Vehicle UWB Gesture Control for Hands-Free Component Operation
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a lack of convenient means for users to operate vehicle components, such as closing an open vehicle door or rear closure, in a hands-free manner when their hands are occupied or they are at a distance from the vehicle.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle system that uses Ultra-wideband (UWB) ranging to detect a user device movement pattern, allowing users to control vehicle components like doors or lights without touching them by moving a communicatively coupled device in predefined patterns, based on vehicle context and operational state.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional vehicle component operation methods are used, then the user can operate vehicle components, but the user requires physical contact with buttons or controls which is inconvenient when hands are occupied
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical button-pressing system with an optical detection system using a camera and image processing algorithms. The system captures images of the user's hand gestures and translates them into control commands, eliminating the need for physical contact with vehicle controls while maintaining operational functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary system consisting of a camera, image processing unit, and gesture recognition algorithm that mediates between the user's hand movements and the vehicle control system. This intermediary translates physical gestures into digital control signals, enabling hands-free operation without directly modifying the underlying control architecture.
2Ease of operation
If additional hardware is added to enable hands-free operation, then the user can operate components without touching them, but the system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the camera system multi-functional by using it for both hands-free control gestures and existing functions such as user authentication, facial recognition, or ambient monitoring. This allows the system to enable hands-free operation without adding dedicated hardware, as the camera serves multiple purposes within the vehicle.
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes the user's own hand movements and the existing camera infrastructure to provide hands-free control, rather than requiring separate dedicated sensors or actuators. The solution leverages readily available components and user-generated signals to achieve the desired functionality.
3Ease of operation
If the system detects user device movement patterns, then hands-free control is enabled, but the system must process and interpret complex movement data
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-defines specific gesture patterns and their corresponding control commands before the user attempts to operate the vehicle. The system has a library of predetermined gestures (such as waving patterns, circular motions, or specific hand positions) that map to specific functions, allowing for straightforward detection and interpretation without requiring complex real-time analysis of arbitrary movements.
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
Enables hands-free operation of vehicle components by detecting predefined user device movements, adapting actions based on vehicle state, without requiring additional hardware, thus enhancing convenience and usability.
Implementation Method 1
The UWB transceiver may be configured to detect a position of the user device in proximity to the vehicle based on signals obtained from the user device
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle including a detection unit and a processor is disclosed. The detection unit may be configured to receive a position information from a user device in proximity to the vehicle. The processor may be configured to determine that the user device may be moving in a predefined pattern in proximity to the vehicle based on the position information. The processor may further determine that the vehicle may be in a first vehicle operational state, of a plurality of vehicle operational states, responsive to determining that the user device may be moving in the predefined pattern in proximity to the vehicle. The processor may additionally perform a first operation on a first vehicle component responsive to determining that the vehicle may be operating in the first vehicle operational state. The first vehicle component may be associated with the first vehicle operational state.