Vehicle Touch Sensor Bracket Locking for Fast Precise Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing touch sensor units for vehicle doors face challenges with increased attachment time and variation in attachment position due to the use of adhesive tapes, which complicates the mounting process.
Innovation Solution
A touch sensor unit design featuring a long sensor body with an inserting portion made of elastomer and a bracket with a holding portion, where the inserting portion has a locking piece and the bracket has corresponding locking portions, allowing for easy mounting by elastic deformation and secure locking, thereby improving mountability and reducing attachment errors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If adhesive tape is used to attach the touch sensor to the bracket, then the touch sensor can be attached to the bracket, but the attachment time increases and attachment position variation occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the adhesive tape from the attachment system and replaces it with a mechanical locking mechanism. The inserting portion with locking piece engages directly with the holding portion on the bracket, eliminating the need for adhesive tape and thereby reducing attachment time while maintaining secure attachment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the chemical bonding mechanism (adhesive tape) with a mechanical locking system. The locking piece fits into the holding portion through elastic deformation, providing a mechanical attachment that is both rapid and reliable, thus solving the contradiction between attachment reliability and attachment time.
2Reliability
If adhesive tape is used to attach the touch sensor to the bracket, then the touch sensor can be attached to the bracket, but attachment position variation occurs
Solution Approach 1:
By removing the adhesive tape and replacing it with a mechanical locking mechanism, the patent eliminates the positioning variability inherent in adhesive-based attachment. The locking piece and holding portion provide fixed, predetermined attachment positions, thereby improving manufacturing precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates visual indicators (different colors or markings) on the inserting portion and holding portion to guide proper alignment during assembly. This ensures that the touch sensor is attached at the correct position, eliminating attachment position variation.
3Productivity
If a mechanical locking mechanism is used instead of adhesive tape, then attachment time is reduced and attachment position precision is improved, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the attachment system into two functional components: the inserting portion with the locking piece and the holding portion on the bracket. This segmentation allows for a simple, modular design that achieves rapid and precise attachment without excessive structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes elastic modulus differences between materials to enable the locking mechanism to function. The inserting portion is made of an elastomer with lower elastic modulus than the bracket, allowing it to elastically deform during insertion and then lock securely, achieving both speed and precision without complex mechanisms.
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 enhances the mountability of the touch sensor on the bracket, prevents unexpected detachment, and simplifies the manufacturing process by reducing the number of mold pins and undercut prevention, while ensuring secure attachment and easy visual confirmation of correct mounting.
Implementation Method 1
one of the inserting portion and the holding portion is made of an elastomer having an elastic modulus lower than that of the other
Data Source
AI summary
A touch sensor unit, that is installed on one of an opening provided in a vehicle and an opening and closing body configured to open and close the opening, includes: a touch sensor having a long sensor body; and a bracket configured to hold the touch sensor in a longitudinal direction of the sensor body and fixed to one of the opening and the opening and closing body. One of the touch sensor and the bracket includes an inserting portion including a locking piece, the other of the touch sensor and the bracket includes a holding portion including a locking portion locked to the locking piece and configured to accommodate the inserting portion, and one of the inserting portion and the holding portion is made of an elastomer having an elastic modulus lower than that of the other.