Pioneering power sliding door technology from Aisin Seiki enables
versatility in a compact lightweight system.
(Aichi, Japan, 25 September, 2012) – Aisin Seki Co., Ltd, Japan
has developed the first power sliding door system that houses all the major
components in the door side. The new approach allows the doors to be compatible
with a wider range of vehicles than previous power sliding door systems and
leaves more space inside the vehicle.
One in four passenger cars are now minivans and the convenient power
sliding door mechanism comprises one of the attractive attributes of these
vehicles. The new power sliding door system from Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd uses a
system inspired by the rope drills of fire fighters. The power supply unit has a
low-profile circular ‘snail type’ design, where the cable
moving the door is taken up in a whorl that resembles a snail. The system is
compact, neat and allows a smooth sliding motion.
Vehicles with the Aisin system built into their sliding doors continue to
increase year on year. Toyota Motors plans to spread the use of the system to
all models, and Nissan Motors, Suzuki Motors, Daihatsu Motor Company, and Honda
Motor Co., Ltd. have also adopted the technology. The sliding door system with
indoor built in drive unit represents pioneering technology in the field. Aisin
Seki Co., Ltd holds 70% of the market share in sliding doors.
Background
Today one in every four passenger cars is a minivan. Their sustained
popularity is attributed to their ability to accommodate large family groups as
well as other attractive features, in particular the power sliding door. Aisin
Seiki Co., Ltd released a sliding power door technology in the 1990s but in that
previous system the drive unit was built into the vehicle side rather than the
passenger door, which impinged on the space inside the vehicle and led to
restrictions in the passenger vehicles that it could be fitted onto. In the late
1990s the company began development of the industry’s first power
sliding door with the drive unit built into the door itself/.
Technology
1. Achieving the system’s power and volume
requirements
The drive unit needed to be compact, low in profile and lightweight. In
addition a higher output power was needed in the drive unit due to the increased
weight due to incorporating major components in the door.
Through trial and error modifications to the position of the elements in
the motor, the magnetic flux circuit and the frictional values of the materials,
Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd developed the smallest high-power output drive unit the
industry had ever seen. The design resulted in over 30 patents.
The rope system for driving the sliding door mechanism was inspired by
observations of fire fighters during drills where they ascend walls with a rope
that wraps around the body. It has a low-profile, circular design, with the
cable taken up as a whorl in a shape that resembles a snail – the
‘snail type’ power supply unit.
2. Compatibility with different vehicle models
During prototype production substantial further modifications were made so
that the drive unit would versatile enough to be used in a range of vehicles.
This included vehicles with limited space inside the door under the window where
the unit was originally designed to be installed.
3. Eliminating pulsation
Theoretical analyses were undertaken to understand what measures could
prevent the ‘pulsation’ that occurs as the doors slide open
and closed. Electrical engineering research as well as new control logic led to
a new trapping detector that operated via a touch sensor to prevent
pulsation.
4. Power back door system
The components for the powered sliding door system and the power back door
system were standardised as much as possible. This proved significantly
economical as the same ultra-compact drive unit could then be used in both with
only minor modifications.
Results
Production of powered back door systems using the same components was
launched for the Toyota Alphard in Japan 2002 and the Toyota Sienna in North
America 2003. The power sliding door system has now also been built into the
front door on the passenger seat side of the Toyota Porte, highlighting the
versatility of the system.
The development of the industry’s first sliding door system with
an indoor built-in drive unit heralded a shift in the company’s
position from focusing on individual components to a systems manufacturer.
About Aisin Seki Co. Ltd
Aisin Seki produces and sells automobile parts as well as living, energy
and welfare related products. The company is committed to its corporate
principles that focus on putting ‘quality first’. Aisin Seki
has 2 offices and 11 plants across Japan with over 90,000 employees and
subsidiaries that include 69 companies in Japan and 101 overseas. As of 31 March
2012, the company’s capital was 45 billion JPY. For more information,
visit http://www.aisin.com/./
About Aisin Seki Co. Ltd Automotive Parts and Systems Business
As the automotive industry constantly evolves with increasing emphasis on
functionality and performance, Aisin Seki continues to respond with fast
innovations exploiting its world class resources and expertise in automobile
technology. In line with its corporate principle of placing ‘quality
first’, the company prioritises environmental commitments throughout
its development of advanced systems and modules. For more information visit http://www.aisin.com/profile/business/
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