Illumination of a vehicle door gap to support the operability of automatic door opening systems

Abstract

Door system (1) for a vehicle (100), comprising a vehicle door (3), a locking unit (5) for setting a locking state of the vehicle door (3), an operating element (7) arranged on the vehicle door (3) for a vehicle user, a first light source (9), and a control unit (11) of the vehicle (100) connected to the locking unit (5) and to the first light source, wherein the first light source (9) is arranged such that the first light source (9) illuminates sections of the vehicle door (3) and / or sections of the body in the region of the door gap between the vehicle door (3) and the body, wherein the control unit (11) is designed to receive signals from an electronic key for the vehicle (100) and to control the locking unit (5) depending on the signals from the electronic key, and to control the first light source (9) depending on the closed state of the vehicle door (3) and / or depending on a communication state of the electronic key with the control unit (11) of the vehicle (100), wherein the control unit (11) is designed to control the first light source (9) for at least one specific closed state of the vehicle door (3) or a specific communication state of the electronic key with the control unit (11) to illuminate a location of the sections of the vehicle door (3) and / or the sections of the body assigned to the operating element (7),and to control the first light source (9) to emit a brightness profile with a brightness maximum that can be shifted over time across the sections of the vehicle door (3) and / or the sections of the body, such that the brightness maximum runs at a predetermined speed in the direction of the location of the sections of the vehicle door (3) and / or the sections of the body assigned to the operating element (7), wherein the first light source (9) has a plurality of sections, wherein the control unit (11) is designed to control the sections of the first light source with different brightness values and / or different color values depending on the closed state of the vehicle door (3) and / or depending on the communication state of the electronic key with the control unit (11).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a door system for a vehicle, in particular having a first light source, and to a method for emitting a light signal by a first light source of a door system of a vehicle.

[0002] It is known in the art that a vehicle can be unlocked and locked automatically when a user approaches. This means that the driver no longer needs to press a button on a vehicle key. In such a so-called "keyless go" system, a transponder is located from the vehicle. One or all vehicle doors can be opened, in particular, when the driver carries a correspondingly identifiable transponder and approaches the vehicle far enough that the range of the transponder is sufficient to establish data transmission between a vehicle control unit and the transponder. After exchanging and verifying access authorization, the position of the mobile transponder is continuously located, for example via so-called "polling" or triangulation.

[0003] In this regard, DE 10 2018 005 763 A1 relates to a method for operating a functional unit of a motor vehicle using an identification system, in which, in particular, at least a first authorization is requested using the identification system to operate the functional unit. Furthermore, an identification signal is transmitted as authorization to an identification device using a mobile identification element, and the functional unit is operated after receiving the identification signal.

[0004] If a vehicle door is unlocked by the vehicle's control unit, the vehicle door can be moved into a predefined position using servo assistance, and in particular opened by a gap. Regarding this aspect, DE 10 2018 008 212 A1 relates to a door lock assembly for a vehicle door, wherein the door lock assembly in particular has a push element connected to an actuator for automatically opening the vehicle door relative to the vehicle body up to a limit opening angle.

[0005] US 2012 / 0 106 182 A1 discloses a door handle for a vehicle in which a light source is arranged within the door handle. The light source can be controlled depending on the closing state of the respective door.

[0006] From DE 10 2014 100 144 A1 a vehicle door is known in which a lighting system, in response to received signals from a portable transmitting device, imitates light that indicates the status of a lock of the vehicle door.

[0007] From DE 10 2006 035 521 A1 a motor vehicle is known, comprising a lighting device integrated in the side panel of a side door for illuminating an area near the door outside the vehicle when the side door is opened, wherein the lighting device has a plurality of light sources arranged along the side panel.

[0008] From DE 10 2014 017 775 A1 a lighting device for a vehicle body is known, which has a lighting element which is arranged opposite the gap in such a way that light emerging from a light exit surface of the lighting element emerges from the gap.

