Vehicle door having actuating device for generating switching signal, and motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to an actuating device for generating a switching signal, for example for a lock on a motor vehicle door (100), having a first actuating region (12) and a sensor region (14) spaced apart from the first actuating region (12). When a force in the first direction (F1) is applied to the first actuation region (12), a deformation of the measuring device (22) in the sensor region (14) occurs in the second direction (F2). The measuring device then outputs a switching signal of a first type as a function of the deformation.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a vehicle door having an electrically switchable lock and an operating device for generating a switch signal for unlocking the door. The invention also relates to a motor vehicle having a corresponding door. Background Art

[0002] In motor vehicles, doors are no longer opened purely mechanically. Thus, for example, WO 2017 / 151685 A2 discloses a sensor integrated in a window slot strip of a vehicle door. If a force is applied to the operating area, the sensor detects this force and opens or closes the door. It is also known from DE 20 2015 102 898 U1 to provide a door handle with an electrical sensor in the window slot strip for operation recognition.

[0003] A disadvantage of such operating devices is that the user must exert force at very specific locations, such as the grip area.

[0004] DE 10 2015 015 073 A1 discloses an operating device for a motor vehicle, in which a force can be applied to a strain gauge as a sensor via a rocker (ie via a lever action). This is used, among other things, to switch on and off a warning light function or an automatic start-stop system.

[0005] In the operating unit according to DE 10 2014 222 668 A1, a base body is elastically deformed and the deformation is detected by a force sensor arranged in this same base body.

[0006] DE 11 2005 003 197 T5 relates to a device for activating an electric mechanism for opening or closing a vehicle window, a sliding sunroof, a trunk or a side sliding door via a touch pad.

[0007] The publication mentioned does not address the desire to make door handles etc. exactly invisible by installing the sensor device in the window slot strip of the vehicle door, or the contents described therein contradict this. Summary of the invention

[0008] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an operating device in a vehicle door which can be designed to be easy to operate.

[0009] This object is achieved by a vehicle door having the features according to claim 1 and a motor vehicle having such a vehicle door.

[0010] The operating device used in the vehicle door according to the present invention for generating a switch signal for unlocking has a first operating area and a sensor area spaced apart from the first operating area. A measuring device is arranged in the sensor area, and when a force along a first direction is applied to the first operating area, a section or element of the measuring device is deformed in a second direction. Subsequently, the measuring device outputs a first type of switch signal according to the deformation. In the vehicle door, it is further provided that the vehicle door includes a vehicle window and an associated window slot, and each operating area is provided at a window slot clip that closes the window slot or is provided as a window slot clip that closes the window slot. In this way, a large-area first operating area and / or a second operating area is provided.

[0011] One aspect of the present invention, that is, the sensor area is separated from the operating area, which can realize a sensor device that provides a completely different detection deformation (i.e., another aspect of the present invention according to such a sensor device). By separating, the operating area can be designed to be significantly larger in area, because applying a force to a large-area first operating area at a first location can cause deformation, and applying a force to the same large-area first operating area at a second location can also cause such deformation.

[0012] Therefore, the operating device can be designed in particular as a large-area element that can be arranged in a window groove clip of a vehicle door. The first operating area can extend to occupy several centimeters, so the exact position of the force on the first operating area can be unimportant.

[0013] By spacing the sensor area from the first operating area, it is also possible that the second direction (the deformation of the section or element of the measuring device in the second direction) is different from the first direction, the direction of the applied force. Preferably, the second direction is even opposite to the first direction. Here, "direction" is generally understood as an indication of how it can be achieved with the aid of a vector. The corresponding points of application of the force are of course arranged at a distance. If the second direction is opposite to the first direction, in particular a slight tilting / reversing movement between the first operating area and the sensor area can be used. This is possible due to the spacing of the sensor area from the first operating area.

[0014] According to another preferred embodiment, the operating device has a second operating area, which is spaced apart from the first operating area and the sensor area. When a force in a third direction is applied to the second operating area, a section or element of the measuring device (or another section or another element of the measuring device) is deformed in a fourth direction, which is different from the second direction. Subsequently, the measuring device outputs a second type of switching signal according to the deformation in the fourth direction.

[0015] Thus, in this embodiment, the two switch signals, the switch signal of the first type and the switch signal of the second type, can be different from each other. Thus, for example, the first operating area can be used to open the door and the second operating area can be used to close the door, or vice versa. In the motor vehicle, it is also possible to variably define what causes the switch signal of the first type and what causes the switch signal of the second type. It is also not excluded that the two switch signals are used alternately to close an already opened door or to open an already closed door, so that the user can selectively use the first operating area or the second operating area to change the state of the door lock.

[0016] According to a preferred embodiment, the first direction and the fourth direction are the same (parallel vectors), and / or the second direction and the third direction are the same (parallel vectors).

[0017] This can be achieved in particular by means of a tilting movement during actuation, wherein the first actuation region is tilted in one direction by exerting a force and the second actuation region is tilted in another direction by exerting a force. The tilting can be performed without joints, in particular (microscopically) in a solid body.

