Vehicle Occupant Warning Control With Escalation State Logic

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle safety systems lack clear conditions for transitioning between warning levels when detecting a remaining passenger after the ignition is turned off, and they do not adaptively control warning alarms based on the type of event occurring.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle control method and device that adaptively control warning alarms by defining detailed conditions for transitioning between initial and escalation warning states, using sensors to detect passengers, and outputting alarms in a level-wise manner based on specific events such as door openings, sensor errors, and ignition changes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If warning levels are classified into Initial Warning and Escalation Warning levels, then the warning system can provide graded alerts to drivers, but the conditions for transitioning between warning levels are completely undefined

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewarning level classificationVSAvoidtransition condition definition
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by defining specific transition conditions between warning levels based on time parameters (first time interval and second time interval) and event types. The system transitions from Initial Warning to Escalation Warning when a second event occurs after the first event within the second time interval, creating clear, parameter-based transition rules that resolve the undefined condition problem.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If the system outputs warning alarms in a level-wise manner, then the alarm effectiveness is improved, but the system complexity increases due to multiple states and transition conditions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealarm effectivenessVSAvoidsystem state management
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the warning system into distinct states (Initial Warning state and Escalation Warning state) with clearly defined transition conditions. By dividing the warning process into separate states with specific entry and exit conditions, the system manages complexity through structured segmentation rather than a monolithic control mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements dynamic state transitions based on real-time event detection and time interval evaluation. The warning level adapts dynamically by transitioning between Initial and Escalation states according to the occurrence of first and second events within defined time intervals, allowing the system to respond flexibly to different scenarios.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If detailed conditions are defined for warning state transition, then the adaptability of the warning system is improved, but the control logic complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestate transition adaptabilityVSAvoidcontrol logic
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-defining time intervals (first time interval and second time interval) and event types before the warning process begins. These predetermined parameters enable the system to adapt to different scenarios without requiring complex real-time decision-making, as the transition conditions are established in advance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4394736B1Vehicle control method and vehicle control device
Publication Date: 2026.03.11 HYUNDAI MOTOR CO LTD
  • EP4394736B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4394736B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4394736B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A vehicle control method includes entering an initial warning state based on a door being locked in a pre-warning state to output a first warning alarm for a first time interval after an ignition of a vehicle is turned off, and entering an escalation warning state based on end of the first warning alarm and outputting a second warning alarm for a second time interval, wherein the first and second warning alarms are output based on detection of a passenger in the vehicle.