Retractable exterior door handle assembly

Abstract

This invention relates to a retractable outer door handle assembly. The retractable outer door handle assembly may include: a handle unit comprising a push portion and an outer door handle selectively projecting outwardly onto a handle housing; an actuator comprising a drive motor, a worm gear connected to the drive motor, a worm wheel meshing with the worm gear, and an operating lever that moves according to rotation of the worm wheel to actuate the push portion; and a latch control lever rotatably mounted on the handle housing and rotating during operation of the outer door handle, which is projected by operation of the actuator.

Description

[0001] Cross-reference to related applications

[0002] This invention claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2020-0113341, filed on September 4, 2020, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. Technical Field

[0003] This invention relates to a retractable outer door handle assembly. More specifically, this invention relates to a retractable outer door handle assembly that allows for easy adjustment of power and operating speed with a simple structure. Background Art

[0004] Typically, a vehicle has a cabin of predetermined size formed therein for the driver and accompanying passengers to board, and is equipped with a cabin door for opening / closing the cabin.

[0005] To make it easy for passengers to open and close the cabin doors, the inner door handles are mounted on the inner surface of the doors facing the interior of the cabin, while the outer door handles are mounted on the outer surface of the doors facing the exterior of the cabin.

[0006] Each door handle interacts with a door ratchet to secure the door to the vehicle body, allowing the door to be opened when the door ratchet is released according to the operation of each door handle.

[0007] The outer door handle is typically mounted to pivotally move to the outer panel of the door, and in this case, the outer door handle is mounted on the outer panel of the door to protrude outward along the width of the vehicle, so that passengers can easily grip the outer door handle.

[0008] As mentioned above, if the outer door handle is installed to protrude outward along the width of the vehicle, it will improve the convenience of passenger operation. However, the appearance of the vehicle will be worse due to the protruding outer door handle. Moreover, it will not only generate driving noise during vehicle operation, but also reduce driving performance due to driving resistance.

[0009] Recently, in order to solve these problems, a retractable outer door handle has been developed, wherein the outer door handle protrudes outward from the outer door panel along the width of the vehicle, or is accommodated in a receiving hole formed in the outer door panel by a drive actuator (motor), instead of protruding from the outside of the outer door panel.

[0010] A conventional retractable outer door handle assembly may have an outer door handle that protrudes from the outer door panel via a linkage mechanism, or it may be accommodated within a receiving hole in the outer door panel via an actuator. The conventional retractable outer door handle assembly is connected to a door lock mechanism, which includes a lock cylinder and a door ratchet mechanism. The lock cylinder is operable to lock or release the door to the vehicle body, and the door ratchet mechanism locks the door directly to or releases it directly from the vehicle body.

[0011] However, in the typical retractable outer door handle assembly, due to the use of three or more reduction gears and the high rotation speed of the intermediate gear, vibration and noise are often generated during operation.

[0012] In addition, it is difficult to change the operating force / operating speed in the initial design because adjusting the operating power and operating speed according to the gear combination method will affect other gear combinations.

[0013] The information disclosed in the background section of this invention is intended only to enhance the understanding of the general background of the invention and should not be construed as an admission or in any way implying that such information constitutes prior art known to those skilled in the art. Summary of the Invention

[0014] Various aspects of the present invention aim to provide a retractable outer door handle assembly that easily adjusts power and operating speed with a simple structure.

[0015] A retractable outer door handle assembly according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention may include: a handle unit, an actuator, and a latch control lever, the handle unit including a push portion and an outer door handle selectively projecting outwardly onto a handle housing; the actuator including a drive motor, a worm gear connected to the drive motor, a worm wheel meshing with the worm gear, and an operating lever that moves according to rotation of the worm wheel to actuate the push portion; the latch control lever is rotatably mounted on the handle housing and rotates during operation of the outer door handle, the outer door handle being projected by operation of the actuator.

[0016] The internal thread can be formed on the inside of the worm gear, and the operating rod thread that meshes with the internal thread can be formed on the outside of the operating rod.

[0017] A guide portion to prevent the control lever from rotating can be formed on the control lever.

[0018] The actuator may further include a position sensor for detecting movement of the lever.

[0019] The handle unit may further include a handle rotating pin that rotatably connects the outer door handle to the handle housing.

[0020] The retractable outer door handle assembly according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention may further include an extension rod disposed between the operating rod and the push portion.

[0021] A predetermined gap can be formed between the pushing part and the extension rod.

