Vehicle Door Latch Sensor Slide for Early Fault Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motor vehicle latches face issues with functional reliability due to sensors being acted upon only when the door is opened, leading to potential malfunctions and requiring complex setups or additional space, especially when integrating with power window systems.
Innovation Solution
The actuating slide in the motor vehicle latch is equipped with a spring to permanently actuate the sensor, allowing the movement of the actuating lever to be transmitted remotely and ensuring the sensor is continuously activated, with malfunctions easily detected through a closed circuit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the sensor is acted upon only when the door is opened, then the structure can be simpler, but the functional reliability deteriorates due to potential malfunctions not being detectable
Solution Approach 1:
The actuating slide is designed to permanently actuate the sensor in the closed position of the latch through a spring mechanism, before any opening operation occurs. This preliminary action ensures the sensor is continuously monitored and any malfunctions can be detected immediately, improving functional reliability without requiring complex additional monitoring systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The actuating slide serves as an intermediary element that transfers the position signal from the actuating lever to the sensor. By making the actuating slide permanently actuate the sensor through the spring mechanism, it creates a continuous feedback path that monitors sensor functionality without adding significant structural complexity to the latch system.
2Speed
If the sensor is acted upon by the unlocking lever in the immediate surroundings of the actuating lever, then the detection response is faster, but the device complexity increases and additional space is required
Solution Approach 1:
The latch system is segmented into distinct functional zones: the actuating lever area, the actuating slide transmission path, and the sensor location. This segmentation allows the sensor to be positioned optimally for detection while maintaining a clear functional separation from the actuating mechanism, reducing arrangement complexity and avoiding the need for additional space around the actuating lever.
Solution Approach 2:
The actuating slide acts as a mediator that transmits the movement signal from the actuating lever to the sensor over a distance. This intermediary mechanism enables fast detection response by maintaining a direct transmission path, while the L-shaped cross-sectional design of the latch allows this transmission to occur without requiring additional space in the immediate surroundings of the actuating lever.
3Length of moving object
If the actuating slide is free of the sensor in the closed position, then the movement transmission over long distances is enabled, but the reliability deteriorates as malfunctions cannot be controlled
Solution Approach 1:
The spring mechanism is designed to permanently actuate the sensor in the closed position, creating a preliminary contact that ensures continuous monitoring. This preliminary action maintains reliable sensor activation throughout the entire range of motion of the actuating lever, allowing long-distance transmission while preventing malfunctions from going undetected.
Solution Approach 2:
The actuating slide maintains continuous contact with the sensor through the spring mechanism throughout the entire operating range of the latch. This continuity of useful action ensures that the sensor is permanently actuated whether the latch is in the closed or open position, enabling long-distance movement transmission while maintaining operational reliability and allowing malfunctions to be detected at any time.
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 design ensures a compact, functional, and reliable operation of the latch, allowing immediate detection of malfunctions and enabling the power window drive to be activated before the door is opened, thus facilitating easy door opening without additional structural modifications.
Implementation Method 1
The actuating slide (7) is assigned a spring (9) such that the sensor (8) is permanently acted upon, with only an opening movement of the actuating lever (1, 2) lifting the actuating slide (7) from the sensor (8).
Data Source
AI summary
A motor vehicle latch, in particular to a motor vehicle door latch, is equipped with an actuating lever chain having at least one actuating lever for opening a locking mechanism. Also provided is a linearly displaceable actuating slide and a sensor that can be acted upon by the actuating lever via the actuating slide. According to the invention, a spring is assigned to the actuating slide such that the sensor is permanently acted upon, with only an opening movement of the actuating lever lifting the actuating slide from the sensor.