Actuating mechanism for actuating vehicle door
By designing an actuation mechanism with a built-in sensor, the actuation device can be pivotally mounted on the support structure, solving the problem that unlocking and opening the car door need to be done separately, and realizing a convenient operation that can be completed in a single movement.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202510971067.8
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2024-07-18
- Filing Date
- 2025-07-15
- Publication Date
- 2026-01-20
AI Technical Summary
In existing technologies, unlocking and opening car doors need to be done separately, which is difficult to achieve with a single hand movement.
Design an actuation mechanism with an actuation device pivotally mounted on a support structure and a built-in sensor device that can unlock and open a car door with a single movement. The sensor device generates an electrical signal, simplifying the mechanical structure.
It enables unlocking and opening of car doors with a single hand movement, simplifying the mechanical structure, reducing the need for buttons, and improving ease of operation.
Smart Images
Figure CN121363347A_ABST
Abstract
Description
[0001] The invention relates to an actuation mechanism for actuating a vehicle door, in particular for unlocking and opening a vehicle door. The invention also relates to a vehicle having a corresponding actuation mechanism for unlocking and opening a vehicle door.
[0002] Especially in the automotive industry, vehicle doors and flaps are increasingly no longer opened or closed exclusively in a manual, i.e. mechanical, manner. Rather, opening or closing movements and in particular unlocking of vehicle doors are increasingly carried out in an automatic, in particular electric, manner. To this end, for example, an electric motor is used, which drives a mechanism for unlocking or locking the vehicle door and flap as desired. In order to be able to transmit a signal for opening or closing to such an electric drive or a control device associated therewith, a switch can be provided, which generates the desired signal by actuation by a user. Such a switch can be configured as a button, which generates the aforementioned signal when pressed by a user.
[0003] In addition to the unlocking switch, a handle is also required in order to be able to pull open the vehicle door after unlocking. The handle and the button are often difficult to reach with a single hand movement, so that unlocking and pulling open the vehicle door often have to be carried out separately.
[0004] For the above-mentioned reasons, the object underlying the present invention is to give an actuation mechanism for actuating a vehicle door, which can be used to unlock and simultaneously open the vehicle door with a single movement.
[0005] The basic object of the present invention is achieved in particular by an actuation mechanism according to Patent Claim 1, wherein advantageous refinements of the actuation mechanism according to the invention are given in the dependent claims.
[0006] The invention therefore relates in particular to an actuation mechanism for actuating a vehicle door, in particular for unlocking and opening a vehicle door, wherein the actuation mechanism has an actuation device and a support structure. The actuation device is in particular an actuation device having a handle or is a handle, wherein the actuation device is generally suitable for opening the vehicle door.
[0007] The actuation device is pivotably mounted in particular on the support structure with respect to the support structure about a pivot axis. The pivot axis preferably extends parallel to a vehicle longitudinal axis, although other configurations are also conceivable.
[0008] It is proposed in particular according to the invention that the actuation device is at least partially or locally designed as a housing shell, in the interior of which at least partially or locally a sensor device is arranged or accommodated, which is designed to generate an electrical signal when the actuation device is actuated.
[0009] It is immediately apparent that the present application has the advantage that the actuating device can be designed in particular particularly small and simple, since the actuating device serves only to grip the actuating mechanism. The signal for unlocking the vehicle door can be generated, for example, by a sensor device which is at least partially or locally accommodated inside the actuating device designed as a housing shell.
[0010] The pivoting range of the actuating device about the pivot axis relative to the support structure is preferably a maximum of 50 degrees, preferably a maximum of 30 degrees, even more preferably a maximum of 15 degrees. Since the permissible pivoting range of the actuating device is relatively small, the actuating device can also be used to pull the vehicle door open after unlocking.
[0011] The actuating mechanism fulfils in particular a dual function which can be achieved with only a single hand movement. On the one hand, unlocking the vehicle door can be achieved by moving, in particular pulling, the actuating device, in particular by means of the sensor device. On the other hand, pulling the actuating device can simultaneously serve to pull the vehicle door open. Thus, in addition to the actuating element for pulling the vehicle door open, there is no need to provide a button for unlocking the vehicle door in advance.
