Vehicle Door Handle Strain Sensing With Elastic Load Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing door handle technologies struggle to securely detect pressure applied to the inner side of a door handle, and they often fail to prevent damage to strain sensors when large loads are applied.
Innovation Solution
A door handle apparatus featuring a case with an integrated outer and inner case, a strain body with a sensor mounted on its middle portion, and an elastic mechanism that uses elastic force to press the strain body's end against a fixing portion, allowing for secure load detection while preventing sensor damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a pressure sensor is mounted on the substrate in the door handle to detect deformation, then pressure applied to the door handle can be detected, but the strain sensor may be damaged when large loads are applied
Solution Approach 1:
The door handle is divided into multiple substrates (first substrate and second substrate) with the strain sensor mounted on a specific substrate. This segmentation allows the sensor to be positioned in an optimal location that balances detection accuracy with protection from excessive stress, as different substrates can bear different portions of the applied load.
Solution Approach 2:
A pressing member is introduced as an intermediary element between the door handle exterior and the strain sensor. This pressing member applies a predetermined load to the strain sensor, creating a buffer that protects the sensor from direct exposure to large external forces while still enabling accurate pressure detection through the measured deformation.
2Extent of automation
If the strain sensor is mounted on the substrate, then load detection is enabled, but the sensor cannot withstand significant loads
Solution Approach 1:
A pressing member applies a predetermined load to the strain sensor before actual door handle operation. This preliminary action pre-loads the sensor system, establishing a baseline state that allows the sensor to detect subsequent load changes while protecting it from damage by large external forces through the mechanical advantage of the pre-loaded configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The strain sensor's operating parameters are optimized by mounting it on a specific substrate and applying a predetermined load through the pressing member. This changes the sensor's operational state from a directly-loaded configuration to one where it measures differential deformation, enabling it to detect load changes while operating within its safe load capacity range.
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
The apparatus effectively detects loads applied to the inner side of the door handle and reduces distortion in the strain body to prevent damage to the strain sensor, even under significant load conditions.
Implementation Method 1
The elastic mechanism is configured to use an elastic force to press the opposite end portion of the strain body against a fixing portion at an end of the inner case
Data Source
AI summary
A door handle apparatus to be attached to a door of a vehicle is provided. The door handle apparatus includes a case, a strain body, and an elastic mechanism. The case includes an outer case provided so as to face a vehicle exterior side and an inner case provided so as to face a vehicle interior side. The outer case and the inner case are integrated with each other. The strain body is provided in the case, has a sensor mounted on a middle portion between one end portion and an opposite end portion of the strain body, and the one end portion of the strain body is fixed to a portion on a center side of the inner case. The elastic mechanism uses an elastic force to press the opposite end portion of the strain body against a fixing portion at an end of the inner case.