Movable Panel Wedge System for ADAS Sensor Stability
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Movable vehicle panels, such as lift panels and tailgates, experience vibrations during open/close cycles, which can disrupt the stability and positional alignment of sensors mounted on these panels, particularly for Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) that require stringent static and dynamic stability and alignment.
Innovation Solution
A wedge system comprising a receiver and a wedge that stabilizes the movable panel along multiple axes, including side-to-side, fore/aft, and downward directions, through a design featuring sloped surfaces and a self-alignment mechanism, ensuring proper panel alignment and reducing vibrations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a movable panel is used for vehicle access (lift panel, tailgate, door), then ease of operation and accessibility are improved, but vibrations and instability occur during open/close cycles which worsen sensor stability and alignment
Solution Approach 1:
The stabilization system is divided into multiple independent wedge interfaces (first wedge interface, second wedge interface, distal end interface) that address different axes of movement separately. Each interface engages with corresponding sloped surfaces on the receiver to provide targeted stabilization in specific directions while allowing the panel to remain movable for access purposes.
Solution Approach 2:
The wedge acts as an intermediary element between the panel and the receiver structure. It transfers and distributes stabilization forces from the receiver to the panel through multiple contact points (sloped surfaces and base surface), effectively mediating the interaction to reduce vibrations and maintain sensor alignment without restricting panel movement.
2Manufacturing precision
If the panel is stabilized in multiple directions (first axis, second axis, third axis), then sensor alignment precision is improved, but the complexity of the stabilization mechanism increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple stabilization functions are merged into a single wedge component that integrates multiple wedge interfaces (first, second, and distal end interfaces). This unified design provides stabilization across three axes simultaneously while using one compact element rather than multiple separate mechanisms, thereby reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The stabilization approach transitions from addressing individual axes separately to using a three-dimensional wedge structure that simultaneously constrains movement in multiple directions. The wedge's elongated body with multiple sloped surfaces creates a multi-axis stabilization system through spatial arrangement rather than adding separate mechanisms for each axis.
3Reliability
If the wedge is received within the receiver at the closed position, then panel stability is improved, but the mechanism for achieving self-alignment during insertion becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The receiver and wedge are designed with complementary sloped surfaces and geometric features that enable self-alignment during insertion. The first sloped surface, second sloped surface, and third sloped surface on the receiver correspond to wedge interfaces that automatically guide the wedge into proper alignment as it is inserted, eliminating the need for external alignment mechanisms or complex adjustment systems.
Data Source
AI summary
A wedge system includes a receiver and a wedge that is received within the receiver when a moveable vehicle panel is in a closed position. The wedge stabilizes movement of the moveable vehicle panel along a first axis, along a second axis that is different than the first axis, and along a third axis that is different than the first axis and the second axis.