Vehicle Access Actuation Detection Under Environmental Disturbance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for detecting the actuation of vehicle access devices, such as door handles, are prone to errors due to environmental influences like rain, snow, vibrations, and temperature fluctuations, leading to inaccurate results.

Innovation Solution

A method that classifies the type of disturbance using sensor signals from multiple sensors with different technologies and arrangements, adjusting evaluation factors based on this classification to improve detection accuracy and robustness, utilizing a machine learning model to adapt to varying environmental conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If sensor detection is used to detect actuation of access devices, then detection capability is provided, but detection accuracy deteriorates due to environmental influences like rain, snow, vibrations, and temperature fluctuations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection accuracyVSAvoidenvironmental influences
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the detection task by using multiple different types of sensors (e.g., capacitive, inductive, optical) instead of relying on a single sensor type. Each sensor type responds differently to environmental influences, and by segmenting the detection across multiple sensor technologies, the system can identify and filter out false signals caused by specific environmental conditions while maintaining reliable actuation detection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes detection parameters dynamically by adjusting assessment factors based on detected disturbances. When environmental influences are detected, the system modifies the weighting and evaluation criteria of sensor signals accordingly, allowing the detection system to adapt its sensitivity and thresholds to current environmental conditions, thereby maintaining accurate actuation detection despite varying external factors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If multiple sensors with different technologies are used to detect disturbances, then detection robustness improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection robustnessVSAvoidsensor system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system achieves universality by designing a multi-functional sensor arrangement where multiple sensors serve dual purposes: they collectively detect various types of disturbances (rain, snow, vibrations) and simultaneously work together to detect actuation events. This multi-functionality allows the system to maintain high detection robustness without requiring entirely separate sensor systems for different detection tasks, thereby managing complexity more effectively.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system merges the functionality of multiple different sensor types into a unified detection system that processes signals from all sensors through a common evaluation algorithm. By combining the sensor outputs and using joint signal evaluation with adaptive assessment factors, the system achieves robust disturbance detection and actuation recognition without the complexity of managing completely separate detection subsystems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Measurement precision

If assessment factors are adjusted based on disturbance classification, then actuation detection accuracy improves, but processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveactuation detection accuracyVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary classification of disturbances by analyzing sensor signal patterns to identify characteristic signatures of different disturbance types (rain, snow, vibrations). This preliminary classification is executed quickly using pre-defined assessment factors and signal evaluation rules, allowing the system to prepare appropriate detection parameters in advance before actual actuation detection is needed, thereby minimizing processing time while maintaining high accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts assessment factors based on the classified disturbance type, creating a responsive detection system that adapts its evaluation criteria in real-time. When a specific disturbance type is identified, the system automatically modifies the weighting and thresholds of sensor signals according to pre-determined rules for that disturbance type, enabling fast adaptation without requiring complex real-time recalculation, thus balancing processing speed with detection accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4667688A1Method for detecting an actuation of an access device of a vehicle
Publication Date: 2025.12.24 HUF HÜLSBECK & FÜRST GMBH & CO KG
  • EP4667688A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4667688A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4667688A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a method (100) for detecting the actuation of an access device (10) of a vehicle (1), wherein the detection of the actuation is provided depending on assessment factors, comprising: - providing (101) sensor signals (210) resulting from sensor detection on the vehicle (1), - detecting (102) a disturbance caused by at least one influence from an environment (5) of the vehicle (1) which is suitable to impair the detection of the actuation, - classifying (103) a type of detected disturbance by evaluating (103a) the provided sensor signals (210), - adapting (104) the assessment factors for the detection of the actuation based on the classification (103).