Trunk Door Torque Detection and Assist Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Manual trunk door operation requires excessive force for users like women and elderly individuals, while electrically driven trunk doors often open and close at a constant speed, causing user irritation due to lack of control over speed and potential collisions.
Innovation Solution
A trunk door opening/closing assistance apparatus that includes a torque detection part, a control unit, and a motor drive part to provide assistive torque, allowing users to open and close the trunk door with less effort by detecting user input torque, direction, and height, and automatically adjusting the opening angle based on user height and intent.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If manual operation is used, then the trunk door can be opened and closed with user control, but excessive force is required that women and elderly people cannot easily open
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the purely mechanical manual operation system with an electromechanical assistance system. A motor is integrated into the trunk door mechanism to provide auxiliary opening force, reducing the manual effort required from users. The motor activates automatically when the user pulls the trunk handle, assisting the opening motion without requiring excessive user force.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a sensor as an intermediary between the user's manual pull and the motor activation. The sensor detects the user's pulling action and triggers the motor to provide assistance. This intermediary mechanism ensures that the motor only activates when needed, bridging the gap between manual input and powered assistance.
2Ease of operation
If electrically driven trunk door is used, then opening and closing can be done without user touch, but the constant speed causes user irritation and boredom
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the trunk door opening speed dynamic rather than constant. The motor adjusts its output speed based on real-time feedback from sensors that detect obstacles, user presence, and door position. This allows the system to adapt the opening speed to different situations, providing both hands-free convenience and adaptive speed control that prevents user irritation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback control system where sensors continuously monitor the trunk door's opening process and send signals to the motor controller. This feedback loop allows the system to adjust the opening speed dynamically, slowing down when obstacles are detected or when user presence is sensed, thereby maintaining user comfort and safety during automatic operation.
3Reliability
If electrically driven trunk door opens at constant speed, then safety is maintained, but user irritation occurs due to lack of speed control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a static constant-speed motor control to a dynamic speed control system. The motor speed varies based on real-time conditions detected by sensors, such as user presence, obstacles, and door position. This dynamic adjustment maintains safety through controlled speed variation while improving user satisfaction by adapting to user needs and environmental conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs feedback mechanisms where sensors monitor the opening process and continuously adjust motor speed. When sensors detect user presence or obstacles, the system reduces speed or stops to prevent collisions, maintaining safety. Simultaneously, the adaptive speed control responds to user expectations, reducing irritation and improving overall user experience.
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
Enables users to open and close the trunk door with reduced effort, improving convenience and safety by allowing customizable speed and angle control, reducing user irritation and the risk of collisions.
Implementation Method 1
a torque detection part which detects a torque input by a user to open/close the trunk door of a vehicle
Implementation Method 2
a motor drive part which drives a motor for assisting the opening/closing of the trunk door with a direction and a strength which are controlled by the control unit
Data Source
AI summary
A trunk door opening/closing assistance apparatus including: a torque detection part which detects a torque input by a user to open/close the trunk door of a vehicle; a control unit which provides assist torque support in addition to the torque applied by the user within a total torque range required to open/close the door when the user manually opens or closes the trunk door; and a motor drive part which drives a motor for assisting the opening or closing of the trunk door with a direction and a strength which are controlled by the control unit.