[0012] It is proposed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the actuating mechanism according to the application that the support structure has a carrier which projects outward from the outer skin or outer body of the vehicle when the actuating mechanism is used as intended, on which the sensor device is arranged or received. The carrier which projects outward from the outer skin or outer body of the vehicle can be an integral part of the support structure; it is of course also conceivable that the carrier which projects outward from the outer skin or outer body of the vehicle is a separate component of the support structure.
[0013] In particular in conjunction with the last-mentioned preferred embodiment of the actuating mechanism according to the application, the actuating device can be designed at least partially or locally as a housing having an upper housing shell and a lower housing shell. It is proposed in particular here that the carrier which projects at least partially or locally outward from the outer skin or outer body of the vehicle is accommodated at least partially or locally between the upper housing shell and the lower housing shell.
[0014] Preferably, the support structure and in particular the carrier which projects outward from the outer skin or outer body of the vehicle is fixed relative to the body.
[0015] It is proposed in accordance with a refinement of the last-mentioned embodiment variant of the actuating mechanism according to the application that the upper housing shell and the lower housing shell are each designed as separate components which are detachably connected to one another or can be detachably connected to one another by means of a connection which is in particular positively locking.
[0016] This embodiment variant enables the actuating device to be particularly easily removed and installed.
[0017] With regard to the sensor device, it is proposed in accordance with an embodiment of the actuation mechanism according to the application that the sensor device has at least one switch, in particular a microswitch, and preferably a capacitive or inductive switch, which can be actuated in particular by a switch tappet that is connected or connectable to the actuation device.
[0018] In a preferred embodiment, the switch is designed as a MOC switch.
[0019] However, the sensor device is not limited to having at least one switch, in particular a microswitch and / or a MOC switch. It is in particular conceivable that the sensor device also has at least one radar sensor and / or at least one IR sensor, which is arranged or mounted on the support structure and in particular on a carrier of the support structure that protrudes outward from the outer skin or outer body of the vehicle.
[0020] In accordance with an implementation of the actuation mechanism according to the application, an RFID technology-based data transmission device, in particular an NFC data transmission device, is preferably accommodated in the actuation device designed as a housing shell. Thus, it is in particular possible to transmit a user's Bluetooth or WLAN authentication data.
[0021] Instead of this or in addition thereto, it is conceivable that at least one light source is accommodated in the actuation device designed as a housing shell. The light source can in particular be arranged or accommodated on the support structure and preferably on a carrier of the support structure that protrudes outward from the outer skin or outer body of the vehicle.
[0022] The actuation device serving as a handle is movably mounted with respect to the support structure in such a way that a manipulation of the actuation device causes a pivoting of the actuation device about a pivot axis. Here, the sensor device is in particular designed to capture a movement of the actuation device with respect to the support structure.
[0023] According to a further aspect of the application, the actuation device is assigned at least one biasing element for biasing the actuation device into a first pivoting position with respect to the support structure.
[0024] It is proposed in accordance with an implementation of the last-mentioned embodiment that the at least one biasing element is designed as a double-stroke spring element, in particular a double-coiled torsion spring.
[0025] Instead of this or in addition thereto, the at least one biasing element is designed as a bi-directionally acting spring element with tolerance compensation. The bi-directionally acting spring element preferably has a first spring leg and a second spring leg, wherein the first spring leg has an additional degree of elasticity for performing the tolerance compensation, so that an alignment of the actuation device with respect to the support structure is achieved at the first spring leg.
[0026] The present invention also relates to a vehicle having an outer skin or body and the aforementioned actuation mechanism, wherein a support structure for the actuation mechanism is used to securely connect the actuation mechanism to the body and simultaneously transmit the input force to the door via an actuation device.
[0027] The actuation device is preferably located at the A-pillar, B-pillar, or C-pillar of the vehicle.
[0028] Exemplary embodiments of the actuation mechanism according to the present invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0029] The following diagram illustrates:
[0030] Figure 1 An exemplary embodiment of the actuation mechanism of the present invention in its intended use state is shown schematically and in isometric view.
[0031] Figure 2 Schematic and shown in cross-sectional view according to Figure 1 Exemplary embodiments of the actuation mechanism of the present invention;
[0032] Figure 3 The schematic and isometric view shows details of an exemplary embodiment of a biasing element associated with an actuation device of an exemplary embodiment of the actuation mechanism of the present invention, the biasing element being designed as a bidirectional spring element and capable of tolerance compensation.
