Vehicle Gesture Recognition Sensor Activation Strategy

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for detecting gestures to activate vehicle functions, such as opening or closing doors, are inefficient in terms of energy consumption and accuracy, particularly when using two-dimensional sensors that do not provide distance information.

Innovation Solution

A method that employs a two-dimensional sensor to detect object movement and dimensions, activating a distance measuring sensor only when specific conditions are met, allowing for three-dimensional gesture detection while minimizing energy consumption by using a time-of-flight camera with selective pixel activation for distance measurement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a distance sensor is continuously activated for gesture detection, then gesture detection accuracy is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegesture detection accuracyVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The distance sensor is activated periodically or selectively based on detected conditions rather than continuously. The system first captures 2D images, detects potential gestures, and only then activates the distance sensor for verification, creating a periodic activation pattern that reduces energy consumption while maintaining detection accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary gesture detection using the energy-efficient 2D sensor before activating the distance sensor. By pre-screening for potential gestures using low-power 2D image capture and analysis, the system prepares conditions for selective distance sensor activation, avoiding unnecessary high-energy operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Use of energy by moving object

If only a two-dimensional sensor is used for gesture detection, then energy consumption is reduced, but detection accuracy deteriorates due to lack of distance information

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoidgesture detection accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The gesture detection system is segmented into two stages: initial detection using 2D sensors for energy-efficient screening, and verification using distance sensors for accurate 3D gesture recognition. This segmentation allows the system to use the appropriate sensor type for each detection phase, optimizing both energy consumption and accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The 2D sensor acts as an intermediary between the environment and the distance sensor. It processes initial gesture detection and only triggers the distance sensor when potential gestures are identified, serving as a mediator that reduces unnecessary distance sensor activation while maintaining overall detection accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If the distance sensor is activated for every detected object movement, then gesture detection reliability is improved, but unnecessary energy consumption occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegesture detection reliabilityVSAvoidunnecessary energy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies different quality levels of detection to different situations. Routine movements are monitored with 2D sensors only, while potential gestures trigger higher-quality distance sensor verification. This local differentiation of detection quality ensures reliability for actual gestures while avoiding energy waste on non-gesture movements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the operational parameters of the distance sensor based on detected conditions. Instead of constant activation, the distance sensor's activation parameter is dynamically changed based on 2D sensor detection results, enabling the system to maintain reliability when needed while reducing energy consumption during normal operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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

This approach reduces unnecessary energy usage by activating distance measuring sensors only when necessary and improves gesture detection accuracy by utilizing three-dimensional information, while also calibrating sensors during specific environmental conditions to enhance precision.

Implementation Method 1

using a time-of-flight camera with selective pixel activation for distance measurement

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTime of flight: Time of Flight

Data Source

PatentEP3289520B1Improved gesture recognition for a vehicle
Publication Date: 2024.04.10 VOLKSWAGEN AG
  • EP3289520B1 patent drawingFigure 1~4
  • EP3289520B1 patent drawingFigure 5
  • EP3289520B1 patent drawingFigure 6

AI summary

The invention relates to methods for detecting a gesture for a vehicle (10). For this purpose, firstly, a movement of an object (5) is detected using a two-dimensional sensor (1), a distance-measuring sensor (1) is activated depending on the detected movement, and the gesture is detected using the activated distance-measuring sensor (1). In addition, a state of an environment of the vehicle (10) is detected in which a sensor (1) of the vehicle (10) only detects a road on which the vehicle (10) is located, the sensor (1) is calibrated during this state, and the gesture is detected using the calibrated sensor (1).