Scissor Door Window Control for Vertical Clearance Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Scissor doors and similar vehicle doors with vertically opening windows require additional vertical clearance, which can be exacerbated by the window's profile, posing a risk of damage if occupants forget to roll down the window before opening the door.

Innovation Solution

A system that automatically controls the window operation, moving it to a down position when the door is opened and to an up position when closed, using a control module and mechanism to manage the window's position based on door movement signals.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the window is left in the up position when the scissor door opens vertically, then the window provides structural support and protection, but the vertical clearance is reduced and collision risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewindow structural supportVSAvoidcollision risk
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The control module automatically lowers the window to the down position before the scissor door completes its vertical opening motion, based on detecting the door's movement toward the open position. This preliminary action ensures the window is in the safe down position before the door reaches its fully open vertical state, eliminating collision risk while maintaining structural integrity during the transition.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the window is automatically lowered when the door opens, then collision risk is minimized, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecollision riskVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control module receives feedback signals from the door position sensor that detect when the scissor door is moving toward the open position. Based on this feedback, the control module automatically activates the window mechanism to lower the window. This closed-loop feedback system automates the window control without requiring complex manual intervention, resolving the contradiction between safety and system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Length of stationary object

If the window mechanism is integrated into the scissor door, then the vertical profile is reduced when open, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevertical profileVSAvoiddoor mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The window mechanism is integrated directly into the scissor door assembly, combining the door structure and window housing into a single unified component. This merging allows the window to be stored within the door's vertical structure when closed, and automatically lowered when opened, reducing the overall vertical profile of the open door while consolidating mechanisms rather than adding separate systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP4004321B1A method of scissor door window operation
Publication Date: 2026.01.28 KARMA AUTOMOTIVE LLC
  • EP4004321B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4004321B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP4004321B1 patent drawingFigure 2C~2D

AI summary

A system for controlling the operation of a window installed in a door of a vehicle, comprising a control module, a vehicle door configured to move upwardly from a closed position to a fully open position, a window configured to move between a first up position and a second down position in which the window is stored in the vehicle door, and a mechanism to move the window between the first up position and the second down position. The control module is configured to direct the mechanism to move the window into the second down position when the control module has received a signal indicating that action has been taken to move the vehicle door towards the fully open position.