Conical Magnetic Indexing Unit for Automotive Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing control devices in the automobile industry face issues with wear and tear, difficulty in centering, and high radial space requirements, leading to inconsistent tactile feedback and increased manufacturing costs.
Innovation Solution
A rotatable indexing unit with a rotor and stator having conical or tapering shapes and magnetized angular segments, allowing for stable and unstable positions, which reduces radial space and enhances tactile feedback while being simple to manufacture and assemble.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If metal parts with friction-based indexing are used, then tactile feedback is provided, but wear occurs and tactile feedback becomes inconsistent over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical friction-based indexing system with a magnetic field-based indexing system. The control member includes magnets that interact with a magnetized ring to provide tactile feedback through magnetic forces rather than mechanical friction, eliminating wear while maintaining consistent tactile feedback throughout the service life of the device.
2Reliability
If two magnetized rings are used for magnetic indexing, then tactile feedback is provided without wear, but the device becomes complex to manufacture and assemble
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the magnetization function from a separate component and integrates it directly into the control member itself. The control member includes magnets that directly interact with a magnetized ring, eliminating the need for two separate magnetized rings and simplifying the manufacturing and assembly process while maintaining wear-resistant magnetic indexing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the control member and magnets into a single integrated unit. The control member includes the magnets as an integral part, merging multiple components into one, which reduces the number of parts to manufacture and assemble while maintaining the wear-resistant magnetic indexing functionality.
3Reliability
If two magnetized rings with different structures are used, then magnetic indexing is achieved, but manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the control member multi-functional by integrating both the control functionality and the magnetic indexing functionality into a single component. The control member includes magnets that serve dual purposes: controlling the indexed positions and providing tactile feedback, while also interacting with the magnetized ring. This eliminates the need for separate magnetized components, reducing manufacturing complexity and cost while maintaining reliable indexing functionality.
4Force
If radial space is increased to achieve sufficient tactile effect, then tactile feedback is enhanced, but the device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the magnetic field interaction parameters to achieve strong tactile feedback within a compact radial space. By carefully selecting magnet strengths, configurations, and the magnetization of the ring, the patent enhances the magnetic forces to provide sufficient tactile effect without requiring increased radial dimensions, thus maintaining a compact device size while delivering enhanced tactile feedback.
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 solution provides a control device with reduced wear, consistent tactile feedback, and a compact design, addressing the limitations of existing technologies by enabling precise positioning and efficient manufacturing.
Implementation Method 1
the rotor and the stator are mounted coaxially and comprise a plurality of angular segments at least some of which are magnetized in such a way that they define stable and unstable positions for said control member
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a rotatable indexing unit for a manual control member (2), comprising two indexing components (31, 32) one of which is the rotor (32) rotatably secured to said control member and the other is the stator (31) which is embodied in such a way that it is fixedly maintained with respect to the rotor. The rotor and the stator are mounted coaxially and comprise a plurality of angular segments (317, 318, 327, 328) at least some of which are magnetised in such a way that they define stable and unstable positions for said control member, and the rotor and the stator have a conical or tapering shape which makes it possible to reduce the required radial space and increase the so-called active surfaces of interaction between the magnets.