Vehicle operating device

Abstract

The invention relates to an operating device (2) for a vehicle (1), said operating device having a handle part (2a, 21) on which at least one sensor device (5, 6; 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d), the sensor means (5, 6; 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d) is designed as a capacitive, resistive or inductive sensor device for proximity detection, which sensor device is coupled to the control evaluation unit (10). The control and evaluation unit (10) is also designed as part of the operating device (2), said control and evaluation unit having a signal output (5) for outputting an operating signal to a vehicle-side central control unit (3) arranged thereafter, and the control and evaluation unit (10) receives a signal output from the sensor devices (5, 6; 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d), processing and generating at least one operating signal (m1.1, m1.2; m2.1, m2.2) and a confidence signal (k1.1, k1.2, k2.1, k2.2) associated with the operating signal. The confidence signal indicates a measure of the reliability of the detection of the operating signal by the operating device, and the control evaluation unit (10) outputs the operating signal and the confidence signal of the confidence signal via the signal output (5).

Description

[0001] This invention relates to an operating device for use as a vehicle door handle or cover handle. The invention also relates to a method for detecting the operation of the operating device.

[0002] Various operating devices are known in the prior art, among which sensor devices installed on vehicle door handles are used to detect the approach of a user.

[0003] Such vehicle operating devices typically have a handle portion (also called a grip) in which at least one sensor device is installed for detecting user movements. This at least one sensor device is designed as a capacitive sensor for proximity detection and is coupled to a control evaluation unit, which is itself part of the operating device. The control evaluation unit has a signal output for sending an operating signal to the vehicle's central control unit. Based on the signal from the operating device, the central control unit activates the vehicle's locking mechanism, for example, unlocking the door on which the operating device is installed.

[0004] In a capacitive sensor device, changes in the electric field near the sensor element are detected by capacitance measurement using at least one sensor electrode. The capacitance of the sensor electrode is measured relative to a reference electrode. The reference electrode can be part of the operating device or part of the environment. For example, a corresponding system is disclosed in EP3620802 A1.

[0005] Several methods have been established in the prior art to determine the varying capacitance in such operating devices. In simple circuits, the varying capacitance can be used in an oscillator circuit to measure its frequency. Alternatively, a charging or discharging curve can be measured using a known impedance. Other methods involve charge transfer between the varying capacitance and a known capacitance. A control evaluation unit can determine the unknown capacitance based on the charge state after multiple transfers. Bridge circuits and methods using integrators and comparators can also be used for charge determination.

[0006] Capacitive sensors are widely used in these applications; they are inexpensive to manufacture and durable. However, due to their inherent design, their accuracy is highly dependent on environmental influences. Interference from electromagnetic fields or weather conditions (rain, fog, heat, etc.) can affect the detection accuracy of capacitive sensors in operating equipment, especially in outdoor applications such as vehicles.

[0007] The purpose of this invention is to provide an operating device that can provide a better signal output to a vehicle control unit.

[0008] This objective is achieved by the operating apparatus and method described in the claims.

[0009] The operating device according to the present invention is designed such that: the control evaluation unit processes the signal from the sensor device and generates an operating signal (Bediensignal) and a confidence signal (Konfidenzsignal) related to the operating signal.

[0010] The term “confidence signal” as used here refers to any type of information transmission, namely the output of analog signals (such as voltage levels) and the transmission of encoded values ​​(confidence values).

[0011] In this application, wherever the terms "door handle," "handle," or "vehicle door handle" are used, they include all types of door handles on vehicles. Specifically, these terms include active door handles with protruding, grippable grips, fixed door handles, retractable door handles, and more generally, covers and handles that allow the user to operate the mechanical movement of vehicle components. Especially for power doors, vehicles are typically equipped with fixed handles or gripping structures whose shape often differs from conventional door handles (e.g., so-called wing-shaped door handles, whose design is derived from aircraft wings). This invention applies to all these types of handles.

[0012] Both the operating signals and the related confidence signals are provided by the signal output of the control evaluation unit. A vehicle-side control unit (not part of this invention) connected to the operating unit can receive and evaluate these signals. Based on the operating signals and considering the related confidence signals, the higher-level control unit then decides whether to activate vehicle functions or initiate other process steps.

