Method for operating a flap of a motor vehicle, motor vehicle

Abstract

A method for operating a flap (1) of a motor vehicle (100) is proposed, wherein an acoustic signal outside the motor vehicle (100) is detected and recognized by an acoustic sensor (2), wherein the flap (1) is opened depending on the detected acoustic signal. Furthermore, a motor vehicle (100) is proposed.

Description

The present invention relates to a method for operating a flap of a motor vehicle, in particular a tailgate of a motor vehicle. The present invention further relates to a motor vehicle having a flap.During operation of a motor vehicle, the outer skin of the motor vehicle is exposed to a multiplicity of adverse effects. Among other things, it cannot be avoided that the motor vehicle is contaminated. This is the case in particular in winter.In addition to the doors, motor vehicles typically have further flaps. These include the front or tailgate, but also the fuel filler flap or a tailgate. For opening the flaps, it is typically necessary to press an opening button or the flap itself, i.e. to produce physical contact with the opening button or the flap and thus with the outer skin of the motor vehicle. If the outer skin of the motor vehicle is soiled, it is almost indispensable that the physical contact also soil the hand of the user. Furthermore, this results in unattractive lubricating points on the motor vehicle and possibly scratches in the paint of the motor vehicle if dust and dirt are sold out by the physical contact. All this is extremely detrimental to the operation of the flap.The document US 2015 / 0 283 886 A1 discloses automatically opening entry doors of a vehicle according to the preamble of claim 1 using a voice command. The document DE 10 2018 107 830 A1 is dedicated to preventing a collision when opening a boarding door of a vehicle. The opening is announced by voice command. The publication DE 10 2014 111 921 A1 discloses the adjustment of a vehicle component, for example a flap, in response to a voice command. It is known from DE 10 2018 204 537 A1 to abort or suppress an opening process of a trunk lid. The termination or suppression takes place, for example, by means of a voice command. The publication US 2008 / 0 154 613 A1 discloses the opening of a vehicle door, which is triggered by a voice command. This is also known from the publication DE 10 2015 011 976 A1 and the publication DE 10 2020 100 783 A1. The document DE 10 2015 225 082 A1 discloses the emergency stop of an autonomously driving vehicle, which is triggered by a hand clapping.It is also known from the prior art to open trunk flaps by means of gesture control, in particular by wiping the foot beneath the rear skirt of the motor vehicle. However, this is not possible without problems in any case, since the one-leg standing may lead to difficulties depending on the weather, environment, physical condition of the operator.It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a method for operating a flap of a motor vehicle and a motor vehicle which do not have the disadvantages of the prior art described, but rather offer a convenient and simple possibility for opening the flap.This object is achieved by a method for operating a flap of a motor vehicle according to claim 1 and by a motor vehicle according to claim 8.In the method according to the invention for operating a flap of a motor vehicle, an acoustic signal outside the motor vehicle is detected and recognized by an acoustic sensor. The acoustic sensor includes one or more microphones. The one or more microphones are configured to capture a directionality in the detection of the acoustic signal and to influence it in the detection. It is thus possible, for example, to identify whether the acoustic signal was generated directly in front of the flap or, for example, far away from the flap. Depending on the detected acoustic signal, the flap is opened. This advantageously makes it possible to open the flap without physical contact with an operating button or with the flap itself. It is conceivable that an opening mechanism is activated for opening the flap after the acoustic signal is detected. It is conceivable that a plurality of reference signals are stored in a control device of the acoustic sensor for detecting the acoustic signal. To recognize the acoustic signal, the detected acoustic signal is then matched to the reference signals. It is conceivable that the control device of the acoustic sensor is comprised by a central control device of the motor vehicle.Advantageous embodiments and developments of the invention can be derived from the dependent claims and from the description with reference to the drawings.According to the invention, it is provided that the acoustic signal comprises a hand clapping. A hand clapping as an acoustic signal, which is detected and recognized for opening the flap, is simple and universal. The hand clapping can consist, for example, of a specific combination of clapping noises. It is thus conceivable for the hand clapping to comprise a double clapping, a triple clapping or else a single clapping.In addition, it is preferably provided that the acoustic signal comprises a voice command. This advantageously makes it possible to reduce the probability of an undesired opening of the flap. It is conceivable that the acoustic sensor detects the sense content of the acoustic signal when detecting the acoustic signal and compares it with a sense content of stored reference signals. Thus, it is possible that an exact voice command does not have to be learned by an operator. Instead, the motor vehicle recognizes the intention of the operator to open the flap on the basis of the spoken words.According to the invention, it is provided that the flap is a tailgate. A charging flap in the sense of the present invention is a flap of the motor vehicle, which covers a charging connection for electrically charging a traction battery of the motor vehicle. The tailgate can be arranged, for example, in one of the front mudguards of the motor vehicle, in one of the rear mudguards of the motor vehicle, in the front fascia of the motor vehicle or particularly preferably in the rear fascia of the motor vehicle. In particular, it is provided that the tailgate is arranged in the rear apron centrally of the motor vehicle.It is very particularly preferably provided that the flap is only opened when the motor vehicle is parked and not locked. This reduces the probability that the flap is opened unintentionally, in particular during travel. Furthermore, the fact that the flap is only opened when the motor vehicle is not locked means that unauthorized persons are not able to open the flap.Alternatively or additionally, it is preferably provided that the flap is only opened when a release from an interior of the motor vehicle has been previously granted. It is conceivable, for example, that a voice command is given in the interior of the motor vehicle, a release button is pressed, or a corresponding input is made on a display in the interior of the motor vehicle. As a result, the driver of the motor vehicle retains full control over the opening of the flap, in particular also over whether or not an opening command is executed from outside the motor