[0022] The retractable outer door handle assembly according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention may further include a handle post formed on the outer door handle to engage with a latch control lever when protruded by operation of an actuator.

[0023] The retractable outer door handle assembly according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention may further include a handle spring that provides a reaction torque to the outer door handle.

[0024] The handle unit may include: a connecting link, a front link, a rear link, and a support link, wherein a push portion of the connecting link is formed at one end thereto, and the connecting link is mounted on the handle housing to be movable along its longitudinal direction according to the operation of the actuator; the front link is rotatably connected to the connecting link and the outer door handle; the rear link is rotatably connected to the connecting link and the outer door handle; and the support link is rotatably connected to the rear link and the handle housing.

[0025] The retractable outer door handle assembly according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention may further include a support link torsion spring that applies a rotational torque to the support link.

[0026] The connecting rod and the front connecting rod, as well as the connecting rod and the rear connecting rod, can be connected by guide pins respectively.

[0027] The handle housing may have a guide groove into which a guide pin is inserted to guide the movement of the connecting rod.

[0028] The latch control lever may have a control lever hole into which a guide pin is inserted.

[0029] According to various exemplary embodiments of the invention, the retractable outer door handle assembly allows for easy adjustment of power and operating speed with a simple structure.

[0030] A retractable outer door handle assembly according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention can suppress the occurrence of vibration and noise during actuator operation.

[0031] Furthermore, effects that can be obtained or predicted through embodiments of the present invention will be disclosed, directly or implicitly, in the detailed description of the present invention. That is, various effects predicted according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be disclosed in the detailed description described later.

[0032] The methods and apparatus of the present invention have other features and advantages that will be apparent from or will be set forth in detail in the accompanying drawings and following detailed description, which together serve to explain the particular principles of the invention. Attached Figure Description

[0033] Figure 1 This is a front view of a retractable outer door handle assembly according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

[0034] Figure 2 This is an exploded perspective view of a retractable outer door handle assembly according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

[0035] Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional view of an actuator that can be applied to a retractable outer door handle assembly according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

[0036] Figure 4 This is an exploded perspective view of an actuator that can be applied to a retractable outer door handle assembly according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

[0037] Figure 5 This is a rear view of a retractable outer door handle assembly according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

[0038] Figure 6 This is a front view of a retractable outer door handle assembly according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention during actuator operation.

[0039] Figure 7 This is a rear view of a retractable outer door handle assembly according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention during actuator operation.

[0040] Figure 8 This is a front view of a retractable outer door handle assembly according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention during operation of the outer door handle.

[0041] Figure 9 This is a rear view of a retractable outer door handle assembly according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention during operation of the outer door handle.

[0042] Figure 10This is a front view of a retractable outer door handle assembly according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

[0043] Figure 11 This is a perspective view of a handle unit that can be applied to a retractable outer door handle assembly according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

[0044] Figure 12 This is a perspective view of a handle housing that can be applied to various exemplary embodiments of the retractable outer door handle assembly according to the present invention.

[0045] Figure 13 This is a front view of the handle housing of a retractable outer door handle assembly that can be applied to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

[0046] Figure 14 , Figure 15 , Figure 16 and Figure 17 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the operation of a retractable outer door handle assembly according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

[0047] It should be understood that the accompanying drawings are not drawn to scale, but are merely appropriately simplified depictions to illustrate the various features of the basic principles of the invention. Specific design features of the invention disclosed herein, including, for example, specific dimensions, orientations, positions, and shapes, will be determined in part by the specific environment in which they are intended for application and use.

[0048] In the accompanying drawings, the same reference numerals throughout the multiple figures denote the same or equivalent parts of the invention. Detailed Implementation

[0049] Referring now to various embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described below. Although the invention will be described in conjunction with exemplary embodiments, it should be understood that this specification is not intended to limit the invention to those exemplary embodiments. Rather, the invention is intended to cover not only the exemplary embodiments, but also various alternative embodiments, modified embodiments, equivalent embodiments, or other embodiments, which may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

[0050] In the following detailed description, certain exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown and described by way of illustration only.

[0051] As those skilled in the art will recognize, the described embodiments can be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

[0052] Throughout the specification, the same reference numerals denote parts that represent the same components.

[0053] In the accompanying drawings, the thickness of layers, films, plates, regions, etc., has been enlarged for clarity.

[0054] When a component such as a layer, membrane, region, or plate is referred to as being "on" another component, this includes not only cases where it is directly above another component, but also cases where another component exists in between.

