Vehicle Door Latch Motor Control for Durability
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing door latch devices for vehicles experience prolonged energization of the electric motor when the sector gear is restrained by a stopper, leading to increased wear and reduced durability due to continuous force application.
Innovation Solution
A control unit is implemented to stop the power supply to the electric drive source when the latch reaches the open position and the moving member is abutted against a stopper, and to reverse the sector gear when the half-latch detecting switch is activated, thereby shortening the energization time and improving motor durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the electric motor is controlled to operate for a certain period time from starting until stopping by detecting the half-latch position, then the door opening function is achieved, but the energization time becomes longer and motor durability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit uses feedback from the half-latch detecting switch and full-latch detecting switch to determine when to stop motor operation. The motor is stopped not only when the half-latch position is detected but also when the full-latch position is detected, creating a feedback-based control mechanism that optimizes energization time and improves motor durability.
2Force
If the electric current is supplied continuously to the electric motor while the sector gear is restrained by abutting against the stopper portion, then the motor maintains rotational force, but wear increases and durability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit implements periodic action by stopping the motor at specific detection points (half-latch position and full-latch position) during the door opening operation. This prevents continuous operation while the sector gear is restrained by the stopper portion, reducing wear and improving durability while maintaining necessary rotational force when needed.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a vehicle door latch device capable of shortening of energization time to an electrical drive source while a moving member is restrained by abutting against a stopper portion and improvement of durability of the electrical drive source. A control unit of the door latch device controls an electric motor for driving a sector gear in a release direction based on a door operation of an operation switch, and controls to stop a power supply to the electric motor when the latch is rotated from the full-latch position to the open position and a full-latch detecting switch is activated while the moving member is brought into abutment with the stopper portion and is stopped.