SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING THE CLOSE OF A MOTOR VEHICLE DOOR

Abstract

A system (100) for controlling the closing of a vehicle door (102), which increases safety and convenience during door operation, includes a door control unit (104) that determines the position of the door (102) as open or closed and monitors an initial manual closing action. When the door (102) approaches a predefined angle, a spring (108) attached to a door control strap (106) is compressed, signaling the door control unit (104) to actuate a drive unit (110). Upon actuation, the drive unit (110) activates a soft-close function, which closes the door gently, thus preventing injuries from pinched fingers. The system (100) provides an efficient, reliable solution for preventing injuries and improving convenience by allowing users to experience controlled, automatic door closing.

Description

TECHNICAL AREA

[0001] The present invention relates generally to devices for controlling the doors of a vehicle. In particular, the present invention relates to a system for controlling the movement of a car door during the closing process. BACKGROUND

[0002] There are various types of vehicle doors and door locking mechanisms, many of which feature electric opening and closing mechanisms. Some vehicle doors are equipped with electrically operated locks, allowing the door to be opened without using an exterior handle. However, conventional doors often lack safety features to prevent finger injuries when operating the door manually, especially without electric or comfort features, such as a soft-close function to prevent fingers from being pinched.

[0003] Despite these advances, safety concerns remain. With doors lacking electric opening and closing mechanisms, other occupants, if they lean against certain areas of the door frame—for example, while reaching into the vehicle, taking a phone call, or playing with a child—may inadvertently close the door manually, potentially causing injuries in the door frame's crumple zone. This risk is particularly high when multiple doors (e.g., front and rear) are in use and an occupant attempts to close a door without knowing the position of another occupant. This blind operation can result in serious injury, especially if a person is leaning on the door frame at the time.

[0004] Patent DE102008008178A1 discloses a method for operating a vehicle body component using an electric drive. In this method, sensors located on or near a control element send signals that are processed by a control unit. Based on these signals, the control unit manages the movement of the body component, allowing it to switch between open, closed, or intermediate positions. The system can detect various types of inputs, such as the force exerted on the control element, contact with the component, or other conditions, which are detected by a range of sensors, including force, capacitive, velocity, acceleration, ultrasonic, and distance sensors. This method supports the operation of vehicle body components and improves control and user-friendliness.

[0005] The cited prior art discloses the operation of the vehicle's body components using an electric drive and various sensors to support the controlled movement. While the prior art enables efficient electric movement and sensor technology in vehicle components, it lacks specific safety mechanisms to prevent injuries from unintentional contact in certain areas, such as the crumple zone of the door profile. The prior art does not address situations in which users might lean against the door profile, nor does it offer solutions to prevent unintentional injuries when a door is being closed while another person is leaning against or near the door.

[0006] Therefore, there is a need for a solution that meets these safety requirements and minimizes the risk of injury when entering and exiting the vehicle, in order to ensure the user's safety when operating the vehicle door. OBJECTS OF INVENTION

[0007] A general object of the present invention is an improved, efficient and reliable solution for minimizing the risk of injury to an occupant when entering and exiting a vehicle door.

[0008] One object of the present invention is to provide a system that prevents injuries caused by finger entrapment by automatically managing the final phase of the door closing movement, thus ensuring safer operation for users.

[0009] One object of the present invention is to increase the comfort of entering a vehicle by means of a combination of manual and automatic locking mechanisms, thereby improving the user experience.

[0010] One object of the present invention is to provide a user-friendly solution that simplifies entry into and exit from a vehicle and enables seamless interaction with the door mechanism. SUMMARY

[0011] Aspects of the present invention relate generally to devices for controlling vehicle doors. In particular, the present invention relates to a system for controlling the movement of a motor vehicle door during the door closing process, which prevents injuries, such as finger entrapment, that may occur due to accidental contact or improper operation of the door.

