Wireless Seat Unit Status Detection With Change-Based Transmission
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In vehicles with adjustable seating systems, the absence of a traditional cable connection between the seat unit and the base vehicle makes it difficult for the ECU to determine if a seat is mounted and occupied, or if the seatbelt is in use, as wireless communication is not feasible with existing technologies.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a wireless communication system between the base vehicle and the seat unit, which includes a battery-powered electronic unit with a timing means for wake-up signals, a read-out means for sensors, a storage means, and a comparing means to detect changes in sensor values, allowing for energy-efficient data transmission only when sensor states change, thereby reducing power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a traditional cable connection is used between the seat unit and the base vehicle, then reliable data transmission is achieved, but the seat unit cannot be freely mounted or removed and the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical cable connection system with a wireless communication system. The seat unit includes a wireless communication means that transmits sensor data (occupancy status, seatbelt usage) to the base vehicle's ECU without any physical cable connection, enabling free mounting and removal while maintaining data transmission reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a wireless communication signal as an intermediary to transfer data between the seat unit and the base vehicle. This intermediary replaces the direct cable connection, allowing the seat unit to communicate its status to the ECU while maintaining mounting flexibility
2Loss of information
If continuous sensor data transmission is implemented, then the ECU always has current seat status information, but the battery power is depleted quickly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic transmission of sensor data instead of continuous transmission. The wireless communication means transmits occupancy status and seatbelt usage information at regular intervals or when state changes occur, ensuring the ECU receives current information while significantly reducing battery power consumption compared to continuous transmission
Solution Approach 2:
The seat unit's wireless communication means autonomously determines when to transmit data based on sensor state changes. The system self-regulates transmission frequency by monitoring occupancy and seatbelt status, transmitting only when relevant information changes, thus eliminating the need for continuous power-consuming transmissions while maintaining information freshness
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle device comprising a base vehicle and a seat unit being releaseably connectable to the base vehicle is described. The base vehicle comprises an electronic control means and a vehicle-side wireless communication means, and the seat unit comprises at least one sensor, a battery, an electronic unit, and a seat-side wireless communication means. In order to provide the electronic control means of the base vehicle with the necessary information about the seat unit in an energy-saving manner, the electronic unit reads-out the status of the at least one sensor in a certain time-scheme and transmits a sensor related signal via the seat-side wireless communications means only if the status of the sensor changed since the previous read-out.