Vehicle Door Control Using Recessed Optical Sensor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle control structures face usability issues due to the need for users to place a hand above a touch sensor to operate doors, especially when hands are full, and struggle with distinguishing between users and non-users, leading to low operation reliability and unintentional door openings.
Innovation Solution
A control structure featuring a recessed hollow section in the vehicle's outer wall equipped with a reflective optical sensor that emits detection light and detects the entry of a detection target, allowing operation by inserting a hand or object into the section, thereby improving usability and reliability by preventing unintentional activations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If an optical sensor or other sensors are used to detect approaching objects, then automatic door operation can be triggered, but it is difficult to distinguish between users and non-users leading to unintentional door opening
Solution Approach 1:
The recessed hollow section creates a localized detection zone with specific geometric characteristics. The reflective optical sensor detects objects only within this defined local space, requiring the detection target to be inserted into the specific recessed area. This localized detection approach prevents false triggering by distant objects while maintaining automatic operation capability for legitimate users.
2Ease of operation
If the sensor is placed on the outer wall surface, then it is easily accessible, but dust or debris can block the sensor leading to operation failure
Solution Approach 1:
The reflective optical sensor is nested within the recessed hollow section, which is formed by recessing a portion of the outer wall surface. This nested structure protects the sensor from direct exposure to external contaminants while maintaining the detection function through the light emitting opening, preventing dust or debris from blocking the sensor.
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
Enhances usability by allowing operation without needing to place a hand above the sensor, and increases reliability by accurately distinguishing between users and non-users, reducing the risk of unintentional door operations.
Implementation Method 1
a reflective optical sensor (5) configured to emit detection light (3) from a light emitting opening (2) provided in one wall surface of the recessed hollow section (1) toward another wall surface of the recessed hollow section (1), and to detect the entry of a detection target (4) into the recessed hollow section (1) when a received beam level of an amount of reflected beams of the detection light (3) exceeds a certain determination threshold
Data Source
Figure 1(a)~1(c)
Figure 2
Figure 3(a)~3(e)
AI summary
An object of the present invention is to provide a control structure of a vehicle capable of reliably responding to an operation intention of a user outside the vehicle. The structure includes: a reflective optical sensor 5 configured to detect an entry of a detection target 4 into a recessed hollow section 1 formed in a vehicle outer wall according to a change in an amount of reflected beams of detection light 3 emitted from a light emitting opening 2 provided in one wall surface of the recessed hollow section 1 toward another wall surface of the recessed hollow section 1; and a controller 6 configured to operate a certain control target 7 when the reflective optical sensor 5 detects the entry of the detection target 4 into the recessed hollow section 1.