Inductive Sensor Decoupling in Vehicle Door Handles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle door handle arrangements with fixed handles lack a continuous mechanical chain of action to the door lock, leading to inefficiencies in actuation detection and increased costs due to reliance on electrical controls.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an inductive sensor device within a hollow handle body, supported by a cantilevered carrier mechanism that decouples the sensor from the handle's wall surfaces, allowing for sensitive detection of relative movements and deformations, thereby enhancing actuation recognition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a fixed handle design is used to reduce mechanical components, then device complexity and weight are reduced, but actuation detection reliability deteriorates due to lack of continuous mechanical chain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical continuous chain (movable handle directly connected to door lock) with an electrical sensing system. An inductive sensor detects handle actuation by measuring changes in oscillation amplitude caused by the user's hand, converting mechanical interaction into an electrical signal for door lock control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a metallic layer on the inner wall of the handle cavity as an intermediary element. This layer works together with the inductive sensor to detect actuation - the sensor detects changes in the electromagnetic field caused by the metallic layer's interaction with the user's hand, providing reliable detection without direct mechanical connection.
2Device complexity
If an inductive sensor is placed directly against the handle wall, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates due to mechanical coupling with wall deformations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the inductive sensor from direct contact with the handle wall by mounting it on a carrier that positions it in the cavity space. This separation removes the source of measurement error (wall deformations) from the sensing system, allowing the sensor to detect only the intended actuation signals.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a carrier as an intermediary mounting structure that holds the inductive sensor at a specific position within the cavity. This carrier serves as a stable reference frame that isolates the sensor from the deformable handle wall, enabling precise measurement of actuation without mechanical coupling errors.
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 results in a lightweight, reliable, and cost-effective door handle arrangement capable of accurately detecting handle actuations, reducing mechanical complexity and enhancing operational sensitivity.
Implementation Method 1
Inductive sensors for this purpose are available on the market and usually work via an oscillating circuit that causes eddy currents in adjacent, electrically conductive materials. Depending on the position and movement of the electrically conductive material in relation to the oscillating circuit, the amplitude of the oscillating circuit changes.
Implementation Method 2
Inductive sensors for this purpose are available on the market and usually work via an oscillating circuit that causes eddy currents in adjacent, electrically conductive materials.
Data Source
Figure 1a~1c
AI summary
A vehicle door handle (1) with a handle (2a, 2b). The handle (2a, 2b) is designed at least partially as a hollow body, and an inductive sensor device (13) is arranged in a cavity to detect actuation of the handle. A support (10) with a support mounting section (11a, 11b) and a connected cantilever section (12) is arranged in the cavity (7), wherein the support mounting section (11a, 11b) is fixed to the vehicle door handle, and wherein the cantilever section (13) of the support extends within the cavity at a distance from the wall surfaces of the handle (2a, 2b), so that the cantilever section (13) of the support is mechanically decoupled from the wall surfaces of the handle (2a, 2b).The inductive sensor device (13) is held in the cantilevered section (12), wherein a metallic material (15) is arranged in at least one section of the wall surfaces of the handle (2a, 2b) which surround the cantilevered section (12).