Portable Pressure Sensor for Parking Floor Level Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Finding a parked vehicle in a large multistory car park or underground garage is challenging due to the lack of effective methods to determine the correct floor level, especially after a period of time has passed.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus utilizing a portable unit with a pressure sensor to determine current air pressure, which, when compared to a stored reference value, estimates the height difference and determines the floor level, allowing for precise location of the vehicle by compensating for weather-dependent air pressure fluctuations and temperature influences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If GPS-based positioning is used to locate a parked vehicle, then position data can be determined, but a communication link with satellite system must be ensured which increases device complexity and cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the GPS satellite-based electromagnetic positioning system with a mechanical/physical measurement system using pressure sensors. Instead of relying on satellite signals and complex communication infrastructure, the invention uses air pressure differential measurements to determine vertical position (floor level) in parking structures, thereby eliminating the need for satellite communication links while achieving the positioning objective
2Device complexity
If pressure sensors are used to determine floor level, then the apparatus can be implemented at low cost and in a physically small manner, but weather-dependent air pressure fluctuations affect measurement accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the system continuously monitors air pressure at the vehicle's location and compares it with reference pressure values. When weather-dependent pressure fluctuations are detected, the system automatically updates the reference values to compensate for these changes, thereby maintaining measurement accuracy despite environmental variations
Solution Approach 2:
The invention dynamically adjusts the reference pressure parameter based on environmental conditions. Instead of using fixed reference values, the system modifies the reference pressure to account for weather-dependent fluctuations, ensuring that the pressure differential measurements remain accurate for floor level determination despite changes in atmospheric pressure
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables accurate determination of the floor level in multistory car parks and underground garages, allowing users to efficiently locate their vehicle, with the apparatus being cost-effective and physically compact.
Implementation Method 1
an apparatus utilizing a portable unit with a pressure sensor whose signals can be evaluated by an evaluation and control unit in order to determine the current air pressure, with the evaluation and control unit evaluating the determined air pressure in order to determine altitude
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to an apparatus for finding a parked vehicle again. According to the invention, a portable unit is provided with a pressure sensor whose signals can be evaluated by an evaluation and control unit in order to determine the current air pressure, with the evaluation and control unit evaluating the determined air pressure in order to determine altitude, and storing a first air pressure value as a reference value at a predeterminable first time, which reference value represents an instantaneous altitude of a geographic position of the parked vehicle, with the evaluation and control unit estimating a height difference between a current geographic position of the portable unit and the geographic position of the parked vehicle at a second time, and/or continuously from a pressure difference between the determined current air pressure value and the reference value.