Closed-Vehicle Voice Communication via Window Light Modulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for communicating with occupants of sealed vehicles are inefficient and unsafe, particularly in adverse weather conditions or security-risk situations, as they require opening windows, exposing individuals to elements and potential threats, and often involve one-way communication.
Innovation Solution
A two-way communication system using short-range radio transmission and light beam modulation, where a light source emits a beam at a vehicle window, and the reflected beam, modulated by the occupant's voice, is detected and processed to reproduce sound, enabling communication without opening the vehicle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If the occupant opens the window to communicate, then communication quality improves, but safety and comfort deteriorate due to exposure to weather and security risks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary communication system consisting of a microphone, amplifier, and speaker mounted at the drive-thru location. This intermediary device captures the occupant's speech through the closed window and transmits it to the order-taker, eliminating the need for the occupant to open the window while maintaining clear communication quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of opening the window with an electronic/acoustic system. Instead of physically opening the window to enable sound transmission, the system uses a microphone to capture sound waves, amplifies the signal electronically, and reproduces it through a speaker, thereby substituting mechanical action with electronic mediation.
2Loss of information
If the speaker quality is increased to improve hearing, then communication clarity improves, but background noise and microphone quality issues persist
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by positioning the microphone to face the occupant's mouth before speech occurs, and by using an amplifier to pre-enhance the speech signal before it is transmitted to the speaker. This preliminary amplification and positioning ensure that the speech signal is strengthened before background noise can interfere, thereby improving communication clarity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of signal amplification by introducing an amplifier device that increases the amplitude of the speech signal. This parameter change ensures that the speech signal is significantly stronger than background noise, thereby improving the signal-to-noise ratio and communication clarity without requiring the occupant to open the window.
3Length of moving object
If a cellular phone is used for communication, then distance communication is enabled, but queue management becomes inefficient and accessibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing a communication system that works for all vehicle occupants regardless of whether they have cell phones. The microphone-speaker-amplifier system provides universal access to drive-thru communication, eliminating the barrier of cell phone ownership and ensuring that every occupant can place and receive orders efficiently while maintaining queue management.
4Loss of information
If the officer exits the vehicle to communicate with the driver, then communication effectiveness improves, but officer safety deteriorates due to exposure to elements and potential threats
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary communication system that allows the officer to communicate with the driver through the closed vehicle window. The system uses a microphone to capture the driver's speech, amplifies the signal, and reproduces it through a speaker, enabling the officer to obtain driver information and issue warnings without exiting the vehicle, thereby maintaining officer safety while ensuring communication effectiveness.
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 system allows for safe and effective two-way communication within sealed vehicles, reducing exposure to weather and security risks while improving communication quality and convenience.
Implementation Method 1
the reflected light is modulated by the occupant's voice to transmit audio signals back to the sender
Implementation Method 2
a light source emits a beam at a vehicle window, and the reflected light is modulated
Data Source
AI summary
An application for a two-way communication system for communicating with a person who is within a closed vehicle includes a short-range radio transmission to transmit audio to a radio within the vehicle. Communication from the person is done by reflecting a light beam on a window of the vehicle and receiving the light beam, which is modulated by vibration of the window caused by the person's voice. The received light beam is then processed to reproduce the sound of the person's voice.