[0013] Confidence signals can be generated by the control evaluation unit solely based on signals from the sensor devices. However, other information available to the control evaluation unit can also be included in the confidence signals. This includes, in particular, time-series data from the sensor devices and signals from other sensors.

[0014] An operation signal indicates that an operation has been detected, while a confidence signal measures the certainty or reliability of the detection. Downstream control units in the vehicle consider both the operation signal and the confidence signal to initiate appropriate control over other vehicle functions. For example, if an operation is detected with high reliability under favorable environmental conditions, the corresponding confidence signal indicates the operation and is transmitted to the vehicle control unit. Knowing the high reliability of the operation signal, the vehicle control unit can initiate an operation such as quickly opening a door. However, if the confidence signal indicates that the reliability of the operation signal is only moderate or low, a different operation can be initiated, or additional information (such as information from other sensors, vehicle status assessment, communication with user access devices such as car keys or mobile phones) can be incorporated into the central control unit's evaluation. This allows the vehicle to respond quickly when the operation signal is highly reliable, and prevents erroneous activation of vehicle functions when the reliability is moderate or low. The processing of this information is handled by a more central control unit, typically integrated by the manufacturer. This unit receives other valuable information besides the operation signal. Due to its more centralized and robust structure, it can acquire significantly more information than the control evaluation unit within the operation device. This allows vehicle manufacturers to respond more accurately to signals from operating devices.

[0015] This allows vehicle manufacturers to respond more accurately to signals from the operating device. The control evaluation unit can employ a variety of different methods to generate confidence signals. Even simple measurements (such as information about environmental conditions near the operating device) can serve as a basis for or influence the generation of confidence signals. For example, if the control evaluation unit detects adverse environmental conditions by measuring the temperature in the operating device, this factor can be incorporated into the generation of the confidence signal. Ambient signals and electromagnetic interference can be detected and incorporated into the generation of confidence signals by recording the capacitance over time on sensor electrodes or other devices coupled to the control evaluation unit (such as antennas or coils). Confidence signals can also be generated through control variables of capacitive sensor devices, such as sensitivity settings, or by evaluating historical signal patterns in sliding cycles prior to the current detection.

[0016] Finally, the confidence signal can also be generated solely from the sensor signal, as shown in the following example. There are evaluation methods for capacitive sensors where the same physical sensor device is used multiple times under different measurement parameters, and the operating signal is generated based on the aggregate of these multiple measurements, for example, as the average or median. Reliability (and thus confidence) can be determined by comparing the measurements under different measurement parameters. False alarms caused by environmental conditions (e.g., water hammer on the operating device) manifest as different results when the capacitive sensor device is rapidly and continuously activated according to different measurement parameters. In particular, by using different overload frequencies or different pulse durations in the control pulse train applied to the capacitive sensor by the control evaluation unit, information regarding the reliability of the operating signal can be regularly obtained.

[0017] Confidence signals can be encoded and output in various ways. For example, a numerical value can be transmitted as a confidence signal, encoded digitally or analogly to quantify the uncertainty or reliability of the transmitted operational signal. When using digital encoding, any numerical range can be used, such as values ​​between 0 and 1 or between 0 and 10. Furthermore, category values ​​can be transmitted, such as feature values ​​corresponding to the "high detection reliability" category, values ​​for the "medium detection reliability" category, and values ​​for the "low detection reliability" category. Information about the generation of confidence signals can also be transmitted along with the confidence signals, and multiple confidence signals can be attributed to a single operational signal. Each confidence signal can be generated differently from the available signals and data of the control evaluation unit.

[0018] Operation signals and confidence signals can be provided as a single signal packet at the signal output; however, these signals can also be provided individually, or even through a separate output of the signal output.

[0019] In addition to operating signals, transmission confidence signals can also have adjustable tolerances for the operating process on the vehicle side. For example, in the central control unit, a threshold for the required reliability of the operating signals can be set by maintenance personnel or users.

