Automotive Locking Signal Feedback via Resistance Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing automotive locking apparatuses face issues with incorrect judgments due to short or open circuits in feedback circuits, leading to misinterpretation of locking or unlocking states, and are often costly and unreliable due to complex electronic components.

Innovation Solution

A signal feedback device with a simple structure comprising a car power supply, motor, transmission, actuating lever, and a signal feedback module with three parallel feedback circuits using resistors and micro switches or travel switches to provide distinct resistance-based feedback signals for locking, unlocking, and abnormal states, allowing the body control module to make accurate logical judgments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a micro switch and travel switch are used to control feedback circuit on-off, then the body control module can determine locking or unlocking state, but the system becomes unreliable when short or open circuits occur in the feedback circuit

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefeedback circuit reliabilityVSAvoidlocking state information accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the feedback parameter from simple on-off signal to resistance value detection. By using different resistance values (first resistance value when first switch closed, second resistance value when second switch closed, third resistance value when both open) to represent different locking states, the system can reliably distinguish between locking, unlocking, and abnormal states even when circuit conditions vary.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If IC and PCB signal feedback devices are used, then signal feedback can be achieved, but the cost increases and electronic components become complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal feedback reliabilityVSAvoidelectronic components complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces expensive IC and PCB signal feedback devices with simple, inexpensive components such as micro switches, travel switches, and resistors. These basic electronic components are much cheaper and simpler than IC-based solutions while achieving the same or better reliability through the resistance value detection method.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent substitutes mechanical switch-based feedback with electrical resistance value detection. Instead of using complex mechanical feedback mechanisms or IC-based electronic feedback, the system uses the resistance characteristics of simple switch-resistor circuits to provide reliable state information to the body control module.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Device complexity

If only two kinds of signal statuses (on and off) are used, then the feedback circuit is simple, but wrong judgments occur when the feedback circuit is short or open circuited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefeedback circuit complexityVSAvoidlocking state detection accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent expands the feedback parameter from binary on-off status to three distinct resistance values. The first resistance value indicates locking state, the second resistance value indicates unlocking state, and the third resistance value indicates abnormal state. This parameter expansion allows the simple circuit structure to provide precise state detection without wrong judgments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3719241B1Signal feedback device for automotive fastener
Publication Date: 2022.11.02 HELLA GMBH & CO KGAA
  • EP3719241B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3719241B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3719241B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A signal feedback device used for an automotive locking apparatus, comprising a car power supply (10), a motor (20), a transmission (30), an actuating lever (40), a signal feedback module (50), and a body control module (60). The signal feedback module (50) is provided with a first feedback circuit, a second feedback circuit, and a third feedback circuit. The first feedback circuit is connected in series to a first resistor (53) and a first on-off switch (51), the second feedback circuit is connected in series to a second resistor (54) and a second on-off switch (52), and the third feedback circuit is connected in series to a third resistor (55). The actuating lever (40) is provided with a touch spot (41), and the corresponding circuits are turned on under driving of linear movement of the actuating lever (40), to provide different signal feedbacks, i.e., a locking state signal, an unlocking state signal, and a signal of the locking apparatus working state between the locking state and the unlocking state. When the locking apparatus is abnormal or is powered off, an abnormal state signal can be detected, and the body control module (60) can make logic judgment under the different states according to different measured resistance values, so that the situation of misjudgment caused by confusion of signals is avoided.