Flat Cable Inclination Angles for Sliding Door Power Supply

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional power supply apparatuses for sliding doors face challenges in downsizing and weight reduction while maintaining electrical connectivity and aesthetic appeal, as well as ensuring passenger safety by avoiding exposure of the power supply when the door is open or closed.

Innovation Solution

A power supply apparatus using a flat cable with predetermined inclination angles and a protective outer covering, allowing three-dimensional control of cable deformation without the need for additional guides, ensuring efficient coverage and safety by maintaining a stable trajectory and minimizing exposure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a cable is used to electrically connect the vehicle body side to the sliding door side, then power supply and signal communication are enabled regardless of door state, but the cable may deform excessively causing contact with electrical parts or vibration noise

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrical connectivityVSAvoidcable stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a flat cable with an outer covering that has flexible yet constrained deformation characteristics. The outer covering allows the cable to bend within controlled parameters while preventing excessive deformation that would cause contact with electrical parts or vibration noise.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the physical parameters of the cable by using a flat cable configuration with specific inclination angles (first inclination angle and second inclination angle) relative to the horizontal plane. This parameter change enables the cable to accommodate door movement while maintaining stability and preventing harmful deformation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If the cable is made completely freely deformable to respond to door movement, then adaptability to door position changes is improved, but the cable may be caught by electrical parts or cause abnormal noise

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresponse to door movementVSAvoidnoise and vibration

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The outer covering of the flat cable provides flexible protection while constraining the cable's deformation. This allows the cable to respond to door movement through controlled flexibility while preventing excessive movement that would generate noise or contact with electrical parts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the potential harm of cable deformation into a benefit by using the deformation in a controlled manner through specific inclination angles and outer covering design. The cable deforms as needed for door movement but within parameters that prevent harmful effects.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Reliability

If conventional cable routing structures are used, then cable guidance is provided, but the apparatus size and weight increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecable guidanceVSAvoidpower supply apparatus weight

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the cable guidance function from separate guiding structures and integrates it into the flat cable's own configuration through its inclination angles and outer covering design. This eliminates the need for additional heavy guiding components while maintaining reliable cable guidance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The flat cable with specific inclination angles serves multiple functions simultaneously: electrical connection, controlled deformation response to door movement, and self-guidance. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate heavy guiding structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Object-affected harmful factors

If the power supply apparatus is downsized and covered when door is closed, then aesthetic appeal and safety are improved, but the cable may be exposed when door is open

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepassenger safetyVSAvoidaesthetic appeal

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses specific inclination angles of the flat cable to control its position and coverage. When the door is closed, the cable maintains a configuration that keeps it covered for aesthetic appeal and safety. When the door opens, the cable deforms within controlled parameters to avoid exposure near passenger feet.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS8816525B2Electric power supply device for sliding door

Publication Date: 2014.08.26 FURUKAWA ELECTRIC CO LTD

AI summary

A power supply apparatus (30) for sliding door includes a flat cable (4), a vehicle body side attachment (1) that supports the flat cable (4) in the vehicle body (19) side, and a door side attachment (2) that supports the flat cable (4) in the sliding door (20) side. The vehicle body side attachment (1) supports the flat cable (4) such that a longitudinal direction of the flat cable (4) has a predetermined first inclination angle relative to a horizontal plane. The door side attachment (2) supports the flat cable (4) such that the longitudinal direction of the flat cable (4) has a predetermined second inclination angle relative to the horizontal plane. The vehicle body side attachment (1) and the door side attachment (2) support the flat cable (4) such that a thickness direction of the flat cable (4) is substantially in parallel with the horizontal plane.