Non-Contact Gesture Access Control via Electric Field Sensing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing access control methods, such as mechanical locks, keypads, and hand scanners, are vulnerable to unauthorized access through various means like observation, manipulation, or physical compromise, lacking security and privacy.

Innovation Solution

A non-contact gesturing system using a three-dimensional electric field sensor technology that detects and tracks hand or finger motions in free space, allowing secure access without physical contact or visual feedback, utilizing a transmitting electrode and multiple receiving electrodes to generate and measure distortions in the electric field caused by a user's hand or finger.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional access control methods (mechanical locks, keypads, hand scanners) are used, then access can be restricted, but they are vulnerable to unauthorized access through observation, manipulation, or physical compromise

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecurity against unauthorized accessVSAvoidvulnerability to observation and manipulation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical locks, keypads, and physical hand scanners with a capacitive sensing system that detects hand gestures through electrical field interactions. This eliminates mechanical components that can be picked, bumped, or observed, and removes physical contact requirements that leave forensic evidence.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an electrical field as an intermediary between the user and the access control system. The capacitive sensors detect changes in the electrical field caused by hand gestures without requiring physical contact with the sensor surface, creating a non-contact interface that cannot be observed or manipulated by traditional means.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If keypads are placed in visible locations for user convenience, then ease of operation improves, but security is compromised as users become vulnerable to observation and muggers

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser convenience and situation awarenessVSAvoidexposure to observation and physical threat

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the visible mechanical keypad with invisible capacitive sensors that detect hand gestures through electrical field interactions. Users perform gestures in the air above the sensor surface without seeing or touching it, eliminating visual exposure to observers while maintaining ease of operation through natural hand movements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If hand and eye scanners are used for access control, then security is improved, but the devices become expensive and mechanically complicated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecurity against unauthorized accessVSAvoidmechanical complexity and cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex mechanical hand and eye scanners with simple capacitive sensor arrays that detect hand gestures through electrical field interactions. This eliminates expensive mechanical components, moving parts, and complex optical systems while maintaining security through unique gesture pattern recognition.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Ease of operation

If physical contact with access devices is required, then authentication can be performed, but physical evidence of access is left behind

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveauthentication capabilityVSAvoidphysical evidence of access

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an electrical field as an intermediary that allows authentication without physical contact. Users perform gestures in the air above the sensor surface, and the capacitive sensors detect the gestures through electrical field interactions, eliminating direct contact and the associated forensic evidence while maintaining authentication capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 provides a secure and private access method that prevents physical evidence of the access code and is resistant to unauthorized access attempts, as it eliminates the need for visual feedback and moving parts, making it difficult to intercept or compromise the access gestures.

Implementation Method 1

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectric field: Electric Field

Data Source

PatentEP3254179B1Contactless gesture based access control

Publication Date: 2020.03.18 NEODRON LTD

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AI summary

Gesturing is used to enter a unique combination of hand positions and/or movements for accessing a secured device having a security entry system requiring that a correct code be entered before allowing access thereto. An authorized user places his/her hand(s) over a gesture sensing structure and executes a series of movement/gestures to unlock and gain access to the secured device. The gesture sensing structure may be placed inside of a visual shield so that visually intercepting the coded positions/movements may be prevented. Left and right gestures may be used to allow using traditional tumbler lock combinations to unlock and gain access to the secured device. A combination of gestures may be used to create a plurality of security combinations.