[0009] DE 29917921 U1 further relates to a vehicle door having a door handle mounted on its outside, which can be grasped to open the vehicle door, wherein a lighting arrangement is provided in the region of the door handle and is arranged such that, when switched on, it essentially only illuminates the part of the outside of the vehicle door located in the immediate vicinity of the door handle.

[0010] Particularly when such a system is advantageously used to position a vehicle door control element less prominently from the vehicle door or the vehicle body, the control element is more difficult for the driver to locate and may be less intuitive to use. Unlike manually unlocking a vehicle, with the automatic systems mentioned above, not every action of the door system correlates with an action by the vehicle user. This could leave the vehicle user unclear about the status of the door system.

[0011] It is therefore an object of the invention to improve the operability of such a door system for a vehicle door and to make it more comfortable for the user.

[0012] The invention is based on the features of the independent claims. Advantageous developments and refinements are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0013] A first aspect of the invention relates to a door system for a vehicle, comprising a vehicle door, a locking unit for setting a locking state of the vehicle door, an operating element arranged on the vehicle door for a vehicle user, a first light source, and a control unit of the vehicle connected to the locking unit and to the first light source, wherein the first light source is arranged such that the first light source illuminates sections of the vehicle door and / or sections of the body in the region of the door gap between the vehicle door and the body, wherein the control unit is designed to receive signals from an electronic key for the vehicle and to control the locking unit depending on the signals from the electronic key,and to control the first light source depending on the locking state of the vehicle door and / or depending on a communication state of the electronic key with the control unit of the vehicle.,

[0014] The vehicle is preferably a car, truck, bus, agricultural machinery, construction vehicle, train (rail)car, or emergency vehicle.

[0015] The first light source can, on the one hand, be a single logical light source, wherein the sections of the vehicle door to be illuminated and / or the sections of the body to be illuminated are distributed by distributing the light from the first light source, preferably by means of optical fibers; on the other hand, the first light source can be composed of various individual sources. In the latter case, the first light source comprises, in particular, a plurality of light source elements, preferably LED elements, which are furthermore preferably arranged behind a transparent diffusion element in order to ensure uniform radiation characteristics of the light source elements. The first light source can be arranged on the vehicle door itself or on the body of the vehicle. The first light source is preferably arranged directly in the contact area between the vehicle door and the body itself.Furthermore, first light source elements of the first light source are preferably arranged on the vehicle door itself, and second light source elements of the first light source are arranged on the vehicle body. In any case, the light source elements of the first light source are arranged such that the vehicle door can be illuminated at least partially in the area of the door gap opposite the body.

[0016] The vehicle's control unit is not necessarily located on the vehicle door itself or in the area of the vehicle door on the vehicle body; the control unit can also be a central control unit of the vehicle.

[0017] The operating element is preferably connected to the locking unit, but can also preferably be connected directly to the control unit. The operating element serves in particular to unlock the vehicle door and transfer it to a freely movable state. In contrast, the locking unit serves in particular to set the closed state, i.e., to lock the vehicle door or to unlock it from the body. The operating element is also preferably connected to the control unit so that the control unit can determine a state of the operating element and, based on the determined state of the operating element, can control the first light source accordingly.

[0018] The electronic key is designed, in particular, to transmit signals to the vehicle's control unit via radio transmission, so that simply by approaching the vehicle user, the control unit controls the locking unit to set the locking state of the vehicle door. The locking state of the vehicle door relates, in particular, to a state of a vehicle lock, i.e., whether the vehicle door is locked or unlocked, and furthermore, in particular, to an opening state of the vehicle door. Preferably, the vehicle's control unit is further connected to an actuator, so that when the vehicle user approaches the vehicle, the control unit not only controls a door lock to unlock it, but also the actuator to initially open the vehicle door relative to the vehicle body by an initial limit opening angle.

