Door operating device

Abstract

Door operating device for controlling a door locking device (18), comprising an actuating surface (6) for the user to apply an actuating force (F), a first switching device (7) comprising a sensor device (8) for detecting the actuating force (F) and sending an unlocking signal to the door locking device (18) via an operating circuit (17) upon detection of a predetermined first minimum force, and a (14) second switching device comprising a mechanical switching means (15) which can be closed upon application of a predetermined second minimum force, which is greater than the first minimum force, wherein upon closing of the switching means (15) an unlocking signal can be sent to the door locking device via an associated emergency power circuit (19).

Description

The invention relates to a door operating device.Modern motor vehicles increasingly have electric door latch devices which comprise a current-operated actuator, by means of which a latching element, which can be moved between a latching position and a releasing position, is actuated. For controlling the door latch device, a door actuating device is provided, which is provided in the interior of the vehicle in the door region, for example on an interior door trim, so that it is accessible to the person seated next to the door. Such a door actuation device is designed, for example, as a button or the like and generates a corresponding switching signal when it is actuated to open the door, by means of which switching signal the door unlocking device, or its actuator, which is incorporated into an operating circuit is actuated and energized, so that the unlocking takes place.Such an electrical door actuation device has, for example, a corresponding switching device comprising a sensor device, by means of which an actuation force applied to an actuation surface of the door actuation device is detected. If a predetermined force level, i.e. a corresponding minimum force, is applied and determined, a corresponding signal is sent from the sensor device to a microcontroller, which then actuates the door latch device or its actuator, so that the actuator is operated via the operating circuit and performs the unlocking. The user is given a haptic feedback signal by means of an actuator assigned to the actuation surface, said haptic feedback signal indicating that the corresponding control signal has been generated and output. What is also required, however, is an additional safety function which allows the door latch device to be actuated even if this is not possible via the electric door actuating device with its switching device and the associated sensor device, for example because the vehicle is partially or completely underwater and, for example, the operating circuit is no longer available, but rather only an emergency circuit in which only a few selected operating components are incorporated and which provides only a limited, reduced amount of current for a limited, short time. For such a case, it is conceivable to provide an additional, purely mechanical door opening device, for example a small emergency lever which is coupled to the door latch device via a Bowden cable, as was previously customary. However, since this mechanical door opening device is provided only for emergency purposes for redundancy reasons, this is an extremely complicated configuration.DE 10 2006 005 753 A1 discloses a locking system for closing and / or opening a movable part of a motor vehicle such as a door or a tailgate, having a mechanical lock and having a handle unit which is stationary for normal operation and in which a sensor system detecting an approach and / or a contact of the handle unit is arranged for keyless activation of a locking and / or unlocking operation of the lock. Furthermore, a force blocking unit is provided, which is operatively connected to the handle unit and exerts a resistance force indirectly or directly on the handle unit. In an emergency situation, the handle unit can be moved manually by overcoming the resistance force acting from the force blocking unit, whereby a mechanical emergency opening of the lock can be achieved.DE 10 2020 125 358 A1 describes an assembly of an outer door handle with a handle which can be gripped around and a mounting carrier which is coupled thereto and which can be fixed to a vehicle door. A proximity sensor is arranged on the handle and an opening sensor is arranged on the mounting support, wherein the handle acts on the opening sensor in the event of a change in position, and the opening sensor outputs an opening signal. An actuatable mechanical actuating device has an interrupted position and a release position and, in the interrupted position, prevents the opening sensor from being triggered by the handle and releases it when it is in the release position. The proximity sensor is coupled to the actuating device and controls the actuating device from the interruption position into the release position when it detects a proximity of a user by the proximity sensor.DE 10 2016 103 926 A1 discloses a device for opening a door or flap on a motor vehicle. The device has a handle which can be gripped by an operator from outside the motor vehicle and a motor vehicle locking device, wherein a means in the form of a cable for actuating the locking device by means of the handle is arranged between the handle and the motor vehicle locking device.Finally, DE 10 2020 122 424 A1 discloses an actuating device for mounting on a movable vehicle part such as a door or a flap. The actuating device has an electrical switching means with a switching element for triggering a vehicle function and a housing unit with at least a first and a second housing element, which at least partially form a housing interior in which the switching element is arranged.The invention is based on the problem of specifying an improved door actuating device.To solve the problem, according to the invention, a door actuating device for controlling a door latch device is provided, comprising an actuating surface for user-side application of an actuating force, a first switching device comprising a sensor device for detecting the actuating force and supplying an unlocking signal to the door latch device via an operating circuit when a predetermined first minimum force is detected, and a second switching device comprising a mechanical switching means which can be closed when a predetermined second minimum force greater than the first minimum force is applied, wherein when the switching means is closed, an unlocking signal can be transmitted to the door latch device via an associated emergency circuit.The door actuating device according to the invention comprises, on the one hand, a first switching device which comprises a sensor device which is assigned to the actuating surface. This sensor device allows the detection of the actuating force with which the user presses with a finger onto the actuating surface. The sensor device is further configured to output an unlocking signal to the door locking device, for example via an integrated microcontroller, if it is detected that the user presses on the actuation surface with a predetermined first minimum force. As described, the actuating device is incorporated in an operating circuit via which the sensor device is operated, and in which the door latch device or its actuator is likewise incorporated. If the unlocking signal is now given, the actuator is energized via the operating circuit and unlocks the door.The safety function in the event of an emergency is provided in the case