Door Handle NFC Sensor Voltage Regulation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing devices for data and measurement acquisition at vehicle door handles face issues with false triggering due to interference from external influences and voltage fluctuations, leading to high power consumption and increased costs and complexity due to the need for separate voltage regulation for sensors and communication devices.

Innovation Solution

A device with a single voltage regulator for both NFC and sensor devices, which stabilizes the operating voltage and includes an evaluation and control unit to prevent simultaneous operation and detect faulty measurements, reducing interference and maintaining reliable operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If separate voltage devices are used for sensor and communication devices, then voltage stability is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevoltage stabilityVSAvoidnumber of voltage devices
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple voltage regulation functions into a single voltage device that can simultaneously regulate voltage for both the sensor device and the communication device. This single voltage device includes multiple output terminals, each capable of providing stable voltage to different components, thereby reducing the total number of voltage devices while maintaining voltage stability for all components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The voltage device is designed with multi-functionality to serve multiple purposes: it regulates voltage for the sensor device, the communication device, and potentially other components within the door handle assembly. By making the voltage device universal, the patent eliminates the need for separate dedicated voltage regulators for each component, thus reducing complexity while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Power

If NFC device operates with high power, then communication function is improved, but false triggering of sensor increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveNFC device powerVSAvoidsensor measurement accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a control device as an intermediary between the NFC device and the sensor device. This control device monitors the operational state of both components and can temporarily suspend or adjust sensor measurements when the NFC device is actively transmitting at high power. By mediating between these two components, the system prevents high-power NFC operations from causing false sensor triggering while maintaining both functions' effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Manufacturing precision

If separate voltage devices are used for each device, then voltage regulation precision is improved, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevoltage regulation precisionVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple voltage regulation functions into a single integrated voltage device with multiple output terminals. Each output terminal can provide precisely regulated voltage to different components, maintaining the precision that would otherwise require separate voltage devices. This merging approach significantly reduces component count, assembly complexity, and manufacturing cost while preserving voltage regulation precision for each connected device.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 reduces false triggering, conserves power, and simplifies the design by eliminating the need for separate voltage devices, resulting in a cost-effective and reliable data and measurement acquisition system.

Implementation Method 1

Exactly one voltage device is provided for joint voltage adjustment of the at least one communication device, in particular NFC device, and the at least one sensor device

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVoltage regulation:

Implementation Method 2

Capacitive sensors are often used as sensors, which, as proximity sensors, can detect the approach of an object, such as a hand, by measuring a change in capacitance

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCapacitance: Capacitance

Data Source

PatentEP3198567B1Data and measurement acquisition device for a door handle and corresponding method
Publication Date: 2019.12.25 HUF HÜLSBECK & FÜRST GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3198567B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1b
  • EP3198567B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3198567B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a device (10) for data acquisition and measurement acquisition for a door handle (2) of a vehicle (1), said device comprising: at least one communications device (11), in particular an NFC device (11) for NFC data exchange with an external communications terminal (3); and at least one sensor device (12) for measuring (20) a change in capacitance. According to the invention, just one voltage device (14) is provided for a common adjustment of the voltages of the at least one communications device (11) and the at least one sensor device (12).