[0019] The communication state of the electronic key with the control unit of the vehicle further relates in particular to whether the electronic key communicates with the control unit at all, which is particularly the case when the electronic key is located within a certain radius around the control unit or around a receiving unit of the control unit, and in particular also when the electronic key communicates with the control unit at least unidirectionally.

[0020] An advantageous effect of the invention is that the vehicle user is intuitively informed of the locked and / or opened state of the vehicle door, so that the vehicle user can easily understand the opening state of the vehicle door, especially in the case of an actuator-assisted initial opening of the vehicle door. This advantageously facilitates operation of the vehicle door, especially if the vehicle is equipped with an automatic door system as described above.

[0021] According to the invention, the control unit is designed to control the first light source for at least one specific locking state of the vehicle door or a specific communication state of the electronic key with the control unit to illuminate a location of the sections of the vehicle door and / or the sections of the body assigned to the control element. Particularly in the case of control elements on a vehicle door that are arranged rather discreetly and inconspicuously on the vehicle door, the vehicle user is intuitively guided to the control element by appropriate lighting and can locate and operate it without a lengthy search, even when the vehicle is automatically unlocked by a control unit.

[0022] According to an advantageous embodiment, the first light source is arranged such that a radiation area of the first light source strikes the sections of the vehicle door to be illuminated and / or the illuminated sections of the body, so that only the reflection of the light emitted by the first light source on the vehicle door or on the body is visible to a vehicle user. This advantageously ensures that other road users never look directly into the first light source and could thus be blinded by it. Furthermore, this embodiment advantageously allows for more uniform illumination on the respective sections of the vehicle door or the body.

[0023] According to the invention, the control unit is designed to control the first light source to emit a brightness gradient with a brightness maximum that can be shifted over time across the sections of the vehicle door and / or the sections of the body, such that the brightness maximum moves at a predetermined speed toward the location of the sections of the vehicle door and / or the sections of the body assigned to the control element. In particular, a control element arranged discreetly and inconspicuously on the vehicle door is thus easier for the vehicle user to find. For example, the control element could be arranged behind a shell or behind a flap.

[0024] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the operating element is arranged on an outer side of the vehicle door. The outer side of the vehicle door is, in particular, that part of a surface of the vehicle door that faces away from the interior of the vehicle and toward the surroundings of the vehicle.

[0025] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the operating element is arranged on a front side of the vehicle door. The front side of the vehicle door is, in particular, the side that is guided to a front side of a body pillar when the vehicle door is closed, so that when the vehicle door is closed, the front side of the vehicle door and the front side of the body pillar are arranged adjacent to one another.

[0026] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the door system further comprises a second light source, wherein the second light source is arranged in the region of the operating element such that the second light source illuminates the operating element. The control unit is preferably designed to control the first light source and the second light source synchronously with one another. Alternatively, different control of the first light source and the second light source is possible. The second light source advantageously allows the position of the operating element on the vehicle door to be displayed to the vehicle user even more precisely and conveniently.

[0027] According to the invention, the first light source has a plurality of sections, wherein the control unit is designed to control the sections of the first light source with different brightness values and / or different color values depending on the locking state of the vehicle door and / or depending on the communication state of the electronic key with the control unit. The various controllable sections of the first light source advantageously allow a light pattern or color pattern associated with the respective locking state of the vehicle door and / or the respective communication state of the electronic key with the control unit to be displayed in such a way that it is recognized as intuitively and clearly as possible by the vehicle user.

[0028] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the control unit is designed to emit a warning light from the first light source and / or the second light source when the vehicle door is open with an opening angle above a predefined threshold value to warn of other vehicles approaching the vehicle from behind. The warning light advantageously serves to warn other vehicles approaching from behind when the vehicle door is open, in order to avoid a collision between the other vehicles and the vehicle door as far as possible.

[0029] Another aspect of the invention relates to a vehicle with a door system as described above and below.