[0055] Conversely, when an element is referred to as being "directly on" another element, there is no intermediate element.

[0056] Throughout the specification, when a component “includes” a certain component, it means that other components may be included without excluding them, unless otherwise explicitly stated.

[0057] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0058] Figure 1 This is a front view of a retractable outer door handle assembly according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention. Figure 2 This is an exploded perspective view of a retractable outer door handle assembly according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

[0059] refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 A retractable outer door handle assembly according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention may include a handle unit 10, an actuator 40, and a latch control lever 60. The handle unit 10 includes a push portion 22 and an outer door handle 20, the outer door handle 20 being selectively projecting outwardly onto a handle housing 30. The latch control lever 60 is rotatably mounted on the handle housing 30 and rotates during operation of the outer door handle 20, the outer door handle 20 being projected by operation of the actuator 40.

[0060] The handle unit 10 may further include a handle rotation pin 24 for rotatably mounting the outer door handle 20 to the handle housing 30.

[0061] The latch control lever 60 is rotatably mounted to the handle housing 30 via a latch control lever pin 64, and a control lever hook 62 can be connected to the latch control lever 60. The control lever hook 62 is connected to the door via a cable or rod, and when an occupant or other person operates the outer door handle 20, the latch control lever 60 rotates to release the connection between the door and the latch. Since the structure of the connection between the door and the latch and the cable or rod is obvious to those skilled in the art, a detailed description will be omitted.

[0062] Figure 3This is a cross-sectional view of an actuator that can be applied to a retractable outer door handle assembly according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention. Figure 4 This is an exploded perspective view of an actuator that can be applied to a retractable outer door handle assembly according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

[0063] refer to Figure 3 and Figure 4 The actuator 40 includes a drive motor 42, a worm 44 connected to the drive motor 42, a worm wheel 46 meshing with the worm 44, and an operating lever 48 that moves and pushes the push portion 22 according to the rotation of the worm wheel 46.

[0064] An internal thread 47 is formed on the inside of the worm gear 46, and an operating rod thread 49 that meshes with the internal thread 47 is formed on the outside of the operating rod 48.

[0065] A guide portion 50 is formed on the operating lever 48 to prevent rotation. The guide portion 50 protrudes to contact the actuator housing 41 or the handle housing 30 to prevent rotation of the operating lever 48 and to guide the movement of the operating lever 48.

[0066] The actuator 40 may further include a position sensor 52 for detecting movement of the operating lever 48. Figure 3 The position sensor 52 shown can be a contact switch, or a non-contact detection sensor, and can be various types of sensors that detect the movement of the operating lever 48.

[0067] When the actuator 40 is operated, the outer door handle 20 protrudes, thereby allowing the vehicle driver or passenger to operate the outer door handle 20.

[0068] Typically, the actuators used in retractable outer door handle assemblies are linear actuators, which transmit force in a straight line.

[0069] In typical linear actuators, due to their structural characteristics, three or more stages of reduction gears are used, and the intermediate gears rotate at high speeds, often resulting in vibration and noise during operation. Furthermore, it is difficult to change the operating power / speed during the initial design phase, as adjusting the operating power and speed according to the gear combination method affects other gear combinations.

[0070] Furthermore, due to the excessively high rotational speed of the motor and intermediate gears, vibration and noise are highly likely to occur during operation. In addition, the use of multi-stage gears (e.g., three or more stages) makes it difficult to optimize power and speed.

[0071] However, the actuator 40, which can be applied to a retractable outer door handle assembly according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, has a simple structure, comprising a worm 44, a worm wheel 46, and an operating lever 48 that engages inside the worm wheel 46. Due to its simple structure, it can optimize power and speed.

[0072] Moreover, since the worm gear 46 rotates at a relatively low speed, it can reduce possible vibration and noise during operation.

[0073] refer to Figures 1 to 4 The retractable outer door handle assembly according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention may further include an extension rod 56 disposed between the operating lever 48 and the push portion 22. The extension rod 56 can adjust the distance between the push portion 22 and the operating lever 48, thereby making the installation position of the actuator 40 unrestricted.

[0074] A predetermined gap G can be formed between the push part 22 and the extension rod 56. In the event of a failure of the actuator 40, the operating lever 48 may not be in its original position and may stop. However, even if the actuator 40 fails and the operating lever 48 stops in the middle, the outer door handle 20 can still be in its original position due to the gap G.

