Smart Entry Door Handle Power Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Smart entry systems in vehicles consume excessive power due to constantly enabled components like capacitive sensors and input buttons, leading to unnecessary quiescent energy expenditure and decreased battery life and fuel economy.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method and system that determine the proximity of a portable device to the vehicle, adjusting the power supply to smart entry door handles accordingly, using a polling signal response module to switch between a higher and lower power mode based on the device's presence, thereby reducing power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If components of the smart entry system are constantly enabled to ensure immediate responsiveness, then the system reliability and user convenience are improved, but the power consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic power management by transitioning smart entry components between different operational states (active, standby, sleep) based on real-time detection of user presence and interaction intent. This dynamic state adjustment allows the system to maintain reliability when needed while minimizing power consumption during idle periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs periodic polling to detect the presence of portable devices within a predetermined range, rather than maintaining continuous active monitoring. This periodic detection mechanism enables the system to balance between immediate responsiveness and power conservation by only activating full functionality when actually needed.
2Ease of operation
If capacitive sensors and input buttons are constantly monitored to enable quick door locking/unlocking, then the ease of operation is improved, but the quiescent energy expenditure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of user presence and intent before activating the full smart entry functionality. By detecting portable devices in advance and pre-positioning components in standby mode, the system ensures quick response when users actually interact with the door handles, while avoiding unnecessary continuous operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different power states to different components of the smart entry system based on their immediate operational needs. Components are selectively activated or placed in low-power modes depending on detected user presence and proximity, allowing the system to maintain ease of operation for active components while conserving energy in inactive components.
3Reliability
If the smart entry system operates at high power levels continuously, then the device functionality is maintained, but the vehicle battery charge decreases over time
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts its operational characteristics based on real-time conditions, transitioning between high-power and low-power modes. This dynamic operation maintains full device functionality when users are present and interacting with the vehicle, while automatically reducing power consumption during extended idle periods to preserve battery charge.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes operational parameters (power supply levels, detection frequency, component activation states) based on detected user presence and system state. By varying these parameters rather than maintaining fixed high-power operation, the system preserves battery life while ensuring device functionality is available when needed.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system for reducing power consumption for a smart entry door handle in a vehicle is provided. The method and system include determining if a portable device is located within a polling range of the vehicle. The method and system further include supplying a first predetermined amount of power to a smart entry door handle if it is determined that the portable device is located within a polling range of the vehicle. The method and system also include supplying a second predetermined amount of power to the smart entry door handle if it is determined that the portable device is located outside of the polling range of the vehicle.