Vehicle Door Actuating Mechanism With Dual Force Thresholds

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle door actuating mechanisms require additional space for mechanical emergency releases, leading to a non-uniform design and lack of haptic feedback for electrical and manual actuation.

Innovation Solution

An actuating mechanism with a cam disk and elastic biasing element that provides two distinct force thresholds for electrical and mechanical actuation, allowing for compact integration and haptic feedback.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If separate mechanical emergency release and electrical push-buttons are provided, then both manual and electrical actuation functions are available, but additional design space is required and the overall design becomes non-uniform

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveactuation functionVSAvoiddesign space

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the mechanical emergency release and electrical push-button actuation functions into a single integrated actuating mechanism. The actuator with handle serves as a common interface for both manual and electrical actuation, eliminating the need for separate mechanical components and reducing design space requirements while maintaining both actuation modes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The actuator is designed as a universal component that can serve multiple functions: it can be actuated manually by the user or driven electrically by a motor. This multi-functional design allows a single component to replace what would traditionally require separate mechanical emergency release and electrical push-button systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If separate mechanical emergency release and electrical push-buttons are provided, then both manual and electrical actuation functions are available, but the overall design becomes non-uniform

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveactuation functionVSAvoiddesign uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the mechanical emergency release and electrical push-button into a single unified actuator design. This integration creates a uniform appearance and consistent user interface, eliminating the visual and functional disunity that would result from having separate mechanical levers and electrical push-buttons.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The universal actuator serves both manual and electrical actuation functions through a single standardized interface, ensuring design uniformity. The same physical component and user interface are used regardless of whether actuation is manual or electrical, creating a consistent and uniform overall design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of operation

If traditional mechanical emergency release is used, then manual actuation is possible, but no haptic feedback is provided for electrical and manual actuation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveactuation feedbackVSAvoidmechanism structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates a feedback mechanism that provides haptic feedback to the user during actuation. The biasing element generates detectable force thresholds that give the user tactile information about the actuation process, enabling the user to perceive both electrical and manual actuation through haptic feedback without adding significant mechanical complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses parameter changes in the force characteristics of the biasing element to create distinct haptic feedback signals. By varying the force threshold parameters at different stages of actuation, the system provides meaningful haptic feedback that communicates system state changes to the user through tactile sensations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 both electrical and manual operation of vehicle doors with a single mechanism, providing clear haptic feedback and reducing design complexity.

Implementation Method 1

an elastic biasing element biased against the cam disk, wherein the cam disk cooperates with the biasing element in order to define a first force threshold for a first rotation of the cam disk as well as a second, higher force threshold for a second, downstream rotation of the cam disk

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS12540497B2Operating mechanism for operating vehicle doors

Publication Date: 2026.02.03 ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to an actuating mechanism for actuating, in particular unlocking and opening, vehicle doors. The actuating mechanism includes: an actuator (104), in particular with a handle, for opening vehicle doors (102); a kinematics (200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700) for transmitting a movement of the actuator to a signal transmitter. The kinematics (200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700) comprises a cam disk (204, 304, 404, 504, 604, 704); and an elastic biasing element (206, 306, 406, 506, 606, 706) biased against the cam disk (204, 304, 404, 504, 604, 704). The cam disk (204, 304, 404, 504, 604, 704) cooperates with the biasing element (206, 306, 406, 506, 606, 706) in order to define a first force threshold for a first rotation of the cam disk (204, 304, 404, 504, 604, 704) as well as a second, higher force threshold for a second, downstream rotation of the cam disk (204, 304, 404, 504, 604, 704).