Vehicle Door Control via Mobile Device Gait Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for controlling motor vehicle doors, such as sensor-controlled tailgates, often result in accidental opening or require user gestures, which can be inconvenient and inaccurate, especially when the user is carrying a load.
Innovation Solution
A method using a portable mobile terminal device to evaluate a user's gait parameters, such as step length and speed, to determine if they are loaded or unloaded, and sending a control signal to the vehicle to open or close the door accordingly, eliminating the need for vehicle-mounted sensors and user gestures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If sensor-controlled tailgates are used to enable contactless opening, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to accidental opening
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary authentication system between the user and the tailgate. Instead of directly controlling the tailgate through proximity sensors, the system uses a portable device as a mediator that authenticates the user first, then transmits a controlled signal to open the tailgate. This intermediary layer prevents accidental opening while maintaining contactless operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback through authentication confirmation signals (optical and/or acoustic) that inform the user whether authentication was successful. This feedback mechanism ensures that the tailgate only opens when properly authenticated, preventing accidental activation while maintaining user awareness of the system's state.
2Reliability
If authentication systems with optical/acoustic signals are used, then reliability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to additional user actions required
Solution Approach 1:
The authentication process is performed in advance as a preliminary action before the actual tailgate opening. The portable device authenticates the user and establishes control权限 beforehand, so that when the user approaches the vehicle, the tailgate can be opened automatically without requiring additional gestures or actions during the opening moment.
Solution Approach 2:
Once authentication is complete, the system provides self-service functionality where the authenticated user can open the tailgate automatically without needing to perform additional gestures. The system serves itself by using the authenticated state to automatically control the tailgate, eliminating the need for continuous user interaction.
3Reliability
If vehicle-mounted sensors are used for door control, then reliability is improved, but manufacturing cost and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the sensing and control functionality from the vehicle and relocates it to the portable device. Instead of equipping the vehicle with complex sensor systems, the solution removes these requirements by using the user's existing portable device to perform all sensing, authentication, and control functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical sensor-based control system in the vehicle with an electronic/software-based solution running on the portable device. This substitution eliminates the need for physical sensors, wiring, and control units in the vehicle, significantly reducing device complexity and manufacturing costs while maintaining or improving reliability.
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for controlling a door (12) of a motor vehicle (14). In the method, the gait of a user (18) is first evaluated by means of a portable mobile device (16) carried by the user (18). During the evaluation of the gait, at least one gait parameter is detected, wherein the at least one gait parameter indicates a loaded or unloaded state of the user (18). In a further method step, a control signal (S) is output by means of the portable mobile device (16) after the gait parameter has been detected. Subsequently, the control signal (S) of the portable mobile device (16) is received from outside the motor vehicle (14) by means of a detection device (20) of the motor vehicle (14). Finally, the door (12) of the motor vehicle (14) is controlled by means of a control unit (22) of the motor vehicle (14) after receiving the control signal (S).