Vehicle Door Handle Antenna Size Reduction via DC Cut Capacitor

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle door handle devices require larger antennas due to limitations in detecting the driving state without using resonance voltage, restricting the increase of the Q factor.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle door handle device configuration that includes an antenna and a DC driving detection member connected to a driving controller through two wires, using a DC cut capacitor and passive elements to detect the antenna's driving state without relying on resonance voltage, allowing for a smaller antenna size by enabling the detection of the antenna's driving state during operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If resonance voltage is used to detect the driving state of the antenna, then the detection accuracy is improved, but the antenna size must be increased to maintain adequate Q factor

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection accuracyVSAvoidantenna size
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

A capacitor is introduced as an intermediary component between the antenna and the detection circuit. The capacitor blocks the AC resonance voltage from reaching the detection terminal while allowing the detection circuit to sense the driving state through alternative means (voltage presence/absence), thereby enabling accurate detection without exposing the detection circuit to high resonance voltages that would require larger antenna design

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The detection method transitions from directly measuring resonance voltage parameters to detecting voltage presence/absence parameters. By changing the detection parameter from amplitude-based (resonance voltage) to state-based (voltage presence), the system achieves accurate detection without requiring the antenna to be optimized for high Q factor, thus reducing antenna size

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Device complexity

If two electric wires are used for both power supply and detection, then the device complexity is reduced, but the detection reliability deteriorates due to signal interference

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecircuit complexityVSAvoiddetection reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The two-wire system is functionally segmented into power supply mode and detection mode through time-division multiplexing. The control unit alternates between supplying AC voltage for antenna operation and detecting voltage presence for state monitoring. This segmentation allows the same physical wires to carry different functions at different times, maintaining simplicity while ensuring reliable detection by preventing signal interference through sequential operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system employs periodic switching between power supply phase and detection phase. During the power supply phase, AC voltage is applied to drive the antenna; during the detection phase, the system checks for voltage presence at the detection terminal. This periodic action ensures that detection occurs only when the antenna is not actively driven, eliminating signal interference while maintaining the simplicity of the two-wire configuration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

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 configuration allows for a reduced antenna size by enabling the detection of the antenna's driving state without using resonance voltage, increasing the Q factor and improving mountability while simplifying the circuit and reducing the risk of misdetection.

Implementation Method 1

a DC cut capacitor, one terminal of the DC cut capacitor being connected to the first connection wire and the detection output terminal, the other terminal of the DC cut capacitor being connected to the antenna driving detection terminal

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCapacitance: Capacitance

Implementation Method 2

the antenna is configured to be driven by an AC voltage supplied from the driving controller

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectResonance: Resonance

Data Source

PatentEP3107074B1Vehicle door handle device
Publication Date: 2019.07.24 AISIN SEIKI KK
  • EP3107074B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3107074B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A vehicle door handle device (2) includes: a detection member including an antenna (21) and a DC driving detection member (30) capable of detecting approach or touch of a person, electrically connected to a driving controller (50) through first and second connection wires (W1, W2) and are connected in parallel, wherein the antenna is driven by an AC voltage supplied from the driving controller, the detection member is driven by a DC voltage supplied from the driving controller by respectively connecting the first connection wire and the second connection wire to a positive DC power supply and a ground, the detection member includes a power terminal (34) and a ground terminal (35), a detection output terminal (33), an antenna driving detection terminal (36), and an antenna driving detection unit (30b), and the vehicle door handle device further comprises a DC cut capacitor (44), and a passive element (43).