Modular Vehicle Door Control Unit with Interchangeable Actuating Elements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing control units for vehicle door locks lack flexibility and adaptability to both mechanical and electrical lock designs, requiring different components and user manipulations, which complicates manufacturing and user experience, especially in emergency situations.
Innovation Solution
A modular control unit design with interchangeable actuating elements, allowing the same control unit to handle both mechanical and electrical locks by using either an electric switch or a mechanical actuating control, housed in the same location, utilizing a circuit board with switches and recesses for different lock types without altering the door panel components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If different control units are used for electrical and mechanical locks, then each lock type can be controlled optimally, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit is designed with a universal housing that can accommodate different actuating elements (electrical switch or mechanical control) depending on the lock type. The housing itself is standardized and can be used for both electrical and mechanical locks, reducing the number of different control unit variants needed while maintaining optimal control for each lock type.
2Reliability
If different actuating controls are used for electrical and mechanical locks, then each lock type can be actuated appropriately, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The same housing design is used for both electrical and mechanical lock control units, allowing manufacturers to produce a single housing type in bulk. This standardization reduces manufacturing complexity and cost while still allowing the housing to accommodate different actuating elements suited to each lock type.
3Ease of operation
If the actuating control location varies between lock types, then each control can be optimally positioned, but user confusion occurs in emergency situations
Solution Approach 1:
The standardized housing positions the actuating control (whether electrical switch or mechanical control) in the same location for both lock types. This consistent positioning allows users to operate the control by muscle memory in emergency situations, while the housing design accommodates both control types appropriately.
4Ease of manufacture
If standardized control units are used for both lock types, then manufacturing is simplified, but adaptability to different lock designs is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit is segmented into a standardized housing and interchangeable actuating elements. This segmentation allows the housing to be standardized for manufacturing simplicity, while the actuating elements can be selected and swapped to match different lock designs (electrical or mechanical), maintaining adaptability.
5Reliability
If different control units are used for electrical and mechanical locks, then each control unit can be optimized for its specific lock type, but the number of components increases
Solution Approach 1:
By using a single universal housing design that can accommodate both electrical switches and mechanical controls, the invention reduces the total number of different control unit components needed. Manufacturers only need to produce one housing type rather than maintaining separate housing inventories for electrical and mechanical locks.
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The invention concerns a control unit (3) for installation on the inside of a vehicle door and intended to control the lock function of the vehicle door lock (4) comprising a housing (12) with at least one actuating element (5,6) for electrical or mechanical control of the lock function. The invention is realized in that the housing (12) is arranged with a space in which either of at least two different modules (6,16) is interchangeably disposed, whereupon at least one of the lock buttons (16) is arranged so as to be pivotably mounted by means of bearings in recesses (13) in the control unit housing (12).