Vehicle Door Opening Control for Selective Access Blocking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle door control systems do not effectively address situations where selective control of door opening functionalities is necessary, such as preventing unauthorized access or ensuring passenger safety in taxis, particularly when dealing with unpredictable passengers.

Innovation Solution

A method and device that capture and evaluate user actions through a user interface or sensors to selectively control door opening functionalities, allowing individual doors to be locked or unlocked based on user input or detected situations, with optional user notification and external signaling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional locking mechanisms are used to prevent unauthorized access, then security is improved, but flexibility and ease of operation deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedoor securityVSAvoiddoor control flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The door locking system transitions from a static locked/unlocked state to a dynamic system with multiple states (locked, unlocked, blocked). The control unit can change the door's accessibility state based on real-time evaluation of user actions, vehicle status, and environmental conditions, providing both security and operational flexibility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system captures user actions (such as attempting to open a blocked door) and evaluates them to determine subsequent door control decisions. This feedback loop allows the system to adapt its security response based on user behavior, maintaining security while preventing escalation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If all doors are locked to prevent unauthorized access, then security is improved, but adaptability to different situations deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevehicle securityVSAvoidsituational door control
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The door control system is segmented to allow independent control of individual doors. The control unit can selectively block or unlock specific doors based on the situation, rather than controlling all doors uniformly. This enables adaptive responses such as blocking only the front passenger door while leaving other doors accessible

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different doors can have different control states (locked, unlocked, or blocked) simultaneously. The system applies local quality by tailoring the door opening functionality of each door to the specific situation, allowing selective deactivation of door opening functionalities based on captured user actions and vehicle status

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If door opening is completely prevented to ensure safety, then passenger safety is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepassenger safetyVSAvoiddoor opening capability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The door control system dynamically adjusts between completely blocked, partially blocked, and fully accessible states based on the evaluation of user actions. This dynamic behavior maintains safety by blocking doors when necessary while preserving ease of operation when the situation allows

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4347317B1Method, computer program, device and user interface for controlling door opening functionalities of doors of a means of locomotion
Publication Date: 2026.03.11 VOLKSWAGEN AG
  • EP4347317B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4347317B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4347317B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The present invention relates to a method, a computer program with instructions, a device and a user interface for controlling door opening functionalities of doors of a means of locomotion. The invention also relates to a means of locomotion, in which a method according to the invention, a device according to the invention or a user interface according to the invention is used. In a first step, an action of a user of the means of locomotion is detected (10), e.g. an input into a user interface or an exit from the means of locomotion. At least this detected action is evaluated (11). The door opening functionalities of the doors are then selectively controlled (12) as a function of a result of the evaluation (11).