Door Drive Force Sensor Eliminates Kinematic Delay
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing door drives with electromotive support systems experience delayed reaction to changes in opening or closing speed, leading to inharmonious and restricted ease of access due to the kinematic chain's transmission delay, affecting the user's manual effort.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a force sensor to detect the actuating force exerted by the user and directly controlling the electromotive drive unit to provide immediate and proportional support, ensuring smooth and harmonious force progression through continuous regulation of motor current based on the detected force.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If current measurement is used to control electromotive support, then the drive can respond to changes in manual effort, but the reaction is delayed due to transmission through the kinematic chain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical current measurement approach with a direct force sensing system. Instead of measuring current at the drive unit (which requires transmission through the kinematic chain), a force sensor directly measures the actuating force at the handle, eliminating the mechanical transmission delay and providing immediate feedback for control.
Solution Approach 2:
The force sensor acts as an intermediary between the user's manual effort and the control system. It directly captures the actuating force at the handle and transmits this information to the control device, which then adjusts the electromotive support in real-time without the delay inherent in mechanical current measurement through the kinematic chain.
2Ease of operation
If direct force measurement is implemented, then immediate response to manual effort changes is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the force measurement function from the drive unit and places it at the handle where the user applies force. This separation allows the force sensor to directly measure the actuating force at its source, providing immediate response while keeping the drive unit's complexity manageable by removing the need for complex current measurement and transmission mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The force sensor integrated at the handle serves multiple functions: it directly measures the actuating force, provides immediate feedback to the control system, and enables real-time adjustment of electromotive support. This multi-functionality achieves the desired ease of operation while the modular design keeps the overall system complexity manageable.
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 provides precise and balanced support, enhancing convenience and ease of use by eliminating delays in force response, particularly beneficial for barrier-free doors and gates.
Implementation Method 1
the force sensor has at least one strain gauge
Implementation Method 2
an electromotive drive unit which can be coupled to a movable leaf of the door in order to drive it
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
A door drive comprises an electric motor drive unit that can be coupled to a movable door leaf to drive it, and an electronic control unit that is connected to the electric motor drive unit and is configured to activate the electric motor drive unit when a user manually moves the leaf, in order to assist the manual movement of the leaf. The drive includes a force sensor for detecting an actuating force applied to the leaf by the user during manual movement, the electronic control unit being in signal communication with the force sensor and configured to control the electric motor drive unit to assist the manual movement of the leaf depending on the detected actuating force.