Determining a pivot position of a vehicle door

Abstract

Device for determining a pivot position of a vehicle door (11) of a vehicle (40), wherein the vehicle door (11) is pivotally mounted on a body component (10) of the vehicle (40), the device comprising: - an elongate element (13), wherein a first end (14) of the elongate element (13) is to be attached to one of the vehicle door (11) and the body component (10), and - a passage (17) for the elongate element (13), wherein the passage (17) is to be attached to the other of the vehicle door (11) and the body component (10) such that the elongate element (13) extends with a second end (18) through the passage (17), so that a position of the elongate element (13) in the longitudinal direction with respect to the passage (17) changes depending on the pivot position of the vehicle door (11), wherein the elongate element (13) has properties that vary in the longitudinal direction and in that the feedthrough (17) comprises a sensor device that is designed to detect position information of the elongate element (13) in the feedthrough (17) on the basis of the varying properties of the elongate element (13), characterized in that the feedthrough (17) comprises guide jaws that are in contact with the elongate element (13) at contact points, wherein the elongate element (13) is guided laterally by the guide jaws, and wherein a magnetic field sensor device (33) is arranged in each of the guide jaws, in particular is arranged embedded therein.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for determining a pivot position of a vehicle door of a vehicle and to a vehicle having a corresponding door position determination device.Information regarding an opening angle or a direction of movement of a vehicle door of a vehicle, for example of a passenger car or of a truck, may be useful or required for various functions of the vehicle. For example, functions for improving the comfort during entering / exiting and during loading and unloading of the vehicle may require information regarding the current opening angle or the current direction of movement of a vehicle door. For example, such a function may include collision protection for preventing a vehicle door from hitting an obstacle during opening or closing.In this connection, DE 4425799 B4 discloses a controller for a continuously variable door arrester. The door arrester comprises a first part, namely a door retaining rod, which is attached to one door arrangement part, and a second part, namely a braking and / or arresting device, which is attached to another door arrangement part. The braking and / or locking device interacting with the first part has a braking member which can be moved back and forth between a release position and a braking position or a locking position by means of a drive. The drive can be controlled by means of a control circuit as a function of a movement state of the door. For detecting the state of movement of the door, a pulse generator disk driven to rotate at a comparatively high speed as a function of the angular movement of the door and a sensor are provided.DE 10 2008 042 183 A1 relates to a device for opening and closing an opening on the motor vehicle by means of a movable part. The part is adjusted by means of a motor drive. When an additional external actuating force acts on the part, means are activated which brake the part in its movement. As position detection, the motor drive has a rotational speed detection, by means of which the position of the part, for example its opening angle and its movement speed, can be determined.DE 10 2011 115 584 A1 discloses a door brake for a motor vehicle.Furthermore, DE 10 2005 046 868 A1 discloses a door fixing device having a door holding rod and an induction coil. The door retaining rod extends in a contactless manner through the induction coil.Furthermore, DE 103 47 323 A1 discloses a device for detecting a door, flap or the like on a motor vehicle.Furthermore, EP 9 11 471 A2 discloses a locking device for pivotably articulated components.The means known in the prior art for determining the opening angle and the direction of movement of a vehicle door are relatively expensive and require additional installation space.It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a cost-effective and space-saving device for detecting an opening angle and / or a direction of movement of a vehicle door.This object is achieved according to the present invention by a device for determining a pivot position of a vehicle door of a vehicle according to claim 1 and a vehicle according to claim 9. The dependent claims define preferred and advantageous embodiments of the invention.According to the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for determining a pivot position of a vehicle door of a vehicle. The vehicle door is pivotally mounted to a body component of the vehicle. Within the scope of the present invention, the term "pivot position" is understood to mean both an absolute pivot position, i.e. an opening angle, and a relative pivot position, i.e. an increase or decrease of the opening angle, and a direction of movement of the vehicle door. The body component may include, for example, an A-pillar, a B-pillar, or a C-pillar of the vehicle to which the vehicle door is pivotally attached. The