Door handle arrangement and vehicle door

Abstract

The invention relates to a door handle arrangement (2), in particular an external door handle arrangement, comprising at least one handle element (3), an electric drive unit (12) coupled to the handle element (3) to move the handle element (3) between a starting position (P0) and an open position (P1), wherein the electric drive unit (12) is configured to generate a movement on the handle element (3) that is haptically perceptible to a user, either directly or indirectly. The invention further relates to a vehicle door (1) with a door handle arrangement (2).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a door handle arrangement, in particular an outside door handle arrangement for a vehicle, and a vehicle door with such a door handle arrangement.

[0002] Door handle assemblies for vehicles are generally known from the prior art. An electric drive is typically used to move a door handle, particularly a flush-mounted one, between an initial position and an open position, particularly an actuating or gripping position. The protruding position of the door handle relative to the vehicle door allows the door handle to be grasped.

[0003] The object of the present invention is to provide a door handle arrangement with improved function that is improved compared to the prior art, and a vehicle door with such an improved door handle arrangement.

[0004] The object is achieved according to the invention by a door handle arrangement having the features of claim 1. The further object is achieved according to the invention by a vehicle door having the features of claim 10.

[0005] The door handle assembly according to the invention, in particular an outside door handle assembly, comprises at least one handle element or a door handle, in particular an outside door handle, an electric drive unit which is coupled to the door handle in order to move the door handle between an initial position and an open position, in particular an actuating position or gripping position, wherein the drive unit is configured to directly or indirectly generate a movement on the handle element which is haptically perceptible to a user.

[0006] In a preferred development of the invention, the drive unit is designed to generate both an extension movement or a lifting movement of the handle element and the haptically perceptible movement on the handle element, in particular a vibration on the handle element.

[0007] In this case, different, in particular distinguishable, haptically perceptible movements can be generated. For example, the haptically perceptible movements can be generated differently and distinguishably depending on functions and / or, when using multiple sensors (also called sensor units), depending on the respective sensor that detects a specific physical quantity. For example, to distinguish between functions and / or sensors, the haptically perceptible movement can be generated more strongly and / or at a higher frequency, in particular a higher or lower vibration frequency.

[0008] The advantages achieved by the invention are, in particular, that the electric drive unit both extends the door handle, especially the flush-mounted one, and generates a haptic signal (also called haptic feedback). No additional component needs to be integrated. This results in a door handle arrangement with haptic signaling that is optimized in terms of cost, assembly, and installation space.

[0009] In one possible variant, the electric drive unit drives a rotatably mounted eccentric unit that is motion-coupled to the handle element. In particular, the eccentric unit is configured to move the door handle from its initial position to the open position when rotated through a predetermined first angular range, and to generate a vibration and / or a haptic signal on the handle element, the door handle, as a haptically perceptible movement when rotated through a predetermined second angular range.

[0010] The generated haptic message or the generated, haptically perceptible vibration serves in particular to indicate to a user that an actuation has been detected by a sensor and that the desired function can be carried out.

[0011] Preferably, the eccentric unit has a deployment contour configured to generate both a deployment movement or a lifting movement of the handle element and the haptically perceptible movement on the handle element, in particular a vibration. The deployment contour can, for example, be an outer contour, in particular an edge contour, or an inner contour, in particular a rib contour.

[0012] Alternatively, the drive unit can drive a cam that is rotatably mounted and coupled to the handle element. The cam has, for example, a cam contour configured to generate both the extension movement or the lifting movement of the handle element and the haptically perceptible movement on the handle element, in particular a vibration.

[0013] Furthermore, a control unit can be provided and configured to control the drive unit by means of a control signal. Furthermore, a sensor unit can be provided, which is configured to detect an approach and / or actuation of the handle element. Upon an approach and / or actuation of the handle element detected by the sensor unit, the control unit is further configured to control the drive unit such that a haptic signal can be generated or is generated as a haptically perceptible movement on the handle element.

[0014] For example, a vibration is generated on the handle element as a haptic signal. In particular, depending on the detected approach and / or the detected actuation of the handle element, a control signal that drives and controls the drive unit is modified to generate the haptic signal as a haptically perceptible vibration.

