System for detecting activation of an activation zone for a vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a system (1) for detecting an activation action within an activation area (200) for a vehicle (2), having a sensor mechanism (30) for capacitive detection (250) of an approach at least partially in the activation area (200) for detecting the activation action, a communication mechanism (10) for performing a communication (240) at least partially in the activation area (200), a monitoring mechanism (20) for initiating a suspension (230) and / or a restart (210) of the capacitive detection (250) depending on the communication (240).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a system for detecting activation behavior of a vehicle within an activation region. The invention also relates to a method for detecting activation behavior of a vehicle within an activation region. Background Technology

[0002] It is known from existing technology that capacitive sensors can be used to detect proximity in vehicles. For example, proximity could be an activation action by a user to activate a function on the vehicle. In the case of security-related functions such as vehicle unlocking, it is typically stipulated that function activation requires successful verification via communication between the vehicle and the mobile device. Detection of the activation action may then first trigger verification via communication, so that the function can be activated subsequently upon successful verification.

[0003] A drawback of known solutions is that, within the communication range, the necessary proximity and other movements can lead to false detections of activation behavior. This is particularly true in near-field communication, where placing the mobile device within the communication area for communication and subsequent movement may be misinterpreted as activation. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Therefore, the objective of this invention is to at least partially eliminate the aforementioned drawbacks. In particular, the objective of this invention is to provide a solution for improving the activation behavior of vehicle detection within the activation region.

[0005] The aforementioned tasks are accomplished by the system and method according to the invention. Here, the features and details described with respect to the system of the invention are obviously also applicable to the method of the invention, and vice versa; therefore, disclosures regarding various aspects of the invention are always cross-referenced or can be cross-referenced.

[0006] This task is accomplished, in particular, by a vehicle system for detecting activation behavior within an activation region. Specifically, the system is specified to include the following components:

[0007] - (especially at least partially electronic) sensor mechanisms for at least partially capacitively detecting, for example, activation mechanisms such as hand proximity, especially proximity to a vehicle, in an activation region (i.e., at least a local area of ​​the activation region, preferably a detection region), to detect activation behavior and preferably initiate communication when the activation behavior is (successfully) detected.

[0008] - A (especially electronic) communication mechanism for performing communication, particularly for vehicles, in at least a portion of an active region (i.e., at least a local area of ​​the active region, preferably a communication region).

[0009] - Monitoring mechanisms (especially electronic ones) used for the interruption and / or restart (also known as re-start) of capacitor detection based on communication.

[0010] In other words, it can be stipulated that, based on the communication, for example, after communication is initiated and / or after successful verification via communication, capacitance detection is first suspended and / or restarted. This provides the advantage that communication-related movements, such as other movements performed after activation or placement of the mobile device, will not be falsely detected as other activation actions and thus trigger a re-detection. After placing the mobile device via the activation mechanism for communication, for example, instead of immediately removing the mobile device, further approach of the activation mechanism may occur, which could then be confused with the activation action. For example, the detection of the activation action is used to initiate communication upon successful detection and / or to activate vehicle functions upon successful verification (via communication). False detection may also correspondingly cause a restart of vehicle functions. Vehicle functions, for example, switch between locking and unlocking the vehicle. Therefore, the solution of this invention also improves the reliability and security of the vehicle.

[0011] The monitoring mechanism may be part of and / or at least partially separate from the sensor mechanism and the communication mechanism, and accordingly connected to the sensor mechanism and perhaps also the communication mechanism.

[0012] It can be specified that the sensor mechanism has at least one sensor electrode to provide variable capacitance together with the vehicle environment (in the activation area) and perhaps the vehicle body, which serve as paired electrodes. Proximity within the activation area can then cause a corresponding change in capacitance. The capacitance change can be evaluated, for example, by means of charge transfer to the sensor electrode. The transferred charge is thus repeatedly accumulated, for example, by an integrator, and the resulting value is temporarily stored as a measurement. An increased measurement curve can, for example, indicate proximity when the curve exceeds a threshold. However, it can also be specified that after proximity for communication and / or prior activation, the measured value of the curve has increased, and therefore the difference from the threshold becomes smaller. After communication and the resulting verification and / or functional activation, a slight further proximity may then be sufficient to erroneously (re)probe the activation. In this case, the inventive concept might be to first stop capacitance detection based on communication, for example, after successful near-field communication. In this way, the removal of the activation mechanism after verification by means of communication is not identified as further activation.

