Magnetic Sensor Access Door Position Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing access systems for vehicle energy storage devices, such as fuel filler and charge ports, rely on mechanical switches with moving parts to detect door positions, which can be unreliable and require contact, leading to potential issues with door status detection and alerts for operators.
Innovation Solution
A magnetic sensor system is used to detect the proximity of a magnet on an access door, providing a signal to the vehicle information center for alerts without moving parts, ensuring accurate door position detection and enabling alerts to operators, with a latch assembly that depends on the closed position of the primary access door to secure secondary energy storage devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a mechanical switch with moving parts is used to detect door position, then the door status can be detected, but the system reliability deteriorates due to contact requirements and potential failure of moving parts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical switch with a magnetic sensor that detects the position of a magnet on the access door through magnetic field interaction. This eliminates moving parts and contact requirements, thereby improving reliability while reducing mechanical complexity. The magnetic sensor provides non-contact detection of door status.
2Reliability
If a magnetic sensor system is used to detect door position without contact, then reliability improves by eliminating moving parts, but the device complexity increases due to additional sensor and magnet components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the detection function from the mechanical switch and implements it separately using a magnetic sensor and magnet system. This separation allows the mechanical latch mechanism to remain simple while the detection system provides reliable non-contact sensing. The magnet is attached to the moving door while the sensor remains stationary in the housing.
3Ease of operation
If mechanical contact is required for door status detection, then the detection mechanism is simple, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to wear and potential contact issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes the mechanical contact-based detection system with a magnetic field-based detection system. The magnetic sensor detects the position of the magnet on the door without requiring physical contact, eliminating wear issues and improving both reliability and ease of operation. The door can be opened and closed without concern for contact mechanism failure.
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 magnetic sensor system provides reliable door position detection and alerts, ensuring that access doors are properly closed and secured, enhancing operational efficiency and reducing the risk of accidental door openings, while eliminating the need for mechanical contact and moving parts.
Implementation Method 1
A magnetic sensor is operatively connected to the other one of the housing and the access door and is operable to detect the proximity of the magnet relative to the sensor
Data Source
AI summary
An access system for a vehicle energy storage device includes a housing and an access port in the housing configured for operative communication with the energy storage device. An access door is operatively connected to the housing and is movable between a closed position in which the access door closes the housing, and an open position in which the access door opens the housing. The access door prevents access to the access port in the closed position and permits access to the access port in the open position. A magnet is operatively connected to one of the housing and the access door. A magnetic sensor is operatively connected to the other one of the housing and the access door and detects the proximity of the magnet relative to the sensor. The sensor is operable to provide a signal indicative of whether the access door is in the closed position.