Vehicle Door Latch Layout With Recessed Capacitor Packaging

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing door latch devices for vehicles are not miniaturized enough to avoid obstructing the trajectory of the window glass, even when incorporating an emergency power storage body like a capacitor.

Innovation Solution

A door latch device design with a partitioned case that separates the motor and mechanical mechanism from the power storage body, allowing the power storage body to be recessed and minimizing the device's size, thereby accommodating it within the door without obstructing the window glass trajectory.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a power storage body is placed inside the door latch device as an emergency power supply means, then the door latch device can provide emergency power supply functionality, but the door latch device becomes large and may obstruct the trajectory of the window glass

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveemergency power supply functionalityVSAvoidsize of door latch device
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The power storage body is nested within a recessed accommodation portion formed in the partition wall between the first and second accommodation spaces. This allows the power storage body to be integrated into the existing structure without increasing the overall volume of the door latch device, resolving the contradiction between providing emergency power supply functionality and maintaining a compact size.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of placing the power storage body in the plane of the accommodation spaces, the invention utilizes the third dimension by creating a recessed portion in the partition wall. This vertical/dimensional integration allows the power storage body to be accommodated within the existing footprint, preventing obstruction of the window glass trajectory while maintaining emergency power supply capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Device complexity

If the power storage body is placed in the second accommodation space, then the electrical components are consolidated, but the device volume increases and may obstruct the window glass trajectory

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvearrangement of electrical componentsVSAvoiddevice volume
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The partition wall is locally modified by forming a recessed accommodation portion at a specific location. This localized structural change allows the power storage body to be integrated without increasing the overall device volume, while still consolidating electrical components in the second accommodation space. The local quality change resolves the contradiction between component consolidation and volume control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Volume of moving object

If the door latch device is miniaturized to avoid obstructing the window glass trajectory, then the device size is reduced, but there may be insufficient space to accommodate the power storage body for emergency power supply

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesize of door latch deviceVSAvoidemergency power supply capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The power storage body is nested within the recessed accommodation portion of the partition wall, allowing it to be accommodated within the miniaturized door latch device structure. This nesting approach ensures that the emergency power supply capability is maintained even when the overall device size is reduced to avoid obstructing the window glass trajectory.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention utilizes the vertical dimension by creating a recessed portion in the partition wall, allowing the power storage body to be accommodated within the compact footprint of the miniaturized door latch device. This dimensional approach ensures sufficient space for the power storage body without increasing the device's horizontal dimensions that would obstruct the window glass trajectory.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP4083357B1Door latch device
Publication Date: 2024.05.15 MITSUI KINZOKU ACT
  • EP4083357B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4083357B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4083357B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A door latch device (10) includes a motor (94), a mechanical mechanism (38), a door lock ECU (2), and a case (20). The door lock ECU (2) includes a printed wiring board (120) and a capacitor (202) connected to the printed wiring board (120). The case (20) includes a bottom plate (122b), a first accommodation space (36) for accommodating the motor (94) and the mechanical mechanism (38) on one side of the bottom plate (122b), and a second accommodation space (124) for accommodating the printed wiring board (120) and the capacitor (202) on the other side of the bottom plate (122b). The bottom plate (122b) is provided with a capacitor accommodation portion (125) recessed from the second accommodation space (124) toward the first accommodation space (36) and the capacitor (202) is arranged in the capacitor accommodation portion (125).