Wireless Position Sensing for Vehicle Air Flaps
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Active apparatuses for modifying aerodynamic properties of vehicles are complex and heavy due to wiring for sensors, which is prone to deformation and breakage, increasing costs and reducing reliability.
Innovation Solution
A non-wire-based active apparatus using a transceiver and antenna system to determine the position of movable portions, such as air flaps, through electromagnetic signals, eliminating the need for physical wiring and reducing component count.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If wiring for sensors is used to determine position of movable portions, then position measurement is achieved, but device complexity and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical wiring system with an electromagnetic field-based measurement system. A transceiver emits electromagnetic signals that are reflected by movable portions (air flaps), and the position is determined by analyzing the reflected signals. This eliminates the need for physical wiring to movable portions while achieving accurate position determination.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces electromagnetic waves as an intermediary medium to transfer information about the position of movable portions. Instead of direct electrical connections, the transceiver uses emitted and received electromagnetic signals as a mediator to indirectly measure position, thereby avoiding complex wiring.
2Measurement precision
If wiring for sensors is used to determine position of movable portions, then position measurement is achieved, but weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical wiring system with an electromagnetic field-based measurement system. A transceiver emits electromagnetic signals that are reflected by movable portions (air flaps), and the position is determined by analyzing the reflected signals. This eliminates the need for physical wiring to movable portions while achieving accurate position determination.
3Measurement precision
If wiring for sensors is used to determine position of movable portions, then position measurement is achieved, but reliability decreases due to cable breakage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical wiring system with an electromagnetic field-based measurement system. A transceiver emits electromagnetic signals that are reflected by movable portions (air flaps), and the position is determined by analyzing the reflected signals. This eliminates the need for physical wiring to movable portions while achieving accurate position determination.
4Measurement precision
If additional position sensors are installed to determine position accurately, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The transceiver serves multiple functions: it acts as both a signal source for position measurement and a sensor for detecting the reflected signals. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated position sensors on each movable portion, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using direct physical sensors on movable portions, the system creates an indirect copy of position information through electromagnetic signal reflection. The reflected signals carry position information that is equivalent to what direct sensors would provide, but without the complexity of multiple physical sensors.
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
Simplifies the apparatus, reduces weight, and enhances reliability by eliminating signal lead fatigue and the need for additional position sensors, while maintaining accurate position determination of movable parts.
Implementation Method 1
a first antenna signal, induced by a predetermined transmitted transceiver signal, of the first antenna exhibiting a predetermined first functional dependence dependent on a position of the first movable portion
Data Source
AI summary
An active apparatus for modifying aerodynamic properties of a vehicle, encompassing: a frame; a movable portion movable relative to the frame along a motion path; a transceiver to emit a transceiver signal and has a specified transceiver position relative to the frame; an antenna to receive the transceiver signal and arranged on the movable portion, an antenna signal, induced by a predetermined transceiver signal, of the antenna exhibiting a predetermined functional dependence dependent on a position of the movable portion along the motion path and on the transceiver position; a signal transmitting unit to emit a unit signal that is associatable with the antenna and carries information regarding the antenna signal, the transceiver configured to receive the unit signal; and a signal evaluation unit, the signal evaluation unit configured to determine the position of the movable portion along the motion path on the basis of the unit signal, the functional dependence, and the transceiver position.