device comprises an elongate element and a passage for the elongate element. A first end of the elongate member is to be secured to one of the vehicle door and the body component. The grommet is to be attached to the other of the vehicle door and the body component. In other words, either the first end of the elongate member is to be attached to the vehicle door and the feedthrough is to be attached to the body component, or the first end of the elongate member is to be attached to the body component and the feedthrough is to be attached to the vehicle door. The elongated member bushing is to be attached to the vehicle door or the body component such that the elongated member extends through the bushing with a second end of the elongated member such that a position of the elongated member longitudinally relative to the bushing changes depending on the pivoting position of the vehicle door. In other words, during a pivoting movement of the vehicle door with respect to the body component, the elongate element is moved in the longitudinal direction through the passage. For example, during a closing movement of the vehicle door, the elongate element can be guided further through the feedthrough and, during an opening of the vehicle door in the opposite direction, can be pulled further out of the feedthrough. The elongate member has longitudinally varying properties. The feedthrough comprises a sensor device which is capable of detecting position information of the elongate element in the feedthrough on the basis of the varying properties of the elongate element. The position information can comprise, for example, an absolute position of the elongate element or a relative position, for example movement information of the elongate element. The elongate element and the passage can be attached, for example, in particular to the vehicle door and the body component in such a way that there is a mathematically monotone relationship between the pivot position of the vehicle door with respect to the body component and the position of the elongate element with respect to the passage. Thus, on the basis of the position information of the elongate element, the pivot position of the vehicle door can be determined and used, for example, for realizing the abovementioned comfort function. By detecting a substantially linear movement or position of the elongate element and by being able to determine the pivot position of the vehicle door therefrom, complex gearings which transmit rotations in connection with the pivoting of the vehicle door can be avoided. As a result, the pivot position of the vehicle door can be determined cost-effectively.According to an embodiment, the elongate element has varying magnetic properties in the longitudinal direction. The sensor means comprises a magnetic field sensor means capable of detecting the position information of the elongated element in the feedthrough on the basis of a magnetic field which is influenced by the varying magnetic properties of the elongated element. The magnetic field sensor device can comprise, for example, a Hall-effect sensor, a Hall-effect switch or an inductive sensor. Position detection with the aid of magnetic fields is reliable, in particular in harsh environmental conditions, such as can occur in the region between the vehicle door and the body component.In a further embodiment, the apparatus further comprises a processing device which is coupled to the magnetic field sensor device. The processing device comprises, for example, an electronic controller, for example a microprocessor controller. The magnetic field sensor device generates an output signal depending on the detected magnetic field and the processing device is capable of determining the pivot position of the vehicle door depending on the output signal of the magnetic field sensor device. The processing device can use, for example, the aforementioned monotone relationship between the position information of the elongate element and the pivot position of the vehicle door in order to determine the pivot position of the vehicle door, for example, as the opening angle and to provide this to a comfort function of the vehicle.In a further embodiment, the magnetic field sensor device comprises two magnetic field sensors which are arranged at different positions in the feedthrough. A respective magnetic field sensor of the two magnetic field sensors is capable of detecting a respective magnetic field influenced by the varying magnetic properties of the elongate element and generating a respective output signal depending on the respective detected magnetic field. The processing device is coupled to the two magnetic field sensors and is capable of determining a direction of movement of a pivoting movement of the vehicle door as a function of the signals of the two magnetic field sensors. For example, if the longitudinally varying magnetic properties of the elongated element comprise a periodic change in the magnetic field strength, the direction of movement of the elongated element with respect to the feedthrough can be determined by means of the two magnetic field sensors and a phase relationship of the output signals of the magnetic field sensors. As a result, the pivot position of the vehicle door can be reliably determined even in the event of