Vehicle Door Control Unit Merging Front Rear Functions
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The complexity and cost of producing motor vehicles are increased due to the need for multiple control units and communication buses to manage door functions, leading to a high number of electrical cables and increased technical effort.
Innovation Solution
A single control unit is provided for each side of the vehicle to control both the rear and front door functions, eliminating the need for separate control units and reducing the number of communication buses, with the control unit located in the front door operating the rear door's electric motor via electrical conductors, and using power electronics and an evaluation device to manage motor current without additional sensors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If separate control units are provided for each door, then door functions can be controlled independently, but the device complexity and number of electrical cables increase
Solution Approach 1:
The front door control unit is designed to perform multiple functions: it controls both the front door functions and the rear door electric motor. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for a separate rear door control unit, reducing the overall number of control units and electrical cables while maintaining independent control capability for each door function through the single control unit
Solution Approach 2:
The control functions for the front door and rear door are merged into a single control unit located in the front door. This consolidation combines what would traditionally be separate control units into one integrated device, reducing device complexity and the number of electrical connections required
2Manufacturing precision
If one control unit per door is provided, then door functions are precisely controlled, but production costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the control functions for both doors into a single control unit, the bill of materials is reduced (fewer control units to manufacture and install), directly lowering production costs while the control unit maintains precise control capability for all door functions through its integrated design
3Speed
If communication bus is routed to each control unit, then real-time door control is achieved, but the number of cables and technical effort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The communication bus routing is simplified by consolidating to a single control unit. Instead of routing communication buses to multiple separate control units in each door, the bus only needs to reach the front door control unit, which then manages both door functions, reducing cable complexity while maintaining real-time control capability
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure relates to a motor vehicle having at least one vehicle side, on which a front door and a rear door are provided, and to a method for operating an electric motor in a respective rear door of the at least one vehicle side. The disclosure relates to a motor vehicle having at least one vehicle side, on which a front door and a rear door are provided, wherein an electric motor configured to provide a motorized door function is provided in the rear door and wherein a control device configured to operate the motor which is connected to the motor via electrical conductor elements for transferring a motor current is provided. According to the disclosure, the control device is arranged in the front door and is configured to also control at least one door function of the front door.