Vehicle door system with door opener

Abstract

Door system for a vehicle (36), comprising - a door frame (10) that forms a door opening, - a vehicle door (12) which is pivotally mounted on the door frame (10) to close the door opening when the vehicle door (12) is in a closed pivot position, - a door opener by means of which the vehicle door (12) can be moved from the closed pivot position to a partially open pivot position, wherein the door opener comprises a door opening means (14), at least one spring (16) operatively connected with the door opening means (14) and a locking means (18), wherein the door opening means (14) is configured to assume a first position, lockable by means of the locking means (18), when the spring (16) is pre-tensioned, in which the door opening means (14) enables the vehicle door (12) to assume the closed pivot position, and when the spring (16) is at least partially relaxed, to assume a second position in which the vehicle door (12) is in the partially open pivot position by means of the door opening means (14), wherein the door opener comprises an actuating element (20) operatively connected with the locking means (18) for opening the vehicle door (12), which is configuredupon actuation, the locking of the door opening means (14) in the first position effected by the locking means (18) is released, characterized in that the spring (16) can be brought into the pre-tensioned state by means of a motor (22) acting on the door opening means (14), wherein the door opening means (14) is operatively connected to the motor (22) via a force transmission means (24), which is designed as a Bowden cable.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a system for a vehicle, a corresponding vehicle equipped with such a system, and a method for controlling the door system.

[0002] Door openers are systems that at least partially open vehicle doors. This makes it possible to design the vehicle's outer skin for greater aerodynamic efficiency, as aerodynamically disruptive door handles can be minimized, omitted entirely, or even designed as flush-mounted push-button elements. A partially self-opening door allows the vehicle user to grasp the vehicle door at the edge that becomes accessible during the opening process, despite the lack of a handle that can be grasped with one hand. A door handle that protrudes outwards and is therefore accessible but less aerodynamically efficient is therefore unnecessary. On the other hand, a door opener also contributes to improved vehicle ergonomics, as part of the force required to open the vehicle door is applied by the door opener.Accordingly, this represents a significant simplification in terms of usability, for example for small children, senior citizens or people with disabilities.

[0003] German patent application DE 10 2008 006 964 A1 describes a door system in which, in certain embodiments, an active material, in response to an activation signal, causes a compression of a spring, which in turn preloads the door towards its open position when the door is closed. German utility model DE 20 2017 105 041 U1 describes an electric door opener referred to as a door drive. In this door opener, the force required to pivot the vehicle door from its closed position to an at least partially open position is applied by an electric motor. However, this introduces a component that is prone to failure when overloaded, for example, when greater forces than normally required must be applied to open the door.This can occur, for example, if wind pressure is exerted on the vehicle door being opened, or if the vehicle door collides with an obstacle during the opening movement. For example, this could damage the electric motor; the electric motor could be forced to open so forcefully as it exerts ever greater force to overcome the resistance that the vehicle occupant in front of it collides with the forcefully opened vehicle door due to the excessive force; or the vehicle door could be damaged by a collision with the obstacle.

[0004] The object of the invention is to provide alternative solutions for door systems which reduce or avoid the aforementioned disadvantages.

[0005] The invention is based on the features of the independent claims. Advantageous developments and refinements are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

[0006] The object is achieved in a first aspect by a door system for a vehicle, comprising a door frame forming a door opening, further comprising a vehicle door pivotably mounted on the door frame to close the door opening when the door is in a closed pivot position, further comprising a door opener, via which the vehicle door can be brought from the closed pivot position into a partially open pivot position, wherein the door opener comprises a door opening means, at least one spring operatively connected to the door opening means, and a locking means, wherein the door opening means is designed, when the spring is pretensioned, to assume a first position lockable by means of the locking means, in which the door opening means enables the vehicle door to assume the closed pivot position, and to assume a second position when the spring is at least partially relaxed.in which the vehicle door is in the partially opened pivot position mediated by the door opening means, wherein the door system comprises an actuating element for opening the vehicle door which is operatively connected to the locking means and which is designed, upon actuation, to release the locking of the door opening means in the first position effected by the locking means.

[0007] The preloaded spring can be a spring at maximum preload, so that, for example, no further compression is possible in a compression spring, and no further extension is possible in a tension spring without damaging the tension spring, but it does not have to be at maximum preload. Conversely, an at least partially relaxed spring can still contain releasable spring energy, but this is not necessarily the case. In any case, a preloaded spring stores more spring energy than an at least partially relaxed spring.

