the touch sensor is triggered, the ECU transmits an exterior search signal from at least one antenna associated with the driver door. The ECU further determines whether a valid response signal was received from a fob in response to the transmitted exterior search signal, the valid response signal include an identification code unique to the fob (e.g., the driver). The ECU can assign a driver preference settings based on the identification code received in the valid response signal.