Air Guide Position Detection Using Electric Field Sensors

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing air guiding arrangements for motor vehicles face issues with indirect position detection, which can lead to corrupted measurement results and complex, expensive sensor designs.

Innovation Solution

An air guiding arrangement featuring an electric field sensor arrangement with an electromagnetic field source in the air guiding element and electric field receivers on the carrier or vehicle body, allowing direct position detection and a simpler design.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If an inductive sensor arrangement with a magnet and bar is used to monitor the position of the air guiding element, then the position can be detected, but the measurement results may be corrupted and the design becomes complicated and expensive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveposition detection accuracyVSAvoidsensor arrangement complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical inductive sensor system (magnet, bar, and sensor) with an optical sensor system that uses a light source and light receiver. This substitution eliminates the need for physical contact components, reducing mechanical complexity while maintaining position detection accuracy through optical field measurements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the magnet and bar components from the sensor arrangement, removing the source of measurement corruption. By eliminating these mechanical elements and using only optical components (light source and light receiver), the system achieves simpler design without compromising position monitoring capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If an inductive sensor arrangement with multiple components is used, then position monitoring is possible, but the design becomes expensive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveposition monitoring reliabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces expensive mechanical inductive sensors with more cost-effective optical sensors. The light source and light receiver configuration provides reliable position monitoring through optical field changes, eliminating the need for costly magnet assemblies and inductive sensor components while maintaining measurement reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs inexpensive optical components (light source and light receiver) that can be easily manufactured and replaced if needed. These components are significantly cheaper than the inductive sensor system while providing sufficient reliability for position monitoring applications in air guiding arrangements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Loss of information

If indirect detection through a magnet and bar is used, then position monitoring is achieved, but measurement corruption occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeasurement data accuracyVSAvoidsensor arrangement structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent substitutes the indirect mechanical detection method with direct optical detection. The light receiver directly measures optical field changes caused by the position of the air guiding element, eliminating the intermediate magnet and bar components that caused measurement corruption. This direct optical measurement ensures accurate position data without information loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 solution enables accurate and cost-effective monitoring of the air guiding element's position, preventing unintentional deployment and improving handling at high speeds with a simpler sensor design.

Implementation Method 1

at least one electromagnetic field source is provided in the air guide, and at least one electric field receiver, which is a sensor of the sensor arrangement, is provided in the carrier and/or in the vehicle body

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectric field: Electric Field

Data Source

PatentUS11021194B2Air guiding arrangement for a motor vehicle

Publication Date: 2021.06.01 DR ING H C F PORSCHE AG

AI summary

An air guiding arrangement for a motor vehicle includes: a carrier arranged on a vehicle body, and on which an air guide is mounted such that the air guide is drivable from a retracted home position to an extended maximum position by a drive, a sensor arrangement that monitors the position of the air guide and is connected to a controller so as to transmit data corresponding to the position, the sensor arrangement comprising an electric field sensor arrangement to monitor the position of the air guide, at least one electromagnetic field source is provided in the air guide, and at least one electric field receiver, which is a sensor of the sensor arrangement, is provided in the carrier and/or in the vehicle body.