Magnetically Coupled Vehicle Gauge Pointer for High-Speed Rotation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing digital and analogue instruments for vehicles are limited by slow speeds and accelerations of the pointer movement due to mechanical constraints, restricting their use to indicating slowly changing physical quantities.
Innovation Solution
A digital and analogue instrument for vehicles utilizing a contactless magnetic coupling between two rotors, with a front rotor supporting the pointer and a rear rotor driven by an electric motor, allowing high-speed and high-acceleration movement of the pointer via a strong and stable magnetic field, reducing friction with low-friction coatings and synchronized rotation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a contactless magnetic coupling is used to move the pointer, then the pointer can be moved without mechanical contact and friction, but the pointer can only be moved with relatively limited speeds and accelerations to avoid losing magnetic connection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical drive systems (gears, belts, direct contact mechanisms) with a contactless magnetic coupling system. The motorized slider uses a permanent magnet to generate a magnetic field that magnetically attracts and moves the pointer without physical contact, eliminating mechanical friction and wear while enabling smoother operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the magnetic coupling parameters by carefully designing the strength and distribution of the magnetic field generated by the permanent magnet in the motorized slider. By adjusting magnetic field parameters, the system achieves stable magnetic connection at higher speeds and accelerations, resolving the limitation of previous magnetic coupling systems.
2Ease of operation
If a pinion and annular rack mechanism is used to rotate the pointer, then the pointer can be moved with controlled motion, but the pointer can only be moved with relatively limited speeds and accelerations due to transmission limits and noise generation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical pinion-rack transmission system with a contactless magnetic coupling system. Instead of using meshing gears that generate noise and have transmission limits, the system uses a motorized slider with a permanent magnet to create a magnetic field that directly drives the pointer's rotation without mechanical contact, eliminating noise and enabling higher speeds.
3Ease of operation
If a motorized slider with permanent magnet is used to magnetically attract the pointer, then the pointer can be moved without mechanical contact, but the pointer can only be moved with limited speeds and accelerations to maintain magnetic connection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the magnetic field parameters by selecting appropriate permanent magnet materials and configurations in the motorized slider. By adjusting the magnetic field strength and distribution parameters, the system maintains stable magnetic connection even during high-speed and high-acceleration pointer movements, significantly improving reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic control of the magnetic coupling system, where the motorized slider can adjust its position and magnetic field output in real-time to maintain optimal magnetic connection during pointer movement. This dynamic adjustment ensures stable magnetic attraction throughout the pointer's range of motion, even at varying speeds and accelerations.
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
Enables safe and high-speed pointer movement suitable for indicating rapidly changing physical quantities while maintaining a compact design and low production costs, suitable for integration into vehicle dashboards.
Implementation Method 1
the slider supports a permanent magnet which is adapted to generate a magnetic field to magnetically attract the pointer
Implementation Method 2
magnetically attract the pointer
Implementation Method 3
reducing friction with low-friction coatings
Data Source
AI summary
A digital and analogue instrument for a vehicle, comprising: a digital screen; a pointer which is movably mounted so as to move in front of the digital screen; and an actuator device configured to move the pointer. The actuator device comprises: a front rotor which has a centrally holed ring shape, is arranged in front of the digital screen, is rotatably mounted about a central rotation axis, and supports the pointer; a plurality of front permanent magnets that are supported by the front rotor; a rear rotor that is rotatably mounted about the central rotation axis; a plurality of rear permanent magnets which are supported by the rear rotor and are configured to be magnetically attracted by the respective front permanent magnets; and an electric motor configured to rotate the rear rotor.