Symmetrical In-Vehicle Transceiver Array for Device Location Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle interior systems lack efficient methods to track personal devices within the vehicle cabin, leading to cumbersome pairing procedures and limited seamless integration of personal devices with in-vehicle components, especially in dynamically changing environments.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing a symmetrical layout of in-vehicle wireless transceivers to estimate the location of personal devices through signal strength analysis, allowing for un-calibrated distance calculations and quadrant/diagonal sector determination to identify whether a device is inside or outside the vehicle, and its specific zone, without requiring thorough calibration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional pairing procedures are used for personal devices in vehicles, then device connectivity can be established, but the process becomes cumbersome and requires repeated validation
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary location tracking of personal devices using wireless signal strength measurements from multiple in-vehicle transceivers. By determining device location in advance through quadrant and diagonal sector analysis, the system prepares connectivity information before pairing is requested, enabling automatic connection without cumbersome validation procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The location tracking system operates autonomously by continuously monitoring wireless signal strengths from the personal device across multiple in-vehicle transceivers. The system automatically computes device location, determines quadrant and diagonal sector, and maintains readiness for seamless pairing without requiring user intervention or repeated validation
2Measurement precision
If comprehensive calibration is performed for accurate device location tracking, then location precision improves, but system complexity and calibration requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs a symmetrical layout of four in-vehicle transceivers positioned at vehicle corners, creating balanced signal coverage. This symmetrical arrangement naturally provides geometric redundancy that enables accurate location determination through signal strength comparison without requiring individual transceiver calibration, as the symmetry itself provides the reference framework
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses signal strength parameters from multiple transceivers to compute device location through quadrant and diagonal sector determination. By changing from single-point to multi-point signal analysis, the system achieves improved location precision while avoiding complex calibration through the use of relative signal strength comparisons across the symmetrical transceiver array
3Measurement precision
If multiple wireless transceivers are deployed for location tracking, then location determination accuracy improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle interior is segmented into four quadrants by the symmetrical arrangement of transceivers, with each transceiver responsible for monitoring its adjacent quadrants. This segmentation allows the system to determine device location by comparing signal strengths from specific transceiver pairs, reducing the computational complexity while maintaining accurate location tracking through distributed monitoring
Solution Approach 2:
Each in-vehicle transceiver serves multiple functions: it monitors signal strength from personal devices, participates in quadrant determination, contributes to diagonal sector analysis, and helps define vehicle interior boundaries. This multi-functionality allows four transceivers to provide comprehensive location tracking coverage without requiring additional dedicated components for each function
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 seamless interaction with in-vehicle components by determining device location and zone, reducing the need for repeated validation procedures and enhancing user experience by allowing device control without prior pairing, while maintaining low computational complexity.
Implementation Method 1
a processor programmed to identify signal strength information indicative of distance of a personal device from wireless transceivers of each of the in-vehicle components
Data Source
AI summary
A system may include in-vehicle components arranged symmetrically within and delimiting boundaries of a vehicle interior; and a processor programmed to identify signal strength information indicative of distance of a personal device from wireless transceivers of each of the in-vehicle components; and compute, using the signal strength information, a quadrant and diagonal sector including a location of the personal device, and whether the location is within the vehicle interior. A method may include identifying a quadrant of a vehicle including a location of a personal device by comparing signal strength information of pairs of wireless transceivers in adjacent quadrants to signal strength information of wireless transceivers opposite the pairs; and determining a diagonal sector including the location by comparing the signal strength information from the wireless transceiver of the quadrant to the signal strength information from the wireless transceiver in a diagonally-opposite quadrant.