Pregnant Driver Vehicle Control With Biometric Support Functions

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Solution Overview

Problem

Pregnant women face challenges while driving due to discomfort from seat belts, difficulty in operating pedals and steering, increased fatigue, and safety risks, as existing auxiliary devices are not integrated into vehicle control systems.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle system that determines and adjusts driving support functions based on biometric information such as pregnancy stage, using a controller to activate specific control functions and parameters, including seat and pedal adjustments, to enhance comfort and safety without requiring separate auxiliary devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a pregnant woman adjusts her seat position away from the steering wheel and pedals to relieve seat belt pressure, then comfort is improved, but the effort required to operate pedals and steering wheel increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveseat belt pressure on abdomenVSAvoidpedal and steering wheel operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical pedal operation with electronic control. The controller detects pedal contact through sensors and automatically generates control signals to operate vehicle functions, eliminating the need for mechanical force application at the pedals.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a controller as an intermediary between the driver and vehicle systems. The controller receives input from sensors detecting pedal contact and translates this into appropriate vehicle control actions, mediating the interaction between the driver's reduced-effort input and the vehicle's response.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If auxiliary devices such as pedal extenders and seat belt guides are added, then ease of operation and comfort are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepedal operationVSAvoidnumber of auxiliary devices
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple auxiliary functions into a single integrated controller system. The controller combines pedal contact detection, signal generation, and vehicle function control into one unified device, replacing the need for separate mechanical auxiliary devices like pedal extenders and seat belt guides.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The controller performs multiple functions: detecting pedal contact, determining which vehicle function to activate, generating control signals, and adjusting control parameters. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for multiple specialized auxiliary devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If the vehicle provides comprehensive control functions for pregnant women, then safety and comfort are improved, but the complexity of the control system increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedriving safetyVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic control parameters that adjust based on detected conditions. The controller modifies acceleration limits, deceleration limits, and other parameters in real-time based on pregnancy detection and driving conditions, providing adaptive safety control rather than fixed complex rules.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses sensor feedback to detect pedal contact and driver presence, then adjusts control functions accordingly. This feedback mechanism allows the system to provide comprehensive safety control based on actual driving conditions rather than requiring pre-programmed complex scenarios.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4450349A1Vehicle for pregnant woman and method of controlling same
Publication Date: 2024.10.23 HYUNDAI MOTOR CO LTD
  • EP4450349A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4450349A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4450349A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A vehicle provides various functions for a pregnant woman and a method of controlling the same. The method of supporting vehicle driving for a pregnant woman may include determining whether to enter a driving support control for the pregnant woman based on at least one of an entry command or an input biometric information of a driver, determining a control function to be activated among predetermined control functions in the driving support control for the pregnant woman based on the at least one of the entry command or the biometric information when entering the driving support control for the pregnant woman, and performing the determined control function.