Vehicle Access Management Counter for Battery Conservation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing hands-free access and start systems for motor vehicles consume battery energy through welcome lighting, potentially discharging the vehicle battery if the user enters or approaches the vehicle multiple times without starting the engine, leading to insufficient charge for subsequent engine starts.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a counter-based system that inhibits welcome lighting after a predetermined number of consecutive activations without engine start, resetting the counter when the engine is started or operated for a minimum duration, thereby conserving battery charge.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the welcome lighting is activated each time an identifier is detected in the reception zone, then the user experience is improved, but the battery charge is depleted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser experienceVSAvoidbattery charge
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The welcome lighting is activated periodically based on counter thresholds. When the counter reaches a predetermined value, the lighting is inhibited for a defined time period, creating a periodic on-off pattern that balances user experience with energy conservation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses a counter that tracks the number of welcome lighting activations and provides feedback to the control unit. This feedback mechanism enables the system to automatically adjust lighting behavior based on usage patterns, inhibiting lighting when the counter reaches a threshold and resetting it when the engine is started

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Ease of operation

If the welcome lighting remains active for multiple consecutive detections, then the user convenience is enhanced, but the battery discharge risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser convenienceVSAvoidbattery charge level
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system takes preliminary action by inhibiting the welcome lighting before complete battery depletion occurs. The counter tracks activations and preemptively disables lighting when a threshold is reached, preventing excessive battery discharge before it becomes a reliability issue

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system serves itself by automatically monitoring its own energy consumption patterns through the counter mechanism and autonomously adjusting the welcome lighting behavior without external intervention, maintaining both user convenience and battery reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3755585B1Vehicle having an access management system and method for authorizing access to a vehicle
Publication Date: 2022.01.05 PSA AUTOMOBILES SA
  • EP3755585B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2

AI summary

The invention relates to a motor vehicle (1) having an access management system for managing access to the vehicle, the access management system being configured so as to detect the presence of an identifier (3), such as an electronic key or a mobile telephone, close to the vehicle (1) and so as to activate a courtesy light when the identifier is detected within a first zone, called courtesy zone (4), the access management system including a counter whose count value is incremented by a unit upon each activation of the courtesy light, the activation of the courtesy light no longer being possible if the count value reaches a predetermined value.