Vehicle door structure

Abstract

Vehicle door structure (10), comprising: a door handle (20) arranged in a door panel (12A) that forms part of a vehicle door (12); a locking mechanism (18) which is arranged in the vehicle door (12) and is configured to maintain a closed state of the vehicle door (12) when the vehicle door (12) is in the closed state; a release section (32) which is arranged in the door handle (20) and is configured so that it is at least partially exposed to the outside and pivots in relation to the door handle (20); an electric release actuation mechanism (28) with an actuator configured to release the locking mechanism (18) when the release section (32) is pivoted; and a locking sensor section (34) arranged in a part of the unlocking section (32), the part being exposed to the outside and the locking sensor section (34) being configured to detect a change in an electrostatic capacitance, characterized by the fact that the locking mechanism (18) maintains the closed state of the vehicle door (12) by engaging with a catch hook (15) arranged on a vehicle body (14); the actuator of the electric unlocking actuation mechanism (28) releases the locking mechanism (18) from the catch hook (15); the locking sensor section (34) is arranged through the door handle (20) and the unlocking section (32); and a curved section (34A) is arranged in the locking sensor section (34) between the door handle (20) and the unlocking section (32), wherein the curved section (34A) serves as a pivot point of the unlocking section (32).

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to a vehicle door structure. 2. Description of the state of the art

[0002] Japanese patent application JP 2014-156753A discloses an invention relating to a door handle device. In this door handle device, a door handle is arranged on the outside of a vehicle door, and a locking sensor plate and an unlocking sensor plate are arranged inside the door handle. The locking sensor plate and the unlocking sensor plate detect contact with a user based on changes in electrostatic capacitance. Once the locking sensor plate and the unlocking sensor plate detect contact with the user, the vehicle door is locked or unlocked, depending on the situation at that time.

[0003] Japanese patent application JP 2017-166265A discloses an invention relating to a vehicle door handle device. The vehicle door handle device performs a locking release by actuating an electric actuator. Therefore, a vehicle door can be opened when a switch of the electric actuator is pressed.

[0004] From DE 102 29 446 A1, a further door handle device according to the preamble of claim 1 is known, in which a sensor electrode for detecting the presence of a person is installed in a door handle of a motor vehicle, wherein a slot which opens on a door-side surface of a door handle body is formed in a door handle body and the sensor electrode, which is covered with a synthetic resin mold or plastic mold, is housed in the slot. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] It is assumed that the switch disclosed in JP 2017-166265A is located in the vehicle door within a door handle, and that the electrical actuator can be activated when the door handle is gripped. In this case, the unlocking sensor plate and the like, located inside the door handle disclosed in JP 2014-156753A, could be positioned away from where the handle is gripped by the user. In this case, the detection performance of the unlocking sensor plate and the like could be impaired. Therefore, there is room for improvement in these aspects within the prior art.

[0006] The invention provides a vehicle door structure that is able to limit a deterioration in the detection performance of a sensor installed inside a door handle.

[0007] A first aspect of the invention is a vehicle door assembly. The vehicle door assembly comprises a door handle arranged in a door panel or door trim that forms part of a vehicle door, a locking mechanism arranged in the vehicle door, a release section arranged in the door handle, an electrical release actuation mechanism with an actuator, and a locking sensor section arranged in a portion of the release section, the portion being exposed to the outside. The locking mechanism is configured to maintain the closed state of the vehicle door when it is in a closed position by engaging a catch hook or locking bar arranged on the vehicle body. The release section is configured to be at least partially exposed to the outside and pivots relative to the door handle.The actuator is configured so that when the release section is pivoted, it disengages the locking mechanism from the catch. The locking sensor section is configured to detect a change in electrostatic capacitance. The locking sensor section extends through the door handle and the release section, and a curved section is located within the locking sensor section between the door handle and the release section. This curved section serves as the pivot point for the pivoting of the release section.