of the door actuation device according to the invention via a second switching device. This second switching device comprises a mechanical switching means which can be closed when a predetermined second minimum force is applied to the actuating surface, which second minimum force is greater than the first minimum force. When the mechanical switching means is closed, a speaking unlocking signal is transmitted via an emergency circuit to the door unlocking device and its actuator, so that in emergency operation it is supplied and operated via the emergency circuit and can perform the unlocking. Since this is a mechanical switching means by means of which the emergency circuit to the door latch device or its actuator in the actuation field is closed, no power supply of the same is consequently required by the door actuation device in order to ensure this emergency function. This is because the mechanical switching means actively closes the emergency circuit or the corresponding connection to the door latch device and its actuator mechanically and enables the power supply and control.The door actuating device according to the invention therefore has two separate switching devices connected quasi in parallel, namely the first electronic switching device comprising the sensor device and the second mechanical switching device comprising the mechanical switching means. While the first switching device is incorporated in the operating circuit and controls the operation of the door latch device or its actuator via the operating circuit, the second switching device is incorporated in the emergency circuit and enables the operation of the door latch device or its actuator to be controlled via the emergency circuit. Both switching devices can be actuated via one and the same actuating element, namely the actuating surface. The different actuation is ultimately controlled solely by the actuation force to be applied. In normal operation, when the operating current is present and the door latch device can be actuated in normal operation, it is only necessary to press easily onto the actuating surface with at least a first minimum force. The sensor device detects the reaching of this minimum force and controls the microcontroller, which outputs the unlocking signal. However, if the operating current is not applied in the event of an emergency, but rather only the emergency current is available, the same actuating surface for actuating the door latch device can be actuated and pressed on the door actuating device, but with a significantly higher force. The second switching device or its mechanical switching means is assigned to the actuating surface, which is actuated when the actuating surface is pressed with a second minimum force that is higher than the first minimum force. The mechanical switching means is then closed and the door latch device is operated via the emergency circuit. The door actuating device according to the invention therefore permits electrically sensed actuation and actuation of the door latch device via the operating circuit during normal operation, while it permits mechanically sensed actuation and actuation of the door latch device via the emergency circuit during emergency operation.An expedient development of the invention provides that the contact surface is arranged on a carrier component movably mounted on a holding component, wherein the switching means can be actuated via a movement of the carrier component. The carrier component with the contact surface is fixed in a positionally fixed manner on the holding component in a basic position, such that it is possible to press on the contact surface with the first minimum force without problems, without the carrier component moving relative to the holding component. In an emergency, however, if the contact surface is pressed with a significantly higher force and at least the second predetermined minimum force, the carrier component is moved from its basic position relative to the holding component, wherein the mechanical switching means is closed via this movement. A mechanical movement of the carrier component thus takes place for closing the mechanical switching means.The switching means itself is expediently arranged on the holding component and can be actuated via an actuating section provided on the carrier component. This actuating section can be, for example, a projecting arm or pin or the like, which in the basic position is spaced apart from the mechanical switching means, but during the movement of the carrier component runs against the switching means and closes the latter.According to a further development of the invention, the carrier component itself is fixed in the basic position via holding means acting between the carrier component and the holding component, which holding means can be released when the second minimum force is reached. Thus, a releasable fixing of the carrier component to the holding component is provided via the holding means, which are designed such that they maintain the fixing when a low force is applied, but release the fixing when a higher force is applied, which force corresponds at least to the second minimum.These holding means can be magnetic elements, for example, i.e., on the carrier component, such as on the holding component, are arranged corresponding magnetic elements, for example permanent magnets, which interact magnetically in the basic position and fix the carrier component in a correspondingly fixed manner. However, this magnetic fixing can be pressed over accordingly when sufficient force is applied, so that the carrier component is moved out of its basic position. The magnetic elements optionally also permit the support component to be reset again into the basic position.Alternatively, the holding means can also be latching or clip elements. That is to say that the carrier component is locked or clipped to the holding component via speaking latching or clip elements. This latching or clip connection is designed such that it is sufficiently stable when a lower force is applied, but is opened when a correspondingly higher force is applied, i.e. at least the second minimum force. This opening can be reversible, i.e. the carrier component can also be locked again in the basic position after a single actuation. It can still be irreversible and can be accompanied by destruction of the latching or clip elements.The first minimum force should be in the range of 1.5-4.0 N, in particular in the range of 2.0-3.0 N and preferably about 2.5 N. The second minimum force should be in the range of 8.0-12.0 N, in particular between 9.0-11.0 N and preferably about 10 N. It is to be ensured that there is always a sufficiently large difference between the first and the second minimum force, so that there is no accidental actuation of the mechanical shift element in the event of only a somewhat greater pressing.The stroke of the switching means should be between 0.1-1.0 mm, i.e. as small as possible. This is because an excessively large stroke is undesirable, since it is to be operated in an emergency situation. This also implies that the movement of the carrier component relative to the holding component, i.e. the stroke of the carrier component, is likewise correspondingly small, so that even a slight movement of the aforementioned approximately 0.1-1.0 mm is sufficient to close the mechanical switching means.In addition to the door actuation device, the invention also relates to an interior trim component of a motor vehicle, comprising at least one door actuation device of the type described above. Usually, each