Vehicle Door Handle Acoustic Screen for Noise Reduction

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle door exterior opening controls fail to effectively seal air flow, leading to noise intrusion into the passenger compartment, and previous solutions are either complex, aesthetically detrimental, or require modification of existing controls.

Innovation Solution

A side door exterior opening control with an acoustic screen positioned on the stirrup's rear face to obstruct air flow, using insulating materials and elastic properties to reduce noise while allowing water passage and accommodating existing control designs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If the junction between the exterior opening control and the body is sealed to prevent air flow, then noise intrusion is reduced, but the complexity of the control design increases and aesthetic appearance is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenoise intrusionVSAvoidcontrol design complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The acoustic screen is divided into multiple segments or zones: a first acoustic screen covering the opening leading to the actuation mechanism, and optionally a second acoustic screen covering additional openings. This segmentation allows targeted noise reduction at specific locations without requiring complete sealing of the entire control assembly, thereby reducing complexity while maintaining effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The acoustic screen acts as an intermediary element positioned between the air flow path and the sensitive internal components (actuation mechanism, cable). Rather than sealing the entire junction between the control and body, the screen selectively blocks noise paths while leaving other areas open, simplifying the overall design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If sealing elements are added to the exterior opening control to block air flow, then noise reduction is achieved, but the aesthetic appearance of the vehicle is deteriorated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenoise intrusionVSAvoidaesthetic appearance
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The acoustic screen is positioned locally at specific openings on the rear face of the stirrup rather than covering the entire exterior opening control. The first acoustic screen is placed specifically at the opening leading to the actuation mechanism, and a second screen may cover additional openings. This localized approach provides noise reduction only where needed, preserving the overall aesthetic appearance of the control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the acoustic screen completely seals the rear face openings to block air flow, then noise intrusion is minimized, but water drainage capability is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenoise intrusionVSAvoidwater drainage
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The acoustic screen is positioned to cover openings for noise blocking, but the overall control design maintains existing drainage paths. The screen does not completely seal all potential water paths; instead, it selectively blocks air flow paths while allowing water to drain through uncovered areas or existing drainage channels in the stirrup and control assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

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 effectively limits air flow noise without altering the aesthetic appearance of existing controls, providing a simple and economical noise reduction mechanism that also absorbs impact shocks from door closure.

Implementation Method 1

at least one acoustic screen covering at least partially one or more openings presented by the rear face of the stirrup... intended to oppose the passage of a flow of air through this or these openings

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAcoustic absorption: Acoustic Absorption

Implementation Method 2

At least one acoustic screen is formed from an insulating material selected from the group comprising polyesters, polyethylenes (PE), polypropylenes (PP), polystyrenes (PS), polyamides (PA), polyvinyl chlorides (PVC), ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymers

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3485124B1External door opening controller comprising at least one acoustic screen
Publication Date: 2020.07.29 PSA AUTOMOBILES SA
  • EP3485124B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3485124B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The invention relates to an external opening controller (1) for a lateral motor vehicle door (3), comprising a handle (5) and a bracket (7), the bracket (7) having a front face and a rear face (13), and the handle (5) being mounted on the front face, said opening controller (1) being characterised in that it comprises at least one acoustic screen (11) that at least partially covers one or multiple openings in the rear face (13) of the bracket (7).