changes in the pivot direction.In a further embodiment of the present invention, the elongate element comprises a ferromagnetic material which has a toothing in the longitudinal direction, a plurality of bores, a plurality of embedded permanent magnets, a plurality of permanent magnets introduced into plastic in the case of an elongate element sheathed or injection-molded with plastic, and / or an embossing which changes, for example, a thickness of the ferromagnetic material in the longitudinal direction. The toothing, the plurality of bores, the plurality of permanent magnets or the embossing serve to produce the varying magnetic properties of the elongate element in the longitudinal direction. The toothing, the multiple bores or the embossing can be realized relatively cost-effectively on the elongate element. The plurality of permanent magnets embedded may contribute to reliable detection of the position information of the elongated member.In yet another embodiment, the elongated member comprises a plastic material on a surface of the elongated member. For example, the elongate element can be encapsulated by the plastic material on one or more surfaces or fully encapsulated by injection molding. This may contribute to improving the sliding properties of the elongated element in the feedthrough.In particular, the device may comprise a door check to be mounted between the vehicle door and the body component. In this case, the elongate element can be, for example, a retaining strap of the door arrester and the leadthrough can be a corresponding retaining strap leadthrough of the door arrester. Such door arresters are usually installed at least on the boarding doors of the vehicle. By using the tether of the door check simultaneously as the elongated member of the apparatus for determining the pivotal position of the vehicle door, the elongated member can be realized at a low cost and does not require additional installation space. The magnetic field sensor device can be integrated into the retaining strap passage of the door arrester, so that no additional installation space or only a relatively small additional installation space is required for the magnetic field sensor device. As a result, the device can be realized in a cost-effective and space-saving manner. The tether passage of the door arrester is usually arranged in the edge region in the interior of the vehicle door, so that the magnetic field sensor device in the door arrester is not visible when the door is open and environmental influences and mechanical stresses on the magnetic field sensor device are low. In addition, the magnetic field sensor device can be easily connected to the on-board power supply system in the door. The normally present retaining strap of the door arrester is to be provided only with a toothing, a plurality of bores, a plurality of permanent magnets or an embossing. A receptacle for the magnetic field sensor device can be implemented cost-effectively in the region of the retaining strap passage of the door arrester.According to the present invention, there is further provided a vehicle including a body, a vehicle door, and a door position determination device for determining a swing position of the vehicle door. The door position determining device comprises the above-described device or one of its embodiments and therefore the vehicle also comprises the above-described advantages.According to an embodiment, the vehicle additionally comprises a display device and alternatively or additionally a lighting device. The display device or the lighting device is actuated as a function of the pivot position of the vehicle door determined by the door position determination device. The display device may display, for example, a current pivot position of the vehicle door with respect to the vehicle. The display device can be provided, for example, in a dashboard of the vehicle and symbolically display the current opening angle of the door with respect to the body of the vehicle. The lighting device may, for example, illuminate an area below the vehicle door. In this case, for example, different circle segments can be illuminated depending on the pivot position of the vehicle door. For example, with increasing opening angle of the door, an increasingly larger segment of a circle can be illuminated, so that, for example, the region between the door and the body of the vehicle is completely illuminated when the door is opened.The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 schematically shows a door arrester according to the prior art. FIG. 2 schematically shows a door check according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 schematically shows a door check according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 schematically illustrates a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 1 shows a sectional view of a door arrester 12 which is arranged between a body component 10, for example an A-pillar of a vehicle, and a vehicle door 11. The door arrester 12 comprises a retaining strap 13 which is coupled at a first end 14 via a fastening point 15 to the A-pillar 10. The first end 14 may be attached to the A-pillar 10 for rotation about the attachment point 15, for example, in the direction of the arrow 16. The door arrester 12 further comprises a