Vehicle Door Handle Sensor Shielding for Electromagnetic Interference
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Solution Overview
Problem
The arrangement of functional components in vehicle door handles, such as sensors and communication devices, often interferes with each other's electromagnetic fields, impairing their function and making it difficult to achieve a compact design.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle door handle design featuring a conductive shielding electrode adjacent to the inductive sensor and an elongated antenna coil, where the components are arranged one above the other in the longitudinal direction, minimizing mutual electromagnetic interference and allowing for a larger active area for both near-field communication and actuation detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple functional components (sensors and communication devices) are arranged in vehicle door handles, then the functionality is improved, but electromagnetic field interference increases and compact design becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
A conductive shielding electrode is introduced as an intermediary component between the inductive sensor and the antenna coil. This shielding electrode acts as a mediator that manages electromagnetic field interactions, allowing both the sensor and communication device to coexist in the confined space of the door handle without significant interference
Solution Approach 2:
The patent arranges the inductive sensor and antenna coil in different spatial dimensions within the handle structure. By positioning these components at different locations and orientations, the patent utilizes the three-dimensional space available in the door handle to minimize electromagnetic field overlap while maintaining both functionalities
2Measurement precision
If inductive sensors are used for detecting actuations, then detection sensitivity is improved, but sensitivity to changes in position of adjacent conductive components increases causing interference
Solution Approach 1:
The conductive shielding electrode serves as a protective intermediary that shields the inductive sensor from unwanted electromagnetic influences. By positioning this shielding electrode adjacent to the sensor, the patent protects the sensor's magnetic field from distortion by nearby conductive components while preserving the sensor's ability to detect genuine actuation forces
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potentially harmful sensitivity of the inductive sensor to adjacent conductive components into a beneficial feature. The shielding electrode, which initially might seem to add complexity, actually enhances sensor performance by providing electromagnetic shielding that isolates the sensor from interference while allowing it to maintain high detection sensitivity for legitimate actuation events
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 enhances user interaction comfort and safety by maximizing the handle area for communication while maintaining a compact design, reducing interference between components and optimizing their functionality.
Implementation Method 1
The inductive sensor detects mechanical actuations of the handle. Inductive sensors are highly sensitive to changes in the position of adjacent conductive components and react to changes in the sensor's relative position to the surrounding metallic components with a changing inductance.
Implementation Method 2
a transmitter/receiver unit with an antenna coil, designed for near-field communication
Implementation Method 3
A vehicle door handle design featuring a conductive shielding electrode adjacent to the inductive sensor and an elongated antenna coil, where the components are arranged one above the other in the longitudinal direction, minimizing mutual electromagnetic interference
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2a~2c
Figure 3a~3c
AI summary
A vehicle door handle (1) with sensor electronics (7) comprising at least one inductive sensor (7a, 7b, 7c). A transmitter/receiver unit is designed with an antenna coil (6) for near-field communication. A section of the vehicle door handle (1) is designed as an elongated, grippable handle (2) in which the sensor electronics (7) and the antenna coil (6) are housed, the antenna coil being aligned with its longest extent in the longitudinal direction of the handle (2). At least one shielding electrode (8) is associated with the inductive sensor.The at least one inductive sensor (7a, 7b, 7c) and the associated shielding electrode (8) are arranged next to the antenna coil (6) such that the shielding electrode with inductive sensor on the one hand and the antenna coil on the other hand overlap at least partially in one direction in the longitudinal extent (10) of the handle (2) and are arranged one above the other without overlap in one direction transverse to the longitudinal extent (10) of the handle.