[0008] The door frame does not necessarily have to be a single-piece vehicle structure, but can be any vehicle structure—possibly composed of different components—that forms a door frame. The partially open pivot position is understood to mean any position that allows a partially opened vehicle door to be grasped with one hand in the gap formed between the door frame and the vehicle door. The door opener comprises a door opening means, which is understood to mean any means that enables the vehicle door to be pivoted from the closed pivot position into the at least partially open pivot position.

[0009] A non-limiting example of a door opening means is a plunger. An associated spring can, for example, be a coil spring, with a support area for this being formed, for example, by a shoulder or a groove in the plunger, or one end of the coil spring can be fixed in a recess in the plunger. The plunger is displaceably mounted and can be brought into a first position in which the spring is preloaded, preferably maximally preloaded, so that in the case of a compression spring, no further compression is possible, and in the case of a tension spring, no further component-damaging expansion is possible. In this position, the plunger can be locked by means of a locking means, so that spring energy remains stored in the spring. In this first position, the vehicle door can be brought into the closed pivoting position because it is not spatially obstructed by the plunger.If the locking mechanism is released, the spring's stored energy is released as spring force. Since the spring is connected to the plunger, the plunger is displaced by the released spring force, so that the vehicle door is moved into the partially open pivot position by means of the plunger.

[0010] Another non-limiting example of a door opening means is a hinge that is connected to the vehicle door on one side and to the door frame on the other, and is further operatively connected to a corresponding spring, such as a coil spring or a leg spring. In the first position, the spring is preloaded and can be locked in this position by the locking means. When the locking mechanism is released, stored spring energy is released as spring force, pivoting the vehicle door via the hinge, whose opening angle changes due to the applied spring force.

[0011] When the actuating element intended for opening the vehicle door is actuated, the locking of the transmission element in the first position, which is effected by the locking means, is released. Due to the spring energy stored in the spring, the door opening means then releases a spring force, which causes the vehicle door to be moved into the partially open pivoting position, mediated by the door opening means.

[0012] In principle, the door opening means can be located anywhere on the door frame or in the area of ​​the door frame, or conversely, the vehicle door, from which contact with the other component is possible. The option for the door system to comprise multiple door opening means is also envisaged.

[0013] According to a further development, the spring, its spring characteristic curve and the length of the door opening means are coordinated such that the vehicle door is pivoted from the closed pivot position into a partially open pivot position which corresponds to a detent position of the vehicle door. One or more detent positions across the entire opening angle range of a vehicle door are generally common. The vehicle door remains in a detent position, i.e. it is not pivoted into an even more open pivot position, but also does not pivot back towards the door frame unless the vehicle user exerts further force on the vehicle door in one direction or the other. If, on the other hand, the vehicle user exerts a corresponding force on the vehicle door, they can easily pivot the vehicle door further from this detent position, for example, open it further.The detent position ensures that the vehicle door does not move back to the fully closed pivot position if the door opening means is removed from the vehicle door. The vehicle user therefore has sufficient time to grasp the vehicle door and open it further without having to worry that the vehicle door will move back to the fully closed pivot position and thus become difficult or impossible to grasp. According to another development, the detent position can be omitted, in which case the contact between the vehicle door, the door opening means and the door frame is maintained and the vehicle door remains in the partially open position via the door opening means, at least until the vehicle user pivots the door further.

[0014] A key advantage of the door system described herein is that, due to the spring characteristic of the spring used, only a limited spring force is available that can act on the vehicle door. In contrast to the solution described in the prior art, in which a motor causes the vehicle door to pivot into the partially open position, this provides a significant safety aspect. If the vehicle door encounters an obstacle when opening, for example the vehicle occupant standing in front of it, there is a risk that the motor will be overloaded and thus damaged, or that the motor will attempt to provide ever greater opening forces to connect the obstacle, which could damage the vehicle door and / or the obstacle, and therefore possibly also the vehicle occupant.Accordingly, in such a system according to the prior art, complex control of the motor would be required to prevent such a situation. However, in the solution described here, the maximum opening force is limited from the outset due to the spring characteristic of the spring used, which represents an essential safety aspect. The length of the spring, its spring characteristic, and the door opening means are coordinated in such a way that the vehicle door can be moved from the fully closed pivot position to the partially open pivot position. A person skilled in the art, knowing the mass of the vehicle door to be moved, can easily make the appropriate adjustment. Complex control can also advantageously be omitted.

[0015] The spring can be brought into the pre-tensioned state by means of a motor acting on the door opening means. The motor is preferably an electric motor. In this case, the force for pre-tensioning the spring does not have to be applied by the vehicle user, but is provided by the motor. This advantageously results in increased operating comfort for the vehicle door, as it can be closed with less effort than would be the case without the motor. According to a further development, the door opener is designed such that in the reverse case, i.e. the transition from the pre-tensioned spring to the at least partially relaxed spring or the transition of the door opening means from the first position to the second position, the motor does not hinder this transition or only minimally hinders this transition, for example by being decoupled from the door opening means during this phase or by merely rotating at idle.

