Modular Vehicle Actuator Sleeve for Sealed Flat-Surface Sensors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing actuating devices for vehicles struggle to effectively seal and protect sensor units when arranged on flat vehicle parts outside of door handles, due to the flat geometry of these parts making it difficult to encapsulate the sensor technology.
Innovation Solution
An actuating device comprising an electronics unit with a sensor unit, protected by a first and second sleeve section that form a closed sleeve, allowing for modular arrangement on a cover element of the vehicle, thereby providing improved sealing and protection for the sensor unit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the sensor unit is arranged on a flat vehicle part outside the door handle, then the actuating device can be positioned on various vehicle parts, but the sensor unit cannot be easily sealed and protected due to the flat geometry
Solution Approach 1:
The protective housing is divided into a first housing part and a second housing part that can be separately assembled. The first housing part contains the sensor unit and can be sealed independently, while the second housing part provides additional protection. This segmentation allows the sensor unit to be sealed in a controlled manner even on flat vehicle surfaces where traditional encapsulation is difficult.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor unit is nested within the first housing part, which is in turn nested within or connected to the second housing part. This nested structure provides multiple layers of protection and sealing, allowing the sensor unit to be protected while maintaining the ability to mount on flat vehicle surfaces.
2Reliability
If the sensor unit is encapsulated in a door handle, then the sensor is well protected from moisture and environmental influences, but the flat extension of other vehicle parts does not allow easy transfer of this encapsulation solution
Solution Approach 1:
The housing structure is designed as a universal protective enclosure that can be mounted on various vehicle parts including but not limited to door handles. The first and second housing parts form a standardized protective assembly that maintains reliable sealing regardless of the mounting location, enabling the same protection solution to be applied across different vehicle components with varying geometries.
3Reliability
If a closed sleeve is formed around the electronics unit for protection, then the electronics unit is well protected, but the manufacturing and assembly process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The protective housing is segmented into at least two separate parts (first housing part and second housing part) that can be manufactured independently and then assembled. This segmentation simplifies the manufacturing of each individual part while still providing complete protection when assembled, reducing overall production complexity compared to manufacturing a single complex enclosed structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor unit is pre-assembled within the first housing part before final assembly with the second housing part. This preliminary assembly allows for quality control and sealing to be performed on a smaller, more manageable component, reducing the complexity of the final assembly process while ensuring reliable protection.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to an actuating device (10) for triggering a function of a vehicle (1) by a user, having an electronics unit (12) with a sensor unit (20) for detecting an actuation action (200) of the user for triggering the function of the vehicle (1), an electronics outer side (12.2) on which the actuation action (200) of the user can be detected by the sensor unit (20), and an electronics inner side (12.1) which is opposite the electronics outer side (12.2). Furthermore, the invention relates to a vehicle (1), as well as to a method (100).