[0013] Advantageously, in addition to suspending, i.e., halting capacitance detection, a restart is also used. A restart can have the following effect: the previously stored capacitance detection values ​​are deleted, so that the approaching activation mechanism does not cause abrupt changes in measurement values ​​that might be considered false detections. In this case, it is particularly a form of recalibration.

[0014] The activation area may consist primarily of a detection area of ​​a sensor mechanism and a communication area of ​​a communication mechanism. The detection and communication areas may overlap, but they may also be spaced apart. It is perhaps important that this activation behavior allows inference that the mobile device will be or has already been placed into the communication area. For example, this activation behavior could be the approach of an activation mechanism, such as a hand holding the mobile device and placing it into the communication area.

[0015] It is also advantageous for the vehicle to be designed as a motor vehicle, particularly preferably a hybrid or electric vehicle with a high-voltage onboard power supply and / or an electric motor. It may also be feasible for the vehicle to be designed as a fuel cell vehicle and / or a passenger car and / or a semi-autonomous or autonomous vehicle. The vehicle advantageously has a safety system that allows verification through communication with a mobile device, such as an identity transmitter (ID transmitter), mobile wireless device, or smartphone. Based on the communication and / or verification, at least one function of the vehicle can be activated. If verification by the mobile device is required for this, the function can be a security-related function, such as unlocking and / or locking the vehicle or allowing engine start. Therefore, the safety system can also be designed as a passive entry system, which initiates verification and / or function activation upon detection of the mobile device approaching the vehicle without requiring active manual operation by the mobile device. For this purpose, for example, capacitance detection can be used to monitor for activation in the detection area, so that communication and / or verification are triggered when activation is detected, and / or a wake-up signal can be repeatedly emitted by the safety system, which can be received by the mobile device upon approach and subsequently trigger verification. In addition, this function may involve activating vehicle lighting and / or operating (opening and / or closing) hoods (e.g., front hood, rear hood, side hood, front door, rear door, or side door). For example, automatically partially activating vehicle lighting when proximity is detected and / or operating the hood when gestures such as user activation are detected.

[0016] Advantageously, the invention may specify that the communication mechanism is designed as a near-field communication mechanism to perform communication in the form of near-field communication limited to at least one communication region of the activation area. Near-field communication is designed, for example, as NFC (Near Field Communication). Accordingly, the communication mechanism may have an NFC antenna to receive and / or generate communication signals. Near-field communication is based, for example, on generating an alternating magnetic field to produce an electric current at the mobile device.

[0017] It is also conceivable that the communication mechanism is designed to initiate communication with the mobile device when the mobile device is placed into the communication area of ​​the activation area, wherein the proximity, with respect to the activation action, may be specific to the placement of the mobile device. This proximity can be so specific that the activation action first brings the mobile device close to the activation area, subsequently placing the mobile device within the effective communication range for communication, particularly near-field communication, thus enabling communication. However, further proximity may occur after communication, and the mobile device may otherwise be removed from the activation area. This could lead to re-probing and, consequently, false detection of the activation action, but this can be prevented by aborting or restarting.

[0018] Additionally, this insertion may be recognized as an activation action and trigger communication, or it may also (especially further insertions after a successful probe) result in a false probe of the activation action. Accordingly, the abort can be performed in time such that further insertions will no longer trigger probes.

[0019] Furthermore, the monitoring mechanism is designed to initiate or perform a restart at the sensor mechanism based on a suspension, particularly after and / or during and / or before and / or after the suspension, and before resuming capacitance detection after the suspension. This prevents previous capacitance detection, i.e., a previously stored measurement curve, from causing a near-detection of activation behavior. For example, the detection should be performed such that a certain measurement curve exists and / or the measurement exceeds a certain threshold for successful detection. If the activation mechanism is already close to the sensor electrode of the sensor mechanism after the suspension, further movement of the activation mechanism may easily lead to false detection of activation behavior. Restarting allows the previous curve to be "forgotten" and / or the threshold to be recalibrated.

[0020] Preferably, the sensor mechanism may have a storage device, such as a data memory, for storing time curves of capacitance detection measurements used to activate behavior detection, and particularly a (electronic) processing device for canceling the storage of measurements, and in particular deleting the measurements, upon restart. This allows for a recalibration of the sensor mechanism.

