Open-Cabin Vehicle Power Control for Pre-Activation Timing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Open-cabin vehicles face a trade-off between convenience and reduced electric power consumption due to the delay in electronic device activation when mounted, as existing solutions either increase power usage or require rider operation.

Innovation Solution

A control apparatus with an identification signal transmission unit that activates electronic devices remotely, using a portable terminal to initiate power supply before the rider reaches the vehicle, reducing the need for additional operations and minimizing power consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If electronic devices are activated after rider gets on the vehicle and turns on main switch, then electric power consumption is suppressed, but the time until electronic device enters usable state increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectric power consumptionVSAvoidtime until electronic device enters usable state
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The electronic device is activated in advance before the rider actually gets on the vehicle. The system detects when the rider approaches (via portable terminal detection) and starts activation beforehand, so the device is ready by the time the rider needs it, eliminating the delay while the device was previously activated only after the main switch was turned on.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Loss of time

If electronic devices are activated in advance before rider reaches the vehicle, then the time until electronic device enters usable state is reduced, but electric power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetime until electronic device enters usable stateVSAvoidelectric power consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary activation only when needed - specifically when the rider's portable terminal is detected approaching the vehicle. This conditional preliminary action allows early activation to reduce waiting time while avoiding continuous early activation that would waste power.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The activation timing is made dynamic rather than fixed. The system adjusts when activation occurs based on real-time detection of the rider's approach, activating earlier only when the portable terminal is detected, and maintaining normal timing otherwise. This dynamic adjustment optimizes both response time and power consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If the rider operates portable terminal to activate electronic device, then activation can be controlled, but the number of operations required from rider increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveactivation controlVSAvoidnumber of operations required from rider
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs activation automatically without requiring rider operation. When the portable terminal is detected, the system self-activates the electronic device, eliminating the need for the rider to manually operate the terminal or interact with activation controls, thus reducing operational complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The portable terminal detection system acts as an intermediary that triggers automatic activation. Instead of direct rider operation, the detection of the terminal's presence serves as the trigger, mediating between the rider's approach and the device activation, thereby reducing the number of explicit operations required.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3587229B1Open-cabin vehicle
Publication Date: 2024.07.31 YAMAHA MOTOR CO LTD
  • EP3587229B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3587229B1 patent drawingFigure 2~4
  • EP3587229B1 patent drawingFigure 5~7

AI summary

An open-cabin vehicle is provided that makes it possible to enjoy the convenience provided by electronic devices while suppressing electric power consumption and also suppressing a reduction in the convenience of the open-cabin vehicle. An identification signal transmission unit (111) inside an electric power control apparatus (11) of an open-cabin vehicle (100) intermittently transmits an identification signal (ID). A response signal reception unit (112) receives a response signal (RE) that is transmitted from a portable terminal (200) in response to the identification signal (ID) without any operation by a rider on the portable terminal (200) and the open-cabin vehicle (100). When the response signal reception unit (112) receives the response signal (RE), a command unit (113) commands current conduction in a first electric power supply circuit (13) and does not command current conduction in a second electric power supply circuit (14).