[0020] The specific conditions under which the operating device outputs an operating signal containing its associated confidence signal can be determined through the programming or configuration of the control evaluation unit. Depending on the configuration, for example, the control evaluation unit may output a signal even if the detection reliability is low (as indicated by the associated confidence signal) whenever it detects a possible operation. Alternatively, it may be configured to output signals only for medium- to high-reliability operations. Even in such a configuration, the additional information from the confidence signal helps the vehicle control unit classify the operating signal.

[0021] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the operating device is designed such that the confidence signal is generated at least in part by the sensitivity settings of the sensor device set by the control evaluation unit.

[0022] The sensitivity of a capacitive sensor device can be adjusted in different ways depending on its control method. The control evaluation unit periodically adjusts this setting, for example, based on the time evolution of signal and noise or the signal-to-noise ratio. Based on the currently set sensitivity, the control evaluation unit can generate a confidence signal for the corresponding measurement and output it to the signal output terminal. Since the control evaluation unit knows the sensitivity setting, it can instantly obtain the confidence value used to transmit the confidence signal.

[0023] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the operating device is designed to generate a confidence signal at least in part based on a trigger threshold (Auslöse-Schwellwert) set by the control evaluation unit for the sensor device. Similar to sensitivity, the control evaluation unit typically adjusts the trigger threshold of the sensor device based on changes in the sensor signal. Therefore, the trigger threshold can also serve as an indicator of the reliability of the detected operating signal. Since the control evaluation unit determines this information anyway, it can be easily used to generate the confidence signal.

[0024] Furthermore, the preferred confidence signal is generated at least in part based on the time-domain variation (Zeitverlauf) of the sensor device signal within the sliding time window before the operation signal is triggered.

[0025] The time-domain variation of a sensor signal typically reflects the sensor's detection conditions. Significant signal fluctuations or interference, as well as fluctuations in sensor values, may indicate unfavorable detection conditions, leading to unreliable measurement results. By evaluating a sliding time window before detecting and outputting the operational signal, a confidence signal can be generated based on the signal history, taking into account the detection conditions within that time interval.

[0026] Of particular advantage, according to the invention, the control evaluation unit of the operating device applies at least two voltage pulse sequences (Spannung-Pulsfolgen) (Bursts) to the sensor during measurement, wherein the frequency and / or pulse duration of these voltage pulse sequences are different, and the confidence signal is generated at least in part by the control evaluation unit by comparing the sensor values ​​generated by these voltage pulse sequences.

[0027] Using voltage pulse sequences (i.e., so-called "pulse trains") to control a sensor device is a known method in the art for determining the capacitance of sensor electrodes. Each voltage pulse induces a charge transfer process on the capacitance formed by the sensor electrodes, and the capacitance value can be determined based on the generated charge and a known voltage. Within the scope of this invention, the specific evaluation method used to determine the capacitance is not the focus. However, existing research has shown that using voltage pulse sequences with different frequencies and / or pulse durations can distinguish the types of detected events. For example, as described below, if multiple voltage pulse sequences with different frequencies and / or pulse durations are measured, it is possible to distinguish between capacitance changes caused by water flow impacting a door handle as an operating device and capacitance changes caused by a user's hand approaching. When these multiple voltage pulse sequences are evaluated collectively, the control evaluation unit generates a true operation signal; for example, the median of each detection marks an operation. However, the greater the deviation between the signals of the individual voltage pulse sequences, the greater the uncertainty regarding the actual occurrence of the operation, and this uncertainty is incorporated into the generation of the confidence signal.

[0028] In a preferred embodiment of the operating device, at least one filter device is provided for filtering the signal from the sensor device, and the control evaluation unit generates a confidence signal at least in part from the signal component filtered by the filter device.

[0029] The use of filters in the evaluation of capacitive sensors is known. For example, a commonly used filter is a low-pass filter, but other filter devices can also be used, including hardware-implemented and software-implemented filters. The signal difference between the filtered signal and the unfiltered input signal can be used to generate a confidence signal. Based on the components of the filtered signal, the reliability of the action detection can be inferred.

