Universal Sensor Assembly Gesture Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical systems for detecting operating gestures in vehicles require customization for different mounting positions and installation conditions, limiting their universal applicability and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A sensor arrangement using a pixel array with a temporal drive for distance detection, employing the time-of-flight method, where the light source and pixel array are synchronized, and an initialization mode for automatic calibration to adapt to various installation situations, ensuring only relevant pixels are used for detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If optical systems are customized for different mounting positions and installation conditions, then detection reliability is improved, but device complexity and inventory requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal sensor arrangement that can be used for different mounting positions (B-pillar, A-pillar, C-pillar) and installation conditions without requiring customization. The system achieves this through automatic initialization that adapts the pixel array to the specific installation environment, eliminating the need for multiple device variants while maintaining detection reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs an initialization process before normal operation to automatically adapt to the installation conditions. This preliminary action includes determining which pixels are visible and functional in the specific mounting position, storing this information for subsequent detection operations, and configuring the sensor accordingly. This pre-adaptation ensures reliable detection without requiring manual customization.
2Reliability
If all pixels in the pixel array are used for detection, then detection coverage is improved, but power consumption and processing load increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and uses only the subset of pixels that are actually visible and functional in the specific installation position. During initialization, pixels that are blocked or not visible are identified and excluded from subsequent detection operations. This extraction of necessary components reduces power consumption and processing load while maintaining adequate detection coverage for the actual sensing area.
3Device complexity
If a universal sensor design is used for all mounting positions, then device complexity is reduced, but detection precision may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary initialization to adapt the universal sensor to the specific mounting position. This includes determining the visible pixel subset, characterizing the detection area geometry, and configuring parameters accordingly. This pre-adaptation ensures that the universal sensor achieves detection precision comparable to customized designs by optimizing its operation for the specific installation environment before normal use.
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 a universally usable optical sensor system that can be adapted to different vehicle positions and conditions, providing reliable and efficient detection of object movements and gestures, reducing the need for multiple device variants and improving performance and power efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
A sensor arrangement using a pixel array with a temporal drive for distance detection, employing the time-of-flight method
Implementation Method 2
the transit time of the light reflected back from an object in the spatial area is recorded
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3a~3c
AI summary
The invention relates to a sensor device (2) for a motor vehicle (1). The sensor device has a light source (10) and a detection device (20), said detection device being formed using an array of optical pixels. The light source (10) and the detection device (20) are coupled to a control and evaluation device (30) which activates the light source (10) to emit light pulses and the detection device to carry out the detection process. The control and evaluation device (30), the detection device (20) and the light source (10) together act as a time-of-flight camera (ToF camera), allowing spatial range data to be detected. The control and evaluation device (30) is designed to operate the light source and the detection device in at least two modes, i.e. an initializing mode and a measuring mode. The control and evaluation device (30) activates the detection device in the initializing mode and interrogates all the pixels at least once to obtain signals. Each pixel is classified into a group of relevant pixels or into a group of irrelevant pixels depending on the result of this interrogation. The detection process in the measuring mode is permanently adapted in such a way that only the signals of the pixels from the group of relevant pixels are taken into consideration for the measurement.