[0075] The retractable outer door handle assembly according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention may further include a handle post 26 formed on the outer door handle 20 to be able to contact the latch control lever 60 when protruded by the operation of the actuator 40.

[0076] Figure 5 This is a rear view of a retractable outer door handle assembly according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

[0077] refer to Figure 5 The retractable outer door handle assembly according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention may further include a handle spring 28 that provides a reaction torque to the outer door handle 20. After the driver or occupant operates the outer door handle 20, the outer door handle 20 can be repositioned in the handle housing 30 by the reaction torque of the handle spring 28.

[0078] Figure 6 This is a front view of a retractable outer door handle assembly according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention during actuator operation. Figure 7 This is a rear view of a retractable outer door handle assembly according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention during actuator operation.

[0079] refer to Figures 1 to 6When a driver or passenger holding the vehicle's smart key approaches the vehicle, or when the vehicle's controller initiates a door opening operation via wireless communication or contact switch operation, the controller operates actuator 40. Then, the operating lever 48 or extension lever 56 pushes the actuating portion 22.

[0080] Then, the outer door handle 20 rotates around the handle rotation pin 24, and the handle post 26 contacts the latch control lever 60. At this time, the latch control lever 60 does not rotate, and in this state, the driver or passenger can grasp the outer door handle 20. This state can be defined as the door ready to be opened state.

[0081] Figure 8 This is a front view of a retractable outer door handle assembly according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention during operation of the outer door handle. Figure 9 This is a rear view of a retractable outer door handle assembly according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention during operation of the outer door handle.

[0082] refer to Figure 8 and Figure 9 When the driver or passenger pulls the outer door handle 20 with the door in the open position, the outer door handle 20 rotates about the handle rotation pin 24, and the handle post 26 pushes the latch control lever 60. Then, the latch control lever 60 rotates about the latch control lever pin 64 and releases the connection between the door and the latch via a cable or rod (not shown) connected to the control lever hook 62.

[0083] Figure 10 This is a front view of a retractable outer door handle assembly according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention. Figure 11 This is a perspective view of a handle unit that can be applied to a retractable outer door handle assembly according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

[0084] In the description Figure 10 and Figure 11 When illustrating the retractable outer door handle assembly of various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the same reference numerals are used for the same / similar configuration as described above for the retractable outer door handle assembly of various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, and repeated descriptions are omitted.

[0085] refer to Figure 10 and Figure 11A retractable outer door handle assembly according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention includes a push portion 83 and a handle unit 70, the handle unit 70 including an outer door handle 72, an actuator 40 and a latch control lever 120, the outer door handle 72 being mounted to protrude to the outside of a handle housing 110, the latch control lever 120 being rotatably mounted on the handle housing 110 and rotating during operation of the outer door handle 72, the outer door handle 72 being protruded by operation of the actuator 40.

[0086] Due to reference Figure 3 and Figure 4 The configuration and operation of actuator 40 are described, and repeated descriptions will be omitted.

[0087] A predetermined gap G can be formed between the push part 83 and the actuator 40. In the event of a failure of the actuator 40, the operating lever 48 may not be in its original position and may stop. However, even if the actuator 40 fails and the operating lever 48 stops in the middle, the outer door handle 72 can still be in its original position due to the gap G.

[0088] Figure 12 This is a perspective view of a handle housing that can be applied to various exemplary embodiments of the retractable outer door handle assembly according to the present invention. Figure 13 This is a front view of the handle housing of a retractable outer door handle assembly that can be applied to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

[0089] refer to Figures 10 to 13 According to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, a retractable outer door handle assembly includes a linkage unit 80 that mounts an outer door handle 72 to a handle housing 110, thereby allowing it to protrude.

[0090] The handle unit 80 may include a connecting rod 82, a front connecting rod 84, a rear connecting rod 86, and a support connecting rod 88. A pushing portion 83 is formed at one end of the connecting rod 82, and the connecting rod 82 is mounted on the handle housing 110 so as to be movable in its longitudinal direction according to the operation of the actuator 40. The front connecting rod 84 is rotatably connected to the connecting rod 82 and the outer door handle 72. The rear connecting rod 86 is rotatably connected to the connecting rod 82 and the outer door handle 72. The support connecting rod 88 is rotatably connected to the rear connecting rod 86 and the handle housing 110.

[0091] In other words, the linkage unit 80, which can be applied to the retractable outer door handle assembly according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, can be composed of four linkages.

[0092] The retractable outer door handle assembly according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention may further include a support link torsion spring 90 that provides rotational torque to the support link 88.

