Backup Energy Source for Electrical Door Latch
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electrical door latches in motor vehicles face challenges in operating the cinching mechanism during power interruptions, such as battery or circuit failures, which can prevent door opening and closing, especially in emergency situations like accidents.
Innovation Solution
An electrical latch assembly with a control circuit that includes a backup energy source, allowing the cinching mechanism to switch from the main power source to a backup energy source upon fault detection, ensuring the cinching lever returns to its uncinched position, enabling door operation even without the primary power supply.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an electrical door latch uses a main power source for operating the cinching mechanism, then the door can be properly closed and latched during normal operation, but the door cannot be opened or closed in the event of power interruption or failure
Solution Approach 1:
The backup energy source is pre-charged during normal operation when the main power source is available. This preliminary energy storage ensures that the cinching mechanism can be operated even when the main power source fails, allowing the door to be properly closed and latched without requiring complex real-time power switching systems
Solution Approach 2:
The backup energy source acts as an intermediary between the main power source and the cinching mechanism. It provides a bridge that allows continuous operation of the door latch system during power interruptions, simplifying the overall power supply architecture while maintaining reliability
2Reliability
If a backup energy source is added to the electrical door latch to enable operation during power failure, then door operation during emergencies is enabled, but the device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The backup energy source is integrated into the existing latch assembly housing, merging multiple functions (main power reception, backup energy storage, and motor actuation) into a single compact unit. This eliminates the need for separate backup power components and reduces the overall volume of the latch assembly
Solution Approach 2:
The latch assembly is designed with multi-functionality, where the same housing and mounting structure serve both the main power source connections and the backup energy source. The actuator mechanism also serves dual purposes for both normal and emergency operations, reducing the need for additional components and space
3Device complexity
If the cinching mechanism is powered only by the main power source, then the system is simpler, but the cinching mechanism cannot return to uncinched position during power failure
Solution Approach 1:
The backup energy source is automatically activated when power failure is detected, enabling the cinching mechanism to self-reset to the uncinched position without requiring external intervention or complex control systems. The system serves itself by using stored energy to restore operational capability
Solution Approach 2:
The backup energy source recovers and stores energy during normal operation, then discards the stored energy to power the cinching mechanism's return to uncinched position during emergencies. This energy recovery and deployment cycle enables simple yet effective emergency operation
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical latch for a closure system of a motor vehicle and method of operating are provided. The electrical latch includes a latching mechanism having a pawl and ratchet, a cinching mechanism having a cinching lever, and an electric actuator mechanism for actuating at least the cinching lever. The electrical latch further includes a control unit powered by a main power source and having a control circuit controlling operation of the actuator mechanism to affect the position of the cinch lever, and a backup energy source providing power to the control circuit and the actuator mechanism in the event a fault condition is experienced by the main power source. The electrical latch is configured to return the cinching lever to a home uncinched position in response to switching of power from the main power source to the backup energy source.