[0016] To transmit power from the motor to the spring, the door opening mechanism is operatively connected to the motor via a power transmission device, namely a Bowden cable. For example, one end of the Bowden cable is connected to the door opening element, such as a tappet, and the other end is connected to the motor, so that when the motor is operated, a displacement of the door opening element is effected via the Bowden cable.

[0017] Any means capable of acting directly on the door-opening means and / or indirectly via force transmission means, in order to lock the door-opening means in the first position through this action, can be considered as a locking means. According to one embodiment, the locking means acts directly on the door-opening means. In a further development, the locking means acts via positive locking and, according to a non-limiting example, is designed as a detent, which engages in a groove formed on the door-opening means, for example, a plunger, to lock the door-opening means in order to lock it by positive locking.In another development, the locking means acts via frictional engagement and, according to a non-limiting example, is designed as a clamp which is adjustable between a position in which the door opening means and the locking means are freely displaceable relative to one another and a position in which the displaceability of the door opening means relative to the locking means is prevented via frictional engagement.

[0018] Alternatively or in addition to directly acting on the door opening means, the locking means is designed to act indirectly on the door opening means via the force transmission means, for example a Bowden cable. In this case, the force transmission means, for example a Bowden cable, can be locked via the locking means, via which the spring can be brought into the preloaded state. This advantageously results in greater freedom in spatial design, since the positioning location of the locking means, for example designed as an adjustable clamp, can be selected relatively freely along the entire length of the Bowden cable. The force transmission means can in turn be acted upon, in particular, via positive locking or frictional locking.

[0019] According to a further development, the locking means is operatively connected to a locking element of a conventional vehicle door lock for theft-proof locking of the vehicle, i.e., it is coupled, for example, to such a locking element or is designed to have a dual function as such a locking element. In this case, it is provided that not only the locking of the vehicle door lock, after which the vehicle door can no longer be opened without prior actuation of, for example, a vehicle key in the door lock, is effected by the locking means, but the locking means also simultaneously effects the locking of the door opening means in the first position.If the vehicle door lock is subsequently unlocked, for example by inserting and turning a vehicle key into the vehicle door lock or by wirelessly unlocking the vehicle door lock using a radio key, after which the vehicle door can be opened again, the locking device not only unlocks the vehicle door lock but also removes the locking of the door opening device in the first position. Examples of such locking elements for vehicle door locks are rotary latches, which are usually located in the vehicle door and engage with a striker of the door frame when locked, or do not engage with the striker when unlocked.Such a locking element can now be designed such that it is coupled to a locking means, wherein, in the unlocked state of the locking element, the door opening means is not locked in the first position by the locking means, and wherein, in the locked state of the locking element, the door opening means is simultaneously locked in the first position by the locking means. Alternatively, a component can be designed simultaneously as a locking means and as a locking element, thus fulfilling both of the aforementioned functions.

[0020] The arrangement of the door opener in relation to the vehicle door or the door frame can be freely selected by a person skilled in the art. According to one embodiment, the door opener is arranged on the vehicle door. Accordingly, the door opening means of the door opener is also located on the vehicle door. The door opening means, for example designed as a plunger, causes the partially open pivot position to be assumed, for example by extending the door opening means from the vehicle door in the closed pivot position and, by supporting it on the door frame thus contacted, causing the vehicle door to pivot from the closed pivot position. The arrangement on the vehicle door results in easier maintenance and, if necessary, replaceability.

[0021] According to a further embodiment, the door opener is arranged on the door frame. Accordingly, the door opening means of the door opener is also located on the door frame. Starting from a vehicle door in the closed pivot position, the door opening means, which is designed, for example, as a plunger, causes the partially open pivot position to be assumed by extending the door opening element from the door frame and, by supporting it on the vehicle door thus contacted, causing the door to pivot from the closed pivot position. This solution, in which the door opener is arranged on the door frame, eliminates the need for a corresponding arrangement on the vehicle door, which therefore has no additional mass, namely that of the door opener.If this refers to an arrangement of the door opener on the door frame, this also includes the fact that parts of the door opener, for example a power transmission means and / or a motor for moving the door opening means into the first position, can be arranged in adjacent areas of the vehicle body or the vehicle.

[0022] According to one embodiment, the actuating element for opening the vehicle door, which is operatively connected to the locking means and is designed, upon actuation, to release the locking of the transmission element in the first position effected by the locking means, is a door handle which is operatively connected to the locking means mechanically, electromechanically, and / or via a control means.