[0012] One aspect of the present invention relates to a system for controlling the door of a motor vehicle. The system comprises a door control unit, a door control strap, and a drive unit. The control unit is configured to determine whether the door is in an open or closed state and to detect a first manual closing action of the door by a user from the open state. The door control strap, with at least one laterally coupled spring, is configured at a point along the door control strap such that the spring is compressed when the door reaches a predefined angle, for example, 15 degrees or less, while transitioning from the open to the closed state. Compressing the spring absorbs the momentum of the door to slow its closing speed. The spring is also coupled to the door control unit.The drive unit is operationally coupled to the door and the door's control unit and configured for motorized door closing. Furthermore, the door's control unit is configured to detect spring compression as the door approaches the predefined closing angle and activates the drive unit for motorized door closing when it receives a signal from the spring indicating that the door has reached the predefined angle.

[0013] Furthermore, the system includes sensors configured to detect the door's closing angle and, based on the logic stored in the door's control unit, automatically switch the drive unit from manual to electric mode. The logic stored in the door's control unit is configured to continuously monitor the closing angle and activate electric mode when the door reaches the final 15 degrees of closing.

[0014] In one aspect, the drive unit is configured to allow the door to close gently, preventing fingers from getting caught.

[0015] In one aspect, the spring is configured to engage a damping mechanism when the door reaches the predefined angle during the transition from the open to the closed state, thereby slowing down the closing speed of the door.

[0016] One aspect of operating the drive unit is to supply the drive unit with energy to bring the door into the closed position.

[0017] In one aspect, the drive unit is configured to operate in one or more modes, which are selected from a group consisting of freewheel mode, hold mode, actuator mode, manual use, and welcome and walk-away functions.

[0018] Various objects, features, aspects and advantages of the subject matter according to the invention will become clearer from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments together with the accompanying drawing figures, in which the same numbers represent the same components. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] The accompanying drawings serve to further understand the present invention and are an integral part of this description. The drawings show exemplary embodiments of the present invention and, together with the description, serve to illustrate the principles of the present invention. Fig. Figure 1 shows an exemplary block diagram of the proposed system for controlling the closing of a door of a motor vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. Figure 2 shows an exemplary view of a drive unit of the proposed system, which is attached to the door, according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. Figure 3 shows an exemplary view of a door control strap attached to the door according to embodiments of the present invention. Fig. Figure 4 shows an exemplary schematic diagram illustrating the closing direction of the door and the angle at which the door protection strap slows down the closing of the door, according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. Figure 5A shows a graphic representation of the door angle in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. Figure 5B shows a graphical representation of the actuation mode according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. Figure 5C shows a graphical representation of the voltage supplied to a drive unit of the proposed system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. Figure 6 shows an exemplary flowchart illustrating the process of controlling the door of a vehicle by the proposed system according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] The following describes in detail embodiments of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to ensure the invention is clearly understandable. However, the intention is not to limit foreseeable embodiments with the necessary level of detail; rather, the aim is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives that fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the accompanying claims.

[0021] The embodiments described herein relate generally to devices for controlling vehicle doors. In particular, the present invention relates to a system for controlling the movement of a motor vehicle door during the door closing process. The invention proposes a method for closing a vehicle door, comprising the following steps: closing the door by manual operation; determining the angle of the door relative to the vehicle body in the direction of door closing; if the angle thus determined is less than a threshold value, triggering the motorized door closing process upon detection of such an angle that is less than a threshold value. To enable this, a special arrangement of springs is provided in the door sensor. Activating the motorized door operation in the final stages slows the closing of the door instead of slamming it shut, thus preventing fingers from being trapped.

[0022] With reference to the Fig. 1 and Fig. Section 2 discloses an exemplary block diagram of a system (100) for controlling a door of a motor vehicle (102). The system (100) comprises a control unit (104) for the door, a door control strap (106), and a drive unit (110). The control unit (104) is configured to detect whether the door (102) is in at least one of an open state and a closed state. The door control strap (106) comprises at least one laterally coupled spring (108) (as shown in Figure 2). Fig. (3 shown), which is configured at a point on the door control hinge (106) such that the spring (108) is compressed when the door (102) reaches a predefined angle, i.e., 15 degrees or less, while moving from the open to the closed position. Compressing the spring (108) causes the momentum of the door (102) to be absorbed, thus reducing the closing speed of the door (102). The reduced speed of the door prevents fingers from being trapped and allows the drive unit to take over the automatic closing of the door, ensuring a smooth closing action. The spring (108) is also coupled to the door's control unit (104) and sends a signal when compressed, indicating that the door has reached the final stage of the closing process.