[0033] Figure 4A Showing according to Figure 3 The operating mode of the biasing element associated with the actuation device of an exemplary embodiment of the actuation mechanism of the present invention;
[0034] Figure 4B Showing according to Figure 3 The mode of operation of the biasing element associated with the actuation device of an exemplary embodiment of the actuation mechanism of the present invention; and
[0035] Figure 5 Another exemplary embodiment of the actuation mechanism of the present invention is shown schematically and in isometric view, wherein the actuation device is not designed as a housing.
[0036] The accompanying drawings illustrate, with the aid of exemplary embodiments, the actuation mechanism as defined in the appended patent claims in detail.
[0037] As shown in the accompanying drawings with reference to various embodiments, the actuation mechanism 1 according to the invention is characterized in particular by having an actuation device 3, especially with a handle, and a support structure 4. The actuation device 3 is preferably designed as a handle or a handle area.
[0038] In particular, the actuating device 3 is designed as a housing which is movable about the support structure 4, which serves as a functional core of the actuating mechanism 1.
[0039] It is proposed here that the actuating device 3 is pivotably mounted about the pivot axis 5, in particular on the support structure 4, relative to the support structure 4. Here, the actuating device 3 is designed at least partially or locally as a housing shell 9, 10, in the interior of which a sensor device 6 is arranged or received at least partially or locally as a functional core, which is designed to generate an electrical signal when the actuating device 3 is actuated.
[0040] In Figure 1 In the exemplary embodiment of the actuating mechanism 1 according to the application shown in an isometric view, the actuating device 3 is designed as an outer door handle in the shape of a wing. Pulling or pressing the actuating device 3 designed as a door handle produces a small rotational movement and an electrical signal for unlocking / locking the vehicle door 2 is generated by the sensor system (sensor device 6) accommodated in the interior of the actuating device 3.
[0041] In particular, in particular in Figure 1 It is proposed in the exemplary embodiment of the actuating mechanism 1 according to the application shown that the support structure 4 has a carrier 8 which protrudes outward from the outer skin or outer body of the vehicle when the actuating mechanism 1 is used as intended, on which the sensor device 6 is arranged or received.
[0042] This can be seen from the schematic sectional view in Figure 2 .
[0043] It can also be seen from the sectional view according to Figure 2 that the actuating device 3 is designed at least partially or locally as a housing having an upper housing shell 9 and a lower housing shell 10. Here, the carrier 8 which protrudes at least partially or locally outward from the outer skin or outer body 7 of the vehicle is accommodated at least partially or locally between the upper housing shell 9 and the lower housing shell 10.
[0044] Preferably, the upper housing shell 9 and the lower housing shell 10 are each designed as separate components which are detachably connected to one another, in particular by a positive locking connection.
[0045] The actuating device 3 is mounted in a pivotally movable manner at the point of rotation 5. When the actuating device 3 is pressed from the outside as shown in Figure 2 with the arrow A1, the actuating region or switch tappet 16 of the actuating device 3 is moved upward (see arrow A2) by the rotational bearing of the actuating device 3 through the support structure 4 and the sensor system (sensor device 6) arranged on the carrier 8. This generates a vehicle door locking signal.
[0046] On the other hand, when a pulling movement is applied to the actuation device 3 (see arrow B1), the actuation region or the switch plunger 16 of the actuation device 3 is moved in the direction of the support structure 4 or in the direction of the carrier 8, which causes the sensor system (sensor device 6) arranged on the support structure 4 to generate a signal for opening or unlocking the vehicle door 2.
[0047] In particular, as shown in Figure 2 , the sensor device 6 of the actuation mechanism 1 is arranged or mounted on the support structure 4 and in particular on the carrier 8, which protrudes outward from the outer skin or outer body 7 of the vehicle.
[0048] The carrier can here be a circuit board with corresponding sensor technology. The sensor system or sensor device 6 thus has at least one switch, in particular a microswitch and preferably a capacitive or inductive switch, which can be actuated in particular by the actuation region 16 connected to the actuation device 3, which serves as a switch plunger. The switch is preferably designed as a MOC switch.
