Vehicle Seat Slide With Nested Magnetic Position Sensor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle seat slides with position sensors have design complexities and increased production costs due to protruding elements, which also pose safety risks from external damage.
Innovation Solution
A slide design featuring a female rail and a male rail with a position sensor that uses a magnetic field measurement system integrated with a spring member and elastic tabs to maintain a constant distance, reducing the sensor's footprint and production costs while protecting it from external damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a position sensor is added to the slide to determine the position of the male rail relative to the female rail, then the position measurement capability is improved, but the device complexity and production cost increase due to protruding elements
Solution Approach 1:
The position sensor is nested within the space between the male and female rails, with the magnetic field measurement means positioned between the substantially planar walls of the rails. This nesting approach allows the sensor to be integrated into the existing structure without requiring additional protruding elements, thereby improving position measurement capability while maintaining simple design and reducing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical position sensing mechanisms with a magnetic field measurement system. The means for measuring the surrounding magnetic field detects position changes through magnetic field variations rather than mechanical contact, eliminating the need for complex mechanical structures and protruding elements, thus reducing device complexity and production cost while maintaining measurement precision
2Measurement precision
If a position sensor with protruding elements is used to determine rail position, then the position measurement capability is improved, but the reliability decreases due to risk of external damage
Solution Approach 1:
The position sensor is nested within the protected space between the male and female rails, positioned between the substantially planar walls. This nested configuration shields the sensor from external elements such as foot strikes or other external damage sources, while still allowing it to accurately detect position changes through magnetic field variations in the longitudinal direction
Solution Approach 2:
The magnetic field acts as an intermediary between the position sensor and the male rail position. The means for measuring the surrounding magnetic field detects position changes through magnetic field variations rather than direct mechanical contact or exposure to external elements, thereby protecting the sensor from external damage while maintaining measurement precision
3Measurement precision
If the means for measuring magnetic field is positioned close to the female rail wall for accurate measurement, then the measurement precision is improved, but the sensor becomes vulnerable to external damage
Solution Approach 1:
The means for measuring the surrounding magnetic field is nested within the protected space between the male and female rails, positioned between their substantially planar walls. This nested configuration allows the sensor to be close enough to the female rail wall for accurate magnetic field measurement while simultaneously being protected from external damage by the protective effect of the male rail
Solution Approach 2:
The magnetic field serves as an intermediary that allows the sensor to detect position changes accurately without needing direct exposure to the male rail or external elements. The sensor measures magnetic field variations in the longitudinal direction through the protective barrier of the rail walls, achieving both measurement precision and protection from harmful external factors
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 design simplifies the slide's structure, reduces production costs, and enhances safety by minimizing the risk of sensor damage from external elements, allowing for reliable position determination between the rails.
Implementation Method 1
the position sensor comprises a means for measuring the surrounding magnetic field fixed to the vertical side wall of the male rail
Implementation Method 2
the means for measuring the magnetic field is fixed to the vertical side wall of the male rail by means of a spring member configured to urge the position of the means for measuring the magnetic field towards the vertical side wall of the female rail
Data Source
AI summary
A slide for a vehicle seat, comprising a female rail having at least one vertical side wall, a male rail also having at least one vertical side wall, mounted to slide relative to the female rail, the female rail surrounding the male rail with the vertical side wall of the female rail facing the vertical side wall of the male rail, a position sensor comprising a means for measuring the surrounding magnetic field fixed to the vertical side wall of the male rail by means of a spring member, and arranged between the substantially planar wall of the male rail and the substantially planar wall of the female rail and oriented towards the substantially planar wall of the female rail.