Passive Operator Presence Verification for Power-Operated Vehicle Components
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current power-operated vehicle features require continuous operator supervision to prevent pinch points, which can be inconvenient, especially when the operator is not physically present, such as when activating features from a key fob.
Innovation Solution
A system that uses an electronic control unit to initiate and verify the presence of an operator-controlled device, transmitting intermittent signals and monitoring responses to continue activation of power-operated components until completion, thereby enabling passive verification of operator presence.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If continuous supervised control is required for power-operated features, then safety against pinch points is improved, but operator convenience deteriorates when operator is not physically present
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical continuous button-holding supervision system with an electronic/passive verification system using wireless communication. The electronic control unit passively verifies operator presence through wireless signals from the key fob, eliminating the need for continuous mechanical button pressure while maintaining safety control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service operation where the power-operated features can be activated and monitored automatically once initiated. The continuous passive verification of operator presence through wireless signals allows the system to self-manage the activation sequence without requiring continuous active operator input or supervision.
2Reliability
If operator presence verification through continuous button holding is required, then safety control is maintained, but activation time and operator effort increase for sequences lasting six seconds or more
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of requiring continuous button holding, the system implements periodic action through continuous passive verification of operator presence via wireless signals. The electronic control unit periodically checks for the presence signal from the key fob, allowing the activation sequence to proceed over an extended period (six seconds or more) without requiring continuous active operator input.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary verification of operator presence through wireless communication before and during the activation sequence. By establishing operator presence upfront and maintaining it through continuous passive verification, the system prepares the safety condition in advance, allowing the actual power-operated feature activation to proceed without interruption or additional operator effort.
3Ease of operation
If passive verification through wireless signals is implemented, then operator convenience is improved for remote activation, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system utilizes the existing key fob device, which already serves multiple functions including locking, unlocking, and remote starting. By adding the passive verification function for power-operated features to this existing multi-functional device, the system avoids adding a separate dedicated presence verification device, thereby minimizing the increase in overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The wireless communication system acts as an intermediary between the operator and the vehicle's electronic control unit. Rather than requiring direct physical interaction (button holding), the wireless signals serve as an intermediary mechanism that conveys operator presence information to the control unit, simplifying the interaction while maintaining safety control.
Data Source
AI summary
Passive verification of operator presence in handling requests for vehicle includes initiating activation of a power-operated vehicle component that is subject to a supervised control mechanism. The activation is initiated in response to a request from an operator-controlled device. The passive verification also includes verifying a presence of the operator-controlled device indicative of a presence of an operator of a vehicle, transmitting intermittent signals to the operator-controlled device, monitoring response signals received in response to the intermittent signals, and continuing activation of the power-operated vehicle component until the activation is complete so long as the response signals are received responsive to the monitoring.