[0030] A further aspect of the invention relates to a method for emitting a light signal by a first light source of a door system of a vehicle, wherein the door system has a vehicle door, a locking unit for setting a locking state of the vehicle door, an operating element arranged on the vehicle door for a vehicle user, a first light source, and a control unit of the vehicle connected to the locking unit and to the first light source, wherein the first light source is arranged such that the first light source illuminates sections of the vehicle door and / or sections of the body in the region of the door gap between the vehicle door and the body, comprising the steps: - Receiving signals from an electronic key for the vehicle, - controlling the first light source to illuminate sections of the vehicle door and / or sections of the body in the area of the door gap between the vehicle door and the body in a first light mode, - Controlling the locking unit to unlock the vehicle door, and - Controlling the first light source to illuminate the sections of the vehicle door and / or the sections of the body in the area of the door gap between the vehicle door and the body in a second light mode, wherein the control unit controls the first light source for at least one specific locking state of the vehicle door or a specific communication state of the electronic key with the control unit to illuminate a location of the sections of the vehicle door and / or the sections of the body assigned to the operating element, and the first light source is controlled to emit a brightness profile with a brightness maximum that can be shifted over time across the sections of the vehicle door and / or the sections of the body such that the brightness maximum moves at a predetermined speed in the direction of the location of the sections of the vehicle door and / or the sections of the body assigned to the operating element,and wherein the sections of the first light source are controlled by the control unit with different brightness values and / or different color values depending on the locking state of the vehicle door and / or depending on the communication state of the electronic key with the control unit.,

[0031] Advantages and preferred developments of the proposed method result from an analogous and analogous transfer of the statements made above in connection with the proposed door system.

[0032] 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.

[0033] They show: Fig. 1 a vehicle with a door system according to an embodiment of the invention, Fig. 2 sections of a door system according to a further embodiment of the invention, and Fig. 3 a method for outputting a light signal by a first light source of a door system according to a further embodiment of the invention.

[0034] The representations in the figures are schematic and not to scale.

[0035] Fig. 1 shows a vehicle 100 with a door system 1. The door system 1 has a vehicle door 3 and a locking unit 5 for setting a locking state, i.e., for locking and unlocking the vehicle door 3. Furthermore, the door system 1 has an operating element 7 for a vehicle user, arranged on the outside of the vehicle door 3. The operating element 7 is designed as a door handle and arranged beneath a shell. A first light source 9 of the door system 1 is arranged such that the first light source 9 illuminates sections of the vehicle door 3 and sections of the body in the region of the door gap between the vehicle door 3 and the body with diffuse light. For this purpose, the first light source 9 has a plurality of LED elements arranged on an end face of the vehicle door 3.The radiation direction of the respective LED elements points tangentially to the front of the vehicle door 3, so that a following vehicle or other road users do not look directly into the LED elements themselves, but only see the reflection of the LED elements on the front of the vehicle door 3 and also on the body of the vehicle 100. Such a reflection creates a diffuse light in the door gap between the front of the vehicle door 3 and the body of the vehicle 100. Furthermore, the door system 1 has a control unit 11 connected to the locking unit 5 and to the first light source 9. This control unit 11 can receive signals from an electronic key for the vehicle 100 by means of a receiving module and controls the locking unit 5 upon receiving signals to itself or certain signals.Furthermore, the control unit 11 controls the first light source 9 in correlation thereto, i.e. depending on the closed state of the vehicle door 3 and depending on a communication state of the electronic key with the control unit 11. Furthermore, the door system 1 has a second light source 13, wherein the second light source 13 is arranged in the region of the operating element 7 such that the second light source 11 illuminates the operating element 7. If the control unit 11 has controlled the locking unit 5 to unlock a lock of the vehicle door 3, it also controls the first light source 9 to illuminate a location of the sections of the vehicle door 3 and the sections of the body assigned to the operating element 7, and controls the second light source 13 synchronously therewith. Details of a possible topology of such a door system 1 are shown in . Fig. 2. Furthermore, the control unit 11 controls the first light source 9 and the second light source 13 when the vehicle door 3 is opened with an opening angle above a predefined limit value to emit a warning light to warn of other vehicles approaching the vehicle 100 from behind.

