Vehicle Door Lock Contact Lever for Stable Latch Position Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motor vehicle door locks face challenges in reliably detecting the main locking position due to complex interactions between contact elements and springs, which are prone to functional impairments under varying temperatures and humid conditions.
Innovation Solution
A contact element with a two-arm lever design, featuring a pawl lever arm and a rotary latch lever arm, is equipped with a torsion spring that interacts with both the rotary latch and a housing stop, allowing for reliable detection of the pawl and rotary latch positions using a Hall sensor, independent of temperature or humidity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a contact element with spring is used to detect locking mechanism positions, then position detection is enabled, but functional reliability deteriorates under varying temperatures and humidity due to complex spring geometry requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical spring-based contact element with a magnetic field-based detection system. A magnetic field generator (such as a permanent magnet) is attached to the rotary latch, and a magnetic sensor (such as a Hall sensor) detects the magnetic field changes to determine the locking mechanism position. This substitution eliminates the mechanical spring and contact element, thereby improving reliability by removing components susceptible to temperature and humidity effects while reducing the complexity of mechanical geometry requirements.
2Measurement precision
If multiple switches are used to query rotary latch and pawl positions, then comprehensive position detection is achieved, but device complexity increases due to plurality of switches and circuitry
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a single magnetic sensor that serves multiple detection functions. By strategically positioning the magnetic field generator on the rotary latch and using the magnetic sensor to detect its position, the system can simultaneously determine both the rotary latch position and the pawl position through a single sensing component, thereby achieving comprehensive position detection while minimizing circuitry complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The magnetic field acts as an intermediary between the mechanical locking components and the sensor. The magnetic field generator converts mechanical position information into magnetic field variations, which the magnetic sensor then detects. This intermediary approach allows for non-contact detection, eliminating the need for multiple mechanical switches and reducing circuitry complexity while maintaining accurate position detection.
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 solution ensures consistent and reliable detection of the main locking position, simplifying the design and reducing the need for specific spring geometries, thereby enhancing functional reliability over time.
Implementation Method 1
at least one sensor, in particular a Hall sensor, for sensing the position of the rotary latch and the pawl
Implementation Method 2
the spring acting on the contact element is mounted on the contact element and is equipped with limbs on both sides
Data Source
AI summary
A motor vehicle lock, in particular a motor vehicle door lock, the basic construction of which is equipped with a locking mechanism consisting essentially of a rotary latch and a pawl as locking mechanism components. Moreover, at least one sensor for sensing the position of the rotary latch and the pawl is implemented. Furthermore, at least one contact element, which is biased by a spring, is implemented between the sensor and the associated locking mechanism component. The contact element is designed to rotate about an axis. According to the invention, the spring is mounted on the contact element and equipped with limbs on both sides for an interaction with the rotary latch and a housing stop.