[0023] The concept of a door handle is to be interpreted broadly. It includes door handles that can be grasped by a vehicle user's hand. These enable the vehicle door to be actively pulled towards the vehicle user and thus, if desired, also opened conventionally using only muscle power. In this case, the door opener can be understood as an assistance, for example, to make it easier for children to open the vehicle door. It also includes door handles that can no longer be grasped by a vehicle user's hand. These door handles can no longer be grasped by a vehicle user's hand to actively pull the vehicle door open. Examples of this are depressible surfaces of the vehicle door, such as push switches, or door handles that operate completely without movement, such as capacitive surfaces or fingerprint scanners.Such door handles enable a very aerodynamic surface of the vehicle door, but allow the door opener to assume the partially open pivoting position in which the vehicle door can be grasped by the hand of the vehicle user and opened further.

[0024] A mechanical connection between the door handle and the locking means is understood, as is customary in the art, to mean that only mechanical and / or hydraulic transmission parts are used if actuation of the door handle is intended to release the locking by the locking means, for example, retract a detent from a groove in the door opening means. An electromechanical connection comprises both mechanical elements and electrical elements, for example mechanically actuated contact switches which, via electrical conductor tracks, activate electrical switches to release the locking of the locking means. A control means is understood, in particular, to mean a device for electronic control, for example an electronic circuit board or a computer-implemented control, for example software in a vehicle central computer.Accordingly, with an operative connection via a control device, the actuation of the door handle sends corresponding information about this actuation via a data line to the control device, which in turn releases the locking effect of the locking device, for example, by controlling a component that releases the locking effect. The actuation itself can be performed mechanically, for example, by pulling out, moving, or deforming the door handle, or without mechanical elements, for example, by activating a capacitive sensor.In the embodiment in which the actuating element is a door handle, it is advantageously ensured that actuating the door handle brings about the desired release of the locking of the door opening means caused by the locking means, which subsequently ensures that the door opening means, in turn, brings about the assumption of the partially opened pivoting position of the vehicle door due to the resulting effect of the door opening means, namely the release of the stored spring energy in the form of spring force.

[0025] According to another embodiment, the actuating element for opening the vehicle door is a remote control for a wireless connection to a receiver in the vehicle, which is operatively connected to the locking means mechanically, electromechanically and / or via a control means, reference being made to the above explanations. Accordingly, the door system can also be used remotely in conjunction with a remote control, for example a standard vehicle key with a remote door opening function. This allows the vehicle door to be moved into the partially open pivoted position as soon as the vehicle user gives the command to unlock the vehicle door via their remote control. This advantageously saves time, since the vehicle user finds the vehicle door already in the partially open pivoted position upon reaching it without any further loss of time.

[0026] According to one development, the actuating element designed as a door handle is operatively connected to the locking means of the vehicle door on which the door handle and the locking means are located. However, according to another development, it can additionally or alternatively be operatively connected to the locking means of one or more different vehicle doors, for example, to enable central opening of several vehicle doors in a bus using one actuating element. Analogously, an actuating element designed as a remote control can be operatively connected to a locking means of a vehicle door via a receiver. Alternatively, the remote control can be operatively connected to the respective locking means of different vehicle doors, each of which is assigned its own receiver, or one receiver can be assigned to the locking means of several vehicle doors.

[0027] According to one embodiment of the door system with a motor acting on the door opening means, by means of which the spring can be brought into the pretensioned state, it is provided that the door system further comprises a sensor for detecting the pivot position of the vehicle door and a control means via which a closing process of the vehicle door can be determined on the basis of the data detectable by the sensor, wherein the control means is designed, upon detection of a closing process of the vehicle door, to actuate the motor such that the door opening means is locked in the first position before the closed pivot position of the vehicle door is reached. Accordingly, the control means detects whether a closing process of the vehicle door is taking place, for which purpose, in particular, a comparison of the respective pivot positions at different times can be used.If this is the case, the resulting control of the motor brings the spring into the pre-tensioned state before the vehicle door is locked in the first position. Because of the pre-tensioned spring, the force to tension the spring does not need to be applied, or only partially, when closing the vehicle door. According to a further development, the motor is controlled in such a way that the spring is pre-tensioned so quickly and, accordingly, the door opening means is brought into the first lockable position so quickly that contact between the door opening means and the closing door is completely avoided. Consequently, the vehicle door is brought completely into the closed pivoting position without the vehicle user having to contribute their own strength to overcome the spring force, which corresponds to a closing process with a conventional vehicle door.This advantageously enables the vehicle door to be moved into the closed pivoting position, i.e. closed, with particularly little effort. This is particularly helpful for seniors and children. According to another development, the spring is not pre-tensioned by the motor so quickly that the door opening means does not intervene in the closing process of the vehicle door, but rather partially slows down the closing process. Consequently, in order to move the vehicle door into the closed pivoting position, the vehicle user must apply the difference in force between the force required to move the spring into the pre-tensioned state and the force provided by the motor. The advantage of this is that the closing process of the vehicle door is smoother and ends less abruptly.A non-limiting example of the aforementioned sensor is an angle sensor that measures the opening angle of the vehicle door relative to the door frame, or the change in the opening angle over time and thus the closing speed of the vehicle door. Another example is a distance sensor, for example an ultrasonic sensor, LIDAR sensor, or RADAR sensor. In particular, if the closing speed of the vehicle door is known, it is possible to use the control means to select the speed of the spring pretensioning such that the door opening means either does not intervene in the closing process or partially intervenes in the closing process, whereby in the latter case, part of the force required for closing must be applied by the vehicle user.