[0008] According to the first aspect, the vehicle door is equipped with the door handle and the locking mechanism. The door handle is located in the door panel, which forms part of the vehicle door. The locking mechanism is configured to maintain the closed position of the vehicle door by engaging with the catch or striker located on the vehicle body. The door handle incorporates the release section, which is configured to be at least partially exposed to the outside and pivot relative to the door handle. When the release section pivots, the actuator of the electric unlocking mechanism is activated to disengage the locking mechanism from the catch.Furthermore, the locking sensor section is located in the part of the unlocking section that is exposed on the outside of the door handle. The locking sensor section is configured to detect changes in electrostatic capacitance. Therefore, the locking sensor section is positioned close to a user's finger when the user grasps the door handle and operates the unlocking section. This ensures more reliable detection of changes in electrostatic capacitance.

[0009] According to the first aspect, it is possible to limit the deterioration of the detection or recognition performance of a sensor located in the door handle.

[0010] Since the curved section serves as the pivot point for the unlocking section, the locking sensor section also functions as the energy source for the pivoting unlocking section. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the number of components. Furthermore, the aforementioned configuration allows for cost reduction.

[0011] In the first aspect, the locking sensor section can be attached to the unlocking section at a position within the unlocking section in the door handle.

[0012] Since, in the above configuration, the locking sensor section can be mounted on the unlocking section at a position within the unlocking section of the door handle, the locking sensor section is not exposed to the outside. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a malfunction of the locking sensor section caused by foreign objects adhering to it.

[0013] With the aforementioned configuration, it is possible to prevent a deterioration in the detection performance of the sensor installed inside the door handle even more reliably.

[0014] In the first aspect, the locking sensor section can have a plate-shaped cross-section, where a pivoting direction of the unlocking section is a thickness direction of the locking sensor section, and the curved section can have a U-shaped cross-section that is open in the thickness direction.

[0015] In the first aspect, the locking sensor section can have a plate-shaped cross-section where a vehicle width direction is a thickness direction of the locking sensor section, and the curved section can have a U-shaped cross-section that is open in the thickness direction.

[0016] In the configuration described above, the locking sensor section can have a plate-shaped cross-section, where the vehicle width direction is the thickness direction of the locking sensor section. Additionally, the curved section can have a U-shaped cross-section that is open in the thickness direction. Therefore, when the unlocking section pivots, the load acting on the curved section is not concentrated at a single point but can be distributed across the entire cross-section of the U-shape. This reduces damage to the component caused by load concentration.

[0017] The aforementioned configuration makes it possible to improve durability. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] The features and advantages as well as the technical and economic significance of exemplary embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the same reference numerals denote similar elements; here shown: Fig. 1 a schematic perspective representation of a vehicle door with a vehicle door structure according to an embodiment, wherein the vehicle door is in an open state and is viewed from the rear of the vehicle; Fig. 2 a side view of a door handle with the vehicle door structure according to the embodiment, wherein the door handle is viewed from an outside in the vehicle width direction; Fig. 3 an enlarged sectional view along line III - III in Fig. 2; and Fig. 4 an enlarged section along line IV - IV in Fig. 2. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXECUTION FORMS

[0019] With reference to Fig. 1 to Fig. Section 4 describes an embodiment of a vehicle door structure according to the invention. In the drawings, an arrow FR represents a front side in a vehicle front-rear direction, an arrow OUT represents an outside side in a vehicle width direction, and an arrow UP represents a top side in a vehicle top-bottom direction. Overall structure

[0020] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 1, a vehicle door 12 with a vehicle door assembly 10 is attached to a vehicle body 14 via a hinge 16, allowing the vehicle door 12 to be opened and closed. The vehicle door 12 includes a locking mechanism 18 and a door handle 20. The vehicle doors 12 are arranged in pairs on the right and left sides in the direction of the vehicle's width and are symmetrical. Therefore, only the vehicle door 12 on the right side of the vehicle will be described in the following description. locking mechanism

[0021] The locking mechanism 18 is arranged in an area enclosed by an outer door panel or outer door trim 12A (see Fig. 2) and an inner door panel or inner door trim 12B is defined, and at a position corresponding to a catch hook or striker opening section 22 described later. The outer door trim 12A serves as the door trim and is arranged on an outer side of the vehicle door 12 in the vehicle width direction, and the inner door trim 12B is arranged on an inner side in the vehicle width direction. The catch hook opening section 22 is arranged in an end section of the vehicle door 12 at the rear of the vehicle.