[0015] For example, the control signal is a pulse signal, in particular a modulated pulse signal. In particular, the generated pulse signal has a constant amplitude with a variable pulse duration. Due to the inertia of the drive unit controlled by the control signal, mechanical vibrations occur in the electric drive unit, in particular an electric motor, which propagate and are transmitted through a handle carrier and / or a handle housing to the handle element. This mechanical vibration is perceptible as a haptic movement on the handle element gripped by the user.

[0016] By adjusting the pulse duration as desired, an undesirable shift in the position of the handle element can be avoided. The signal strength and frequency of the mechanical vibration can be adjusted via the controllable / variable pulse duration of the control signal that controls the drive unit. This allows a characteristic, perceptible, haptic signal (also called feedback or feedback signal) to be generated at the door handle / handle element. Variations of the haptic signal can be adjusted and generated by repeating the pulses at a predefined frequency (also called clock frequency or clock rate) and / or a predefined time interval (also called pulse duration or period duration).

[0017] Furthermore, a vehicle door equipped with the previously described door handle arrangement is provided.

[0018] Embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail with reference to the drawings. In the drawings: Fig. 1 schematically shows a side view of a vehicle with at least one door handle arrangement, Fig. 2 a perspective view of a door handle arrangement according to a first embodiment with a door handle, a drive unit with an eccentric unit, and Fig. 3 a perspective view of the drive unit with eccentric unit, Fig. 4 schematically shows a door handle arrangement according to a second embodiment with an extended handle element and a sensor unit arranged in the handle element, and Fig. 5 schematically shows the door handle arrangement according to Fig. 4 from behind with a handle carrier and a drive unit.

[0019] Corresponding parts are provided with the same reference numerals in all figures.

[0020] Fig. 1 shows a schematic side view of a vehicle F with two vehicle doors 1, each having a door handle arrangement 2.

[0021] The vehicle F is aligned in the vehicle longitudinal direction to the front V and to the rear H. The respective door handle arrangement 2 is designed as an outside door handle arrangement.

[0022] The door handle assembly 2 comprises a handle element 3, in particular an outer door handle. The handle element 3 can be mechanically or electrically coupled to a locking mechanism (not shown) for a door lock (not shown). For example, actuation of the handle element 3 moves the locking mechanism from a locked position to an unlocked position to enable opening of the respective vehicle door 1.

[0023] The handle element 3, in particular an outer gripping surface of the handle element 3, is positioned approximately flush with an outer door surface of an outer vehicle door wall 1.1 of the vehicle door 1 when the handle element 3 is set in a starting position P0 (also called non-use position or rest position), as in Fig. 1 shown.

[0024] The door handle assembly 2 comprises an electric drive unit 12 (shown in Fig. 2), which is coupled to the handle element 3 in order to move the handle element 3 between a starting position P0 and an open position P1 (shown in Fig. 4) to move.

[0025] The electric drive unit 12 is further configured to directly or indirectly generate a movement on the handle element 3 that is haptically perceptible to a user.

[0026] In particular, the electric drive unit 12 is configured to generate both an extension movement or a lifting movement of the handle element 3 and the haptically perceptible movement on the handle element 3, in particular a vibration on the handle element 3.

[0027] Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of the door handle assembly 2 with the handle element 3, a deployment unit 4 and an eccentric unit 5, which is driven by the electric drive unit 12, in particular a motor.

[0028] The handle element 3 is coupled via the extension unit 4 to the eccentric unit 5, which in the driven state moves the handle element 3 between the starting position P0, shown in Fig. 1, and the open position P1 or gripping position (shown in Fig. 4) moves.

[0029] The eccentric unit 5 is non-rotatably coupled to an output shaft 6 of the drive unit (not shown), for example, a motor. The eccentric unit 5 is disk-shaped or wheel-shaped. The drive unit is coupled and controlled by an engine control unit (also called ECU for short), not shown in detail.

[0030] Instead of an eccentric unit 5, a cam, in particular a cam wheel or a cam disk, can also be provided. The electric drive unit 12 drives the cam, which is, for example, rotatably mounted and coupled to the handle element 3. The cam can, for example, have a cam contour configured to generate both the extension movement or the lifting movement of the handle element 3 and the haptic, perceptible movement on the handle element 3, in particular a vibration.

[0031] The deployment unit 4, in particular a deployment lever, is on the one hand pivotally mounted on the handle element 3 and on the other hand pivotally mounted on the vehicle door wall 1.1 and movable about a rotation axis 7 in order to move the handle element 3 outwards or inwards relative to the vehicle door wall 1.1.

