Vehicle Flap Closure Control via Dual-Sensor Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle systems lack effective security measures to prevent accidental contactless actuation of vehicle flap opening and closing devices, which can lead to unintended closure of vehicle flaps during loading or unloading operations.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising an opening and closing mechanism for vehicle flaps, integrated with a first sensor for contactless detection of target movements of a person's body part and a second sensor for detecting vehicle movements, along with a control unit that acts based on activation signals and movement signals to prevent unintended closure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If contactless actuation is implemented for opening and closing vehicle flaps, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to risk of accidental closure
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by using a second sensor device to detect vehicle movements and feed this information back to the control unit. When movement exceeding a threshold is detected, the control unit responds by preventing flap closure, thus resolving the technical contradiction between ease of contactless operation and reliability against accidental closure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by detecting vehicle movements before accidental closure can occur. The second sensor device continuously monitors vehicle movement in advance, and the control unit prepares to prevent closure by evaluating movement signals against threshold values before the flap closure action is executed.
2Ease of operation
If sensor detection range is extended to improve accessibility, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to increased risk of false activation
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback from the second sensor device to verify whether detected target movements correspond to genuine user intent or false activation. By evaluating vehicle movement data in real-time, the control unit can distinguish between intentional actuation within extended range and accidental movements, maintaining reliability despite expanded detection capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The second sensor device acts as an intermediary between the first sensor device and the opening and closing device. It provides additional verification by detecting vehicle movements, serving as a mediator that filters out false activations while allowing genuine user commands to proceed, thus enabling extended detection range without compromising reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the teachings herein include a device for closing a vehicle flap. An example device may include: a device to open and close the flap; a first sensor to detect a target movement of a body part in the vicinity and to provide an activation signal indicating a desired opening or closing movement of the vehicle flap; a second sensor to detect movements of the vehicle and to generate a movement signal indicating movement of the vehicle; and a control unit to receive the activation signal and the movement signal, and to actuate the opening and closing device. The control unit actuates the opening and closing device for the desired closing of the vehicle flap when an activation signal of the first sensor has been received and the movement signal of the second sensor indicates a movement of the vehicle smaller than a predetermined movement threshold value.