Vehicle Window Pane Automatic Lowering for Entry

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Solution Overview

Problem

Vehicle occupants face difficulty entering and exiting vehicles when doors are hinged to rotate about the vertical axis, especially in tight spaces with obstacles, as the window pane obstructs the opening path and cannot be easily modified to accommodate larger openings without altering the vehicle design.

Innovation Solution

A method using sensors and a control unit to automatically lower the window pane partially or completely when detecting a vehicle occupant's approach or imminent entry/exit, determining the optimal lowering position based on door parameters and surrounding obstacles, allowing for easier access without requiring structural changes to the vehicle.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the door is hinged to rotate about the vertical axis, then the vehicle design remains conventional and simple, but the opening space for occupant entry and exit is limited when obstacles are present

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconventional door designVSAvoidentry and exit ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The window pane is lowered in advance before the door is opened, creating additional entry/exit space ahead of time. The control unit detects when the door unlocking device is activated or about to be activated, and proactively lowers the window pane to a position that facilitates occupant entry or exit, preventing the need to wait for door opening to create space.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If the window pane is lowered completely to facilitate entry and exit, then entry and exit ease is improved, but noise, energy consumption, and stress on the window pane and seals increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveentry and exit easeVSAvoidenergy consumption and noise

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The window pane is lowered only to the extent necessary to facilitate entry and exit, rather than being lowered completely. The control unit determines the optimal lowering position based on door parameters and obstacle detection, lowering the window pane partially when sufficient space is created by door opening, and only completely when absolutely necessary. This partial action reduces energy loss, noise, and stress on seals while still achieving the entry/exit facilitation goal.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Ease of operation

If the window pane is lowered to facilitate entry and exit, then entry and exit ease is improved, but the window pane and seals are subjected to increased stress

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveentry and exit easeVSAvoidstress on window pane and seals

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The window pane position is dynamically adjusted based on real-time door parameters and obstacle detection. The control unit continuously monitors door opening angle and adjusts the window pane lowering position accordingly, raising the window pane back to its original position when the door is fully open or when obstacles are no longer present, thereby minimizing the duration and extent of stress on the window pane and seals.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Ease of operation

If gull-wing or scissor doors are used to improve entry and exit ease, then entry and exit ease is improved, but the vehicle design becomes complex and deviates from conventional concepts

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveentry and exit easeVSAvoidvehicle design

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The window pane acts as an intermediary element that facilitates entry and exit by creating additional space, allowing the use of simple conventional hinged doors instead of complex gull-wing or scissor doors. The lowered window pane compensates for the limited door opening angle, enabling occupant access without requiring the door itself to move into the space above the vehicle.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The function of creating entry/exit space is extracted from the door mechanism itself and transferred to the window pane. Instead of modifying the door hinge mechanism to achieve larger openings, the invention extracts the space-creating function and implements it through independent window pane lowering, thereby maintaining simple door mechanics while achieving the desired entry/exit ease.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP3246503B1Method for lowering a window pane of a vehicle door and vehicle designed to carry out the method

Publication Date: 2019.07.24 FORD GLOBAL TECH LLC

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AI summary

The invention relates to a method for lowering a window pane (14) of a vehicle door (12) to facilitate entry and exit, wherein the vehicle door (12) has a door release device (18) and a drive unit (28) for lowering and raising the window pane (14), the vehicle (10) comprises an unlocking sensor (24) which registers the actuation or imminent actuation of the door release device (18) and converts it into corresponding unlocking signals (SE), and a control unit (26) which receives the unlocking signals (SE) and converts them into actuation signals to initiate the drive unit (28), wherein the method comprises the following steps: checking by means of the control unit (26) whether the door release device (18) is actuated or is about to be actuated, and in the event that the door release device (18) is actuated or is about to be actuated,Initiating the drive unit (28) by means of the control unit (26) such that the window pane (14) is lowered into a position that facilitates entry and exit.