[0028] Vehicle doors in the closed pivot position are locked, i.e., subject to a locking mechanism. Accordingly, these vehicle doors cannot move independently into a wider open pivot position, but typically require the operation of a door handle. Locked vehicle doors may also be locked. Locking is typically achieved by turning a vehicle key in the vehicle door lock or by operating a vehicle key with a remote door opening function. Locked vehicle doors also cannot be moved into a wider open pivot position by operating the door handle, but require prior unlocking. In one embodiment of the door system described herein, it is desirable to release the locking of the door opening means in the first position, which is effected by the locking means.provided that the vehicle door is subject to a locking mechanism, with or without locking. According to a corresponding embodiment, the door system comprises a sensor for detecting the pivoting position of the vehicle door and a sensor for detecting the locking of the vehicle door, and furthermore a control means, wherein the control means can determine, based on the data acquired by the sensor for detecting the pivoting position, whether the vehicle door is in the closed pivoting position, and the control means can determine, based on the data acquired by the sensor for detecting the locking of the vehicle door, whether the vehicle door is locked, i.e., subject to a locking mechanism, wherein the control means is designed,When a vehicle door is in the closed pivot position and locked, the locking of the door opening means in the first position, effected by the locking means, is released, and the force provided by the operatively connected spring is thereby at least partially applied to the door opening means. A locked vehicle door is understood to mean one that cannot be returned to a further open pivot position without actuating a door handle. This includes both a vehicle door in which a locking mechanism, for example, a rotary latch as mentioned above, must be unlocked, for example by turning a vehicle key, in order to be able to move the vehicle door to a further open pivot position, as well as a vehicle door that is not locked but still requires the actuation of a door handle.in order to be able to move it into a wider open pivot position. If, based on the data supplied by the sensor for detecting the locking of the vehicle door, the control means determines that such a locking action has occurred, i.e., a detent, the locking action can be released via the locking means without the vehicle door moving independently from the closed pivot position to a wider open pivot position. Such a movement is only possible after the locked state, i.e., the detent, has been released, but is then advantageously very efficient due to the immediate release of the spring force already exerted on the vehicle door by the door opening means. The sensor for detecting the pivot position can, for example, in turn be a sensor for detecting the opening angle or the opening speed of the vehicle door.A distance sensor or a door contact sensor. The sensor for detecting the locking of the vehicle door can also be a door contact sensor, for example, provided that it provides positive feedback not only upon contact between the vehicle door and the vehicle frame, but only after the vehicle door has locked. This is the case, for example, if a vehicle door is forced to lock in the closed pivot position. The sensor for detecting the pivoting situation and the sensor for detecting the locking of the vehicle door can be identical if necessary.

[0029] In general, in the door system, the transition of the vehicle door from the closed pivot position to the partially open pivot position can occur according to the naturally occurring relaxation of the spring, depending on its spring constant and the forces counteracting the relaxation of the spring due to the weight of the vehicle door and corresponding frictional forces. In a special embodiment, however, it is provided that the transition from the pre-tensioned spring to the at least partially relaxed spring can be effected according to a predeterminable relaxation curve. Such a tension curve, which can in particular bring about a reduction in the spring forces acting on the vehicle door, can advantageously lead, for example, to a more uniform opening behavior of the vehicle door and / or to an increased perceived value of the opening movement.Furthermore, such a relaxation curve can prevent very high initial forces from acting on the vehicle door, as the spring initially attempts to relax from its pre-tensioned state with a high peak force. This can advantageously prevent unnecessary stress on vehicle door components. Furthermore, it is possible to adapt the opening behavior of the vehicle door to the individual preferences of the vehicle user.

