Vehicle Seat Slide With Integrated Rail Position Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle seat slides with position sensors for determining rail positions are bulky, costly, and prone to damage from external elements, compromising safety and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A slide design with a position sensor integral to the male rail, positioned between the female and male rail walls, using a magnetic field sensor or mechanical/optical switches, and featuring a through-opening in the female rail to determine the male rail's position without protruding elements, reducing space and production costs while enhancing safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a position sensor is mounted on external protruding elements of the rail, then the position can be determined, but the device becomes bulky and prone to damage from external elements
Solution Approach 1:
The position sensor is integrated directly into the rail structure, merging the sensing function with the structural component. This eliminates separate mounting brackets or housings, reducing device complexity while protecting the sensor as it is now enclosed within the rail rather than exposed on external protruding elements
Solution Approach 2:
The position sensor is nested within the rail structure, placed inside the hollow section or integrated into the wall thickness of the rail. This nesting approach protects the sensor from external damage while maintaining its positioning functionality, avoiding the need for external mounting structures
2Measurement precision
If a through-opening is added to the female rail for sensor positioning, then the position sensor can be precisely located, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The through-opening is incorporated into the rail design from the beginning, allowing the position sensor to be installed during the initial assembly process rather than requiring post-manufacturing modifications. This preliminary integration reduces overall manufacturing complexity despite the additional opening feature
Solution Approach 2:
The through-opening serves as an intermediary feature that facilitates sensor installation and positioning. By providing this dedicated access point, the complex requirement of precise sensor positioning is simplified into a standard manufacturing feature that can be easily produced and assembled
3Measurement precision
If the position sensor protrudes from the male rail, then the position can be detected, but the footprint and space occupation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The position sensor is merged with the male rail structure, eliminating the need for separate mounting brackets or housings. This integration reduces the overall footprint by combining the sensing function within the existing rail geometry rather than adding external components
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of protruding outward from the male rail in one dimension, the sensor is repositioned to utilize the wall thickness dimension of the rail. This dimensional shift allows the sensor to maintain its detection functionality while occupying minimal space in the critical external dimensions
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 minimizes space occupation, reduces production costs, and enhances safety by preventing damage to the position sensor, ensuring reliable operation and improved occupant safety during vehicle crashes.
Implementation Method 1
the position sensor comprises a means for measuring the surrounding magnetic field
Data Source
AI summary
A slide for a vehicle seat, comprising a female rail having at least one substantially planar wall, a male rail also having at least one substantially planar wall, mounted to slide relative to the female rail, the female rail surrounding the male rail with the substantially planar wall of the female rail facing the substantially planar wall of the male rail, and a position sensor integral with the substantially planar wall of the male rail and provided between the substantially planar wall of the male rail and the substantially planar wall of the female rail, protruding from the substantially planar wall of the male rail towards the substantially planar wall of the female rail.