External Door Handle Assembly Integrating Electronic and Mechanical Opening

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing outside door handle arrangements for motor vehicles are complex and difficult to assemble, requiring multiple components to be mounted both inside and outside the door, complicating both assembly and repair, and lack a cost-effective, space-saving design that can easily switch between electronic and mechanical door opening modes.

Innovation Solution

A compact outside door handle arrangement with a single handle element that integrates both electronic and mechanical door opening functionalities, where the pushbutton and handle body are mounted on a common pivot axis, allowing for electronic door opening with minimal force and mechanical door opening with increased force, ensuring emergency operation functionality without unnecessary mechanical activation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple components are mounted both inside and outside the door for electronic and mechanical door opening functions, then the door opening functionality is complete, but the assembly and repair complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedoor opening functionalityVSAvoidassembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the electronic pushbutton and mechanical handle body into a single integrated handle element that performs both electronic and mechanical door opening functions. This merging of functions into one component reduces the number of separate parts that need to be assembled and repaired, directly addressing the complexity issue while maintaining full functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The handle element is designed as a universal component that can perform multiple functions: electronic door opening via pushbutton, mechanical door opening via handle body, and emergency mechanical opening. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate components for each function, simplifying both assembly and repair processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Device complexity

If a compact design with single handle element is used, then assembly and repair are simplified, but the force required for mechanical opening must be carefully controlled

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of componentsVSAvoidactuating force
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The pushbutton is designed with rotational movement capability relative to the handle body, allowing it to pivot between different positions. This dynamic design enables the system to differentiate between light electronic actuation and forceful mechanical actuation, controlling the force required for each function while maintaining a compact single-component structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the operational parameters by varying the actuating force applied to the pushbutton. Light force triggers electronic opening through the pushbutton's rotational movement, while increased force transfers to the handle body for mechanical opening. This parameter-based differentiation allows force control within a compact design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If the pushbutton is rotatably mounted relative to the handle body, then electronic door opening is achieved with minimal force, but the mechanism becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveactuating forceVSAvoidmechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The rotational mounting of the pushbutton on the handle body is integrated as part of the single handle element design. This merging approach means the additional rotational mechanism doesn't increase overall system complexity significantly, as it's incorporated within the unified handle component rather than being a separate addition.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 simplifies assembly and repair by reducing components, providing a space-saving design that allows for easy switching between electronic and mechanical door opening modes, ensuring reliable operation with minimal user effort for normal electronic opening and higher force for mechanical emergency opening.

Implementation Method 1

the push button is designed as a two-armed lever with a lever-arm-like pressing section and a lever-arm-like triggering section serving to activate an electronic switching element, with the pressing section and the triggering section extending in opposite directions from a pivot point

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLever: Lever

Implementation Method 2

in order to trigger the mechanical door opening process, the active section of the handle body and the pressing section of the pushbutton are pivoted into an emergency actuation position, in which the pressing section is arranged pivoted beyond the operating position and in which the pressing section is arranged adjacent to the active section

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical Force: Mechanical Force

Data Source

PatentEP2775076B1External door handle assembly
Publication Date: 2019.09.25 HUF HÜLSBECK & FÜRST GMBH & CO KG
  • EP2775076B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2775076B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2775076B1 patent drawingFigure 5~7

AI summary

The arrangement (1) has a grasp carrier (3) fastened to an inner side (4) of a door, and a holding element mounted on the grasp carrier. The holding element is provided with a push button for triggering an electronic door opening operation, where the push button is actuated through a door outer side (6) by a door onset part (8). The holding element comprises a grasp body for triggering a mechanical door opening process, and is pivotably connected with the grasp carrier. The push button is rotatably supported relative to the grasp body.