[0036] Fig. 2 shows a possible logical structure of a door system 1. Here, the locking unit 5 has a lock jaw and a catch eye, wherein the operating element 7 designed as a door handle is mechanically connected to the locking unit 5. When a corresponding signal is sent from the electronic key S to the control unit 11, the control unit 11 controls the locking unit 5 to unlock the lock located in the locking unit 5, so that the vehicle door 3 can be opened by an angle by actuating the operating element 7 designed as a door handle. An actuator A is controlled by the control unit 11 to initially open the vehicle door 3 by a predetermined opening angle, which simplifies the opening of the vehicle door 3 by the vehicle user, particularly when the vehicle door 3 is icy.If the control unit 11 has controlled the locking unit 5 to unlock a lock on the vehicle door 3, it also controls the first light source 9 to illuminate a location of the sections of the vehicle door 3 and the sections of the body that is assigned to the operating element 7. For this purpose, the first light source 9 has a plurality of sections, wherein the control unit 11 controls the sections of the first light source 9 with different brightness values and different color values depending on the locking state of the vehicle door 3 and depending on the communication state of the electronic key S with the control unit 11. The sections of the first light source 9 are shown in the . Fig. 2 by the references 9.1, 9.2, and 9.3. The control unit 11 controls the first light source 9 to emit a brightness gradient with a brightness maximum that can be shifted over time across the sections of the vehicle door 3 and the sections of the body, such that the brightness maximum moves at a predetermined speed in the direction of the location of the sections of the vehicle door 3 and the sections of the body assigned to the control element 7.

[0037] Fig. 3 shows a method for outputting a light signal by a first light source 9 of a door system 1 of a vehicle 100, wherein the door system 1 has a vehicle door 3, a locking unit 5 for setting a closed state of the vehicle door 3, an operating element 7 arranged on the vehicle door 3 for a vehicle user, a first light source 9, and a control unit 11 of the vehicle 100 connected to the locking unit 5 and to the first light source 9, wherein the first light source 9 is arranged such that the first light source 9 illuminates sections of the vehicle door 3 and / or sections of the body in the region of the door gap between the vehicle door 3 and the body. The method has the following steps, wherein in Fig. 3 the illuminated areas of the door system 1 are marked with dashed borders: - receiving S1 signals from an electronic key for the vehicle 100, - Controlling S2 of the first light source 9 to illuminate sections of the vehicle door 3 and sections of the body in the area of the door gap between the vehicle door 3 and the body in a first light mode and controlling the second light source 13 by the control unit 11, whereby a peripheral area of a door gap and a side mirror of the vehicle are illuminated, - Control S3 of the locking unit 5 to unlock the vehicle door 3 while illuminating the control element 7 by the second light source 13, and - Controlling S4 the first light source to illuminate the sections of the vehicle door 3 and the sections of the body in the region of the door gap between the vehicle door 3 and the body in a second light mode, wherein the second light mode is a warning light to warn of other vehicles approaching the vehicle (100) from behind and the warning light is arranged in a lower section of the front side of the vehicle door 3.

[0038] Although the invention has been illustrated and explained in detail by preferred embodiments, the invention is not limited by the disclosed examples, and other variations may be derived therefrom by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention. It is therefore clear that numerous variations exist. It is also clear that exemplary embodiments are truly only examples and should not be construed as limiting the scope, possible applications, or configuration of the invention in any way.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 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.