[0022] The catch hook opening section 22 is formed in an end section of the inner door panel 12B at the rear of the vehicle. The catch hook opening section 22 is formed at a location corresponding to a catch hook or locking bar 15 arranged in the vehicle body 14 and is shaped such that the catch hook 15 can be inserted into the inner door panel 12B when the vehicle door 12 is in the closed position.

[0023] The locking mechanism 18 comprises a lock 18A, a mechanical release actuation mechanism 26, and an electrical release actuation mechanism 28 in a single housing. Viewed from the rear of the vehicle, the lock 18A is approximately U-shaped with an internal catch hook insertion groove. The lock 18A is also held by a fastening tool on the upper surface of the vehicle by a locking retaining bracket (not shown). The locking retaining bracket is located on the front of the vehicle relative to the lock 18A. This allows the lock 18A to rotate about a longitudinal direction of the vehicle door 12, with the longitudinal direction serving as its axis. The lock 18A is actuated by a spring (not shown) such that an opening in the catch hook insertion groove faces inwards in the direction of the vehicle's width.The state in which the opening of the catch hook insertion groove of the locking device 18A points inwards in the direction of the vehicle width is referred to as the "unlocked state".

[0024] When the vehicle door 12 is closed while the lock 18A is in the unlocked state, the catch hook is inserted into the catch hook insertion groove of the lock 18A, and the lock 18A is rotated so that the opening of the catch hook insertion groove faces outwards in the direction of the vehicle width. In this state, a catch hook locking pawl engages with a catch hook retainer (not shown) formed on a side face of the lock 18A. This limits the rotation of the lock 18A and holds the vehicle door 12 in the closed state. This state is referred to as the "locked state." Configurations of the aforementioned lock 18A and the catch hook locking pawl are disclosed, for example, in Japanese patent application JP 2002-295096A, etc., so a detailed description is omitted here.

[0025] For example, the mechanical release actuation mechanism includes an internal lever 30 and the like, and when the internal lever 30 is actuated, the catch latch pawl engaging with the lock 18A is rotated into a disengaged position. This means that the lock 18A moves from the locked state to the unlocked state. Since the mechanical release actuation mechanism resembles a general vehicle door lock device, a detailed description of this device is omitted.

[0026] The electric release actuation mechanism 28 has an actuator (not shown). The actuator enables the rotation of the locking pawl by means of a gear mechanism (not shown). Therefore, when the actuator is actuated, the catch-hook locking pawl engaging with the lock 18A is moved to the unengaged state. This means that the lock 18A transitions from the locked to the unlocked state. The actuator is electrically connected to a controller containing a central processing unit (CPU) and can be activated by actuating an open / close switch, etc. (not shown), connected to the controller. The electric release actuation mechanism 28 is disclosed, for example, in JP 2002-295 096 A, so a detailed description is omitted here. door handle

[0027] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 2, the door handle 20 is attached to the outer door panel 12A such that the door handle 20 projects outwards in the direction of the vehicle's width. The outer door panel 12A forms the outer surface of the vehicle door 12 in the direction of the vehicle's width. The outer door panel 12A forms a design surface of the vehicle door and consists of a metallic sheet material (e.g., sheet steel). A handle recess 12C is formed in a portion of the outer door panel 12A corresponding to the door handle 20, with the handle recess 12C being pressed inwards towards the inside of the door handle. Fig. 2 For the sake of simplicity in configuration, the outer door panel 12A is not shown except for the handle shell part 12C.

