Door Lock Inhibition via Hood Detection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing door lock systems face challenges in preventing electronic keys from being locked in the trunk without determining if the key is present, especially in vehicles with limited space for transmitters and structural constraints, such as MR layout vehicles where the space under the hood serves as a trunk, leading to difficulties in opening the trunk if the key is left inside.
Innovation Solution
A door lock system that includes a control unit inhibiting door lock mechanisms from locking when the hood is open, utilizing an opening detection unit to detect the hood's status and a notification unit to alert the user, allowing the hood to be reopened even if the key is inside the trunk, without the need for additional space or special communication devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a transmitter is mounted in the trunk to detect mobile device location, then the ability to determine whether the electronic key is in the trunk is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a hood opening detection unit as an intermediary device that indirectly indicates the presence of the electronic key in the trunk. When the hood is open, the system infers the electronic key is likely in the trunk (since the trunk is accessed through the hood), and prevents door locking accordingly. This intermediary approach avoids the need for direct detection devices in the trunk while still achieving the safety goal.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the proposed electromagnetic/radio wave-based detection system with a mechanical detection approach. Instead of using transmitters and receivers to detect the electronic key's presence, the system uses a mechanical hood opening detection unit that senses the physical state of the hood. This substitution simplifies the system by using straightforward mechanical sensing rather than complex electromagnetic detection infrastructure.
2Reliability
If the door lock mechanism locks the door when communication with the electronic key is performed, then the security of the vehicle is improved, but the risk of locking the electronic key inside the trunk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by preventing the door locking action before it can occur in situations where the electronic key might be in the trunk. The hood opening detection unit triggers a prohibition signal to the door lock mechanism in advance, blocking the locking command before execution. This pre-emptive measure eliminates the harmful outcome (locking the key in the trunk) while preserving security in normal situations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by using the hood opening detection unit to continuously monitor the hood state and provide real-time information to the door lock control unit. When the hood is detected as open, this feedback signal immediately inhibits the door locking function. This closed-loop feedback mechanism dynamically adjusts the door locking behavior based on the current state, preventing harmful outcomes while maintaining security when appropriate.
3Reliability
If additional communication devices are installed to detect the electronic key in the trunk, then the ability to prevent key locking is improved, but the cost and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The hood opening detection unit serves multiple functions: it detects hood opening status, infers the presence of the electronic key in the trunk, and triggers the door locking prohibition. By making this single detection unit multi-functional, the system achieves reliable prevention capability without adding separate dedicated communication devices for key detection, thereby reducing component quantity and space requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the hood status detection function with the electronic key presence detection function and the door locking control function into an integrated system. The hood opening detection unit's signal is directly utilized by the door lock control unit to determine whether to permit locking, combining multiple functions into a unified control logic that eliminates the need for separate dedicated devices.
Data Source
AI summary
A door lock system includes a trunk partitioned from a passenger compartment of a vehicle, a hood that opens and closes the trunk, a door lock mechanism that locks a door of the vehicle independently from locking of the hood, a control unit that controls driving of the door lock mechanism in response to predetermined communication performed with an electronic key carried by a user, and an opening detection unit that detects whether the hood is open. If the opening detection unit detects that the hood is open, the control unit inhibits the door lock mechanism from locking the door even when the predetermined communication is performed.