Claims

[1] Door system (1) for a vehicle (100), comprising a vehicle door (3), a locking unit (5) for setting a locking state of the vehicle door (3), an operating element (7) arranged on the vehicle door (3) for a vehicle user, a first light source (9), and a control unit (11) of the vehicle (100) connected to the locking unit (5) and to the first light source, wherein the first light source (9) is arranged such that the first light source (9) illuminates sections of the vehicle door (3) and / or sections of the body in the region of the door gap between the vehicle door (3) and the body, wherein the control unit (11) is designed to receive signals from an electronic key for the vehicle (100) and to control the locking unit (5) depending on the signals from the electronic key, and to control the first light source (9) depending on the closed state of the vehicle door (3) and / or depending on a communication state of the electronic key with the control unit (11) of the vehicle (100), wherein the control unit (11) is designed to control the first light source (9) for at least one specific closed state of the vehicle door (3) or a specific communication state of the electronic key with the control unit (11) to illuminate a location of the sections of the vehicle door (3) and / or the sections of the body assigned to the operating element (7),and to control the first light source (9) to emit a brightness profile with a brightness maximum that can be shifted over time across the sections of the vehicle door (3) and / or the sections of the body, such that the brightness maximum runs at a predetermined speed in the direction of the location of the sections of the vehicle door (3) and / or the sections of the body assigned to the operating element (7), wherein the first light source (9) has a plurality of sections, wherein the control unit (11) is designed to control the sections of the first light source with different brightness values and / or different color values depending on the closed state of the vehicle door (3) and / or depending on the communication state of the electronic key with the control unit (11). [2] Door system (1) according to claim 1, wherein the operating element (7) is arranged on an outer side of the vehicle door (3). [3] Door system (1) according to claim 1, wherein the operating element (7) is arranged on a front side of the vehicle door (3). [4] Door system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising a second light source (13), wherein the second light source (13) is arranged in the region of the operating element (7) such that the second light source (13) illuminates the operating element (7). [5] Door system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control unit (11) is designed to output the first light source (9) and / or the second light source (11) when the vehicle door (3) is opened with an opening angle above a predefined limit value to output a warning light to warn of other vehicles approaching the vehicle (100) from behind. [6] Vehicle (100) with a door system (1) according to one of the preceding claims. [7] A method for emitting a light signal by a first light source (9) of a door system (1) of a vehicle (100), wherein the door system (1) has a vehicle door (3), a locking unit (5) for setting a locking state of the vehicle door (3), an operating element (7) arranged on the vehicle door (3) for a vehicle user, a first light source (9) having a plurality of sections, and a control unit (11) of the vehicle (100) connected to the locking unit (5) and to the first light source (9), wherein the first light source (9) is arranged such that the first light source (9) illuminates sections of the vehicle door (3) and / or sections of the body in the region of the door gap between the vehicle door (3) and the body, comprising the steps: - receiving (S1) signals from an electronic key for the vehicle (100), - controlling (S2) the first light source (9) to illuminate sections of the vehicle door (3) and / or sections of the body in the region of the door gap between the vehicle door (3) and the body in a first light mode, - Controlling (S3) the locking unit (5) for unlocking and initial actuating the vehicle door (3), and - Controlling (S4) the first light source (9) to illuminate the sections of the vehicle door (3) and / or the sections of the body in the region of the door gap between the vehicle door (3) and the body in a second light mode, wherein the control unit (11) controls the first light source (9) for at least one specific closed state of the vehicle door (3) or a specific communication state of the electronic key with the control unit (11) to illuminate a location of the sections of the vehicle door (3) and / or the sections of the body assigned to the operating element (7), and the first light source (9) is controlled to emit a brightness profile with a brightness maximum that can be shifted over time across the sections of the vehicle door (3) and / or the sections of the body,that the brightness maximum runs at a predetermined speed in the direction of the location of the sections of the vehicle door (3) and / or the sections of the body assigned to the operating element (7), and wherein the sections of the first light source (9) are controlled by the control unit (11) with different brightness values and / or different color values depending on the closed state of the vehicle door (3) and / or depending on the communication state of the electronic key with the control unit (11).

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