[0028] The door handle 20 comprises a door handle 20A and a door handle frame 20B. The door handle 20A extends along the vehicle's front-to-rear direction on the outside of the handle recess 12C of the door outer panel 12A in the vehicle's width direction, and one end section and the other end section of the door handle 20A are arranged longitudinally on the inside with respect to a central section in the vehicle's width direction. This means that the door handle 20A is approximately U-shaped in the vehicle's top view, and a user can grasp the central section of the door handle 20A (see Fig. 2).

[0029] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 4, a release lever 32, which serves as a release section, is arranged on an inner side surface of the door handle 20A in the vehicle width direction. The release lever 32 consists, for example, of an elongated element with a hat-shaped cross-section, wherein the elongated element is made of resin and extends approximately in the front-to-rear direction of the vehicle (see Figure 4). Fig. 3) Furthermore, part of the release lever 32 is exposed on the inner side surface of the door handle 20A in the vehicle width direction and can pivot in the vehicle width direction about a curved section 34A described later (see a double-dotted dashed line in the drawing). The release lever 32 is provided with the aforementioned opening / closing switch (not shown), and as soon as the release lever 32 is pushed outwards in the vehicle width direction (one side of an inner surface of the door handle 20A), the opening / closing switch activates the electrical release actuation mechanism 28.

[0030] A locking sensor plate 34, serving as a locking sensor section, is arranged on an inner surface of the unlocking lever 32, i.e., a side face of the unlocking lever 32 on the side of the door handle 20. The locking sensor plate 34 is, for example, made of a rectangular metallic sheet material where the thickness direction corresponds to the vehicle width direction. The locking sensor plate 34 extends over the entire unlocking lever 32 and the door handle 20A. A longitudinal direction of the locking sensor plate 34 is the vehicle front-to-rear direction. An electrode (not shown) is arranged in the locking sensor plate 34, and an electrostatic capacitance measuring device (not shown), which measures electrostatic capacitance, is connected to the electrode.Therefore, it is possible to detect changes in the electrostatic capacitance of the locking sensor plate 34 caused by a finger F (see . Fig. 3) caused by a user who is closer to the locking sensor plate 34.

[0031] The curved section 34A is formed in a part of the locking sensor plate 34 between the door handle 20A and the release lever 32. The curved section 34A is shaped such that, in the vehicle plan view, it has an approximately U-shaped cross-section in the vehicle width direction, open towards the inside. A part of the locking sensor plate 34 corresponding to the release lever 32 is able to pivot around the curved section 34A in the vehicle width direction.

[0032] The door handle frame 20B is attached to the inside of the outer door panel 12A in the vehicle's width direction and extends along the front-to-rear direction of the vehicle. The door handle frame 20B holds the door handle 20A by means of a first opening section (not shown) and a second opening section (not shown). The first opening section is located in the handle recess 12C of the outer door panel 12A at the front of the vehicle and penetrates the outer door panel 12A in the thickness direction. The second opening section is located in the handle recess 12C at the rear of the vehicle and penetrates the outer door panel 12A in the thickness direction. Effects and impacts

[0033] The effects and impacts of the embodiment are described below.

[0034] In this version, the vehicle door is 12, as in Fig. Figure 1 shows the door handle 20 and the locking mechanism 18. The door handle 20 is positioned so that it projects outwards in the width of the vehicle relative to the outer door panel 12A, which forms part of the vehicle door 12. When the vehicle door 12 is closed, the locking mechanism 18 maintains the closed position of the vehicle door 12 by engaging with the catch 15 located on the side of the vehicle body. The door handle 20 is provided with the release lever 32, which is at least partially exposed to the outside and pivotable relative to the door handle 20. When the release lever 32 pivots, the actuator of the electric release mechanism 28 is activated to release the locking mechanism 18 from the catch 15.Furthermore, the locking sensor plate 34 is arranged in the part of the release lever 32, with this part being exposed at least towards the outside of the door handle 20. The locking sensor plate 34 detects changes in electrostatic capacitance. Since the locking sensor plate 34 is located near a user's finger F (see . Fig. 3) is arranged so that when the user grasps the door handle 20 and operates the release lever 32, a change in electrostatic capacitance can be detected more reliably. This limits the deterioration of the detection performance of a sensor arranged in the door handle 20.