[0030] According to a further development, such a predeterminable relaxation curve can be implemented via a damping device operatively connected to the door opening means. This damping device ensures that additional forces, in addition to those caused by the weight of the vehicle door and frictional forces caused when the vehicle door pivots, counteract the relaxation of the spring. As a non-limiting example, the damping device can be designed as a motor that is also used to bring the spring into the preloaded state. In this case, it is provided that when the locking of the door opening means in the first position is released, the motor exerts a predeterminable force on the spring depending on the relaxation curve, wherein this force counteracts the normal relaxation of the spring according to its spring characteristic. The motor can be controlled accordingly, for example, via a control means.According to another non-limiting example, it is a damping device in which the relaxation of the spring is slowed down by using an additional resistance applied by the damping device.

[0031] According to a further aspect, the object is achieved by a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, which comprises a door system as described herein.

[0032] According to a further aspect, the object is achieved by a method for controlling a door system as described herein, wherein the method comprises: detecting whether an actuating element is actuated to open the vehicle door, and, if the actuating element has been actuated, controlling the locking means to release the locking of the door opening means caused by the locking means. Corresponding implicit or explicit disclosures regarding this method, as well as other methods addressed below, have been made above with regard to the door system. Reference is made to these disclosures.

[0033] The object is achieved according to a further aspect by a method for controlling a door system as described herein, wherein the method comprises: detection of the pivoting situation of the vehicle door via a sensor, on the basis of the pivoting situation of the vehicle door, determination via a control means as to whether a closing operation of the vehicle door is present, in the event that a closing operation of the vehicle door is detected, control of the motor by the control means in such a way that the door opening means is locked in the first position before the vehicle door is completely closed.

[0034] According to a further aspect, the object is achieved by a method for controlling a door system as described herein, comprising: via a control means based on a sensor for detecting the pivoting situation of the vehicle door a sensor for detecting the locking of the vehicle door determining whether the vehicle door is locked in the closed pivoting position, and if so, via the control means canceling the locking of the door opening means in the first position caused by the locking means in order to at least partially release the force acting on the door opening means from the operatively connected spring.

[0035] Further advantages, features, and details will become apparent from the following description, in which at least one embodiment is described in detail—possibly with reference to the drawings. Identical, similar, and / or functionally equivalent parts are provided with the same reference numerals.

[0036] They show: Fig. 1 a schematic view of a door system with vehicle door in closed pivot position, Fig. 2 a schematic view of the door system with the vehicle door in a partially opened pivoting position, Fig. 3 a schematic view of the door system with the vehicle door in the closed pivoting position and other components, Fig. 4 a schematic view of the door system with the vehicle door in a partially opened pivoting position and other components, Fig. 5 a schematic diagram of a door system with damping device, Fig. 6 another schematic diagram of a door system with damping device, Fig. 7 a schematic flow diagram of a method for controlling a door system, Fig. 8 a schematic view of a vehicle with a door opening means.

[0037] Fig. 1 shows a schematic sectional view of a door system of a vehicle 36 shown only with regard to this section. The door system comprises a door frame 10 which is in contact with a vehicle door 12 which is in Fig. 1 is in the closed pivot position and thereby closes the door opening formed by the door frame 10. A door opener of the door system comprises a door opening means 14, which is designed, for example, as a plunger, as well as a spring 16, a locking means 18 and an actuating element 20. In Fig. 1, the door opening means 14 is shown in the first position, in which the door opening means 14 enables the vehicle door 12 to assume the closed pivoting position. Accordingly, the vehicle door 12 rests against the door frame 10, wherein any further components such as rubber seals or surface coverings are not shown in the schematic view. The spring 16 acting on the door opening means 14 is pretensioned, which in the example shown means a compression of the spring 16, however, the door opening means 14 is locked by the locking means 18, here exemplary designed as a latching lug which engages in a groove of the door opening means 14. An actuating element 20, for example a door handle or a remote control, is operatively connected to the locking means 18, which in Fig. 1 is symbolized by an arrow with a dashed line.

[0038] Fig. 2 shows the schematic view of the door system from Fig. 1 after actuation of the actuating element 20. This releases the locking of the door opening means 14 in the first position, causing the door opening means 14 to assume a second position by relaxing the spring 16 and pivoting the vehicle door 12 into the partially open pivot position. This creates a gap between the door frame 10 and the vehicle door 12, into which a vehicle user's hand can reach in order to pivot the vehicle door 12 into an even wider open pivot position. For the sake of clarity, other optional components, for example, components that limit how far the door opening means 14 can be displaced from the first position to reach a second position, are not shown.