[0093] The outer door handle 72 protrudes from the handle housing 110, and after the door is opened, the outer door handle 72 can be accommodated in its original position in the handle housing groove 111 of the handle housing 110 by the torque of the support link torsion spring 90.

[0094] The connecting rod 82 and the front connecting rod 84, as well as the connecting rod 82 and the rear connecting rod 86, can be connected by guide pins 101 and 102, respectively.

[0095] The front link 84 and the outer door handle 72 can be connected via the front link pin 130, and the rear link 86 and the outer door handle 72 can be connected via the rear link pin 132. In addition, the rear link 86 and the support link 88 can be connected via the connecting pin 134, and the support link 88 can be connected to the handle housing 110 via the support link pin 136.

[0096] The handle housing 110 may have guide grooves 112 and 114, into which guide pins 101 and 102 are inserted to guide the movement of the connecting rod 82.

[0097] Figure 14 , Figure 15 , Figure 16 and Figure 17 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the operation of a retractable outer door handle assembly according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

[0098] refer to Figure 12 The latch control lever 120 is mounted on the handle housing 110, and references... Figure 17 The latch control lever 120 may have a control lever hole 122 into which a guide pin 101 is inserted. The accompanying drawings show that the guide pin 101, which connects the connecting rod 82 and the front connecting rod 84, can be inserted into the control lever hole 122, but this is not a limitation. That is, the latch control lever 120 may be mounted in a position where the guide pin 102 can be inserted, connecting the connecting rod 82 and the rear connecting rod 86.

[0099] In the following text, see references Figure 14 , Figure 15 , Figure 16 and Figure 17 The operation of a retractable outer door handle assembly according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described.

[0100] Figure 14The retracted state of a retractable outer door handle assembly according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention is shown.

[0101] like Figure 15 As shown, when the first driver or passenger holding the vehicle's smart key approaches the vehicle, or when the vehicle's controller initiates a door opening operation by operating wireless communication or a contact switch, the controller operates actuator 40. Then, operating lever 48 pushes actuating portion 83. With guide pins 101 and 102 inserted into guide slots 112 and 114, connecting link 82 moves, thereby pushing front link 84 and rear link 86, and the outer door handle 72 moves from handle housing 110 to protrude.

[0102] At this time, the door latch control lever 120 does not rotate, and in this state, the driver or passenger can grasp the outer door handle 72. This state can be defined as the door ready to be opened.

[0103] like Figure 16 As shown, when the driver or passenger grasps and pulls the outer door handle 72, the guide pin 101 inserts into the control lever hole 122. In this state, if the driver or passenger pulls the outer door handle 72, such as Figure 17 As shown, the latch control lever 120 rotates around the latch control lever pin 124.

[0104] Then, according to the rotation of the latch control lever 120, the cable or rod (not shown) connected to the latch control lever 120 releases the connection between the door and the latch. Since the structure of the connection between the door and the latch and the cable or rod is obvious to those skilled in the art, a detailed description will be omitted.

[0105] According to various exemplary embodiments of the invention, the retractable outer door handle assembly allows for easy adjustment of power and operating speed with a simple structure.

[0106] A retractable outer door handle assembly according to various exemplary embodiments of the invention can suppress vibration and noise during actuator operation. The actuators according to various exemplary embodiments of the invention can be applied to swing-type or horizontal-type door handle assemblies so that actuator housing molds and assembly lines can be shared.

[0107] In particular, even if different swing / horizontal handles have the same housing, the same actuator can be used if an extension rod is applied, thereby reducing manufacturing costs.

[0108] Additionally, terms related to control devices such as “controller,” “control unit,” “control device,” or “control module” refer to hardware devices including a memory and a processor configured to execute one or more steps interpreted as an algorithmic structure. The memory stores the algorithmic steps, and the processor executes the algorithmic steps to perform one or more processes of methods according to various exemplary embodiments of the invention. A controller according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention can be implemented using non-volatile memory configured to store algorithms for controlling the operation of various components of a vehicle or data regarding software commands for executing the algorithms, and the processor is configured to utilize the data stored in the memory to perform the operations described above. The memory and processor can be separate chips. Alternatively, the memory and processor can be integrated into a single chip. The processor can be implemented as one or more processors. The processor can include various logic circuits and arithmetic circuits, can process data according to a program provided from the memory, and can generate control signals based on the processing results.