[0049] As can also be seen from the illustration of Figure 2 , it is conceivable that the sensor device 6 of the actuation mechanism 1 also has at least one NFC data transmission device 12, which is preferably accommodated inside the actuation device 3 designed as a housing shell.
[0050] The NFC data transmission device 12 should be located outside the metal structure of the vehicle door 2.
[0051] It is also conceivable that the actuation mechanism 1 has at least one light source, which is preferably also accommodated inside the actuation device 3 designed as a housing shell and in particular is arranged or accommodated on the support structure 4 and in particular on the carrier 8 of the support structure 4, which protrudes outward from the outer skin or outer body 7 of the vehicle. The lighting device integrated in the actuation mechanism 1 has the advantage that a compact light guide is formed by the actuation mechanism 1 and in particular by the actuation device 3.
[0052] Although not shown in the figures, it is also conceivable that a radar device is arranged inside the actuation device 3 designed as a housing shell.
[0053] In particular, it is not proposed in the solution according to the application that the MOC switch of the sensor device 6 is mounted on an auxiliary circuit board in the lower part of the carrier 8 as is usually the case in known solutions. This would require the protrusion of the moving part, i.e. the actuation device 3, in the direction of the MOC switch and would lead to a more complex mechanical structure.
[0054] In contrast thereto, the solution according to the application proposes that the entire sensor system is integrated in the actuating device 3, which is designed as a housing shell, which greatly simplifies the mechanical structure for actuating the MOC switch in particular. In addition, the wiring effort is also significantly reduced.
[0055] A further aspect of the application can be seen in a spring element 13 with tolerance compensation for bidirectional operation.
[0056] In particular, the actuating device 3 is assigned at least one biasing element as a spring element 13 in order to bias the actuating device 3 into a first pivoting position relative to the support structure 4.
[0057] Here, as Figure 3 is shown, the biasing element is designed as a double-acting spring element 13, in particular a double-coiled torsion spring. In particular, the biasing element serves as a spring element 13 with tolerance compensation for bidirectional operation.
[0058] To this end, the spring element 13 for bidirectional operation has a first spring leg 14 and a second spring leg 15, wherein the first spring leg 14 has an additional degree of elasticity for tolerance compensation, so that at the first spring leg 14 an alignment of the actuating device 3 relative to the support structure 4 is achieved.
[0059] Thus, instead of a biasing element, in particular a spring, which acts in both directions and defines a nominal position, in the solution according to the application, in particular only a single spring element 13 for bidirectional operation is used as a biasing element.
[0060] For two spring elements which act in both directions and define a nominal position, both spring legs of each spring element have to be in contact with two moving counter-objects (actuating device 3 and support structure 4). This has the disadvantage that in such a system it is difficult to avoid free play.
[0061] In contrast thereto, by using only a single but bidirectionally operating spring element 13, i.e. a single spring with an additional degree of elasticity at one of the spring legs 14, 15, with the spring element 13 a deviation compensation between the actuating device 3 and the support structure 4 is also achieved.
[0062] The additional (second) degree of elasticity of the spring element 13 acts with a lower force. Thus, at the first spring leg 14 an alignment between the actuating device 3 and the support structure 4 is achieved.
[0063] This is shown in detail in Figure 4A and Figure 4B .
[0064] In Figure 4AIn the case of a two-way spring element 13, the first spring leg 14 of the two-way spring element 13 aligns the actuation device 3 as the movable component with the support structure 4 or handle carrier as the immovable component.
[0065] In Figure 4B It is specified in the case of a two-way spring element 13 that the second spring leg 15 of the two-way spring element 13 is always in contact with the movable component and the immovable component, even if the movable component and the immovable component are not aligned with one another. This effectively prevents free play and thus achieves a tolerance compensation in a simple and effective manner.
[0066] In Figure 5 Details of an exemplary embodiment of the inventive actuation mechanism 1 are shown in which the actuation device 3 designed as a housing shell is not illustrated.
[0067] The invention is not limited to the embodiments shown in the drawings, but rather derives from the overall review of all the features disclosed herein.
