Weight-Sensing Parking Pad With Remote Vehicle Theft Alerts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing parking pad devices lack a communication unit that can remotely alert a user when a vehicle has been moved from a parking spot, potentially indicating theft.
Innovation Solution
A parking pad device with a weight sensor integrated into the pad to detect the weight of a vehicle's tire and a communication unit that remotely communicates with a personal electronic device to alert the user when the weight sensor no longer detects weight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an audible alarm is integrated into the parking pad, then the user is alerted when the vehicle is moved, but the device becomes more complex and requires additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a communication unit as an intermediary between the weight sensor and the user's personal electronic device. Instead of integrating an audible alarm directly into the parking pad, the system transmits alerts remotely to the user's smartphone or other personal device, thereby maintaining detection reliability while avoiding the complexity of integrating audio output hardware into the pad itself.
2Loss of information
If a communication unit is added to remotely alert the user, then the notification capability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system leverages the user's existing personal electronic device (smartphone, tablet, etc.) to handle the notification and communication functions. The parking pad's communication unit simply transmits the alert signal, while the user's personal device provides the interface for receiving and potentially responding to the theft alert, thereby avoiding the need to build complex notification infrastructure into the pad itself.
3Measurement precision
If the pad uses a weight sensor to detect vehicle presence, then the detection accuracy is improved, but the device complexity increases compared to simple physical indicators
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical detection systems with electronic weight sensing technology. The weight sensor electronically detects changes in mass (vehicle presence) and transmits this information via the communication unit, eliminating the need for complex mechanical switches, levers, or physical indicators while maintaining high detection precision.
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
The device effectively notifies users via their personal electronic devices when a vehicle has been moved, potentially preventing theft by alerting the owner promptly.
Implementation Method 1
A weight sensor is integrated into the pad to sense the weight of the tire
Data Source
AI summary
A weight sensing parking pad device includes a pad having a length and a width that is sufficient to accommodate a tire of a motorized vehicle. The pad can be placed on a support surface to facilitate the tire of the motorized vehicle to be parked upon the pad. A weight sensor is integrated into the pad to sense the weight of the tire when the motorized vehicle is parked on the pad. A communication unit is integrated into the pad and the communication unit is in remote communication with a personal electronic device. The communication unit broadcasts an alert to the personal electronic device when the weight sensor ceases to sense weight after having sensed weight for a minimum duration of time. In this way user is notified that the motorized vehicle has been moved from the pad and has potentially been stolen.