[0023] Furthermore, the drive unit (110) is operationally connected to the door (102) (as in Fig. 2) and the door's control unit (104) and configured for motorized closing of the door (102). The drive unit (110) is configured to allow the door (102) to close gently to prevent fingers from being trapped. The control unit (104) is configured to detect an initial manual closing action of the door (102) by a user from the open position and to detect the compression of the spring (108) as the door (102) approaches the predefined closing angle, as shown in Fig. Figure 4 shows that the door's control unit (104) controls the drive unit (110) to close the door (102) automatically as soon as the spring (108) indicates that the door (102) has reached the predefined angle. This actuation of the drive unit (110) involves supplying energy to the drive unit (110) to move the door (102) towards the closed position, thus ensuring that the door (102) transitions smoothly from a partially closed to a fully closed position without any additional manual effort.

[0024] When the door (102) reaches the predefined angle during the transition from the open to the closed position, the spring (108) engages a damping mechanism, thus slowing the closing speed of the door (102). This damping mechanism ensures, for example, a smooth and controlled closing action, which supports the door (102) from slamming shut, reduces noise, minimizes potential wear on components, and increases safety. This controlled deceleration of the door's (102) movement protects users by reducing the risk of fingers being trapped.

[0025] In one embodiment, the system (100) comprises one or more sensors (112) configured to detect the closing angle of the door (102), enabling the system (100) to effectively manage the movement of the door (102). These sensors (112) continuously transmit information about the position of the door's control unit (104), which is programmed with logic to enhance user comfort and control and to support the automatic switching of the drive unit (110) from a manual mode to an electric mode. This logic, stored in a memory (not shown) of the door's control unit (104), supports the automatic switching of the drive unit (110) from a manual mode to an electric mode.The stored logic enables the door's control unit (104) to continuously monitor the closing angle and activate the electric mode when the door (102) reaches the last 15 degrees of closing. This automatic transition from manual to electric mode allows the system (100) to relieve the user and close the door in a controlled, motorized manner.

[0026] In an exemplary implementation, the door (102) initially operates in manual mode, allowing the user to control its movement manually. When the system (100) detects that the door (102) is moving in the closing direction, the drive unit (110) automatically switches to electric mode as the door (102) reaches the last 15 degrees of its closing angle. This switch to electric mode supplies power to the drive unit (110), enabling the system (100) to take over the closing process. This automatic assistance allows the door (102) to close completely and smoothly without further manual effort, ensuring that the door (102) closes safely and in a controlled manner, thus enhancing the user experience and safety.

[0027] In one embodiment, the drive unit (110) is configured to operate in one or more modes selected from a group consisting of free-running mode, hold mode, actuator mode, manual operation, and welcome and walk-away functions. In an exemplary embodiment, the free-running mode allows the door (102) to move freely without resistance from the drive unit (110), which is suitable for situations where manual intervention is required. In hold mode, the drive unit (110) holds the door (102) in a fixed position and ensures stability when the door (102) needs to remain open or closed at a specific angle. In actuator mode, the drive unit (110) is configured to provide motorized assistance for opening or closing the door (102) based on stored logic.Furthermore, in manual mode, the door (102) is operated manually without intervention from the drive unit (110), thus enabling traditional use. Additionally, the greeting and walk-away functions allow the door (102) to open or close automatically depending on the user's distance from the vehicle. The greeting function opens the door (102) when the user approaches, while the walk-away function closes the door (102) when the user moves away, thereby increasing convenience and safety.

[0028] With reference to Fig. Section 5A shows a graphic representation of the door angle (represented by the number 602). If the door angle is less than 15°, the manual mode is automatically switched to the electric mode.

[0029] In Fig. Figure 5B shows a graphic representation of the operating mode (604), where 1 indicates manual mode and 0 indicates electric (automatic) mode.

