Power Door Control Unit for Assisted Vehicle Entry
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle entry systems fail to automatically open power doors at appropriate timings based on the vehicle's usage status, particularly for users who need assistance such as infants or elderly persons.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle control device that includes a vehicle-surrounding-situation recognizing unit, a vehicle-interior-situation recognizing unit, and a power door control unit, which executes opening control when a user who has got off the vehicle approaches the corresponding power door, allowing for automatic assistance in getting off the vehicle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the power door is kept closed for security and protection, then vehicle security and protection are improved, but accessibility and ease of operation for users needing assistance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The control device performs preliminary actions by detecting when a user has exited the vehicle and when another user approaches the power door. Based on these detections, the system automatically opens the power door in advance before the user needs to access the vehicle, eliminating the need for manual door opening operations.
2Ease of operation
If automatic door opening is implemented for users needing assistance, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional sensing and control requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The control device leverages existing multi-functional components already present in modern vehicles. The image recognition device serves multiple purposes: it detects users approaching the vehicle, identifies users who have exited, and determines seating positions. This existing multi-functional system is extended to control power door operations, avoiding the need for separate dedicated sensors and reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the door control function with the existing image recognition and user detection systems. Instead of adding separate sensors and control mechanisms, the patent integrates door opening control into the existing multi-functional image recognition device, combining multiple functions into a single integrated system.
3Productivity
If the power door opens automatically upon approach, then productivity and efficiency of vehicle access are improved, but precision of timing and context awareness may deteriorate without proper detection systems
Solution Approach 1:
The control device implements a feedback mechanism by continuously monitoring user positions and behaviors through image recognition. The system adjusts door opening decisions based on real-time feedback about user approach patterns, seating arrangements, and exit detection, ensuring accurate timing and context-aware operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle control device includes a power door control unit that executes first power-door-opening control for causing a power door to perform an opening operation, when the power door is in a closed state and a vehicle-interior-situation recognizing unit recognizes a first user who uses a predetermined seat provided in a vehicle, and when a vehicle-surrounding-situation recognizing unit recognizes that a second user who has got off the vehicle approaches the power door corresponding to the predetermined seat.