passage 17 for the retaining strap 13, through which the elongate element 13 extends with a second end 18. The passage 17 can comprise, for example, two guide jaws 17, as shown in FIG. 1. The circular cutout 19, which shows a contact point between the upper guide jaw 17 and the retaining band 13, is shown on the right-hand side in an enlarged manner in FIG. 1. The guide jaws 17 can be made of a plastic material, for example. The retaining strap 13 can comprise, for example, a retaining strap core 20 made of, for example, a metal material and a plastic extrusion coat 21. Also shown in FIG. 1 are seals 22, 23 between the vehicle door and the A-pillar 10 and a fastening screw 24 connecting the fastening point 15 to the A-pillar 10.When the door 11 is opened and closed, the door 11 is pivoted with respect to the A-pillar 10 and the tether 13 moves relative to the duct 17 in the direction of the arrow 25; at the same time, the tether 13 is pivoted about the attachment point 15 in the direction of the arrow 16. The function of a door check to hold the vehicle door in, for example, an open position is known to those skilled in the art and will therefore not be described in detail herein.FIG. 2 shows a door arrester 30 with an apparatus integrated therein for determining a pivot position of the vehicle door 11 with respect to the A-pillar 10. The door arrester 30 of FIG. 2 corresponds in its structure substantially to the door arrester 12 of FIG. 1. However, the retaining strap 13 has magnetic properties varying in its longitudinal direction and a magnetic field sensor device 33 is provided in the bushing 17. The magnetic properties of the holding strap 13 varying in the longitudinal direction are achieved by a toothing 31 in the edge region of the holding strap 13, as is shown in the enlarged detail view in the right-hand part of FIG. 2. The ferromagnetic retaining strap core 20 has a plurality of teeth, which however are substantially compensated mechanically by the plastic injection molding 21 in order to allow the retaining strap 13 to slide easily through the bushing 17. Due to the different amount of ferromagnetic material in the area of the teeth and tooth gaps, the magnetic property varies in the longitudinal direction. A corresponding magnetic field sensor device is provided in each of the two guide jaws 17, and the serrations on the two longitudinal sides of the holding strap 13 are offset, so that a direction of movement of the holding strap 13 can be determined on the basis of a phase relationship of the signals from the two magnetic field sensor devices. Each magnetic field sensor device comprises a permanent magnet 32 and a magnetic field sensor. The permanent magnet 32 generates a magnetic field which is influenced in its strength depending on whether a tooth or a tooth gap of the toothing 31 is present in the region of the magnetic field sensor. The magnetic field sensor detects the strength of the magnetic field or a magnetic field change and outputs a corresponding signal to a processing device which determines the pivot position of the vehicle door 11 as a function of the output signals of the magnetic field sensors. Although not shown in FIG. 2, only one longitudinal side of the holding strap 13 may have toothing. A corresponding magnetic field sensor with direction of movement detection will then be provided in a guide jaw 17.FIG. 3 shows a further embodiment of a door arrester 30 with a device integrated therein for determining a pivot position of the vehicle door 11. permanent magnets 34 are provided on a longitudinal edge of the retaining strap 13, as is shown on the right in the enlarged detail in FIG. 3, which permanent magnets can be embedded, for example, in the retaining strap core 20 or introduced into the plastic encapsulation 21. In the guide jaw 17, a magnetic field sensor with direction of movement detection is provided, which detects the magnetic field generated by the permanent magnets 34. Since the permanent magnets 34 have an alternating polarity in the longitudinal direction (N=speakpole, S=speak pole), the magnetic field strength and the polarity measured by the magnetic field sensor change when the holding strap 13 moves in the longitudinal direction (in the direction of the arrow 25 of FIG. 1 ). The magnetic field sensor outputs a corresponding signal to a processing device which determines the pivot position of the vehicle door 11 as a function of the output signals of the magnetic field sensor. Although it is not shown in FIG. 3, permanent magnets 34 can be provided on both longitudinal sides of the holding strap 13, and a corresponding magnetic field sensor can be provided in each of the two guide jaws 17, in order to be able to determine a determination of a direction of movement of the holding strap 13 with respect to the feedthrough 17, for example.FIG. 4 shows a vehicle 40 with a vehicle door 11 pivotally mounted to an A-pillar 10 of the vehicle 40. The door check 30 is, for example, the door check 30 shown in FIG. 2 or FIG. 3, in which a device for determining a pivot position of the vehicle door 11 is integrated. The magnetic field sensor or the plurality of magnetic field sensors of the door detector 30 are coupled to a processing device 41 which is capable of determining the pivot position of the vehicle door 