[0018] In order to detect the direction of the deformation, the measuring device can have a strain gauge. Alternatively or additionally, inductive sensors and / or capacitive sensors can be used. In the latter case, the inductance or capacitance is arranged in an element that deforms when the corresponding operating area is loaded. For example, in inductive sensors, it is applicable that the operating resonant circuit changes its frequency in this way. It is thus conceivable, for example, that when the inductance moves in a second direction due to the deformation, the frequency of the resonant circuit shifts upwards, and when it moves in a fourth direction opposite to the second direction, the frequency shifts downwards. In capacitive sensors ("Metal over Capacity", metal supercapacitor, MoC), the capacitance in the sensor surface changes.

[0019] According to a preferred embodiment of the operating device, the operating device has a base body (in particular made of metal or hard plastic), whose handle section provides the first operating area and / or the second operating area and whose base section provides the sensor area.

[0020] The handle section can also have the shape of the head section. The term "handle section" means that actuation can be performed at the handle section in the same way as with a handle. Preferably, it is also provided that the root region has means for fastening the actuating device to an external object. The external object can be, in particular, a vehicle door, the door lock of which is to be actuated. In this way, the actuating device can be easily mounted. If necessary, the handle section can protrude from the window groove.

[0021] Accordingly, the vehicle door according to the invention has an electrically switchable lock and an actuating device for the lock of the type according to the invention.

[0022] The motor vehicle according to the invention comprises a door according to the invention having an actuating device according to the invention.

[0023] The invention may also be described as a method for unlocking or locking a lock.

[0024] For application cases or application scenarios that can be obtained in the method but are not explicitly described here, it can be provided that according to the method an error message is output and / or a user feedback is requested and / or a standard setting and / or a predetermined initial state is adjusted.

[0025] The invention also includes a control device for a motor vehicle. The control device can have a data processing device or a processor device, which is configured to execute an embodiment of the method according to the invention. For this purpose, the processor device can have at least one microprocessor and / or at least one microcontroller and / or at least one FPGA (field programmable gate array) and / or at least one DSP (digital signal processor). In addition, the processor device can have a program code, which is configured so that when executed by the processor device, the program code executes an embodiment of the method according to the invention. The program code can be stored in a data memory of the processor device. The processor circuit of the processor device can have, for example, at least one circuit board and / or at least one SoC (system on chip).

[0026] The invention also includes developments of the method according to the invention which have the features already described in conjunction with the development of the motor vehicle according to the invention. For this reason, corresponding developments of the method according to the invention will not be described again here.

[0027] The motor vehicle according to the invention is preferably designed as a car, in particular a passenger car or a commercial vehicle, or as a bus or a motorcycle.

[0028] As another solution, the present invention also includes a machine-readable storage medium, which includes commands, which, when executed by a computer or a computer group, cause the execution of an embodiment of the method according to the present invention. The storage medium can, for example, be at least partially designed as a non-volatile data storage device (e.g., flash memory and / or SSD-solid statedrive solid state drive) and / or at least partially designed as a volatile data storage device (e.g., RAM-random access memory random access memory). However, the storage medium can also be run on the Internet, for example, as a so-called APP store server. A processor circuit with at least one microprocessor can be provided by a computer or a computer group. The command can be provided as a binary code and / or as an assembly code and / or as a source code of a programming language (e.g., C).

[0029] The present invention also includes combinations of features of the described embodiments. Therefore, the present invention also includes implementations which each have a combination of features of a plurality of the described embodiments, as long as these embodiments are not described as mutually exclusive. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] The following describes an embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] Figure 1 A side view of an operating device mounted on a vehicle door according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0032] Figure 2a With including according to Figure 1 A side view of a motor vehicle according to the present invention is shown in detail of a door of an operating device of an embodiment of the present invention; and

[0033] Figure 2b Shows the look according to Figure 2a A top view of the device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] The embodiments described below are preferred embodiments of the present invention. In the embodiments, the components described in the embodiments are respectively individual features of the present invention that can be regarded as independent of each other, and these features also improve the present invention independently of each other. Therefore, the present disclosure should also include feature combinations that are different from the feature combinations of the illustrated embodiments. In addition, the described embodiments can also be supplemented by other features in the already described features of the present invention.

[0035] In the figures, the same reference numerals respectively denote elements with the same function.

[0036] The actuating device according to one embodiment of the type according to the invention, which is designated as a whole by 10, comprises a first actuating region 12 and a root region 14 providing a sensor region. An intermediate region 16 is arranged between the first actuating region 12 and the root region 14. The root region 14 carries a flange 18 which is screwed to the vehicle door 100 by means of screws 20.

[0037] Figure 1 The open vehicle door 100 is shown in a side view. The operating device 10 is partially buried between the front panel 102 and the rear panel 104 of the vehicle door, especially in its root area 14. On the contrary, the operating area 12 and the middle area 16 protrude. The number of screws is not limited to this embodiment. Alternatively, the screws can be located behind the outer panel 102, and then tightened through the through holes in this panel.

