Handleless Vehicle Access Assembly With Split NFC Carrier Layout

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle actuating devices face challenges in utilizing limited installation space while maintaining aerodynamics, convenience, and ensuring secure access control without additional gaps or recesses, particularly for handleless designs.

Innovation Solution

A carrier unit is arranged inside the vehicle's movable part, with a wing element outside, utilizing a two-part construction for easy assembly and distributing components like an NFC antenna and evaluation unit to maintain aerodynamics and security, and a twisted cable for interference protection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If sensor devices and electronic components are integrated into door handles, then automatic actuation function is improved, but installation space requirement increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomatic actuation functionVSAvoidinstallation space
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The actuating device is divided into two separate parts: a wing element (outer part) and a carrier unit (inner part). The carrier unit contains the sensor device and electronic components, while the wing element serves as the external interface. This segmentation allows the electronic components to be positioned away from the door handle area, reducing the installation space requirement while maintaining the automatic actuation function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Object-affected harmful factors

If door handles are removed for aerodynamic design, then aerodynamic performance is improved, but access control function is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaerodynamic performanceVSAvoidaccess control function
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor device is extracted from the traditional door handle location and integrated into the carrier unit positioned inside the vehicle. The wing element serves as a minimal external interface that triggers the actuation without requiring a conventional door handle structure. This extraction maintains the aerodynamic design by eliminating protruding handles while preserving access control functionality through the integrated sensor system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If communication element and evaluation unit are arranged at distance, then interference protection is improved, but connection complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinterference protectionVSAvoidconnection complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A twisted pair cable serves as an intermediary connection between the communication element (NFC antenna) on the wing element and the evaluation unit on the carrier unit. The twisted pair structure acts as a shield against electromagnetic interference, providing reliable signal transmission over the distance between components while managing the connection complexity through a standardized cable type.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 effectively utilizes limited space, ensures simple installation, maintains vehicle appearance and aerodynamics, and provides secure, convenient actuation with extended functions, including emergency access.

Implementation Method 1

the wing element has a communication element, in particular in the form of an NFC antenna (near-field communication antenna)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectNear-field communication (NFC): Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP4613575A1Operating device for vehicle
Publication Date: 2025.09.10 HUF HÜLSBECK & FÜRST GMBH & CO KG
  • EP4613575A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4613575A1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4613575A1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The invention relates to a carrier unit (20) for an actuating device (100) of an access system (110) of a vehicle (200) for actuating, preferably unlocking and/or opening and, if necessary,Closing and/or locking a, in particular handle-less, movable part (201) of the vehicle (200), wherein the actuating device (100) has a, in particular fixed, wing element (10), wherein the wing element (10) is designed to be arranged from the outside on the movable part (201) of the vehicle (200), and wherein the wing element (10) has a communication element (NFC), in particular in the form of an NFC antenna, characterized in that the carrier unit (20) is designed to be arranged from the inside on the movable part (201) of the vehicle (200) and to be coupled to the wing element (10), that the carrier unit (20) has a main electronics unit (E2) with an evaluation unit (E2(NFC)) for the communication element (NFC) in order to carry out an authentication process (ID) with a user (300).