Vehicle Door Powered Latch Controller Dynamics

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing powered latches in motor vehicles may inadvertently unlatch during malfunctions or crashes, posing safety risks, and current systems lack robust controls to ensure secure operation across varying conditions such as vehicle speed and power availability.

Innovation Solution

A latch system with a controller that requires specific user inputs and conditions to unlatch, including multiple actuations of an interior unlatch switch within a time frame, and adjusts operation modes based on communication with the control module and power supply status, ensuring secure unlatching only under defined criteria.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the powered latch is designed to unlatch with a single actuation of the interior unlatch input feature, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to risk of inadvertent unlatching during malfunctions or crashes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of door unlatchingVSAvoiddoor retention security

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the unlatching requirement based on vehicle operating conditions. When vehicle speed exceeds a threshold, the controller requires multiple actuations (e.g., two or more) within a time interval, whereas at lower speeds a single actuation suffices. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by making the system both easy to operate under normal conditions and reliable under critical conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The controller changes the operational parameter (number of required actuations) based on the vehicle speed parameter. By monitoring vehicle speed and adjusting the unlatching threshold accordingly, the system achieves both ease of operation at low speeds and enhanced reliability at high speeds, preventing inadvertent unlatching during crashes or malfunctions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If the controller requires multiple actuations within a time interval to unlatch the powered latch, then the reliability is improved by preventing inadvertent unlatching, but the ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedoor retention securityVSAvoidease of door unlatching

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the unlatching requirement based on vehicle operating conditions. When vehicle speed exceeds a threshold, the controller requires multiple actuations (e.g., two or more) within a time interval, whereas at lower speeds a single actuation suffices. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by making the system both easy to operate under normal conditions and reliable under critical conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The controller changes the operational parameter (number of required actuations) based on the vehicle speed parameter. By monitoring vehicle speed and adjusting the unlatching threshold accordingly, the system achieves both ease of operation at low speeds and enhanced reliability at high speeds, preventing inadvertent unlatching during crashes or malfunctions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If the controller communicates with the control module via digital data communication network and electrical conductors, then the adaptability is improved for crash detection, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecrash event detection capabilityVSAvoidcommunication system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The controller acts as an intermediary between the control module and the powered latch system. It receives crash event signals from the control module through communication networks and conductors, processes this information, and adjusts latch behavior accordingly. This intermediary role enables crash adaptability while managing complexity by centralizing the communication and decision-making logic in the controller.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS11555336B2Electronic safe door unlatching operations

Publication Date: 2023.01.17 FORD GLOBAL TECH LLC

AI summary

A powered latch system for motor vehicles includes at least one powered latch that can be controlled based, at least in part, on vehicle operating conditions. The system may be configured to control unlatching of the vehicle doors utilizing data relating to the vehicle speed and/or the existence of a crash event. The powered latch system can be configured as required for various vehicles, and to accommodate specific operating requirements with respect to child locks in various geographic jurisdictions.