[0021] It can be further advantageously specified that the sensor mechanism is designed to repeatedly perform detections after a restart until termination, particularly for repeatedly detecting activation behavior. In other words, after a restart, normal operation can be performed first, during which the detection area is repeatedly monitored for approach. For this purpose, for example, charge is repeatedly transferred to the sensor electrodes of the sensor mechanism and evaluated to obtain at least one measurement value. To identify the approach process, the measurement value can also be temporarily stored in a storage device for a certain period of time.

[0022] For example, the sensor mechanism can be designed to provide a time curve of capacitance detection measurements for activation behavior detection. The sensor mechanism's (especially electronic) processing device (such as a microcontroller) is preferably designed to evaluate the provided curve for activation behavior detection, particularly by comparing the measured value to a threshold after the measured value increases, and / or resetting the provided curve upon restart. This prevents previously stored measurements from causing erroneous activation behavior detection after abort. For example, the measured value may be increased by proximity, and after abort, the measured value may be too high, causing even slight proximity to trigger activation behavior detection. Therefore, it is advantageous to delete previous (historical) measurements in addition to abort by restarting.

[0023] It can also be specified that the monitoring device has (especially electronic) processing devices such as microcontrollers, processors, or integrated circuits, particularly processing devices for the sensor mechanism, preferably for (especially additionally and / or in accordance with the suspension) to perform the restart to recalibrate the sensor mechanism. This can thus prevent false detections of activation behavior caused by past proximity and / or proximity during the suspension period.

[0024] Alternatively, it is conceivable that the monitoring agency has (especially electronic) interface devices to obtain communication information about the communication and to initiate the suspension and / or restart based on the communication information. This interface device can be used to determine whether the communication has occurred. For example, the communication information indicates successful initiation of communication with the mobile device. Once the detection of the activation behavior has resulted in successful communication establishment, capacitance detection can be temporarily abandoned during the suspension period.

[0025] It may be advantageous to provide a control device within the scope of this invention to perform function activation at the vehicle based on communication. Furthermore, the monitoring mechanism can be designed to initiate the suspension and / or restart of capacitance detection based on communication, i.e., the monitoring mechanism has an interface device for detecting function activation so as to initiate the suspension and / or restart based on function activation. The control device may be, for example, part of a communication mechanism or vehicle control equipment. The control device may, for example, perform mobile device verification via communication, e.g., by evaluating the code transmitted via communication. Furthermore, the control device may activate the vehicle function, for example, upon successful verification, by controlling the vehicle's locking system upon function activation. When function activation is successful, this can be recognized via the interface device and capacitance detection can be temporarily stopped. For this purpose, the interface device may, for example, have an input terminal used by the control device to transmit information to notify of function activation.

[0026] Preferably, an interface device (especially an electronic one) equipped with a monitoring mechanism can be specified to obtain communication information, particularly regarding the start or end of communication, or at least one piece of information transmitted or a result of communication, especially a verification result, or the result of functional activation at the vehicle via communication. Therefore, it may be feasible for the reception of this communication information by the interface device to cause the termination and / or restart to be initiated.

[0027] The subject of this invention is also a method for detecting the activation behavior of vehicles within an activation area.

[0028] In this case, the following steps are specified to be performed, preferably in a sequential manner or in any order, wherein the steps may also be performed repeatedly:

[0029] - Perform proximity (especially repetitive) capacitance detection at least partially in the activation region (i.e., in at least one local area of ​​the activation region, preferably in the detection region) to detect activation behavior.

[0030] Communication is performed at least partially in the active region (i.e., in at least one local area of ​​the active region, preferably in the communication region).

[0031] - Initiate the suspension and / or restart of capacitance detection based on communication.

[0032] Therefore, the method of the present invention provides the same advantages as explicitly described with respect to the system of the present invention. Furthermore, it is conceivable within the scope of the present invention that the method steps can be performed using the system of the present invention.

[0033] Another advantage is that the capacitance detection is performed in the detection area of ​​the active region and the communication is performed in the communication area of ​​the active region, wherein, in particular, the detection area and the communication area partially overlap so that communication is preferably initiated based on the detection of activation behavior. Therefore, it is possible to disable communication and / or keep the communication mechanism in an energy-saving mode until activation behavior is detected. Alternatively, the communication can also be performed continuously, for example, unaffected by the detection of activation behavior.

[0034] Furthermore, within the scope of this invention, it is possible to perform verification via communication to activate vehicle safety-related functions, wherein the abort can be initiated based on function activation, wherein preferably, the safety-related function includes door unlocking. Accordingly, the system can also be integrated into the vehicle door handle to detect door handle approach as an activation action. Attached Figure Description

[0035] Other advantages, features, and details of the present invention are derived from the following detailed description of embodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. Here, features mentioned in the claims and specification may be important to the invention individually or in any combination, wherein:

[0036] Figure 1 The diagram shows side and top views of a vehicle equipped with the system of the present invention.

