A Solenoid for Improved Vehicle Safety

TLX developed a three-position latching solenoid to increase the safety of a passive entry system.

Customer Problem

A manufacturer of automobile door lock systems needed to add an emergency lock release feature to their passive entry door lock system. The manufacturer wanted a solenoid that could actuate the door locks through the passive entry system and also release the locks during an emergency to allow passengers to exit the vehicle while the ignition was on. This vital safety feature was needed in case the car’s electrical system was damaged in a crash.

The TLX Solution

TLX Technologies designed an innovative three-position latching solenoid. The component used one spring that expanded against a hard stop to center the armature and compressed when the armature moved in either direction. The design improved center-position tolerance and eliminated the need to adjust two springs during assembly. Patented shunt rings installed next to the poles increased the pull-in force but kept the solenoid’s package size small and maintained the manufacturer’s voltage and current requirements.

View Design Solution

Three-Position Latching Solenoid

Stroke: < 6.4 mm
Latching force: 44 N
Response time: < 8 ms
Centering force: 13 N ± 4 N
Current: 12 A max.
Durability: > 100M cycles
Coil resistance at 20°C: 5 Ω

All TLX components are customized to fit system requirements, meaning technical specifications are unique to each customer and design. Examples given on our website are for illustration purposes only.

Working with TLX

Experienced partner of industry leaders, first-tier suppliers, and OEMs
Direct access to our design and engineering team
Localized production in USA and China
Dependable single-source solution from design to delivery

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Our Process

Step 1 / Initial Review

Our engineering team works directly with you to determine the viability of your program and identify the best solution based on your specifications.

Step 2 / Quote

Quotes include all costs related to your project - tooling, prototype, piece part, production and project specific costs.

Step 3 / Design Review & Prototypes

Our engineering team reviews the design with you and makes any adjustments needed. Prototypes are built according to design specifications for testing.