[0030] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the operating device, in addition to the first sensor device, includes at least one additional sensor device whose detection range differs at least partially from that of the first sensor device. These sensor devices are coupled to a control evaluation unit, which generates confidence signals at least partially by comparing the sensor signals from each sensor device.

[0031] The control and evaluation unit can control multiple sensors simultaneously or sequentially. For example, if different sensor electrodes are used in the operating device, capacitance evaluation can be achieved by changing the coupling method of different electrode combinations. If these different electrode combinations produce a consistent signal pattern during operation, the confidence signal will indicate a high-confidence corresponding value. If there are inconsistencies in the capacitance detection between different sensor combinations, the confidence signal will indicate a lower confidence level for the operating signal.

[0032] In a further development of the invention, at least one sensor is provided in the operating device, through which the evaluation unit can acquire measurements of the environmental conditions of the operating device. Based on these environmental conditions, a confidence signal can be generated or modified. It is well known that capacitive sensors produce values ​​with varying reliability under different environmental conditions. These different effects on the operating device can be incorporated into the confidence signal; for example, the evaluation unit can look up a value in a table of stored values ​​and include the sensor's reliability under these operating conditions in the confidence signal. Acquiring the environmental conditions directly at the operating device is advantageous because, considering the operating device's location on the vehicle, the environmental conditions at different operating devices on the vehicle can be drastically different depending on the vehicle's orientation, position, and direction of travel. For example, the environmental conditions at other operating devices on the vehicle may differ significantly from those at the central sensing device, depending on the sun's position, wind direction, or precipitation direction.

[0033] In the preferred embodiments described above, the measured environmental conditions particularly include temperature, pressure, deformation, or vibration within the operating device. This data can also be recorded in a time series format via a sliding time window, for example, to detect when the operating device switches from areas with different environmental conditions. For instance, these environmental conditions can be used to detect changes in environmental conditions (vibration, temperature, etc.) when a vehicle enters a car wash, thereby adjusting the confidence signal of the detected operation.

[0034] Furthermore, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, the operating device is designed to provide a frequency analysis of at least one time-domain signal variation of the operating device components to the control evaluation unit. The control unit can then generate a confidence signal, at least partially, based on the frequency analysis results. In the operating device according to the invention, other components can be mounted alongside the actual sensor device. The control evaluation unit can utilize the sensor device and other components (e.g., transmitting or receiving coils) to perform frequency analysis of the signals and infer electromagnetic interference near the operating device from these signals. The control evaluation unit can detect characteristic frequencies, for example, those that may indicate the presence of interference sources near the operating device.

[0035] The present invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate exemplary embodiments of the invention.

[0036] Figure 1 schematically illustrates the arrangement of the operating device according to the invention on a vehicle; Figure 2 schematically illustrates the structure of the operating device according to the present invention and its connection with the vehicle-side control unit; Figure 3a shows the signal waveform detected by the sensor device by the control evaluation unit in the first exemplary embodiment; Figure 3b illustrates the method flow according to the first exemplary embodiment; Figures 4a to 4d illustrate the detection process according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4e illustrates the method flow according to the second exemplary embodiment; Figure 1 shows a vehicle 1 having a central vehicle-side control unit 3 (not part of this invention). This central control unit 3 is integrated into the vehicle's onboard system and can activate vehicle functions, particularly unlocking the vehicle's doors and covers. According to the invention, the central control unit 3 is connected to an operating device 2, which in this example is located on the driver's side door or the passenger side door. The operating device 2 has a grippable door handle 2a (a corresponding device may also be located on the vehicle's trunk lid or other covers).

[0037] Figure 2 schematically illustrates the structure of the operating device 2 according to the present invention and its connection with the vehicle-side central control unit 3. The operating device according to this exemplary embodiment includes a control evaluation unit 10. Furthermore, sensor devices 5 and 6 are provided in the operating device 2 and connected to the control evaluation unit 10. At least one of the sensor devices 5 and 6 is designed as a capacitive sensor, and its variable capacitance value can be controlled by the control evaluation unit 10. If an operator approaches the vehicle 1 and extends their hand towards the door handle 2a of the operating device 2, the operator's hand approach can be detected by the change in capacitance value. Conversely, other events that do not constitute an operation should be distinguished from intentional operational processes.