[0037] Figure 2 A schematic diagram showing the various parts of the system of the present invention is provided.

[0038] Figure 3 A schematic diagram illustrating the method of the present invention is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0039] The same reference numerals are used for the same technical features in different embodiments in the following figures.

[0040] Figure 1 A system 1 according to the invention for detecting activation behavior within an activation area 200 is shown for use in a vehicle 2, the system being integrated, for example, into a door handle 7 of the vehicle 2. The activation area 200 advantageously has a detection area 201 and a communication area 202, which may at least partially overlap. It can be specified that an activation mechanism 4, such as a user's hand 4, places a mobile device 5, such as a smartphone, into the activation area 200 for verification. This can be used to perform functional activation 220 at the vehicle 2, such as unlocking and / or opening the door 3 of the vehicle 2. A control device 6 can be provided on the vehicle 2 to perform functional activation 220 at the vehicle 2 based on communication 240 with the mobile device 5, such as verification. To achieve this, the system 1 of the invention can be designed to not only detect the placement of the mobile device 5 as an activation behavior, but also provide communication for verification.

[0041] Figure 2 The system 1 of the present invention is illustrated in further detail. System 1 may have a sensor mechanism 30 for capacitance detection 250, for example, activation mechanism 4, to allow the mobile device 5 to approach the vehicle 2. Detection 250 may occur at least partially in activation region 200, i.e., in at least a portion of activation region 200, i.e., preferably in detection region 201, to detect activation behavior.

[0042] A communication mechanism 10 may also be provided for performing communication 240 for vehicle 2, wherein communication is also performed at least partially in the activation area 200, particularly in the communication area 202 of the activation area 200.

[0043] A monitoring mechanism 20 is also provided to initiate the termination 230 and / or restart 210 of capacitance detection 250 based on communication 240. Therefore, further detection or false detection of activation behavior can be prevented after communication.

[0044] in accordance with Figure 1It can also be seen that the communication mechanism 10 (which is, for example, in the form of a near-field communication mechanism for near-field communication 240) is designed to perform communication 240 when restricted to at least one communication region 202 of the activation region 200. Thus, the communication mechanism 10 can be used to initiate communication 240 with the mobile device 5 only when the mobile device 5 is placed into the communication region 202 of the activation region 200, wherein the proximity is specific to the placement of the mobile device 5 in terms of activation behavior.

[0045] The sensor mechanism 30 may have a storage device 33 for storing a time curve of the measurement value 255 of the capacitance detection 250 used to detect activation behavior; the sensor mechanism also has a processing device 32 for canceling the storage of the measurement value and, in particular, deleting the measurement value upon restart 210. (Further details omitted) Figure 3 An exemplary time curve of the measured value 255 is shown. This time curve can be used to detect activation behavior, wherein the processing device 32 of the sensor mechanism 30 can be designed to evaluate the provided curve to detect activation behavior, and in particular to compare the measured value 255 with a threshold after the measured value 255 increases, and to reset the provided curve upon restart 210.

[0046] In addition, the monitoring agency 20 may have an interface device 31 for obtaining communication information about the communication 240 through the interface device 31, and for initiating the termination 230 based on the communication information.

[0047] exist Figure 3 The method of the present invention is illustrated schematically. It can be seen that, firstly, a curve of the measured value 255 can be determined and stored through repeated capacitance detection 250. A first curve 256 measured during the approach period is shown here. After the rise reaches a certain threshold, communication 240 and function activation 220 are performed. Subsequently, a halt 230 of the detection 250 is executed, wherein, optionally, a restart 210 may also occur. Therefore, the halt 230 and / or restart 210 of the capacitance detection 250 are initiated based on communication 240. If a restart 210 is not performed, in this example, the curve of the measured value 255 may rise further and may lead to false detection (see the dashed line of the second curve 257).

