Vehicle Mounting Controller Using a Smartphone as Intermediary
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Solution Overview
Problem
High manufacturing costs and limited flexibility in control systems for vehicles like electric bicycles, where a central, interconnected control system is desired to manage various functionalities and sensor data, but existing solutions are costly and inflexible, especially when integrated with specific manufacturers' systems.
Innovation Solution
A holding device with transmitting and receiving elements enables wireless connectivity for a mobile input and evaluation device, such as a smartphone, acting as a central controller, allowing communication with vehicle components without the need for manufacturer-specific connectors, thus providing a cost-effective and flexible control system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a central control system is integrated into the vehicle, then control functionality and information management are improved, but manufacturing costs and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a holding device as an intermediary component that bridges the mobile input and evaluation device and the vehicle's electronic components. This holding device contains transmitting and receiving elements that enable wireless communication, allowing the mobile device to act as a central controller without being physically integrated into the vehicle's control architecture. This resolves the contradiction by providing central control functionality through an intermediary rather than direct integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the central control functions from the vehicle itself and relocates them to a mobile input and evaluation device that the user carries. By taking out the controller from the vehicle structure and placing it in a mobile device, the system gains adaptability and versatility while the vehicle's device complexity remains low. The mobile device handles all computational and control tasks externally.
2Reliability
If manufacturer-specific integration is implemented, then control system functionality is improved, but flexibility and adaptability to different vehicles deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the control system universal by using a mobile input and evaluation device that can communicate with any vehicle through standardized wireless protocols. The holding device with transmitting and receiving elements serves as a universal interface that adapts to different vehicle types without requiring manufacturer-specific integration. This allows the same mobile device to control multiple different vehicles, achieving both reliability through proven mobile device functionality and flexibility through universal compatibility.
3Adaptability or versatility
If wireless communication is implemented, then adaptability and ease of operation are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by utilizing the wireless communication capabilities that are already built into modern mobile devices. The mobile input and evaluation device uses its own integrated transmitting and receiving elements (such as Bluetooth or Wi-Fi modules) to communicate with the vehicle. This eliminates the need for additional wireless communication hardware in the vehicle, reducing implementation effort while maintaining high adaptability. The mobile device serves itself by providing the wireless communication infrastructure it already possesses.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a control system (1) for a vehicle and a method for controlling a vehicle with such a control system. The control system (81) comprises a mobile input and evaluation device (2), a holding device (16) for the input and evaluation device (2), and means (5a-5f) for controlling electronic components (17a-17c) and for acquiring vehicle status information. To keep the manufacturing costs of the control system low and to enable widespread use with different vehicles, the status information obtained by the means (5a-5f) is evaluated, and control signals for the electronic components (17a-17c) are generated in the mobile input and evaluation device (2).