Vehicle Window Emergency Opening via Redundant Control Path
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In vehicles with electric door access systems, a failure of the vehicle access control unit or central control unit can prevent users from opening doors, necessitating the breaking of a window to access the interior and replace the control unit, leading to inconvenience and costs.
Innovation Solution
A motor vehicle with an emergency opening mechanism that includes a communication device capable of wirelessly communicating with a mobile terminal or backend, activating the window lifter control unit via a data bus to open the window without involving the central control unit, ensuring redundant access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If mechanical keys and locking cylinders are eliminated to achieve cost savings, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability deteriorates because users cannot open doors if the vehicle access control unit fails
Solution Approach 1:
The door access system is segmented into multiple independent control paths: the primary path through the central control unit and vehicle access control unit, and a secondary emergency path through the communication device and window lifter control unit. This segmentation allows the system to maintain reliability by providing alternative access routes when the primary control path fails.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameter of the window lifter actuator from normal window control mode to emergency door access mode. By detecting the failure state of the central control unit and responding to emergency opening signals, the window lifter system's function is dynamically changed to provide alternative access, resolving the reliability issue without adding mechanical components.
2Ease of operation
If the window lifter control unit is activated for emergency opening, then ease of operation is improved because users can access the vehicle without breaking windows, but device complexity increases due to the additional emergency mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The window lifter control unit and actuator are given multiple functions: normal window operation and emergency door access. By enabling the existing window lifter system to perform both functions, the patent improves ease of operation during emergencies without adding dedicated emergency opening mechanisms, thus avoiding increased device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The communication device detects the failure state of the central control unit and automatically activates the window lifter control unit in response to emergency opening signals. This self-service capability allows the system to provide emergency access functionality using existing components, improving ease of operation without requiring complex additional mechanisms.
3Reliability
If the communication device activates the window lifter control unit directly, then reliability is improved by providing redundant access, but device complexity increases due to the additional communication and control pathways
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is segmented into distinct functional modules: communication device for signal reception and failure detection, window lifter control unit for actuator control, and existing central control unit. This modular segmentation allows the emergency access pathway to be implemented using existing components with added communication logic, providing reliability without excessive complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The communication device acts as an intermediary between the mobile terminal and the window lifter control unit. It receives emergency opening signals, detects central control unit failure, and activates the window lifter system accordingly. This intermediary role provides reliable emergency access while using existing communication infrastructure, avoiding the need for complex dedicated emergency control systems.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to an emergency opening mechanism for an openable motor vehicle window of a motor vehicle, the motor vehicle having a communication device, a central control unit and a central locking control unit, and the motor vehicle window having an associated window lifter control unit and an associated window lifter actuator. In particular, when an external emergency opening signal is received from a mobile terminal of a user of the motor vehicle and in the event of failure of the central control unit and/or the central locking control unit, the communication device is set up to activate the window lifter control unit for emergency opening of the motor vehicle window by means of the window lifter actuator.