Vehicle Handle Actuation Detection Using Dual Sensor Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing detection systems for vehicle handle actuation are prone to incorrect detections due to movements like shearing forces or heat-related expansions, leading to increased complexity and costs in avoiding such errors.

Innovation Solution

A detection system utilizing a movement device with a comparison sensor element and an actuation sensor element to differentiate between distinct movement patterns, allowing for reliable and cost-effective detection of handle actuation, with the comparison sensor serving as a reference for the actuation sensor to accurately distinguish between the first and second courses of movement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a single sensor is used to detect handle actuation, then the device complexity is reduced, but incorrect detections occur due to shearing forces or heat-related expansions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesensor arrangementVSAvoiddetection accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The detection function is segmented into two independent sensor elements: a comparison sensor element that detects reference movement and an actuation sensor element that detects actual handle actuation. This segmentation allows the system to distinguish between spurious movements (detected by comparison sensor) and genuine actuation (detected by actuation sensor), thereby improving detection reliability without significantly increasing overall system complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The comparison sensor element acts as an intermediary reference that measures environmental disturbances (shearing forces, thermal expansion) affecting the handle assembly. By providing this reference measurement, the system can filter out false signals before they trigger incorrect actuation detection, effectively using the comparison sensor as a mediator to eliminate harmful detection errors

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If multiple sensors are used to differentiate movement patterns, then detection reliability is improved, but device complexity and costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveactuation detectionVSAvoidsensor arrangement
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The comparison sensor element and actuation sensor element are merged into a single detection system with unified evaluation logic. Both sensors share the same housing, mounting structure, and evaluation device, allowing the system to achieve high detection reliability through dual-sensor differentiation while minimizing the complexity increase through shared components and integrated processing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The evaluation device performs multiple functions: it processes signals from both the comparison sensor element and the actuation sensor element, compares their outputs to differentiate movement patterns, and determines whether genuine actuation has occurred. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate processing circuits for each sensor, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while maintaining high detection reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Measurement precision

If complex measures are implemented to avoid erroneous detections, then detection accuracy is improved, but manufacturing costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveactuation detectionVSAvoidproduction cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The comparison sensor element creates a copy of the environmental disturbance signals (thermal expansion, vibration) that affect the handle assembly. By having this signal copy available through the comparison sensor, the system can subtract or filter these disturbances from the actuation sensor output without requiring complex mechanical shielding, temperature control systems, or expensive error-correction mechanisms, thereby achieving high measurement precision at reasonable manufacturing cost

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentEP3504389B1Sensing system for detecting actuation of a handle device of a vehicle
Publication Date: 2021.05.26 HUF HÜLSBECK & FÜRST GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3504389B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3504389B1 patent drawingFigure 3~6
  • EP3504389B1 patent drawingFigure 7~9

AI summary

The invention relates to a sensing system (200) for detecting actuation of a handle device (10) of a vehicle (1), having a movement device (20) for moving a handle part (11) of the handle device (10) from an idle position (I) to an operating position (II), wherein the movement device (20) can be brought into a first movement course (A) in order to effect the movement of the handle part (11) and can be brought into a second movement course (B) after the first movement course (A) has been completely performed. According to the invention, a comparison sensor element (56) and an actuation sensor element (57) are arranged on the movement device (20) such that the first movement course (A) can be evaluated by means of first sensing by the comparison sensor element (56) and by means of second sensing by the actuation sensor element (57) and the second movement course (B) can be evaluated by means of the second sensing by the actuation sensor element (57), whereby the actuation can be detected.