vehicle.Alternatively or additionally, it is preferably provided that the flap is only opened when a key of the motor vehicle in the vicinity of the motor vehicle has been detected by the motor vehicle. In particular, the interior of the motor vehicle is encompassed by the vicinity of the motor vehicle within the meaning of the present invention. It is conceivable, for example, that the flap is only opened when the key of the motor vehicle has been detected at a distance of a maximum of 1 m around the flap of the motor vehicle or in the interior of the motor vehicle. In the sense of the present invention, the key of the motor vehicle comprises not only the classic vehicle key, but every personal object that enables the operation of the motor vehicle. It is thus conceivable that the key of the motor vehicle is also a smart watch, a mobile phone or the like, which connects to the motor vehicle and identifies the owner of the smart watch or of the mobile phone as authorized.According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is provided that, when the acoustic signal is detected, the acoustic signal is assigned to an authorized person and / or driver of the motor vehicle. It is conceivable that for this purpose the detected acoustic signal is compared with reference signals. This advantageously allows only authorized persons or the driver of the motor vehicle to open the flap. It is conceivable, for example, for the reference signals to be obtained during the journey of the motor vehicle. Thus, for example, a entertainment in the interior of the motor vehicle can be examined for speech features which are stored with the reference signals. Furthermore, it is possible to assign an opening of the flap and thus a specific charging process of the motor vehicle to a specific user. For example, charging processes can be charged very comfortably.An embodiment is particularly preferred in which it is provided that, in addition to the opening of the flap, the flap is likewise opened as a function of the detected acoustic signal upon actuation of a sensing element of the motor vehicle. The sensing element is preferably arranged on the outer skin of the motor vehicle. It is conceivable that the flap itself comprises the sensing element. However, it is also conceivable for the pushbutton element to be arranged in the interior of the motor vehicle, for example in the form of an operating button or an operating panel on a display of the motor vehicle. This advantageously makes it possible to open the flap even when the opening by means of acoustic signals fails. This can be the case, for example, in a very noisy environment or in a physical prevention of the operator for generating the acoustic signal.A further subject matter of the present invention for achieving the object set forth in the introduction is a motor vehicle having a flap, preferably a tailgate, and an acoustic sensor. The motor vehicle is configured to carry out the method according to the invention.All the details, features and advantages disclosed above in connection with the method according to the invention likewise relate to the motor vehicle according to the invention.Further details, features and advantages of the invention are evident from the drawings and from the following description of preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings. The drawings illustrate only exemplary embodiments of the invention, which do not restrict the concept of the invention. FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a motor vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention having a flap according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a motor vehicle 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention having a flap 1 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The flap 1 is a charging flap here, i.e. the flap 1 closes a charging connection for charging a traction battery of the motor vehicle 100.In the exemplary embodiment shown here, the flap 1 is arranged centrally of the motor vehicle 100 on a rear apron of the motor vehicle 100. Typically, a motor vehicle 100 is contaminated during operation. If it is desired to open the flap 1 of the soiled motor vehicle 100, there is a desire to avoid physical contact with the flap 1 because of the soiling. In order to realize this, the motor vehicle 100 has an acoustic sensor 2. This is suitable for detecting acoustic signals outside the motor vehicle 100 by means of one or more microphones.In order to open the flap 1, an acoustic signal is generated by a user of the motor vehicle 100 outside the motor vehicle 100. The acoustic signal can comprise, for example, a hand clapping. However, it is also conceivable for the acoustic signal to comprise a voice command. The acoustic sensor 2 detects this acoustic signal and detects the acoustic signal. For this purpose, it is conceivable for acoustic sensor 2 to compare the detected acoustic signal with reference signals that have been obtained and stored in advance. If the detected acoustic signal is detected, the flap 1 is opened.In order to ensure that the flap 1 is not opened accidentally, it is provided that the flap 1 is opened only when the motor vehicle 100 is parked and not locked. It is conceivable, for example, for acoustic sensor 2 to detect acoustic signals only when motor vehicle 100 is parked and not locked.It is furthermore conceivable that the flap 1 is only opened when a release from an interior of the motor vehicle 100 has been previously granted. This provides the driver of the motor vehicle 100 with full control over whether the flap 1 can be opened from the outside by means of acoustic signals. The release can be given, for example, by voice command in the interior or by actuating an operating element in the interior.It is furthermore conceivable that the flap 1 is only opened when a key of the motor vehicle 100 in the vicinity of the motor vehicle 100, in particular in the interior of the motor vehicle 100 or in a defined area around the flap 1, has been detected by the motor vehicle 100. This ensures that the flap 1 is not opened by unauthorized persons.Finally, it is conceivable that, when the acoustic signal is detected, the acoustic signal is assigned to an authorized person and / or driver of the motor vehicle 100. This allows, for example, a restriction on the circle of those who can load the motor vehicle 100 and allows a follow-up of who has loaded the motor vehicle 100.In the embodiment shown here, the acoustic sensor 2 comprises a plurality of microphones, not illustrated. The microphones are configured in such a way that acoustic signals are detected only in a predefined area. Thus, the probability of an unintentional opening of the flap 1 can be reduced, for example by voice command to a further motor vehicle which is parked next to the motor vehicle 100.It may be possible that the acoustic sensor 2 is not able to correctly detect acoustic signals. This may be the case, for example, in very loud environments. In order to nevertheless be able to open the flap 1, a sensing element 3 is provided. Upon actuation of the sensing element 3, the flap 1 is likewise opened.List of reference characters1 Flap 2 Acoustic sensor 3 Sensing element 100 Motor vehicle

