Door Handle Module Mechanical Redundancy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motor vehicle door handle modules lack mechanical redundancy, making it impossible to operate the latch mechanically in emergency situations or when the vehicle is in a powerless state.
Innovation Solution
A door handle module with a mechanically operable handle and a sensor unit that detects user intention, allowing both electrical and mechanical operation of the latch, featuring a handle that can be pivoted or translated, and a sensor unit that includes fingerprint, capacitive, inductive, or optical sensors for authentication and operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If electrical operation with sensor unit is implemented, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates in emergency situations
Solution Approach 1:
The door handle module is segmented into two independent operation paths: electrical operation through sensor unit and mechanical operation through handle. This segmentation ensures that failure in one system does not affect the other, resolving the contradiction between ease of electrical operation and reliability in emergency situations.
Solution Approach 2:
Mechanical redundancy is built into the system beforehand through the inclusion of a mechanically operable handle. This prior cushioning ensures that if electrical systems fail, the mechanical system can immediately take over, maintaining reliability without compromising the ease of electrical operation.
2Reliability
If mechanical operation is provided, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The door handle module is designed with multi-functionality, where the handle serves both as a mechanical operation element and as part of the electrical sensor system. This universality allows the system to provide mechanical redundancy without proportionally increasing device complexity, as the same components serve dual purposes.
3Ease of operation
If sensor unit is integrated in handle, then ease of operation is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor unit is nested within the handle structure, with the sensor element positioned inside the handle cup. This nesting arrangement allows the sensor to be integrated into the existing handle geometry without requiring additional precision manufacturing, as the sensor utilizes the natural contours and spaces of the handle design.
Data Source
AI summary
A door handle module for a movable part of a vehicle, in particular for a side door, tailgate, bonnet or luggage compartment hatch, comprising a handle support that can be mounted on the outer skin of the movable part, a handle mounted movably on the handle support and having an operating mechanism that can be hidden at least in part by the outer skin, the operating mechanism being operatively connectable to a latch or a latch drive so that an, in particular mechanical, operation of the latch of the movable part can be performed, and further comprising a sensor unit having at least one sensor element in order to detect a user intention in an operating region of a door handle depression of the movable part so that the lock or the latch drive is electrically actuatable in the operating region in the event that a user intention is identified.