Vehicle Door Lock Gesture Control With Event-Based Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle door lock systems require user proximity for operation, leading to security vulnerabilities and high computational complexity, especially with camera-based solutions.
Innovation Solution
An event-based sensor integrated into the vehicle door handle detects hand gestures for remote lock control, utilizing near-infrared sensitivity and low-data processing, combined with a time-of-flight sensor for collision detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If camera-based facial recognition is used for user identification, then user recognition capability is improved, but computational complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex camera-based facial recognition systems with a simpler gesture recognition system using sensors to detect hand movements and positions. This substitution reduces computational complexity while maintaining user identification and authentication capabilities through alternative biometric data (hand geometry and gesture patterns).
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs lower-cost sensor components instead of expensive camera systems with complex image processing algorithms. By using simpler sensing technology that detects hand gestures and positions, the system achieves user recognition functionality at reduced computational and financial cost.
2Adaptability or versatility
If standard cameras are used for facial recognition, then user identification is achieved, but data processing requirements and system cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential information needed for user identification by detecting specific hand gesture patterns and positions, rather than processing complete facial images. This selective extraction of relevant data reduces the quantity of data that needs to be processed while maintaining accurate user identification capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces data-intensive camera-based image processing with simpler sensor-based gesture detection. The sensors capture minimal data points representing hand positions and movements, which require significantly less computational resources to process compared to full facial recognition data streams.
3Ease of operation
If contactless sensors with wide detection range are used, then ease of operation is improved, but security vulnerabilities increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements localized gesture recognition that requires specific hand movements within defined spatial zones near the vehicle. By requiring precise local gestures (such as specific hand positions or motion patterns) rather than general proximity detection, the system maintains ease of operation for authorized users while preventing unauthorized access from a distance.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of detecting what users should do (authorized gestures), the system is designed to detect and reject unauthorized actions. The gesture recognition algorithm is configured to identify legitimate user patterns and automatically reject any deviations, inverting the traditional approach of accepting inputs and then validating them.
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 remote and secure lock control with reduced data processing demands and enhanced safety by detecting hand gestures and obstacles, allowing operation from a distance and preventing collisions.
Implementation Method 1
the event-based sensor is sensitive to light in the near infrared wavelength band
Implementation Method 2
processing, by the processing unit, the pixel data from the time-of-flight sensor and from the event-based sensor
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a method for controlling a lock mechanism of a motor vehicle door (1), the method comprising: acquiring, by a processing unit of the motor vehicle, pixel data from an event-based sensor (3) embedded in the vehicle; processing, by the processing unit, the pixel data to identify a hand of a user in the pixel data; detecting, by the processing unit, a hand gesture of the hand identified in the pixel data; and controlling the lock mechanism, by the processing unit, as a function of the detected hand gesture.