11 in dependence on the signals from the magnetic field sensors. The processing device 41 is coupled to, for example, a display device 42 of the vehicle 40, which is provided, for example, in a dashboard of the vehicle 40. For example, an image of the vehicle 40 can be displayed on the display device 42, for example in a view from above, which shows in particular a position of the vehicle door 11. By allowing the pivot position of the vehicle door 11 to be determined with high accuracy using the door check 30, a relatively accurate representation of the current door position can be displayed on the graphical representation of the vehicle 10 on the display device 42. Although not shown in FIG. 4, the remaining doors of the vehicle 40 may also be provided with corresponding door locks in order to determine pivot positions of the remaining doors or of the tailgate and to graphically display them on the display device 42. The vehicle 40 further includes a lighting device 43 coupled to the processing device 41. The lighting device 43 is capable of illuminating circular segment surfaces 44 of different sizes on the ground in the region in front of the door 11 of the vehicle 10. For example, the illumination device 43 can be configured to illuminate circle segments with circle segment angles 45 of different sizes, wherein the radius and the center point of the circle segment surface 44 remain substantially unchanged. The circle segment angle 45 can be set, for example, as a function of the pivot position of the vehicle door 11 which was determined by the processing device 41, so that, for example, a circle segment is always illuminated which contains the region between the longitudinal side of the vehicle 40 and the opened vehicle door 11.In summary, in the case of the door arrester 30, the retaining strap 13 is guided laterally with the guide jaws 17. At the points of contact between the guide jaw 17 and the retaining strap 13, the movement of the retaining strap 13 can be assumed to be a longitudinal movement when the vehicle door 11 is opened and determined by measurement technology. The material of the holding strap 13 has ferromagnetic properties. For example, material removal, for example, a toothing, holes or an embossing, is introduced into the sides of the retaining band 13. Alternatively or additionally, permanent magnets can be incorporated. Magnetic field sensors with or without direction of movement detection 13 are installed in the lateral guide jaws 17 for measuring the magnetic field changes caused by the material removal or by the permanent magnets during longitudinal movement. A magnetic field, if necessary, can be generated by a permanent magnet 32 or electromagnet in the guide jaws 17. A processing device 41 calculates, for example, an opening angle and a direction of movement of the vehicle door 11 from the measured values of the magnetic field sensors. In other words, the opening angle and direction of movement of the vehicle door 11 are determined by converting the rotational movement of the vehicle door 11 about a door hinge by the door fastener 30 into a longitudinal movement of the ferromagnetic holding band 13 at a defined point in the door fastener, namely at the guide jaws 17, and is detected there by measurement using magnetic field sensors. The measurement of the longitudinal movement in the guide jaws 17 can be adapted to the type of material removal on the holding band 13 (e.g. straight toothing, oblique toothing, drilling, stamping). Furthermore, a type, a number and a position of the magnetic field sensors can be adapted to the ferromagnetic properties of the holding tape 13. For example, Hall-effect sensors, Hall-effect switches or inductive sensors can be used. As a result of the integration of the device for determining the pivot position of the vehicle door into the door arrester, the measurement point on the guide jaws 17 is not visible when the vehicle door 11 is open and environmental influences and mechanical stresses on the measurement point are relatively low. The wiring to the on-board power supply system which is already present in the door makes it possible to connect it to the on-board power supply system in a simple manner.Although in the foregoing description, the pivot position of the vehicle door 11 has been described in detail using varying magnetic characteristics of the tether 13, the present invention is not limited to varying magnetic characteristics. The holding strap 13 can have, for example, optical or electrical properties that vary in the longitudinal direction, which can be detected with corresponding sensor devices in the guide jaws 17, for example with the aid of optical sensors or capacitive sensors.List of reference characters10 Body component, A-pillar 11 vehicle door 12 door arrester 13 retaining strap 14 first end 15 fastening point 16 arrow 17 passage, guide jaws 18 second end 19 cutout enlargement 20 retaining strap core 21 plastic material, injection molding 22, 23 seal 24 fastening screw 25 arrow 30 door arrester 31 toothing 32 permanent magnet 33 magnetic field sensor device 34 permanent magnet 40 vehicle 41 processing device 42 display device 43 lighting device 44 circular segment surface 45 circular segment angle

Claims

