Car Access Assembly With Dual-Angle Strain Gauges for Compact Pillars
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Solution Overview
Problem
Integrating a car access assembly with multiple functions in the B-pillar or C-pillar area of a vehicle door is challenging due to design and packaging constraints, especially when aiming for a sleek, clean handle design and minimizing visible elements.
Innovation Solution
A car access assembly with a main strain gauge and an additional strain gauge oriented differently, where the additional gauge is inclined, allowing for distinct manual actuating areas to trigger each gauge, and a handle cover with transmission parts to apply strain to the support blade, facilitating reliable command interpretation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple strain gauges are integrated in the handle area, then multiple functions (release, lock, automatic opening) are available, but the design becomes cluttered and loses the clean, sleek appearance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple strain gauges (main strain gauge and additional strain gauge) into a single integrated handle assembly, combining multiple functions (release, lock, automatic opening) into one unified structure. This allows multiple commands to be accessible from the same location without creating a cluttered appearance, resolving the contradiction between functional versatility and clean design.
2Shape
If the car access assembly is placed in the B-pillar or C-pillar area to minimize visibility, then the design becomes sleek and hidden, but the packaging space becomes extremely limited and reinforced for crash impact
Solution Approach 1:
The patent nests the multiple strain gauges and electronic components within a compact handle assembly that can be integrated into the limited space of the B-pillar or C-pillar area. The nested arrangement of the main strain gauge, additional strain gauge, and handle cover allows the system to fit into the constrained packaging space while maintaining the desired minimal visibility aesthetic.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple functions are integrated in the handle, then versatility increases, but the electronic and packaging complexity increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements multi-functionality within the handle assembly, where the same physical structure (handle cover with main and additional actuating areas) serves multiple purposes: release command, lock command, and automatic opening command. This universal design approach allows multiple functions to be achieved through a single integrated system rather than separate components, thereby reducing electronic and packaging complexity while maintaining versatility.
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 assembly effectively distinguishes user commands, reduces assembly size, and ensures reliable function activation by combining signals from both strain gauges to filter out misuse, enabling integration in compact vehicle pillars with a clean design.
Implementation Method 1
a main strain gauge mounted on the support blade and configured to measure, within the basis plane, an elongation or a contraction of the main strain gauge according to a main direction
Implementation Method 2
an additional strain gauge mounted on the support blade in such a way to extend, at least partially, in an inclined manner with respect to the basis plane, the additional strain gauge being configured to measure an elongation or a contraction of the additional strain gauge, according to a secondary direction
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
Car access assembly (1) comprising: a support blade (3) extending according to a basis plane (5); a main strain gauge (9) mounted on the support blade (3) and configured to measure, within the basis plane (5), an elongation or a contraction of the main strain gauge (9) according to a main direction (11); an additional strain gauge (13) mounted on the support blade (3) in such a way to extend, at least partially, in an inclined manner with respect to the basis plane (5); a handle cover (15) presenting a main actuating area (17) configured to be manually actuated according to or parallel to the main direction (11) for triggering the main strain gauge (9) and an additional actuating area (19) configured to be manually actuated according to or parallel to an additional direction (21), which is transverse to the main direction (11), for triggering the additional strain gauge (13).