Vehicle Window Shading Coupling for Single-Cable Automation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing window protection devices for motor vehicles require manual or semi-automatic shifting of shading structures, lacking a fully automatic solution that simplifies the construction while ensuring reliable movement of both window panes and shading structures.
Innovation Solution
A mechanical coupling arrangement that alternately couples and decouples the window pane and shading structure to a cable drive system, allowing for fully automatic movement without additional drives or cables, using a guide rail system and driver elements for force- and movement-transmitting interactions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If manual or semi-automatic shifting of shading structure is used, then construction remains simple, but automation level is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the window pane drive and shading structure drive into a single cable drive system. The cable strand serves dual functions: driving the window pane during opening/closing operations and driving the shading structure during shading operations. This merging eliminates the need for separate drive mechanisms, achieving full automation while maintaining construction simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling arrangement dynamically switches between coupling the cable strand to the window pane and coupling it to the shading structure based on operational requirements. This dynamic coupling/decoupling mechanism allows the single cable drive system to automatically control both components without requiring additional drives, resolving the contradiction between automation and complexity.
2Device complexity
If a single cable drive system is used for both window pane and shading structure, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability of simultaneous operation may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling arrangement is segmented into distinct coupling mechanisms: a first coupling device for the window pane and a second coupling device for the shading structure. These segmented coupling devices can independently engage or disengage from the cable strand, allowing reliable control of each component while using a single cable drive system. The segmentation ensures that operational reliability is maintained despite the simplified construction.
3Extent of automation
If additional drives or cable strands are added for automatic shading operation, then automation level increases, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The single cable strand is designed with universal functionality to serve multiple purposes: it drives the window pane during opening/closing operations and drives the shading structure during shading operations. The coupling arrangement enables this multi-functionality by selectively coupling the cable strand to different components based on operational needs, achieving full automation without requiring additional drives or cable strands.
Data Source
AI summary
A protection device for a window opening of a motor vehicle, with a window pane shiftable between a closed position closing the window opening and an open position opening the window opening, at least one shading structure shiftable between a window shading position and a window unblocking position, and a cable drive system for driven shifting of the window pane and/or of the shading structure and having a drive and a cable strand movable by the drive. A mechanical coupling arrangement which, depending on the position of the window pane, the shading structure and movement of the cable strand, is transferable between a first coupling state, in which the shading structure is coupled to the cable strand for the driven shifting and the window pane is decoupled therefrom, and a second coupling state, in which the shading structure is decoupled from the cable strand and the window pane is coupled to the cable strand for the driven shifting.