Mobile Device Optical Sensor for In-Vehicle User Location Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
The presence of mobile devices in vehicles poses safety concerns due to distracted driving, and existing solutions are either ineffective or require cumbersome hardware installations, while also failing to address issues like shared media consumption and dynamic route planning for multiple passengers.
Innovation Solution
A method using a mobile device with optical sensors to automatically determine the user's location within a vehicle without user assistance, enabling actions such as safety feature activation, media recommendations, and route adjustments based on passenger presence and locations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If software-based solutions are used to control mobile device usage, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability is worsened because users can override or disable the applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary hardware device that acts as a mediator between the mobile device and the vehicle's audio system. This hardware component cannot be easily overridden by software, providing reliable control while maintaining ease of use through the mobile device application. The hardware intermediary ensures that safety-critical functions cannot be disabled by user action.
2Reliability
If hardware devices are installed in vehicles to detect driver phone usage, then reliability is improved, but device complexity is worsened due to installation difficulty
Solution Approach 1:
The hardware device is designed to be universal and multi-functional, serving as both a detection system for driver phone usage and a control interface for the vehicle's audio system. By combining multiple functions into a single device that interfaces with existing vehicle components, the patent reduces overall system complexity while maintaining reliable detection capabilities.
3Device complexity
If manual control is required for media playback in vehicles, then ease of operation is worsened, but device complexity is improved as no additional sensors are needed
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs self-service through automatic detection of passenger locations using optical sensors. The mobile device automatically determines which passenger should control media playback based on their position in the vehicle, eliminating the need for manual selection or complex control interfaces. This automated approach improves ease of operation while the existing sensors keep device complexity manageable.
4Measurement precision
If optical sensors are used to detect user location in vehicles, then measurement precision is improved, but use of energy is worsened due to continuous image capture
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic action by capturing images only at specific intervals or when triggered by specific events, rather than continuously. The mobile device periodically determines user location using optical sensors and updates the system state accordingly, maintaining high measurement precision while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to continuous capture.
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 approach enhances safety by automatically managing mobile device features during vehicle operation, optimizes media consumption for all passengers, and improves route planning by detecting passenger destinations and occupancy, all without requiring special hardware or user input.
Implementation Method 1
capturing, by the mobile device, an image via an optical sensor of the mobile device
Data Source
AI summary
A mobile device automatically determines which location of a plurality of locations of a vehicle a user of the mobile device is located at without knowing assistance of the user. The mobile device determines that the mobile device is likely in a moving vehicle and that the user is actively interacting with the mobile device. The mobile device captures an image via an optical sensor of the mobile device without assistance from the user for the capture. The mobile device determines a location of the user within the vehicle based upon an analysis of the image. The analysis includes an execution of a model that utilizes at least the captured image as an input to determine the location. The mobile device, after determining the location, performs one or more actions.