[0038] Figure 3a illustrates how, according to the first embodiment, the reliability of intentional operator detection can be determined using different capacitive sensor control methods.

[0039] The figure shows the changes of two signal waveforms of the same capacitive sensor device over time. Signal waveform Ip1 is generated using a longer pulse (longer than the pulse used in signal waveform lp2) and is used to evaluate the capacitive sensor device. Correspondingly, the pulse used in signal waveform lp2 is shorter than the evaluation pulse used in signal waveform Ip1.

[0040] Within time interval t1, strong water impacts (also known as water flow impacts) occurred on operating device 2 during both measurements. Such water impacts can occur, for example, during heavy rain or car washing. On the other hand, within time interval t2, the operating device was activated by the operator's hand approaching. In practice, each detection process uses a longer pulse (lp1) followed by a shorter pulse (lp2) sequentially. Within time interval t1, it is evident that the signal changes significantly with pulse length when water impact occurs. Within time interval t2, when the user's hand approaches, the measured capacitance values ​​are highly similar. Therefore, after activation is detected within time interval t2, the control evaluation unit first generates an operating signal m1.1, indicating possible activation. However, due to the significant difference between the long and short pulse signals, the corresponding confidence value k1.1 is low, indicating high uncertainty in the operation detection. The operating signal m1.1 and its corresponding confidence value k1.1 are converted into confidence signals and output from the signal output terminal.

[0041] During the measurement process at time interval t2, an operation signal m1.2 will be output, indicating that the operation has been detected. The confidence signal k1.2 is significantly higher or greater than the confidence signal k1.1. This is because signals of different pulse lengths only show slight differences during the evaluation process, thus the confidence in confirming the operation is higher.

[0042] The vehicle control unit receives the corresponding operation signals and confidence signals, and decides whether to open the door based on the confidence signals. In cases of low reliability (k1.1), the vehicle control unit may need to further check environmental conditions or vehicle status before making a decision, or wait for further measurement results, which may lead to extended evaluation time. However, if the operational confidence is high (k1.2), the door can be opened solely based on the measurement signals, allowing the vehicle to respond more quickly to operator input.

[0043] Figure 3b illustrates the basic process, which is also applied in the exemplary embodiment described above. In step 100, the control evaluation unit first acquires capacitance values ​​from the sensor device using a first measurement parameter. In step 110, the control evaluation unit acquires a second set of capacitance values ​​from the same sensor device. In step 120, the different capacitance values ​​acquired from the same sensor device using different measurement parameters are evaluated, and a result capacitance value is determined. Based on this capacitance value, step 125 determines whether an operation signal should be issued. If an operation signal needs to be issued, in step 130, the control evaluation unit generates a confidence value corresponding to the result capacitance value. This confidence value is determined by comparing capacitance values ​​acquired using different measurement parameters. Subsequently, in step 140, the operation signal resulting from the capacitance value and its corresponding confidence value are output from the signal output terminal and transmitted to the central control unit in the vehicle.

[0044] Figures 4a to 4d illustrate another embodiment.

[0045] In this embodiment, the operating device has a vehicle handlebar 21 with multiple sensor electrodes 25a to 25d located at different positions on the handlebar 21. Based on an operating signal from the control evaluation unit 5, different electrodes 25a to 25d can be measured against each other to determine capacitance values. In Figures 4a and 4c, electrodes 25a and 25b, and 25c and 25d, are coupled together to measure capacitance. However, in Figures 4b and 4d, electrodes 25a and 25c, and 25c and 25d, are coupled together. Therefore, determining the capacitance value involves an initial measurement in the configuration shown in Figures 4a and 4c, followed by measurements in the electrode configuration shown in Figures 4b and 4d. Thus, determining the operating signal involves multiple different combinations of capacitance coupling. This evaluation utilizes the fact that the capacitance value changes depending on the electrode coupling when the user's hand 20 approaches. In Figures 4a and 4b, the user does indeed extend their hand 20, while in Figures 4c and 4d, a stream of water 30 acts on the vehicle door handle 21. The measurement results from the different sensor configurations in Figures 4a and 4b are consistent, so the high confidence value k2.1 can be correlated with the corresponding measured value m2.1. These values ​​are output together at the signal output terminal. However, in Figures 4c and 4d, even a slight inconsistency in the detected values ​​exists, so the confidence value k2.2 and the corresponding measured value m2.2 indicate that the certainty of the operation is lower than in Figures 4a and 4b.

