Vehicle Closure Panel Gesture Control via Radar
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle closure panel control systems do not effectively utilize user gestures to automatically control the movement of closure panels, such as doors, in a precise and intuitive manner, often relying on complex camera systems or proximity detection that fail to accurately distinguish user commands.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle closure panel control assembly that includes a positional sensor, such as a RADAR sensor, and a control module that interprets user gestures to command an actuator system, like power hinges, to open, close, or stop the panel based on specific hand gestures, ensuring authorized user input.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If camera systems or proximity detection are used to detect user gestures, then user gesture detection capability is provided, but measurement precision and reliability are insufficient to accurately distinguish user commands
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces camera-based optical detection systems with RADAR (Radio Detection and Ranging) technology to detect user gestures. This substitution provides more precise measurement of hand position, velocity, and acceleration, enabling reliable distinction between different user commands (e.g., open door vs. close door gestures) while maintaining contactless operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes multiple parameters from RADAR detection including position, velocity, and acceleration of the user's hand to comprehensively identify gestures. By analyzing changes in these parameters over time, the system can accurately distinguish between different gesture types and intent, resolving the precision issue of earlier detection methods.
2Reliability
If physical handles are required for door operation, then reliable control is achieved, but ease of operation is reduced for authorized users
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical handle-based door operation with a gesture recognition system using RADAR sensors. Authorized users can open or close doors by making specific hand gestures in proximity to the sensor, eliminating the need for physical contact with handles while maintaining secure, reliable control through authenticated gesture patterns.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables users to operate doors independently through their own authenticated gestures without requiring physical interaction with handles or additional authentication devices. The RADAR system detects and interprets user-specific gesture patterns, allowing self-service door operation for authorized individuals.
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 precise and intuitive control of vehicle closure panels using user gestures, enhancing user experience by allowing authorized users to operate panels without physical handles, while ensuring security and reducing system complexity.
Implementation Method 1
a positional sensor, such as a RADAR sensor
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle closure panel control assembly includes, among other things, a closure panel, an actuator system that can move the closure panel back and forth between an open position and a closed position, a positional sensor that senses a position of at least part of a user to detect a user gesture, and a control module that commands the actuator system to control movement of the closure panel. The commands from the control module to the actuator system are based at least partially on the user gesture.