Keyless Entry Haptic Feedback for Vehicle Communication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Keyless entry systems fail to effectively communicate vehicle information to users, leading to issues such as missed notifications, difficulty in locating vehicles, and inadequate alerts for safety concerns, as they primarily rely on auditory and visual cues that may not be discernible in all situations.
Innovation Solution
A keyless entry device equipped with a transceiver, drive circuit, and processor that generates haptic feedback based on vehicle information, allowing for communication of vehicle status, proximity, and alerts through tactile sensations, enabling users to receive notifications without needing to be inside the vehicle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the vehicle uses auditory and visual cues to communicate responses to commands, then the vehicle can provide feedback to the user, but the user may not discern such responses in noisy environments or when hearing-impaired
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a keyless entry device as an intermediary between the vehicle and the user. This device receives commands from the user, transmits them to the vehicle, and relays back responses through haptic feedback. The intermediary approach allows the communication to occur through multiple channels, with haptic feedback serving as a reliable mediator that is not affected by noisy environments or hearing impairments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces auditory and visual feedback mechanisms with haptic (tactile) feedback. Instead of relying on sound waves or light signals that can be blocked or drowned out, the system uses mechanical vibration and tactile sensations through the keyless entry device itself, providing a direct physical connection that is independent of environmental acoustic or visual conditions.
2Loss of information
If the vehicle displays information inside the vehicle, then the user can receive vehicle information, but the user must be inside the vehicle to receive such information
Solution Approach 1:
The keyless entry device serves as a portable intermediary that the user carries outside the vehicle. It receives vehicle information through wireless communication and presents it through haptic feedback patterns, allowing the user to access vehicle status, maintenance reminders, and warnings without needing to be physically inside the vehicle or rely on interior displays.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables the user to receive vehicle information autonomously through the keyless entry device. The device automatically receives commands from the user, communicates with the vehicle, and provides feedback without requiring the user to interact with interior vehicle systems or be positioned inside the vehicle.
3Device complexity
If the vehicle sends commands but does not communicate back to the keyless entry device, then the system remains simple, but the user cannot receive discrete or accessible feedback
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the vehicle communicates responses back to the keyless entry device, which then translates these responses into haptic feedback patterns. Different vibration patterns, frequencies, and intensities convey different types of information such as command acknowledgment, vehicle status, warnings, and maintenance reminders. This feedback loop enhances reliability by providing the user with immediate and discernible confirmation of vehicle responses.
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 users to receive critical vehicle information and alerts through haptic feedback, improving situational awareness and reducing the risk of missed notifications, especially in noisy or visually challenging environments.
Implementation Method 1
a drive circuit coupled to a haptic actuator... output the control signal to the drive circuit, based on the proximity information, to cause the haptic actuator to periodically or continuously generate a haptic effect
Data Source
AI summary
A keyless entry device is provided. The keyless entry device includes a transceiver, a drive circuit coupled to a haptic actuator, and a processor coupled to the transceiver and the drive circuit. The transceiver is configured to communicate, over a communication channel, with an apparatus operated by a user. The processor is configured to send a command to the apparatus, receive a response, including a control signal, from the apparatus, determine proximity information between the keyless entry device and the apparatus, and output the control signal to the drive circuit, based on the proximity information, to cause the haptic actuator to periodically or continuously generate a haptic effect.