Vehicle Mobile Terminal Position Detection Using Simultaneous Receiver Signal Strength

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional mobile terminal position detection methods face challenges in achieving accurate position detection due to errors caused by the movement of the mobile terminal during the time it takes for multiple receivers to establish connections and receive radio waves, leading to insufficient positional accuracy, especially in vehicle-based applications.

Innovation Solution

A mobile terminal position detection device and method that requests multiple receivers to connect to the mobile terminal, acquires connection information, and switches unconnected receivers into a state ready to receive radio waves, allowing all receivers to detect the same signal strength, thereby reducing errors from terminal movement and improving accuracy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the number of receivers is increased to improve position detection accuracy, then the detection precision is improved, but the time required for all receivers to establish connection and receive radio waves increases, causing larger positional errors due to mobile terminal movement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveposition detection accuracyVSAvoidconnection establishment time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by having receivers proactively search for and connect to the mobile terminal before position detection is actually needed. The connection establishment process is initiated in advance, and receivers that successfully connect share their connection status and signal strength information with other receivers, allowing the system to bypass the time-consuming connection establishment phase when detection is required.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where receivers that have successfully connected to the mobile terminal provide feedback information (connection status, signal strength) to the position detection device and other receivers. This feedback allows the system to identify which receivers are already connected and can immediately contribute to position detection, reducing the overall time required.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Measurement precision

If the number of receivers is increased to improve position detection accuracy, then the detection precision is improved, but the error caused by mobile terminal movement during the extended connection time becomes larger

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveposition detection accuracyVSAvoidposition accuracy reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

By establishing receiver connections in advance before position detection is needed, the system ensures that multiple receivers are already connected and ready to detect radio waves simultaneously when detection is required. This eliminates the time gap during which the mobile terminal could move, thereby maintaining both high accuracy and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system maintains continuous connection establishment activities among receivers and the mobile terminal, ensuring that there is always at least one receiver connected and ready for immediate detection. This continuous operation prevents interruptions and ensures that position detection can always be performed with multiple simultaneous measurements, maintaining high reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Ease of operation

If receivers establish connections sequentially to the mobile terminal, then the connection process is manageable, but the total time required for all receivers to receive radio waves increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection managementVSAvoidtotal reception time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs connection establishment as a preliminary action that occurs continuously in the background. Multiple receivers initiate connection attempts to the mobile terminal in advance, and the system manages these connections systematically. When position detection is needed, the receivers are already connected and can immediately begin detecting radio waves simultaneously, eliminating the sequential waiting time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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 enables the detection of the mobile terminal's existence position with sufficient accuracy even with an increased number of receivers, as all receivers can simultaneously detect the same radio waves, minimizing positional errors caused by terminal movement.

Implementation Method 1

a technique for detecting a position of a mobile terminal (therefore, the position of an occupant) by installing small receivers at multiple places of a vehicle and receiving radio waves from the mobile terminal

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRadio wave reception: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP3611531B1Mobile terminal position detection device and mobile terminal position detection method
Publication Date: 2021.06.30 DENSO CORP
  • EP3611531B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3611531B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3611531B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A mobile terminal position detection device (100, 150) includes: a connection request unit (102) that requests at least one of a plurality of receivers mounted on a vehicle (1) to connect to a mobile terminal; a connection information acquisition unit (103) that acquires connection information from a connected receiver; a connection information output unit (104) that outputs the connection information to an unconnected receiver, and switches the unconnected receiver into a state ready for receiving the radio wave from the mobile terminal; a signal strength acquisition unit (105) that acquires the signal strength of the radio wave from the mobile terminal, which is received by each of the connected receiver and the unconnected receiver; and an existence position detection unit (106) that detects the existence position of the mobile terminal based on the signal strength.