[0030] Fig. Figure 5C shows a graphical representation of the voltage applied to a drive unit (606). In manual mode, the voltage at the motor is 0 volts (V), and in electric mode, the voltage at the motor is -12 V.

[0031] In Fig.Figure 6 shows an exemplary flowchart illustrating the control of the vehicle door (102) by the proposed system (100). In block (702), the door control unit (104) determines whether the door (102) is in an open or closed state. In block (704), the sensors (112) detect the closing angle (i.e., the initiated closing action) of the door (102), and when the door (102) reaches the predefined angle, the spring (108) on the door control strap (106) compresses and sends a signal to the door control unit (104) in block (706).

[0032] In block (708), the door control unit (104) controls the drive unit (110) upon receiving the signal. The drive unit (110) moves the door (102) from the predefined angle into the closed position (i.e., fully closed), thus preventing fingers from being trapped.

[0033] While the foregoing describes various embodiments of the invention, other and further embodiments of the invention can be developed without deviating from the fundamental scope of the invention. The scope of the invention is defined by the following claims. The invention is not limited to the described embodiments, variants, or examples, provided that they are included to enable a person with ordinary technical knowledge to manufacture and use the invention when combined with information and knowledge available to such a person. ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION

[0034] The present invention offers an improved, efficient and reliable solution for reducing the risk of injury when entering and exiting vehicles.

[0035] The present invention provides a system that prevents injuries caused by finger entrapment by automatically managing the final phase of door closing, thus ensuring safer operation for users.

[0036] The present invention increases the comfort of vehicle access through a combination of manual and automatic locking mechanisms, thereby improving the user experience.

[0037] The present invention offers a user-friendly solution that simplifies entry and exit from a vehicle and enables seamless interaction with the door mechanism. QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 102008008178A1

[0004]

Claims

[1] A system (100) for controlling a door of a motor vehicle (102), wherein the system (100) comprises: a control unit (104) configured to determine whether the door (102) is in at least one of an open state and a closed state; a door control hinge (106) comprising at least one laterally coupled spring (108) configured at a location on the door control hinge (106) such that the at least one spring (108) is compressed when the door (102), moving from the open state to the closed state, reaches a predefined angle in order to reduce the momentum of the door (102); and wherein the at least one spring (108) is functionally coupled to the control unit (104) of the door; and a drive unit (110) which is operationally coupled to the door (102) and the control unit (104) of the door and is configured for motorized closing of the door (102); wherein the control unit (104) of the door is configured to actuate the drive unit (110) for motorized closing of the door (102) when it receives an indication from the at least one spring (108) that the door (102) has reached the predefined angle. [2] System (100) according to claim 1, wherein the predefined angle is 15 degrees or less. [3] System (100) according to claim 1, wherein the control unit (104) is configured to detect an initial manual closing action of the door (102) by a user from the open state. [4] System (100) according to claim 1, wherein the control unit (104) of the door is configured to detect the compression of the at least one spring (108) when the door (102) approaches the predefined closing angle. [5] System (100) according to claim 1, wherein the drive unit (110) is configured to enable a gentle closing of the door (102) to prevent fingers from being trapped. [6] System (100) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one spring (108) is configured to engage in a damping mechanism when the door (102) reaches the predefined angle during the transition from the open to the closed state, thereby slowing down the closing speed of the door (102). [7] System (100) according to claim 1, wherein the actuation of the drive unit (110) comprises supplying the drive unit (110) with energy to move the door (102) into the closed state. [8] System (100) according to claim 1, wherein the drive unit (110) is configured to operate in one or more modes selected from a group consisting of a freewheel mode, a hold mode, an actuator mode, manual use and greet and walk-away functions. [9] System (100) according to claim 1 further comprises one or more sensors (112) configured to detect a closing angle of the door (102) and, taking into account the logic stored in the control unit (104) of the door, automatically switch the drive unit (110) from a manual mode to an electric mode. [10] System (100) according to claim 9, wherein the stored logic in the control unit (104) of the door is configured to continuously monitor the closing angle and activate the electric mode when the door (102) reaches the last 15 degrees of closing.

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