Pinch Sensor Characterization Bench for Powered Doors

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Solution Overview

Problem

The risk of pinching during the closure of motorized openings in vehicles, such as windows and doors, poses a safety concern as existing technologies lack effective detection and prevention mechanisms to stop or reverse motorization quickly in case of limb entrapment.

Innovation Solution

A characterization bench equipped with a module for detecting impacts, an image acquisition system, force measurement means, and a safety module to control motorization, which can produce a logic signal upon impact, correlate crushing stroke and force, and stop or reverse motorization to prevent injury.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a pinch sensor is installed in motorized opening devices to detect limb entrapment, then safety detection capability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafety detection capabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a characterization bench as an intermediary system that simulates pinching conditions using a standardized impactor and force measurement means. This mediator allows the pinch sensor to be tested without requiring actual limb entrapment scenarios, thereby improving safety detection capability while avoiding the complexity of implementing real-time biological detection systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a simplified copy of the pinching phenomenon by using an impactor that reproduces the mechanical characteristics of limb contact. This copy enables the sensor to be characterized under controlled conditions with standardized forces and displacements, improving detection reliability without adding complex biological sensing mechanisms to the actual motorized opening device.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Measurement precision

If image acquisition means and force measurement means are added to characterize the sensor, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement precisionVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The characterization system is segmented into distinct functional modules: image acquisition means for visual measurement, force measurement means for mechanical measurement, and processing means for data correlation. This segmentation allows each module to be optimized independently for its specific measurement task, achieving high precision without requiring a monolithic complex system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The characterization bench is designed as a universal testing platform that can characterize different types of pinch sensors through standardized procedures. The image acquisition and force measurement means serve multiple functions: they can test various sensor locations, impactor shapes, and force levels, thereby achieving comprehensive measurement precision across different scenarios without proportionally increasing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If the characterization bench includes complete safety control and motorization control, then safety response capability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafety response capabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The characterization bench implements feedback loops where the detection module receives signals from the pinch sensor, the processing means analyzes the data, and the motor control means automatically adjusts motorization based on sensor characterization results. This feedback mechanism improves safety response capability by enabling automatic verification and adjustment without requiring complex manual intervention systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The characterization bench performs preliminary characterization of the pinch sensor before actual motorized opening operation. By pre-testing the sensor's detection threshold and response characteristics using standardized impactors and force measurements, the system ensures safety response capability is established in advance, avoiding the need for complex real-time adaptive control during actual operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2313588B1Bench for characterising the crush of a pinching sensor for a powered door leaf, particularly of an automobile
Publication Date: 2014.06.18 SEALYNX AUTOMOTIVE TRANSIERES
  • EP2313588B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2313588B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2313588B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The invention relates to a bench for characterising the crush of a pinching sensor (1) for a powered door leaf, provided with a detection module (2) capable of generating a logic detection signal (3), and comprising: a housing frame (4) with the sensor (1) arranged at the periphery thereof; an impactor (8), the impactor and the sensor being mobile relative to one another so that the impactor (8) can contact said sensor (1); a power system (7) for providing said movement; a control means (6) for the power system (7); an image acquisition means (9); an image analysis means (12) capable of measuring the crushing distance (11); a processing module (13) used as an interface between the image analysis means (12) and the detection module (2) for the time-correlation of the logic detection signal (3) with the crushing distance (11) of the sensor (1).