[0048] The above explanation of the embodiments describes the invention only within the scope of examples. Clearly, the various features of the embodiments can be freely combined with each other as long as they are technically meaningful, without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0049] List of reference numerals

[0050] 1 system

[0051] 2 vehicles

[0052] 3 doors

[0053] 4. Activation mechanism, hand

[0054] 5 devices

[0055] 6 control devices

[0056] 7 door handles

[0057] 10 communication agencies

[0058] 20 monitoring agencies

[0059] 30 sensor mechanism

[0060] 31 Interface Device

[0061] 32 processing units

[0062] 33 storage devices

[0063] 200 activation areas

[0064] 201 Detection Area

[0065] 202 communication area

[0066] 210 Restart

[0067] 220 Function Activation

[0068] 230 Aborted

[0069] 240Communication

[0070] 250 tests

[0071] 255 measurement value

[0072] 256 First Curve

[0073] 257 Second Curve

Claims

1. A system (1) for detecting activation behavior of a vehicle (2) within an activation region (200), comprising: -A sensor mechanism (30) for detecting the activation behavior by at least partially approaching the capacitance detection (250) in the activation region (200). - A communication mechanism (10) for performing communication (240) at least partially in the activated region (200), -A monitoring mechanism (20) for initiating the termination (230) and / or restart (210) of the capacitance detection (250) based on the communication (240), Its characteristics are, The sensor mechanism (30) is designed to provide a time curve of the measured value (255) of the capacitance detection (250) for detecting the activation behavior, wherein the processing device (32) of the sensor mechanism (30) is designed to evaluate the provided time curve to detect the activation behavior.

2. The system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The communication mechanism (10) is designed as a near-field communication mechanism to perform the communication (240) in a near-field communication form limited to at least one communication region (202) of the activation region (200).

3. The system (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The communication mechanism (10) is designed to initiate communication (240) with the mobile device (5) when the mobile device (5) is placed in the communication area (202) of the activation area (200), wherein the approach is specific to the placement of the mobile device (5) in the activation action.

4. The system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The monitoring mechanism (20) is designed to initiate a restart (210) at the sensor mechanism (30) based on the suspension (230), after and / or at and / or before and / or after the suspension (230) and before the resumption of the capacitance detection (250) after the suspension (230).

5. The system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The sensor mechanism (30) has a storage device (33) for storing a time curve of the measurement value (255) of the capacitance detection (250) for the activation behavior detection, and the sensor mechanism (30) has a processing device (32) for canceling the storage of the measurement value during the restart (210).

6. The system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The sensor mechanism (30) is designed to repeatedly perform the capacitance detection (250) after the restart (210) until the termination (230) to repeatedly detect the activation behavior.

7. The system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The processing device (32) of the sensor mechanism (30) is designed to compare the measured value (255) with a threshold after the measured value (255) increases and reset the provided time curve during the restart (210).

8. The system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The monitoring mechanism (20) has a processing device (32) for performing the restart (210) to recalibrate the sensor mechanism (30).

9. The system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The monitoring device (20) has an interface device (31) for obtaining communication information about the communication (240) through the interface device (31) and for initiating the termination (230) and / or restarting (210) based on the communication information.

10. The system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, A control device (6) is provided for performing function activation (220) at the vehicle (2) according to the communication (240), wherein the monitoring mechanism (20) is designed to initiate the suspension (230) and / or restart (210) of the capacitance detection (250) according to the communication (240), that is, the monitoring mechanism (20) has an interface device (31) for detecting the function activation (220) so as to initiate the suspension (230) and / or restart (210) according to the function activation (220).

11. The system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The monitoring mechanism (20) is provided with an interface device (31) for obtaining communication information about the communication (240), or at least one piece of information transmitted through the communication (240) or the result of the communication (240) or the result of function activation (220) at the vehicle (2) by means of the communication (240).

12. The system (1) according to claim 11, characterized in that, The communication information regarding the communication (240) includes communication information regarding the start or end of the communication (240), and the result of the communication (240) includes the verification result of the communication (240).

13. A method for detecting activation behavior of a vehicle (2) within an activation region (200), wherein, Perform the following steps: -At least partially in the activation region (200), repeated capacitance detection (250) approaches to detect the activation behavior. - Communication (240) is performed at least partially in the active region (200), - To initiate the termination (230) and / or restart (210) of the capacitance detection (250) based on the communication (240), wherein the method steps are performed by the system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims.

14. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that, The capacitance detection (250) is performed in the detection area (201) of the activation area (200), and the communication (240) is performed in the communication area (202) of the activation area (200) to initiate the communication (240) based on the activation behavior detection.

15. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that, Verification is performed via the communication (240) to activate the safety-related functions of the vehicle (2), wherein the abort (230) and / or restart (210) are activated based on function activation (220), wherein the safety-related functions include unlocking the doors (3) of the vehicle (2).

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