[0039] Fig. 3 shows the schematic view of Fig. 1, wherein a motor 22 and a force transmission means 24, for example a Bowden cable, are shown as additional components between the motor 22 and the door opening means 14. The motor 22 provides the possibility of moving the door opening means 14 into the first position via the force transmission means 24, wherein the motor 22 applies all or part of the force required to build up a corresponding preload of the spring 16. Other optionally present components, such as deflection pulleys and / or guides for a force transmission means 24 designed as a Bowden cable, are not shown.

[0040] Fig. 4 shows the schematic view of Fig. 3, wherein the locking via the locking means 18 is released and the door opening means 14 is in the second position. Additional components shown include a control means 26, for example an electronic circuit board with corresponding control logic or control software implemented in a vehicle central computer. The actuating element 20 is operatively connected to the locking means 18 via the control means 26, which in turn is symbolized by dashed arrows. Accordingly, the control means 26 is designed to effect locking or release of the locking of the door opening means 14 by the locking means 18 based on data about the actuation of the actuating means 20. Also shown is a sensor 28, 28a for detecting a pivoting situation of the vehicle door 12, which in this case simultaneously represents a sensor 28, 28b for detecting a latching of the vehicle door 12.If the door opening means 14 is locked in the first position and a vehicle door in the closed pivot position and locked is detected by this sensor 28, 28a, 28b, the control means 26 can release the locking of the door opening means 14 caused by the locking means 18. Accordingly, the spring force provided by the spring 16 can act on the locked vehicle door 12 in the closed pivot position.

[0041] Fig. 5 shows a schematic diagram of a door system with a damping device 30. A motor 22 is releasably operatively connected via a damping device 30 to a door opening means 14, which in turn is operatively connected to a spring 16. The motor 22 can be controlled via a control means 26. The door opening means 14 can be moved from a first position, in which the spring 16 is pretensioned, to a second position, in which the spring 16 is at least partially relaxed, according to a relaxation curve that can be predetermined via the damping device 30. The predeterminable tension curve can, for example, be fixedly predetermined or can be variably predetermined via the control means 26. An example of a damping device is a transmission that can be shifted via the control means 26.

[0042] Fig. 6 shows a further schematic diagram of a door system with a damping device 30. This comprises a rack 32 into which a gear 34 engages. A motor 22 is connected, if necessary decoupled, to the door opening means 14 via the rack 32 of the damping device 30. During the transition from the first position of the door opening means 14 to the second position, which is brought about by relaxing the spring 16, the movement of the rack 32 can be specifically influenced via the gear 34. Optionally, the resistance that the gear 34 opposes to the movement of the rack 32 can be adjusted via the control means 26.

[0043] Fig. 7 shows a schematic flow diagram of a method for controlling a door system, wherein in a step 100 it is determined whether an actuating element for opening a vehicle door is actuated, and in the event that the actuating element has been actuated, in a step 150 the locking means is actuated to cancel the locking of the door opening means caused by the locking means.

[0044] Fig. Figure 8 shows a schematic view of a vehicle 36 having a door frame 10 with a pivotally mounted vehicle door 12. An exemplary position of a door opening means 14 is indicated; further components such as a spring or a locking means are not shown for clarity. The door opening means 14 is located behind the surface of the vehicle door 12 facing the viewer and is therefore represented by a dotted line.

[0045] Although the invention has been illustrated and explained in detail by means of preferred embodiments, the invention is not limited by the disclosed examples, and other variations can be derived therefrom by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention. It is therefore clear that a multitude of possible variations exist. In particular, the individual embodiments and developments, or elements thereof, can be combined with one another. It is also clear that embodiments mentioned by way of example really only represent examples that are not to be construed in any way as limiting the scope, possible applications, or configuration of the invention.Rather, the preceding description and the description of the figures enable the person skilled in the art to implement the exemplary embodiments in concrete terms, whereby the person skilled in the art, with knowledge of the disclosed inventive concept, can make various changes, for example with regard to the function or the arrangement of individual elements mentioned in an exemplary embodiment, without departing from the scope of protection defined by the claims and their legal equivalents, such as further explanations in the description. List of reference symbols 10 door frames 12 vehicle door 14 Door opening devices 16 spring 18 locking devices 20 Actuating element 22 Engine 24 Power transmission means 26 control means 28, 28a Sensor for determining a pivoting situation of a vehicle door 28, 28b Sensor for determining the locking of a vehicle door 30 Damping device 32 rack 34 gear 36 vehicles 100, 150 process steps