[0068] List of reference signs
[0069] 1 actuation mechanism
[0070] 2 vehicle door
[0071] 3 actuation device / handle
[0072] 4 support structure
[0073] 5 pivot axis
[0074] 6 sensor device
[0075] 7 outer skin / outer body
[0076] 8 carrier
[0077] 9 upper housing shell
[0078] 10 lower housing shell
[0079] 11 microswitch / MOC switch
[0080] 12 NFC data transmission device
[0081] 13 biasing element / spring element
[0082] 14 first spring leg
[0083] 15 second spring leg
[0084] 16 actuation region / switch tappet
Claims
1. An actuation mechanism (1) for actuating a vehicle door (2), in particular for unlocking and opening or locking a vehicle door, wherein the actuation mechanism (1) has the following: - an actuation device (3), in particular a handle, for manually opening the vehicle door (2); and - a support structure (4), characterized in that the actuation device (3) is pivotably mounted on the support structure (4), in particular the support structure (4), about a pivot axis (5) with respect to the support structure (4), and wherein the actuation device (3) is at least partially or locally designed as a housing shell, inside of which a sensor device (6) is at least partially or locally arranged or accommodated, which is designed to generate an electrical signal when the actuation device (3) is actuated.
2. The actuation mechanism (1) according to claim 1, wherein the support structure (4) has a carrier (8) which protrudes outward from an outer skin or outer body (7) of the vehicle when the actuation mechanism (1) is used as intended, on which the sensor device (6) is arranged or received.
3. The actuation mechanism (1) according to claim 2, wherein the actuation device (3) is at least partially or locally designed as a housing having an upper housing shell (9) and a lower housing shell (10), wherein the carrier (8) which protrudes outward from the outer skin or outer body (7) of the vehicle is at least partially or locally received between the upper housing shell (9) and the lower housing shell (10).
4. The actuation mechanism (1) according to claim 3, wherein the upper housing shell (9) and the lower housing shell (10) are each designed as separate components which are detachably connected to each other, in particular by a positive locking connection.
5. The actuation mechanism (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the sensor device (6) is arranged or received on the support structure (4), in particular on the carrier (8) which protrudes outward from the outer skin or outer body (7) of the vehicle.
6. The actuation mechanism (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the sensor device (6) has at least one switch (11), in particular a microswitch and preferably a capacitive or inductive switch, which can be actuated in particular by a switch tappet (16) which is connected to the actuation device (3).
7. The actuation mechanism (1) according to claim 6, wherein the switch (11) is designed as a MOC switch.
8. The actuation mechanism (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the sensor device (6) further has at least one radar sensor and / or at least one IR sensor, which is accommodated inside the actuation device (3) designed as a housing shell and is arranged in particular on the support structure (4), in particular on the carrier (8) of the support structure (4) which protrudes outward from the outer skin or outer body (7) of the vehicle.
9. Actuating mechanism (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the sensor device (6) further comprises at least one NFC data transmission device (12) which is accommodated inside the actuating device (3) designed as a housing shell.
10. Actuating mechanism (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the actuating mechanism (1) comprises at least one light source which is accommodated inside the actuating device (3) designed as a housing shell and is arranged or accommodated, in particular, on the support structure (4) and, in particular, on a carrier (8) of the support structure (4) which projects outward from the outer skin or bodyshell (7) of the vehicle.
11. Actuating mechanism (1) according to one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the actuating device (3) is movably mounted relative to the support structure (4) in such a way that a manipulation of the actuating device (3) causes a pivoting of the actuating device (3), wherein the sensor device (6) is designed to capture the movement of the actuating device (3) relative to the support structure (4).
12. Actuating mechanism (1) according to one of claims 1 to 11 or according to the preamble of claim 1, characterized in that the actuating device (3) is assigned a biasing element (13) for biasing the actuating device (3) into a first pivoting position relative to the support structure (4).
13. Actuating mechanism (1) according to claim 12, wherein the at least one biasing element (13) is designed as a double-stroke spring element, in particular a double-coiled torsion spring.
14. Actuating mechanism (1) according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the at least one biasing element (13) is designed as a bi-directionally acting spring element with tolerance compensation.
15. Actuating mechanism (1) according to claim 14, wherein the bi-directionally acting spring element has a first spring leg (14) and a second spring leg (15), wherein the first spring leg (14) has an additional degree of elasticity for tolerance compensation, so that an alignment of the actuating device (3) relative to the support structure (4) is achieved at the first spring leg (14).