[0035] Since the locking sensor plate 34 is attached to the release lever 32 on the inside side of the door handle 20, the locking sensor plate 34 is not exposed to the outside. This prevents malfunctions of the locking sensor plate 34 caused by foreign objects adhering to it. This further limits the deterioration of the detection performance of a sensor located in the door handle 20.

[0036] Furthermore, the curved section 34A is located in the part of the locking sensor plate 34 between the door handle 20 and the release lever 32, with the locking sensor plate 34 encompassing the entire door handle 20 and the release lever 32. Since the curved section 34A serves as the pivot point for the release lever 32, the locking sensor plate 34 also acts as the energy source for the pivoting release lever 32. This allows for a reduction in the number of components, thereby lowering costs.

[0037] Furthermore, the locking sensor plate 34 is plate-shaped, and its thickness direction is the pivot direction of the release lever 32. Simultaneously, the cross-sectional shape of the curved section 34A is approximately U-shaped and open in its thickness direction. Therefore, the load acting on the curved section 34A when the release lever 32 pivots is not concentrated at a single point but can be distributed over the entire approximately U-shaped curved section. This means that damage to a component caused by load concentration can be reduced, thus improving its service life.

[0038] In the foregoing embodiment, the curved section 34A of the locking sensor plate 34 is approximately U-shaped and open inwards in the direction of the vehicle width. However, the invention is not limited to this, and the curved section 34A can be approximately U-shaped and open outwards in the direction of the vehicle width, or be formed into other shapes. Furthermore, the curved section 34A can be omitted.

[0039] Furthermore, the release lever 32 is shaped in an elongated, so-called lever shape. However, the invention is not limited to this, and the release lever 32 can be shaped in a button shape or other shapes.

[0040] Furthermore, the locking sensor plate 34 is attached to the inside of the door handle 20 on the release lever 32. However, the invention is not limited to this, and the locking sensor plate 34 can be attached to an outer side surface of the release lever 32 with respect to the door handle 20.

Claims

[1] Vehicle door structure (10), comprising: a door handle (20) disposed in a door panel (12A) forming part of a vehicle door (12); a locking mechanism (18) disposed in the vehicle door (12) and configured to maintain a closed state of the vehicle door (12) when the vehicle door (12) is in the closed state; an unlocking portion (32) disposed in the door handle (20) and configured to be at least partially exposed to the outside and pivoting with respect to the door handle (20); an electric release actuation mechanism (28) having an actuator configured to release the locking mechanism (18) when the release portion (32) is pivoted; and a locking sensor portion (34) disposed in a part of the unlocking portion (32), the part being exposed to the outside, the locking sensor portion (34) being configured to detect a change in an electrostatic capacitance, characterized by , that the locking mechanism (18) maintains the closed state of the vehicle door (12) by engaging with a catch hook (15) arranged on a vehicle body (14); the actuator of the electrical release actuating mechanism (28) releases the locking mechanism (18) from the catch hook (15); the locking sensor section (34) is arranged through the door handle (20) and the unlocking section (32); and a curved portion (34A) is arranged in the locking sensor portion (34) between the door handle (20) and the unlocking portion (32), the curved portion (34A) serving as a pivot point of the unlocking portion (32). [2] The vehicle door assembly (10) according to claim 1, wherein the locking sensor portion (34) is attached to the unlocking portion (32) at a position within the unlocking portion (32) in the door handle (20). [3] Vehicle door structure (10) according to claim 1, wherein: the locking sensor portion (34) has a plate-shaped cross-section in which a pivoting direction of the unlocking portion (32) is a thickness direction of the locking sensor portion (34); and the bent portion (34A) has a U-shaped cross-section which is open in the thickness direction. [4] Vehicle door structure (10) according to claim 1, wherein: the locking sensor portion (34) has a plate-shaped cross section in which a vehicle width direction is a thickness direction of the locking sensor portion (34); and the bent portion (34A) has a U-shaped cross-section which is open in the thickness direction.

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