Portable Device Location via Ultrasonic Trilateration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional vehicle systems face challenges in managing user settings for multiple occupants, as existing systems do not effectively differentiate and apply settings for individual occupants within the same vehicle.

Innovation Solution

A system that uses a portable device and vehicle computing device to determine the location of occupants through ultrasonic tones and trilateration, allowing for the application of settings specific to the vehicle owner or operator.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If user settings are made transferrable between vehicles, then user convenience is improved, but the ability to differentiate settings for multiple occupants is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser convenienceVSAvoiddifferentiation for multiple occupants

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the vehicle interior into multiple zones using acoustic sensors to detect the position of portable devices. Each zone can have different user settings applied, allowing the system to differentiate between multiple occupants while maintaining ease of use through automatic detection and application of preferences based on device location.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If the system applies settings for all occupants, then inclusivity is improved, but the ability to apply specific settings for the vehicle owner is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinclusivity for all occupantsVSAvoidselective setting application

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses portable devices as intermediaries to identify and differentiate between occupants. By detecting which portable device is in the vehicle and its location, the system can selectively apply settings for the vehicle owner or other occupants, maintaining both inclusivity and selective application capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 location of portable devices within a vehicle, allowing for the selective application of user settings, thereby addressing the issue of multiple occupants having differing preferences.

Implementation Method 1

a first transducer 107 to generate a first tone

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectUltrasonic tone generation and propagation: Ultrasound

Implementation Method 2

a receiving device 108 to receive the first tone

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAcoustic signal detection: Sound

Data Source

PatentUSRE49322E1Portable device detection

Publication Date: 2022.11.29 FORD GLOBAL TECH LLC

AI summary

A plurality of transducers positioned at respective specified locations in a vehicle are actuated to generate a plurality of respective tones. A plurality of respective time differences are determined between times that each respective tone is generated by the respective transducer and the tone is detected by a portable device. A location of the portable device is determined based at least in part on the time differences.