door of the motor vehicle, optionally also a tailgate, is equipped with such a door actuation device or is assigned such a door actuation device, so that each opening, via which a person located in the vehicle interior can leave the vehicle in an emergency, can also be unlocked via such a secure door actuation device.The interior trim component is preferably a door interior trim, in particular an armrest of such a door trim. This embodiment ensures that the door actuating device is arranged in the immediate grip region of the person sitting on a seat adjacent to the door.Finally, the invention relates to a motor vehicle comprising at least one door interior trim component of the type described above.Further advantages and details of the present invention are evident from the exemplary embodiments described below and on the basis of the drawing. The following are shown: FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a door operating device according to the invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the circuit configuration; and FIG. 3 shows a schematic illustration of a motor vehicle according to the invention.FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a door actuating device 1 according to the invention, which is designed in the manner of a switch or button. The door actuating device comprises a holding component 2 which is, for example, of pot-shaped design and is made of plastic. It further comprises a carrier component 3, which is also made of plastic and which engages in the holding component 2. The carrier component 3 is fixed to the holding component 2 in a basic position by means of holding means 4, in the example shown magnetic elements 5. However, these holding means 4 can be released so that the carrier component 3 can be pressed into the holding component 2. Instead of such magnetic elements 5, fixing in the basic position by means of latching or clip elements would also be conceivable.The carrier component 3 has a touch surface 6, onto which the user can press for actuation with a finger and apply an actuation force F. In the interior, i.e. the cavity defined by the holding component 2 and the carrier component 3, a first switching device 7 comprising sensor device 8 is arranged. This comprises, on the one hand, a sensor surface 9 arranged below the actuating surface 6, which serves as a force sensor and is designed, for example, as a strain gauge, and by means of which an actuating force F applied to the actuating surface 6 is detected. A capacitive sensor element 10 is assigned to the sensor surface 9, which is optional, however. By means of this capacitive sensor element 10, it is possible to detect whether the actuation surface 6 is actually pressed with a finger and consequently an intentional actuation takes place, or whether this is only touched accidentally, for example with a body part such as the elbow or the like. Furthermore, an actuator 11 is provided which, when a minimum force is detected via the sensor surface 9, which minimum force is, for example, approximately 2.5 N, outputs a haptic signal to the superstructure above it, which is detected via the finger, which is still located on the touch surface 6, via which the user receives a feedback that his activation or activation request has been detected. The actuator can be, for example, a piezoelectric element, so that an active haptics are integrated. A lighting device 13, for example an LED, can also be provided, which backlights the actuating surface.Furthermore, sensor device 8 comprises a microcontroller 12, via which a control signal can be output, which is sent as an unlocking signal to a door locking device, comprising an electric actuator, which is incorporated in an operating circuit and which is then energized thereby and releases a locking element of the door locking device, so that the door can be opened. The sensor device 8 is consequently part of the first switching device 7, via which an electrical control signal, i.e. the unlocking signal, is transmitted in order to effect the energization of the actuator of the door latch device. This represents normal operation for effecting unlocking of the door. If a person in the vehicle wishes to open the door, then he merely presses slightly with the finger onto the contact surface 6. If this reaches a relatively low first minimum force of 2.5 N, for example, a speaking detection signal is output to the microcontroller 12, which thereupon outputs the unlocking signal to the door locking device or its actuator, respectively, so that the latter is actuated via the operating circuit. At the same time, a haptic feedback signal is transmitted to the user via the actuator 8.However, the door operating device 1 according to the invention is also equipped with an emergency function. For this purpose, a second switching device 14 is provided, comprising a mechanical switching means 15 which can be actuated in an emergency and by means of which an emergency circuit is closed, in which the door latch device or its actuator is incorporated, so that in an emergency, if only an emergency current is available, said device can be actuated and operated briefly by means of the emergency circuit. This emergency function is given when normal operation is not possible, i.e., the operating circuit is not active or the operating current is not available.The mechanical switching means 15 is actuated via the carrier component 3, which for this purpose has an actuating section 16, which is arranged adjacent to the switching means 15, for example a simple switch. As described, although the carrier component 3 is fixed via the holding means 4, these holding means 4 can be released when a sufficiently high force is applied to the actuating surface 6. If, therefore, in an emergency situation, the user presses sufficiently strongly onto the actuating surface 6, for example with a second minimum force of approximately 10 N, the carrier component 3 is moved from a basic position and pressed minimally into the holding component 2. In the case of this small movement, which is in the range of 0.1-1 mm, for example, the actuating section 16 runs against the mechanical switching means 15 and closes this. This closing of the switching means 15, which is sometimes also only very brief, generates a short switching edge or emergency current edge, which is sufficient for its actuator of the door locking device to be energized and to unlock the door. Thus, even in an emergency, when only one emergency power supply is usually possible with an emergency current<0.02 A, but no operating power supply is usually possible with an operating current>0.02 A, safe opening of the associated door from the interior is possible via the door actuation device 1.FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of the basic circuit configuration. The first switching device 7 is shown, via which an operating current can be switched to the door latch device 18 via an operating circuit 17, or its actuator can be activated. The second switching device 14, i.e. the emergency switching device, is also shown, via which an emergency current can be switched via an emergency circuit 19 to the door latch device 18 or the actuator in an emergency.FIG. 3 finally shows a motor vehicle 20 according to the invention, having two doors 21, each of which has an interior trim component 22 with an armrest 23, wherein a door actuating device 1 according to the invention is integrated in each armrest 23 and is consequently located in the immediate grip region of a person seated adjacent to the door 21.