Claims

Method for operating a flap (1) of a motor vehicle (100), wherein an acoustic signal outside the motor vehicle (100) is detected and detected by an acoustic sensor (2), wherein the flap (1) is opened as a function of the detected acoustic signal, characterized in that the flap (1) is a tailgate, in that the acoustic signal comprises a hand clapping and in that one or more microphones of the acoustic sensor are configured to record a directional dependency upon the detection of the acoustic signal and to include it upon the detection.Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the acoustic signal comprises a voice command.Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the flap (1) is only opened when the motor vehicle (100) is parked and not locked.Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the flap (1) is only opened if a release from an interior of the motor vehicle (100) has been previously granted.Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the flap (1) is only opened if a key of the motor vehicle (100) in the vicinity of the motor vehicle (100) has been detected by the motor vehicle (100).Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, when the acoustic signal is detected, the acoustic signal is assigned to an authorized person and / or driver of the motor vehicle (100).Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, in addition to the opening of the flap (1) as a function of the detected acoustic signal, the flap (1) is likewise opened on actuation of a sensing element (3) of the motor vehicle (100).Motor vehicle (100) comprising a flap (1), the flap (1) being a tailgate, and an acoustic sensor (2), characterized in that the motor vehicle (100) is configured to carry out a method according to one of the preceding claims.

Images