[0046] The method in this exemplary embodiment is summarized in FIG4e. In step 200, the control evaluation unit acquires a first capacity value by controlling the configuration of the first sensor. In step 210, the control evaluation unit acquires a second capacity value by controlling the configuration of the second sensor. In step 220, the control evaluation unit combines the first and second capacity values ​​to generate a result capacity value, and in step 225 determines whether an operation occurs. If an operation occurs, a confidence value is generated based on the consistency of the capacity values ​​in step 230, and in step 240, the final confidence value is sent together with the operation signal to the signal output terminal of the vehicle-side control unit.

Claims

1. An operating device (2) for a vehicle (1), wherein, The operating device has a handle portion (2a, 21) on which at least one sensor device (5, 6; 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d) is disposed, the sensor device (5, 6; 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d) being designed as a capacitive, resistive, or inductive sensor device for proximity detection, the sensor device being coupled to a control evaluation unit (10), wherein the control evaluation unit (10) is also designed as part of the operating device (2), wherein the control evaluation unit has a signal output terminal (5) for outputting an operating signal to a vehicle-side central control unit (3) disposed thereafter, characterized in that the control evaluation unit (10) receives signals from the sensor devices (5, 6; 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d), processes and generates at least one operating signal (m1.1, m1.2; m2.1, m2.2) The confidence signals (k1.1, k1.2, k2.1, k2.2) associated with the operating signal are used to indicate the reliability of the operating device in detecting the operating signal. The control evaluation unit (10) outputs the operating signal and associated confidence signals through the signal output terminal (5).

2. The operating device according to claim 1, wherein, The confidence signal is generated at least in part by the sensitivity settings set by the control evaluation unit for the sensor device.

3. The operating device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The confidence signal is generated at least in part by the trigger threshold set by the control evaluation unit for the sensor device.

4. The operating device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The confidence signal is generated at least in part based on the time-domain changes of the sensor device's signal within the sliding time window prior to the operation signal triggering.

5. The operating device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The control evaluation unit is configured to apply at least two voltage pulse sequences to the sensor electrodes of the sensor device for measurement, wherein the voltage pulse sequences have different frequencies and / or pulse durations, and the confidence signal (k1.1, k1.2) is generated at least in part by comparing sensor values ​​(Ip1, Ip2) generated from the respective voltage pulse sequences.

6. The operating device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The operating device is provided with at least one filtering device for filtering the signal of the sensor device, and the control evaluation unit generates a confidence signal from the signal components filtered by the filtering device in at least part.

7. The operating device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, At least two sensor devices (25a, 25b, 25c, 25d) are provided, which have at least partially different detection ranges, and each sensor device is coupled to the control evaluation unit, which generates confidence signals (k2.1, k2.2) at least partially from the comparison of sensor signals from the different sensor devices (25a, 25b, 25c, 25d).

8. The operating device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The control evaluation unit acquires at least one measurement of the environmental conditions of the operating device, and the control evaluation unit generates a confidence signal from the measurement in at least part.

9. The operating device according to claim 8, wherein, Measurements of environmental conditions include temperature, pressure, or vibration.

10. The operating device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The control evaluation unit is configured to perform frequency analysis on at least one signal of the operating device component, and the control evaluation unit generates a confidence signal at least in part based on the result of the frequency analysis.

11. A method of operating the operating device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein, The sensor device's signal is processed to generate at least one operation signal and a confidence signal associated with the operation signal, and the operation signal and the associated confidence signal are output through a signal output terminal.

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