Electric Door Handle De-Icing via Alternating Grip Movement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electric door handles on vehicles are difficult to grip in icy conditions due to the need for increased force to remove ice, leading to increased material consumption, weight, and costs, and existing solutions do not provide a simple and cost-effective secondary de-icing function.
Innovation Solution
An alternating functional movement method for the hand grip of an electric door handle, where the grip is moved back and forth between different positions to create vibrations that crack and remove ice, and can also provide haptic or acoustic signaling, using a control device with an electric drive and sensor system to adapt movement frequency and amplitude for effective de-icing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the hand grip is designed to be extremely solid and mechanically stable to remove ice, then the de-icing capability is improved, but the material consumption, costs, and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical force-based ice removal system with an electrical heating system. Heating elements are integrated into the hand grip structure, allowing ice to be melted through thermal energy rather than mechanical force. This substitution eliminates the need for an overly robust mechanical design while maintaining effective ice removal capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameter from mechanical force to thermal energy. By introducing heating elements that generate heat, the system transitions from requiring high mechanical strength to using controlled thermal parameters for ice removal. This parameter change allows for a lighter, less mechanically intensive hand grip design.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the hand grip is designed to be extremely solid and mechanically stable to remove ice, then the de-icing capability is improved, but the design work and material consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical ice removal mechanisms with a simpler electrical heating system. Instead of designing for high mechanical strength and stability, the solution uses integrated heating elements that can be incorporated into the existing hand grip structure with minimal design modification.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating elements serve multiple functions: they heat the hand grip for ice removal, and can potentially provide thermal comfort to the user. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated ice removal mechanisms, simplifying the overall design.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the hand grip is designed to be extremely solid and mechanically stable to remove ice, then the de-icing capability is improved, but the costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive mechanical reinforcement required for ice removal with more cost-effective electrical heating elements. The heating system can be integrated using standard automotive electrical components, reducing material costs and manufacturing complexity compared to designing for extreme mechanical strength.
4Strength
If the hand grip remains stationary in icy conditions, then the structural integrity is maintained, but the ice removal function is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic or continuous heating cycles to melt ice on the hand grip. The heating elements can be activated periodically or continuously depending on sensor input, creating a dynamic thermal action that progressively removes ice buildup while the hand grip structure remains stationary and maintains its structural integrity.
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 method allows for efficient and cost-effective de-icing of electric door handles without increasing material or weight, while also providing additional signaling functions, enhancing user safety and vehicle operation in icy conditions.
Implementation Method 1
performing the alternating functional movement, wherein the hand grip is moved back and forth multiple times between at least two different functional positions
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method for performing an alternating functional movement for producing a secondary function with a hand grip (30) of an electric door handle (10) of a vehicle door (100), comprising the following steps:receiving a function request (FA) for activating the secondary function,performing the alternating functional movement, wherein the hand grip (30) is moved back and forth multiple times between at least two different functional positions (FUP).