Modular Sensor Unit for Vehicle Flap Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The installation effort for existing sensor devices used to actuate movable parts of motor vehicles, such as tailgates, is high, making them difficult to attach and assemble efficiently.
Innovation Solution
A modular unit with a sensor device and electrical unit, featuring fastening elements for easy attachment to the vehicle, including capacitive, optical, or touch sensors, and an electrical unit that wirelessly communicates with the main electrical unit, allowing for reliable and simple installation, with sensors arranged to detect objects in various areas around the vehicle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If sensors are glued or laminated to the inside of the bumper surface, then the sensor device can detect objects in various areas around the vehicle, but the installation effort becomes high
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor device is segmented into a modular unit that includes the carrier body with pre-arranged sensors, fastening elements, and electrical connections. This modular design allows the entire sensor assembly to be installed as a single unit rather than individually mounting each sensor to the bumper, significantly reducing installation effort while maintaining the ability to detect objects across multiple areas around the vehicle
Solution Approach 2:
The sensors, carrier body, fastening elements, and electrical connections are pre-assembled and pre-positioned during the manufacturing of the modular unit. This preliminary arrangement eliminates the need for complex on-site installation procedures, allowing workers to simply attach the complete modular unit to the vehicle bumper without having to individually position and secure each sensor component
2Area of stationary object
If sensors are attached over the entire width of the bumper, then detection coverage is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The modular unit is designed as a universal assembly that integrates multiple functions into a single device: the carrier body provides structural support, the pre-arranged sensors provide detection coverage, the fastening elements provide secure attachment, and the electrical connections provide power and signal transmission. This multi-functional design simplifies the overall device complexity compared to separate components while maintaining comprehensive detection coverage across the bumper width
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 modular unit enables easy and reliable attachment of sensor devices to motor vehicles, reducing installation complexity and ensuring effective detection and actuation of movable parts, such as tailgates, while maintaining reliable operation and safety features like authentication and feedback mechanisms.
Implementation Method 1
The sensors can be capacitive, optical or touch sensors, in particular piezo sensors
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The invention relates to a modular unit (10) with a sensor device (11) for actuating a movable part (1, 33), in particular a flap (1) of a motor vehicle, with a carrier body (12) on which the sensor device (11) with at least one sensor (21, 22, 23) is arranged to enable detection (3) of an object (4) in at least one detection area (5, 6, 40) adjacent to the motor vehicle (2), so that the actuating of the movable part (1, 33) can be activated via the detection (3). According to the invention, the modular unit (10) is designed as a separately handleable module (10) such that the modular unit (10) can be attached to the motor vehicle (2).