Automobile PED Station with Signal Detection and Notification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users of portable electronic devices (PEDs) often forget to switch between 'Normal' and 'Silent' annunciation modes, leading to unwanted ringing or vibrations in quiet settings, and may miss calls when the device is left unattended.

Innovation Solution

A station for supporting PEDs that includes a body with a PED seat, a movable member for securing the device, and detection means to sense wireless signals, generating a human-perceptible indication such as sound or light, allowing users to keep the device in 'Silent' mode while receiving notifications.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the PED is set to 'Normal' annunciation mode to ensure notifications are received, then call notification reliability is improved, but unwanted ringing occurs in quiet settings

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecall notification reliabilityVSAvoidunwanted ringing in quiet settings

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a station as an intermediary device between the PED and the user. The station includes a sensor that detects when the PED is placed on it and a notifier that generates human-perceptible indications. This intermediary system allows the PED to remain in Silent mode while the station provides alternative notification through sound or light, resolving the contradiction between reliable notification and avoiding unwanted ringing in quiet settings.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the PED is set to 'Silent' annunciation mode to avoid disturbing others, then quiet environment compatibility is improved, but call notification reliability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisturbance to quiet environmentVSAvoidcall notification reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The station acts as a mediator that receives the PED in Silent mode and provides notification through its own notifier component. The sensor detects the PED's silent vibration or presence, and the station's notifier generates audible or visible alerts, thereby maintaining quiet environment compatibility while ensuring call notification reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the PED's mechanical vibration notification (which is imperceptible when the user is away) with an electrical/electronic notification system at the station. The station's notifier uses electrical signals to generate sound or light, substituting the inadequate mechanical vibration system for a more reliable electronic notification system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If the user carries the PED to ensure notification perception, then notification reliability is improved, but portability and convenience deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenotification perceptionVSAvoidportability and convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The station provides self-service notification functionality. Once the PED is placed on the station, the sensor automatically detects its presence and the notifier automatically generates notifications without requiring the user to carry or interact with the PED. This eliminates the need for the user to physically carry the device while maintaining notification reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The station serves as an intermediary that takes over the notification function from the PED itself. The user simply places the PED on the station, and the station handles detection and notification, freeing the user from the burden of carrying the device while ensuring notifications are perceived.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Ease of operation

If the PED is left unattended to improve convenience, then ease of operation is improved, but notification reliability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveconvenienceVSAvoidnotification perception

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The station acts as an intermediary that remains with the PED when the user leaves. The sensor continuously monitors for incoming calls, and the notifier provides notification even when the user is absent. This allows the PED to be left unattended conveniently while maintaining notification reliability through the station's monitoring and alerting capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS8090400B2Notifying station for portable electronic devices in automobile

Publication Date: 2012.01.03 CHEMTRON RESEARCH LLC

AI summary

In some embodiments, an automobile has a station that can support a portable electronic device (PED). The station includes a body, which could be integrated with the automobile. The body defines a PED seat, for supporting the PED. A movable member can exert tension so as to bias the supported PED, to prevent the PED from falling off. Detection means can detect when the PED is receiving a wireless signal. A human-perceptible indication can be generated in response to the detection means, above and beyond any ringing and/or vibrating from the PED itself. As such, a user can always keep the PED at the “Silent” annunciation mode even while in the automobile.