[0109] The control device may be at least one microprocessor operated by a predetermined program, which may include a series of commands for performing the methods disclosed in the foregoing various exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

[0110] The aforementioned invention can also be implemented as computer-readable code on a computer-readable recording medium. A computer-readable recording medium is any data storage device that can store data that can later be read by a computer system. Examples of computer-readable recording media include hard disk drives (HDDs), solid-state drives (SSDs), silicon disk drives (SDDs), read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), CD-ROMs, magnetic magnetic tapes, floppy disks, optical data storage devices, etc., and are implemented as carrier waves (e.g., transmitted over the Internet).

[0111] In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, each of the above operations can be performed by a controller, and the controller can be configured by multiple controllers or a single integrated controller.

[0112] For ease of interpretation and accurate definition of the appended claims, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “inner,” “outer,” “above,” “below,” “upward,” “downward,” “front,” “back,” “back,” “inner,” “outer,” “inward,” “outer,” “inside,” “outer,” “inner side,” “outer side,” “forward,” and “backward” are used to describe features of the exemplary embodiments with reference to the positions of these features shown in the accompanying drawings. It will be further understood that the term “connection” or its derivatives refer to both direct and indirect connections.

[0113] The foregoing description of specific exemplary embodiments of the invention is for illustrative and descriptive purposes. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise embodiments disclosed, and it will be apparent that various modifications and variations can be made in accordance with the foregoing teachings. The exemplary embodiments chosen and described are intended to explain certain principles of the invention and its practical application, enabling others skilled in the art to make and use the various exemplary embodiments of the invention, as well as their alternatives and modifications. The scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A retractable outer door handle assembly, comprising: A handle unit, comprising a push portion and an outer door handle configured to selectively project outward from a handle housing; An actuator includes a drive motor, a worm gear connected to the drive motor, a worm wheel meshing with the worm gear, and an operating lever that moves according to the rotation of the worm wheel to selectively actuate the actuating portion; as well as A latch control lever, rotatably mounted on the handle housing, rotates during operation of the outer door handle, which is protruded by the action of an actuator. The handle unit further includes: A connecting rod, wherein the pushing portion is formed at one end of the connecting rod, wherein the connecting rod mounted on the handle housing is movable along the longitudinal direction of the connecting rod according to the operation of the actuator; A front linkage that is rotatably connected to the first end of a connecting link and the outer door handle; The rear linkage, which is rotatably connected to the second end of the connecting linkage and the outer door handle; and A support link, rotatably connected to a portion of the rear link and the handle housing, wherein the extension direction of the rotation axis of each link of the handle unit is perpendicular to the direction of movement of the connecting link.

2. The retractable outer door handle assembly according to claim 1, wherein, An internal thread is formed on the inside of the worm gear; The operating rod thread that engages with the internal thread is formed on the outside of the operating rod.

3. The retractable outer door handle assembly according to claim 1, wherein, The control lever includes a guide portion that prevents rotation of the control lever.

4. The retractable outer door handle assembly according to claim 3, wherein, The guide portion of the operating lever can be slidably connected to the actuator housing or the handle housing.

5. The retractable outer door handle assembly according to claim 1, wherein, The actuator further includes a position sensor for detecting movement of the operating lever.

6. The retractable outer door handle assembly of claim 1, further comprising a support link torsion spring, the support link torsion spring applying a rotational torque to the support link.

7. The retractable outer door handle assembly according to claim 6, wherein, The first end of the support link can be rotatably connected to the portion of the rear link. The torsion spring of the support link is installed at the second end of the support link to apply rotational torque to the support link.

8. The retractable outer door handle assembly according to claim 1, wherein, The connecting rod and the front connecting rod are connected to each other by a first guide pin, and the connecting rod and the rear connecting rod are connected by a second guide pin.

9. The retractable outer door handle assembly according to claim 8, wherein, The handle housing has a first guide groove and a second guide groove, and the first guide pin and the second guide pin are respectively inserted into the first guide groove and the second guide groove to guide the movement of the connecting rod.

10. The retractable outer door handle assembly of claim 8, wherein, The push portion of the handle unit is pivotally connected to the second end of the first guide pin. The end of the operating lever engages with the pushing portion.

11. The retractable outer door handle assembly according to claim 8, wherein, The latch control lever has a control lever hole into which one of the first guide pin and the second guide pin is inserted.

12. The retractable outer door handle assembly according to claim 1, wherein, A predetermined gap is formed between the pushing portion and the actuator.

13. The retractable outer door handle assembly of claim 1, further comprising a controller connected to the actuator to control the operation of the actuator.

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