Power Door Control Using Passenger Exit Count Matching

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional vehicle entry systems do not effectively reduce the load on users when they are getting off the vehicle, as they require manual operation of power doors, which can be cumbersome and inconvenient.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle control device that includes an on-vehicle-user-number recognizing unit, an off-vehicle-user-number recognizing unit, and a power door control unit, which automatically closes power doors used for exiting by recognizing the number of users on and off the vehicle, thereby reducing user load during exit.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual door closing operation is required for each user exiting the vehicle, then users can control door closure individually, but the operational load on users increases and convenience decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of door closing operationVSAvoidcomplexity of door control system

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The door control system automatically determines when to close doors by monitoring user exit status and comparing on-vehicle user count with off-vehicle user count, enabling the system to serve itself without requiring manual user intervention for door closure decisions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors user exit status through recognition units that detect when users have left the vehicle, providing feedback to the control unit which then determines appropriate door closure timing based on the comparison between on-vehicle and off-vehicle user numbers

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Productivity

If automatic door closing is implemented without user number recognition, then door closure is simplified, but the system cannot determine when all users have exited and may close doors prematurely

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveefficiency of door closing operationVSAvoidaccuracy of user exit detection

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces manual mechanical door closing with an automated control system that uses electronic user number recognition and comparison to determine door closure timing, substituting mechanical user action with electronic automation while maintaining accurate user tracking

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates and maintains a digital representation (copy) of the actual user situation by tracking on-vehicle and off-vehicle user numbers, allowing the control system to make accurate door closure decisions based on this informational copy rather than direct mechanical observation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS11904804B2Vehicle control device, vehicle control method, and recording medium

Publication Date: 2024.02.20 HONDA MOTOR CO LTD

AI summary

A vehicle control device includes: an on-vehicle-user-number recognizing unit that performs recognition of an on-vehicle-user-number, and stores the on-vehicle-user-number in a storage unit, the on-vehicle-user-number being a number of users who have got on a vehicle; an off-vehicle-user-number recognizing unit that recognizes an off-vehicle-user-number, the off-vehicle-user-number being a number of the users who have got off the vehicle after the recognition of the on-vehicle-user-number by the on-vehicle-user-number recognizing unit; and a power door control unit that causes at least one power door to perform closing operation when the on-vehicle-user-number stored in the storage unit equals the off-vehicle-user-number recognized by the off-vehicle-user-number recognizing unit, the at least one power door being a power door that the user has used at a time of getting off the vehicle.