A device for determining a pivot position of a vehicle door (11) of a vehicle (40), the vehicle door (11) being pivotally attached to a body component (10) of the vehicle (40), the device comprising: - an elongate element (13), a first end (14) of the elongate element (13) being to be attached to one of the vehicle door (11) and the body component (10), and - a passage (17) for the elongate element (13), the passage (17) being to be attached to the other of the vehicle door (11) and the body component (10) such that the elongate element (13) extends with a second end (18) through the passage (17) such that a position of the elongate element (13) in the longitudinal direction with respect to the passage (17) changes depending on the pivot position of the vehicle door (11), wherein the elongate element (13) has properties varying in the longitudinal direction and that the feedthrough (17) comprises a sensor device which is configured to acquire position information of the elongate element (13) in the feedthrough (17) on the basis of the varying properties of the elongate element (13), characterized in that the feedthrough (17) comprises guide jaws which are in contact with the elongate element (13) at contact points, wherein the elongate element (13) is laterally guided by the guide jaws, and wherein a magnetic field sensor device (33) is arranged in each of the guide jaws, in particular is arranged embedded therein.The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the longitudinally varying properties of the elongated element (13) comprise longitudinally varying magnetic properties and that the sensor device comprises the magnetic field sensor device (33), which is configured to acquire the position information of the elongated element (13) in the feedthrough (17) on the basis of a magnetic field influenced by the varying magnetic properties of the elongated element (13), in particular the device further comprises a processing device (41), which is coupled to the magnetic field sensor device (33), wherein the magnetic field sensor device (33) generates an output signal depending on the acquired magnetic field and wherein the processing device (41) is configured to determine the pivoting position of the vehicle door (11) depending on the output signal of the magnetic field sensor device (33), in particular the magnetic field sensor device (33) comprises two magnetic field sensors, which are arranged at different positions in the feedthrough (17), wherein a respective magnetic field sensor of the two magnetic field sensors is configured to detect a respective magnetic field influenced by the magnetic properties of the elongate element (13) and generates a respective output signal depending on the detected magnetic field, and wherein the processing device (41) is configured to determine a direction of movement of a pivoting movement of the vehicle door (11) depending on the signals of the two magnetic field sensors.Device according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterised in that the elongate element (13) comprises a ferromagnetic material which has - a toothing (31), - a plurality of bores, - a plurality of embedded permanent magnets (34), - a plurality of permanent magnets (34) introduced into a plastics casing of the elongate element (13) or - an embossing for producing the varying magnetic properties in the longitudinal direction.Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the elongated element (13) comprises a plastic material (21) on a surface of the elongated element (13).Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device comprises a door fastener (30) to be mounted between the vehicle door (11) and the body component (10), wherein the elongate element (13) comprises a tether of the door fastener (30), and wherein the bushing (17) comprises a tether bushing of the door fastener (30).Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, at the points of contact between the guide jaws and the elongate element (13), the movement of the elongate element (13) is assumed to be a longitudinal movement and can be determined by measurement when the vehicle door (11) is opened.Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each magnetic field sensor device (33) comprises a magnetic field sensor which is arranged in the respective guide jaw, in particular each magnetic field sensor device additionally comprises a permanent magnet (32) which is arranged in the respective guide jaw.Device according to claim 1 or claim 6, insofar as it relates only to claim 1, characterised in that the elongate element (13) has optical or electrical properties which vary in the longitudinal direction and which can be detected with corresponding sensor devices in the guide jaws, in particular with optical sensors or capacitive sensors.Vehicle comprising: - a body, - a vehicle door (11), and - a door position determination device for determining a pivot position of the vehicle door (11), characterized in that the door position determination device comprises a device according to one of Claims 1 - 8, in particular the vehicle (40) further comprises: - a display device (42), and / or - a lighting device (43), which are actuated as a function of the pivot position of the vehicle door (11) determined by the door position determination device.

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