Vehicle Door Drive Control With Direction-Based User Action Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing door drive systems do not provide a uniform user experience when manually moving vehicle doors due to varying forces required for opening and closing, influenced by gravity and external pretensioning, leading to inconsistent user interaction.

Innovation Solution

A door drive device that adjusts decision parameters based on movement direction, using sensors to detect user actions and varying thresholds for opening and closing movements, allowing for a more uniform user experience by accounting for gravity and external forces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a fixed threshold is used for detecting user actions, then the detection is simple, but the user experience is inconsistent due to varying forces required for opening and closing movements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser experience consistencyVSAvoidcontrol parameter complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the decision parameter variable based on movement direction. The control device adapts the threshold dynamically - using a first threshold for opening movements and a second threshold for closing movements. This resolves the contradiction by allowing consistent user experience detection while avoiding the complexity of a completely adaptive system, as the parameter change is based on simple directional information.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements parameter changes by modifying the decision parameter (threshold value) according to the movement direction of the vehicle door. When the door is opening, one threshold is used; when closing, a different threshold is applied. This accounts for the different forces users must apply in each direction, providing consistent user experience without requiring complex real-time force measurement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Stability of the object's composition

If the vehicle door is locked in position, then the door remains stable, but manual movement is difficult when external forces like gravity act on the door

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedoor position stabilityVSAvoidforce required for manual movement
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by detecting user intent before the door movement begins. The sensor device monitors forces applied to the door, and when a user action exceeding the adapted threshold is detected, the control device prepares to adjust the holding force or release the lock. This allows the door to remain stable during normal conditions while being ready to assist manual movement when needed, reducing the force users must apply.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback through the sensor device that continuously monitors forces applied to the vehicle door. This feedback loop allows the control device to detect when a user is attempting to move the door and respond by adjusting the holding force or releasing the lock. The system uses the sensor signals to adaptively control the door's resistance to movement, maintaining stability when needed while facilitating user-initiated movements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3918169B1Door drive device controllable for detecting a user action on a vehicle door
Publication Date: 2025.08.20 BROSE FAHRZEUGTEILE GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3918169B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3918169B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3918169B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A door drive device (2) comprises an adjustment member (20), and a drive element (23) operatively coupled to the adjustment member (20). A sensor device (27) serves for measuring a measuring quantity indicative of a movement of the vehicle door (11) and/or a force acting onto the vehicle door (11) to provide a sensor signal. A control device (28) controls operation of the door drive device (2), wherein the control device (28) is configured to detect, based on the sensor signal, an action onto the vehicle door (11) indicative of a user command for moving the vehicle door (11). Herein, the control device (28) is configured to conclude for an action onto the vehicle door (11) indicative of a user command for moving the vehicle door (11) by evaluating a characteristic value derived from the sensor signal based on a decision parameter.