Claims

Door actuating device for controlling a door latch device (18), comprising an actuating surface (6) for user-side application of an actuating force (F), a first switching device (7) comprising a sensor device (8) for detecting the actuating force (F) and giving an unlocking signal to the door latch device (18) via an operating circuit (17) when detecting a predetermined first minimum force, and a (14) second switching device comprising a mechanical switching means (15) which can be closed when applying a predetermined second minimum force which is greater than the first minimum force, wherein an unlocking signal can be given to the door latch device via an associated emergency circuit (19) when closing the switching means (15).Door actuating device according to claim 1, characterised in that the contact surface (6) is arranged on a carrier component (3) mounted movably on a holding component (2), wherein the switching means (15) can be actuated via a movement of the carrier component (3).Door actuating device according to Claim 2, characterized in that the switching means (15) is arranged on the holding component (2) and can be actuated via an actuating section (16) provided on the carrier component (3).Door actuating device according to Claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the carrier component (3) is fixed in a basic position via holding means (4) acting between the carrier component (3) and the holding component (2), which holding means (4) can be released when the second minimum force is reached.Door actuating device according to claim 4, characterised in that the holding means (4) are magnetic elements (5) or that the holding elements (4) are latching or clip elements.Door actuating device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first minimum force is 1.5 - 4.0 N and the second minimum force is 8.0 - 12.0 N.Door actuating device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the switching means (15) has a stroke of 0.1 - 1.0 mm.Interior trim component of a motor vehicle, comprising at least one door actuating device (1) according to one of the preceding claims.Interior trim component according to claim 8, characterised in that it is an interior door trim (22), in particular an arm support of such an interior door trim (22).Motor vehicle, comprising at least one interior trim component (22) according to Claim 8 or 9.

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