[0038] This also from Figure 2a It is concluded that Figure 2a A motor vehicle, denoted as a whole by 1, is shown in detail. The actuating region 12 of the actuating device 10 projects upwards, forming a kind of window groove strip. The actuating device is thus more or less flush with the remaining window groove strip, for example with the window groove strip 202 at the adjacent door 200, whereby the motor vehicle 1 as a whole can achieve a smooth and streamlined appearance ("flush").

[0039] Back to Figure 1 : A strain gauge 22 and an evaluation circuit (not shown in the figure) are provided in the root area 14 as a sensor area. The strain gauge can be injection-molded as a whole with the evaluation electronics in a body consisting of the operating area 12, the middle area 16 and a part of the root area 14. Alternatively, a section 24 attached to the upper handle area 26 can be provided in the root area 14. Preferably, the section 24 and the handle area 26 are made of hard plastic or of (chrome-plated) steel. This type of body is relatively rigid. Now, if the user pulls in the first operating area 12 by holding the handle area 26 behind the face 28 with his fingers, the entire body undergoes a microscopic deformation (deformation in the range of 20 μm to 500 μm). (The user does not notice this microscopic deformation but feels that the handle is rigid). The pulling force F1 in the first direction causes a force F2 in the opposite direction at the strain gauge. The strain gauge thus outputs a signal of a first type, which is converted by the switching electronics and control unit 106 (eg in the door) into an electrical signal for opening a door lock (not shown here).

[0040] This tilting movement is possible because the handle area 26 is L-shaped or C-shaped in cross section, so that the point of action 28 is located above and outside the strain gauge 22. The further the surface 28 is located outside relative to the axial line L of the strain gauge, the greater the effect. Due to the C-shape of the handle area 26, a second operating area 30 is provided at the arch of the handle area 26. Here, the entire body can now be pushed in the opposite direction with the help of a force F3, whereby a force F4 is now generated on the strain gauge 22 in the opposite direction to F3 due to the microscopic tilting movement of the C-shape. The fourth direction is identical to the first direction F1 with an accuracy of ±15°, preferably ±10°, more preferably ±5°, more preferably ±2.5°, even more preferably ±1°, and particularly preferably ±0.5°. The third direction F3 corresponds to the direction F2 with an accuracy of ±15°, preferably ±10°, more preferably ±5°, more preferably ±2.5°, even more preferably ±1°, and particularly preferably ±0.5°.

[0041] By detecting preferably only microscopic deformations in the root region 14 spaced apart from the first operating region 12 and the second operating region 30, the exact location of the user's action is less important. Figure 2a and 2b As can be seen in FIG. 1 , the operating region extends over a distance d of, for example, between 2 cm and 20 cm, preferably between 3 cm and 15 cm. This ensures high operating comfort while achieving the goal of providing an unobtrusive operating device.

[0042] In the alternative without strain gauges, sensors (operating inductively or capacitively, etc.) can be arranged at the same locations as the strain gauges. The above statements about the forces F1 to F4 also apply analogously.

[0043] In summary the examples show how a multifunctional column door handle can be provided.

Claims

1. A vehicle door (100) having an electrically switchable lock and an operating device (10) for generating a switch signal for unlocking the door, wherein: The operating device (10) has a first operating area (12) and a sensor area (16) separated from the first operating area, wherein a measuring device (22) is arranged in the sensor area (16), and when a force along a first direction (F1) is applied to the first operating area (12), a section or element of the measuring device is deformed in a second direction (F2), and the measuring device outputs a first type of switching signal according to the deformation, wherein the vehicle door (100) also has a vehicle window and an associated window slot, and wherein each operating area is provided at a window slot clip that closes the window slot or is provided as a window slot clip that closes the window slot.

2. The vehicle door (100) according to claim 1, wherein: The second direction (F2) is different from the first direction (F1), and is preferably opposite to the first direction.

3. The vehicle door (100) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that A second operating area (30) is spaced apart from the first operating area (12) and the sensor area (14), wherein when a force along a third direction (F3) is applied to the second operating area (30), the section or the element of the measuring device or another section or another element of the measuring device is deformed in a fourth direction (F4), the fourth direction being different from the second direction (F2), and wherein the measuring device outputs a second type of switching signal according to the deformation.

4. The vehicle door (100) according to claim 3, characterized in that: The first direction and the fourth direction (F1; F4) are identical, and / or the second direction and the third direction (F2, F3) are identical.

5. The vehicle door (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The measuring device has a strain gauge (22), an inductive sensor and / or a capacitive sensor.

6. A vehicle door (100) according to any one of the above claims, which has a base body (26, 24) made in particular of metal or hard plastic, a handle section (26) of the base body providing a first operating area (12) and / or a second operating area (30), and a root section (24) of the base body providing a sensor area.

7. The vehicle door (100) according to claim 6, characterized in that: The base body (26, 24) has means (18) in the root region (14) for fastening the actuating device (10) to an external object, in particular a vehicle door (100).

8. The vehicle door (100) according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that: The handle section (26) is C-shaped or L-shaped in cross section.

9. A motor vehicle having a door (100) according to any one of the preceding claims.

10. The motor vehicle (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that Each operating area is designed to be flush with a window slot strip at another vehicle door (200) adjacent to the vehicle door (100).

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