Claims

[1] Door system for a vehicle (36), comprising - a door frame (10) forming a door opening, - a vehicle door (12) pivotally mounted on the door frame (10) to close the door opening when the vehicle door (12) is in a closed pivot position, - a door opener, by means of which the vehicle door (12) can be brought from the closed pivot position into a partially open pivot position, wherein the door opener comprises a door opening means (14), at least one spring (16) operatively connected to the door opening means (14), and a locking means (18), wherein the door opening means (14) is designed, when the spring (16) is pretensioned, to assume a first position lockable by means of the locking means (18), in which the door opening means (14) enables the vehicle door (12) to assume the closed pivot position, and when the spring (16) is at least partially relaxed, to assume a second position in which, mediated by the door opening means (14), the vehicle door (12) is in the partially open pivot position, wherein the door opener comprises an actuating element (20) operatively connected to the locking means (18) for opening the vehicle door (12), which actuating element is designed,when actuated, to release the locking of the door opening means (14) in the first position by means of the locking means (18), characterized by that the spring (16) can be brought into the pre-tensioned state by means of a motor (22) acting on the door opening means (14), wherein the door opening means (14) is operatively connected to the motor (22) via a force transmission means (24) which is designed as a Bowden cable. [2] Door system according to claim 1, characterized by that the locking means (18) is designed to act directly on the door opening means (14) and / or to act indirectly on the door opening means (14) via the force transmission means (24). [3] Door system according to claim 2, characterized by that the locking means (18) is operatively connected to a locking element of a vehicle door lock for locking the vehicle (36). [4] Door system according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized bythat the door opener is arranged on the vehicle door (12). [5] Door system according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by that the door opener is arranged on the door frame (10). [6] Door system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the actuating element for opening the vehicle door (12) is a door handle which is operatively connected to the locking means (18) mechanically, electromechanically, and / or via a control means (26). [7] Door system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the actuating element (20) for opening the vehicle door (12) is a remote control which is operatively connected to the locking means (18) mechanically, electromechanically and / or via a control means (26) via a wireless connection. [8] Door system according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized bythat the door system further comprises a sensor (28, 28a) for detecting the pivoting position of the vehicle door (12) and a control means (26) via which a closing operation of the vehicle door (12) can be determined on the basis of the data detectable by the sensor (28, 28a), wherein the control means (26) is designed, upon detection of a closing operation of the vehicle door (12), to control the motor (22) in such a way that the door opening means (14) is locked in the first position before the closed pivoting position of the vehicle door (12) is reached. [9] Door system according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by that the door system - a sensor (28, 28a) for detecting the pivoting position of the vehicle door (12) and - a sensor (28, 28b) for detecting the locking of the vehicle door (12), and further - comprises a control means (26), wherein the control means (26) can determine, on the basis of the data detectable by the sensor (28, 28a) for detecting the pivoting position, whether the vehicle door (12) is in the closed pivoting position, and the control means (26) can determine, on the basis of the data supplied by the sensor (28, 28b) for detecting the locking of the vehicle door (12), whether the vehicle door (12) is locked, wherein the control means (26) is designed, when the vehicle door (12) is in the closed pivoting position and is locked, to release the locking of the door opening means (14) in the first position effected by the locking means (18) and to allow the force releasable by the operatively connected spring (16) to act at least partially on the door opening means (14). [10] Door system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the transition from the pre-tensioned spring (16) to the at least partially relaxed spring (16) can be effected according to a predeterminable relaxation curve. [11] Door system according to claim 10, characterized by that the predeterminable relaxation curve can be implemented via a damping device (30) operatively connected to the door opening means (14). [12] Vehicle (36), in particular motor vehicle, comprising a door system according to one of the preceding claims. [13] A method for controlling a door system according to any one of claims 1 to 11, comprising: - Detection of whether an actuating element (20) is actuated to open the vehicle door (12), - in the event that the actuating element (20) has been actuated, actuating the locking means (18) to release the locking of the door opening means (14) effected by the locking means (18). [14] A method according to claim 13 for controlling a door system according to claim 8, comprising: - Detection of the pivoting situation of the vehicle door (12) via a sensor, - based on the pivoting situation of the vehicle door (12), determining via a control means (26) whether a closing operation of the vehicle door (12) is taking place, - in the event that a closing operation of the vehicle door (12) is detected, actuation of the motor (22) by the control means (26) such that the door opening means (14) is locked in the first position before the vehicle door (12) is completely closed. [15] A method according to any one of claims 13 or 14 for controlling a door system according to claim 9, comprising: - via a control means (26) using a sensor (28, 28a) for detecting the pivoting situation of the vehicle door and a sensor (28, 28b) for detecting the locking of the vehicle door (12), determining whether the vehicle door (12) is locked in the closed pivoting position, and - if so, via the control means (26) the locking of the door opening means (14) in the first position effected by the locking means (18) is cancelled in order to allow the force releasable by the operatively connected spring (12) to act at least partially on the door opening means (14).

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