Vehicle Driver Identification via Active Door-Triggered Inquiry
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing driver identification systems for vehicles fail to accurately determine the driver when the remote device is not carried by the driver or when the driver enters through a passenger door, leading to incorrect vehicle settings such as seat position.
Innovation Solution
A driver identification system that includes a remote device capable of sending an authentication signal, a control module that sends an inquiry signal upon door opening, and logic to update the driver profile based on received authentication signals, ensuring accurate driver identification even if the driver does not unlock the driver's side front door or carries the remote device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the driver enters the vehicle through the driver's side front door while carrying the fob, then the driver identifier is correctly established, but the system fails when the driver enters through other doors or does not carry the fob on their person
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of the control module waiting for the fob to initiate communication, the system inverts the approach by having the control module actively send inquiry signals to the fob when door opening is detected. This ensures the fob is queried regardless of who opens the door or where it is located, resolving the contradiction between reliable driver identification and adaptability to various entry scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The control module performs preliminary action by sending inquiry signals to the fob immediately upon detecting door opening, before the driver completes entry or starts the vehicle. This preliminary communication ensures the driver identifier is captured in advance, making the system reliable across different entry scenarios whether the driver carries the fob or not.
2Reliability
If the system requires the driver to unlock the driver's side front door to establish driver identifier, then security is maintained, but convenience is reduced when the driver enters through passenger doors
Solution Approach 1:
The system inverts the traditional approach by having the control module actively query the fob upon any door opening rather than waiting for the driver to unlock the driver's side door with the fob. This maintains security through authenticated communication while greatly improving ease of operation by allowing entry through any door without requiring the driver to carry or present the fob at a specific location.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the control module waits for the fob to send unsolicited signals, then power consumption is reduced, but driver identifier detection is unreliable when the fob is not carried by the driver
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic action by having the control module send inquiry signals to the fob at specific intervals triggered by door opening events. The fob remains in low-power mode between inquiries, maintaining low power consumption, but responds reliably when queried. This periodic communication pattern ensures driver identifier detection reliability while preserving energy efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The control module performs preliminary action by sending inquiry signals immediately upon door opening, capturing the driver identifier before the vehicle operations begin. This ensures reliable detection of the driver identifier while keeping the fob in sleep mode during most of the time, thus maintaining low power consumption.
Data Source
AI summary
A driver identification system for a vehicle is provided. The vehicle has a driver's side front door. The driver identification system includes at least one remote device, and a control module. The remote device is activated to send an authentication signal. The control module is in selective communication with the at least one remote device. The control module receives a signal indicating that the driver's side front door of the vehicle is opened. The control module includes control logic for sending an inquiry signal if the signal indicating the driver's side front door is opened is received by the control module. The inquiry signal is configured for activating the at least one remote device to send the authentication signal.