Vehicle Side Door Actuator Holding Control Without Permanent Brakes
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric side door drive assemblies for vehicles face issues with uncomfortable manual operation forces and inefficient energy use due to permanently acting brakes, and switchable brakes increase complexity and cost while being insufficient in tilted positions.
Innovation Solution
A length-adjustable electric actuator with a controllable motor, control unit, and door movement sensor unit that determines and applies the necessary current strength to hold the side door at any angle, reducing or eliminating the need for brakes and improving efficiency and comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If permanently acting brakes are used to hold the side door at any opening angle, then the door can be held stably in tilted positions, but the manual operating force and energy consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The brake torque is made dynamically adjustable rather than permanently fixed. The control unit varies the brake torque based on the detected door opening angle and vehicle tilt angle, applying higher torque when needed for stability and reducing or eliminating it when not required, thus resolving the contradiction between stable door holding and excessive manual operating force
Solution Approach 2:
The brake torque parameter is changed dynamically based on operating conditions (door angle and tilt angle). The control unit calculates the gravitational torque component based on these parameters and adjusts the brake torque accordingly, allowing the system to maintain stability only when necessary and reduce operating force when not needed
2Stability of the object's composition
If permanently acting brakes are used to hold the side door, then the door remains stable in tilted positions, but the energy consumption increases due to continuous braking torque
Solution Approach 1:
The brake torque is dynamically adjusted based on real-time detection of door angle and vehicle tilt. The control unit calculates the gravitational torque component and applies brake torque only when necessary to counteract it, eliminating continuous braking and thus reducing energy consumption while maintaining stability when needed
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of continuous braking, the system periodically detects door position and vehicle tilt, calculates the required brake torque, and applies it only when gravitational forces exceed the passive holding capacity, creating an intermittent rather than continuous energy-consuming operation
3Force
If switchable or adjustable brakes are used to reduce friction during manual operation, then the manual operating force decreases, but the device complexity and cost increase due to additional switching devices
Solution Approach 1:
The electric motor serves multiple functions: it acts as both the drive motor for automatic door operation and as an adjustable brake for holding the door at various angles. The control unit manages both functions by varying the current applied to the motor, eliminating the need for separate brake components and switching devices
Solution Approach 2:
The driving function and braking function are merged into a single electric motor system. By controlling the motor current, the system can achieve both propulsion and holding functions, reducing device complexity while maintaining the ability to adjust manual operating force
4Stability of the object's composition
If permanently acting brakes are used, then the door can be held at any angle, but noise and wear increase over time
Solution Approach 1:
The brake is applied periodically only when gravitational torque exceeds passive holding capacity, rather than continuously. This intermittent operation reduces the frequency of brake engagement, thereby reducing noise generation and wear on brake components over time while maintaining door holding stability when required
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 solution reduces manual operation forces, minimizes energy consumption, decreases noise and wear, and enhances controllability and haptic feedback, allowing stable door holding across various tilting positions without the need for additional brakes.
Implementation Method 1
comprises a controllable electric motor
Data Source
AI summary
An electric side door drive assembly for a vehicle having a length-adjustable electric actuator to bring about opening and closing of the side door, and a door movement sensor unit designed to detect stopping and a current position of the side door during opening or closing of the side door. In the event of stopping of the side door detected by the door movement sensor unit, a controller determines, on the basis of side door position data provided by the door movement sensor unit, a necessary current strength which is to be supplied to the electric motor to hold the side door in its current position, and to deliver the necessary current strength to the motor of the actuator for a holding operation.