Inductive Power Transfer for Sliding Door Drive Unit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric sliding door systems face productivity issues due to the time and labor required to incline cables, and they suffer from increased electric resistance and voltage drops when using long cables for power supply, leading to inefficiencies in connecting the vehicle body and sliding door.
Innovation Solution
An opening and closing apparatus that uses inductive charging between a primary energy storage device on the vehicle body and a secondary energy storage device in the sliding door, eliminating the need for cables by employing an electric power transmitting coil and a receiving coil to supply power to the sliding door driving unit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a cable is used to electrically connect the in-vehicle energy storage device and the sliding door driving unit, then electric power can be supplied, but it takes time and labor to route and incline the cable at the set angle, decreasing productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the cable routing operation from the assembly process by providing the flat cable in a pre-inclined state. The cable is manufactured with the longitudinal axis already inclined at the predetermined angle relative to the horizontal plane, eliminating the need for time-consuming inclination operations during assembly and significantly improving productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The cable is prepared in advance with the correct inclination angle during manufacturing. This preliminary action of pre-inclining the cable before installation eliminates the need for angle adjustment operations during assembly, reducing assembly time and labor while ensuring proper installation geometry
2Length of stationary object
If a long cable is used to connect the vehicle body and sliding door, then power can be supplied over the required distance, but electric resistance increases causing voltage drop during power supply
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a static cable connection to a dynamic inductive power transfer system. The sliding door driving unit includes a power receiving coil that wirelessly receives power from a power transmitting coil on the vehicle body through electromagnetic induction. This dynamic system eliminates the need for long physical cables, thereby reducing electric resistance and voltage drop while maintaining power supply capability over the required distance
3Weight of stationary object
If the flat cable is inclined at a predetermined angle during assembly, then the size and weight of the electric power supply unit are reduced, but it requires additional time and labor to achieve the set angle
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the angle adjustment operation from the assembly process by providing the flat cable with the predetermined inclination already built into its structure. The cable is manufactured in a pre-inclined state, extracting the time-consuming inclination operation from assembly and significantly improving productivity while maintaining the weight and size benefits of the inclined configuration
Solution Approach 2:
The cable is pre-inclined at the predetermined angle during manufacturing as a preliminary action. This pre-preparation eliminates the need for angle adjustment operations during assembly, reducing assembly labor and time while ensuring the optimal inclined configuration is achieved for minimizing power supply unit weight and size
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 configuration enhances productivity by eliminating the need for cable routing and reduces electric resistance, allowing for efficient and reliable operation of the sliding door system without the drawbacks of traditional cable-based power supply.
Implementation Method 1
a secondary energy storage device that is provided in the opening and closing body and is electrically connected to the drive unit in such a manner that the secondary energy storage device can be inductively charged
Data Source
AI summary
An opening and closing apparatus includes: a drive unit provided in an opening and closing body which is openably and closeably attached to a main body, and opening and closing the opening and closing body with respect to the main body by driving the opening and closing body using electric power; a secondary energy storage device provided in the opening and closing body and electrically connected to the drive unit in such a manner that the secondary energy storage device can be inductively charged and can supply electric power to the drive unit; and an electric power receiving coil provided in the opening and closing body so as to be capable of facing an electric power transmitting coil which is provided on the main body, and is electrically connected to a primary energy storage device installed on the main body, and electrically connected to the secondary energy storage device.