Door Opening Behavior Recognition for Vehicle Access Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing motor vehicle systems fail to accurately identify the driver before they enter the vehicle, leading to incorrect personal profile activation when multiple known individuals are recognized or unauthorized users attempt to access personalized settings.

Innovation Solution

A sensor system on the door or nearby vehicle body detects and records information about the door opening process, such as acceleration or pressure profiles, allowing the control device to identify the person based on unique patterns, which are stored and compared to improve identification reliability over time.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a vehicle key with transponder is used for identification, then the driver can be identified before entering the vehicle, but incorrect identification occurs when someone else uses the key

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveidentification accuracyVSAvoidunauthorized access
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The identification process is segmented into multiple independent verification steps: first detecting door opening action, then analyzing door opening characteristics, and finally cross-referencing with stored profiles. This multi-stage segmentation prevents single-point failure and unauthorized access.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary identification actions before the driver fully enters the vehicle. The sensor detects door opening characteristics during the approach phase, allowing the control device to pre-load the correct personal profile before the driver takes the seat, preventing unauthorized profile activation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple known individuals are recognized by the system, then more people can access personalized settings, but the actual driver cannot be uniquely identified

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemulti-user supportVSAvoiddriver identification precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system assigns unique local characteristics to each door opening action, analyzing specific parameters such as opening speed, force, and motion pattern. Each user's door opening behavior creates a distinct local quality signature that enables precise identification even among multiple authorized users.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system monitors changes in door opening parameters over time and uses these variations to distinguish between different users. By analyzing parameters such as acceleration profiles, force applied, and temporal patterns, the system can uniquely identify the driver even when multiple people are authorized to use the vehicle.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Measurement precision

If biometric identification is implemented, then accurate personal identification is achieved, but the user must manually perform the biometric input

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveidentification accuracyVSAvoidoperational convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs identification automatically without requiring manual user input. The sensor detects door opening characteristics and the control device autonomously compares these with stored profiles to identify the driver, eliminating the need for manual fingerprint scanning or other active biometric participation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces manual biometric input mechanisms with automatic mechanical sensing of door opening behavior. Instead of requiring the user to actively provide biometric data through scanners, the system passively captures mechanical characteristics of the door opening action and uses these for identification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Loss of time

If door opening characteristics are used for identification, then identification occurs before driver enters the vehicle, but the system must accurately capture subtle motion differences

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveidentification timingVSAvoiddoor opening detection precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor is positioned and configured to detect door opening characteristics during the approach phase, before the driver enters the vehicle. This preliminary detection captures motion data early in the interaction sequence, enabling timely identification and profile activation without delaying the driver's access.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system analyzes door opening characteristics across multiple dimensions including temporal patterns, spatial trajectories, and force vectors. By examining the door opening process from multiple dimensional perspectives rather than a single parameter, the system can accurately distinguish between different users even with subtle motion differences.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 secure and reliable identification of the driver before they enter the vehicle, ensuring accurate activation of personal settings by learning and expanding the information pool with each door opening process, enhancing security and convenience.

Implementation Method 1

the sensor can be an acceleration sensor for detecting an acceleration or an acceleration profile of the door during the opening process as information

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAcceleration detection: Accelerometer

Implementation Method 2

a sensor which is arranged on a door handle and is designed as a pressure sensor and by means of which a pressure on the door handle for opening the door can be detected

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure detection: Piezoresistive Effect

Data Source

PatentEP3442833B1Motor vehicle and method for identifying a person opening a motor vehicle
Publication Date: 2019.06.05 AUDI AG
  • EP3442833B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2

AI summary

The invention relates to a motor vehicle, comprising a door, which leads to a driver seat, and at least one control device for setting person-specific parameters at adjustable vehicle components, at least one sensor (8, 10) arranged on the door or on the vehicle body in a region near the door being provided for capturing at least one piece of information (a, p) concerning the door opening operation during a door opening operation, the control device (6) being designed to identify a person (12) on the basis of the information.