Mobile Table Assembly with Roof Guide Rail and Actuator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle tables are fixed and cannot be freely moved or adjusted in height, making them unsuitable for vehicles with non-fixed seats, such as autonomous vehicles, where passengers need flexible space for various activities.
Innovation Solution
A mobile table assembly with a guide rail on the vehicle's roof, a supporting bar that moves along the guide rail, and a rail actuator controlled by a first controller to adjust the table's position based on seat arrangements, allowing the table to be positioned under the roof when not in use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the table is fixed around seats, then the table structure is simple and stable, but the table cannot be freely moved or adjusted in height
Solution Approach 1:
The table assembly is transformed from a fixed structure to a dynamic one by introducing a supporting bar that can move along a guide rail. The rail actuator enables the supporting bar to slide horizontally, and the height adjustment mechanism allows vertical movement, making the table adaptable to different positions and seat configurations while maintaining structural integrity through controlled mechanical connections.
Solution Approach 2:
The table assembly is designed to serve multiple functions: it can be positioned at different locations within the vehicle interior, adjusted to various heights, and configured to work with different seat arrangements. The guide rail system and actuator mechanism enable the same table structure to fulfill multiple spatial and functional requirements, making it universally applicable across various vehicle configurations.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the table is positioned between seats, then the table is stable, but the table size is small and difficult to use for various activities
Solution Approach 1:
The table's position and size are made dynamic rather than fixed. The supporting bar can extend to different lengths and move to different positions along the guide rail, allowing the table surface to achieve a larger, more usable area when needed, while still maintaining stability through its connection to the vehicle's structural framework.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the table is fixed in position, then the installation is simple, but the table cannot be applied to vehicles with non-fixed seats such as autonomous vehicles
Solution Approach 1:
The table assembly incorporates dynamic positioning capabilities through the guide rail and actuator system, allowing it to adapt to various seat configurations in autonomous vehicles. The supporting bar can move horizontally and vertically to accommodate different seat positions and orientations, making the table compatible with non-fixed seat arrangements while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system includes a controller that receives signals about seat positions and automatically adjusts the table's position and orientation accordingly. This feedback mechanism enables the table to adapt to changing seat configurations in autonomous vehicles without requiring complex manual adjustment mechanisms, balancing adaptability with system simplicity.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the table can be moved freely, then the table is versatile, but the table may interfere with seats when positions change
Solution Approach 1:
The controller monitors seat positions and uses this information to automatically adjust the table's position and orientation. When seats are moved or reconfigured, the system receives feedback about the new seat positions and repositions the table accordingly, preventing interference while maintaining the table's versatility and adaptability to different configurations.
Data Source
AI summary
A mobile table assembly of a vehicle includes: a guide rail disposed in a roof of a vehicle; a supporting bar having an upper end coupled to the guide rail and movable along the guide rail, and a lower end extending in a direction away from the roof and positioned in an interior of the vehicle; a rail actuator configured to move the upper end of the supporting bar on the guide rail; and a table coupled to the lower end of the supporting bar.