In-Vehicle Barrier Control via Sensor-Triggered RF Signals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing movable barrier operator systems require manual intervention for opening and closing barriers, which is inconvenient and may lead to undesired operations when vehicle characteristics or user conditions are not met.
Innovation Solution
An in-vehicle device that communicates with a movable barrier operator via radio frequency signals or a network, using sensors and user account conditions to automatically control the barrier based on vehicle location, speed, and other conditions, ensuring operation only when specific criteria are satisfied.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual control of movable barrier is used, then user control is simple and direct, but convenience is reduced and undesired operations may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by detecting vehicle approach in advance and automatically activating the barrier operator before the vehicle arrives, eliminating the need for manual intervention at the moment of need while maintaining system simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The barrier control system serves itself by using vehicle detection sensors to automatically trigger barrier operation based on predetermined conditions, eliminating the need for manual user input while maintaining operational simplicity through condition-based automation
2Ease of operation
If automatic control based on vehicle detection is implemented, then convenience is improved, but reliability may deteriorate due to undesired operations when conditions are not met
Solution Approach 1:
The system establishes predetermined time thresholds in advance that define when vehicle approach detection should trigger barrier operation, ensuring reliable timing by pre-calculating appropriate activation moments based on vehicle speed and distance
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors vehicle detection status and compares it against predetermined time thresholds, using this feedback to determine whether to activate the barrier, thereby ensuring operation occurs only when appropriate conditions are met with high reliability
3Productivity
If barrier operation is triggered by vehicle detection, then productivity is improved, but energy consumption increases due to unnecessary operations
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary assessment of vehicle detection data against predetermined time thresholds before activating the barrier, ensuring that energy-consuming operations are only initiated when justified by appropriate vehicle approach conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs a partial check by evaluating only the essential time threshold condition before full barrier activation, avoiding unnecessary complete operation cycles when vehicle approach conditions are not properly met, thereby reducing wasted energy consumption
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 convenient, secure, and automated control of movable barriers by ensuring that the barrier operates only when the vehicle meets predetermined conditions, reducing unnecessary operations and enhancing user control.
Implementation Method 1
communicates with a movable barrier operator to cause the movable barrier operator to open or close a movable barrier in response to a command signal transmitted by the in-vehicle device using radio frequency signals
Data Source
AI summary
In one aspect, an in-vehicle computing device is provided for controlling operation of a movable barrier operator. The in-vehicle computing device includes a sensor configured to detect a vehicle characteristic and communication circuitry operable to cause automatic operation of the movable barrier operator by communicating with the movable barrier operator. The in-vehicle device further includes a processor operatively coupled to the communication circuitry, the sensor, and the memory. The processor configured to determine satisfaction of a user account condition and, upon the user account condition not being satisfied, to inhibit the communication circuitry from initiating automatic operation of the movable barrier operator.