Voice-Activated Liftgate Control With External User Recognition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current lift gate devices require users to position their leg outside the vehicle for sensor detection, which is inconvenient and may not be accessible for all users.
Innovation Solution
A voice-activated system using automatic speech recognition (ASR) and voice biometrics allows users to control vehicle features such as lift gate operation, door unlocking, window control, and ignition from outside the vehicle, using a lightweight, low-latency ECU that determines the user's location to customize settings like seat and infotainment preferences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a sensor-based leg detection system is used to control the lift gate, then the system can reliably detect user intent, but the user must position their leg in a specific location outside the vehicle which is inconvenient and inaccessible for some users
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical sensor-based leg detection system with an acoustic voice recognition system. Instead of requiring physical leg positioning near sensors, the system uses microphones to capture and process voice commands, allowing users to operate the lift gate through spoken instructions. This substitution eliminates the need for specific physical positioning while maintaining reliable detection of user intent.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces voice commands as an intermediary between the user and the lift gate control system. Rather than direct physical interaction with sensors, users communicate their intent through speech, which is then processed by the acoustic module and electronic control unit. This intermediary layer provides greater flexibility and accessibility while achieving the same control objective.
2Ease of operation
If voice recognition technology is implemented to control vehicle features, then user accessibility and convenience are improved, but system complexity and processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the voice control system into distinct functional modules: acoustic modules for capturing and processing sound signals, an electronic control unit for interpreting commands, and separate control circuits for different vehicle features. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and simplifies the overall system architecture by distributing processing tasks across multiple specialized units rather than requiring a single complex system.
Data Source
AI summary
A voice control system for a motor vehicle includes a microphone producing a microphone signal dependent upon a voiced utterance by a human user disposed outside of the motor vehicle. An electronic control unit is communicatively coupled to the microphone and recognizes a command in the microphone signal. An application is communicatively coupled to the electronic control unit and receives a signal from the electronic control unit. The electronic control unit implements the command in the microphone signal and thereby modifies a parameter of the motor vehicle.