[0032] The eccentric unit 5 has a projection contour 8 for the handle element 3. The projection contour 8 can be formed, for example, as a peripheral contour, a rib contour, a web contour, a guide track, or the like on the eccentric unit 5. The projection contour 8 can be formed as an outer or inner contour.

[0033] The extension unit 4 can be pivoted in a controlled manner by means of the extension contour 8 of the eccentric unit 5, both for the extension or lifting movement of the handle element 3 and for generating a vibration or a haptic signal as a haptically perceptible movement on the handle element 3. For this purpose, the extension contour 8 interacts with a roller element 9, which is rotatably mounted on the extension unit 4. The roller element 9 rolls on the extension contour 8 on the eccentric unit 5.

[0034] The roller element 9 is rotatably mounted, for example, on a holding arm 10 projecting from the display unit 4 in the direction of the eccentric unit 5.

[0035] Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of the interacting display unit 4 and the eccentric unit 5.

[0036] The eccentric unit 5 is configured to move the handle element 3 from the starting position P0 into the open position P1 or gripping position by means of the extension contour 8 when rotating over a predetermined first angular range 100 and to generate a vibration or a haptic signal on the handle element 3 by means of the extension contour 8 when rotating over a predetermined second angular range 101.

[0037] The first angular range 100 for the extension movement of the handle element 3 lies in a range of, for example, 0° to 300°, in particular from 0° to 270°. The second angular range 101 directly adjoins the first angular range 100. The second angular range 101 is smaller than the first angular range 100. The second angular range 101 lies, for example, in a range of 270° to 360°, in particular from 300° to 350° or from 270° to 320°.

[0038] A projection contour section 8.1 assigned to the first angular range 100 has a flat or smooth contour surface.

[0039] A vibration contour section 8.2 assigned to the second angular range 101 can be provided with a profile 8.2.1, in particular a ribbing, a toothing, a rough surface contour or the like, which generates a vibration or a haptic signal when the roller element 9 passes over it.

[0040] Additionally or alternatively, instead of the profile 8.2.1 on the eccentric unit 5, the roller element 9 can be provided with a profile 9.1.

[0041] The generated vibration or haptic message as a haptically perceptible movement on the handle element 3 is transmitted via the roller element 9 and the deployment unit 4 to the handle element 3, which can be placed in the open position P1 and grasped by a user who perceives this vibration or haptic message on the handle element 3.

[0042] Fig. 4 shows a schematic perspective view from the front of the door handle assembly 2 with an extended handle element 3 and a sensor unit 15 arranged in the handle element 3.

[0043] The door handle arrangement 2 is designed as an outside door handle arrangement.

[0044] The door handle assembly 2 comprises the handle element 3, in particular an outer door handle. The handle element 3 can be mechanically or electrically coupled to a locking mechanism (not shown) for a door lock (not shown). For example, actuation of the handle element 3 moves the locking mechanism from a locked position to an unlocked position to enable opening of the vehicle door 1 (shown in Fig. 1) to release.

[0045] The handle element 3, in particular an external gripping surface of the handle element 3, is in the starting position P0 (also called rest position or starting position or non-use position, shown in Fig. 5) positioned approximately flush with an outer door surface of an outer vehicle door wall 1.1 of the vehicle door 1.

[0046] In Fig. 4, the handle element 3 is positioned in an open position P1 (also called use position, gripping position or operating position) which is protruded, in particular moved out, relative to the outer door surface and the handle carrier 17 or handle housing, in which the handle element 3 can be gripped by a user to open, for example, the vehicle door 1.

[0047] The sensor unit 15 is integrated into the handle element 3. The sensor unit 15 is, for example, a capacitive or inductive proximity sensor and / or actuation sensor. The sensor unit 15 is configured to detect an approach to the handle element 3 and / or an actuation of the handle element 3 by a user.

[0048] Fig.5 shows a perspective view of the door handle assembly 2 from behind with the handle element 3, the handle carrier 17 and the electric drive unit 12, in particular an electric motor, which is coupled to the handle element 3 via an adjustment mechanism 11, in particular a joint mechanism or lever mechanism, in order to move it between the starting position P0 and the open position P1.

[0049] The door handle assembly 2 further comprises a control unit 13 configured to control the drive unit 12 by means of a control signal 200. The control unit 13 is further configured to control the drive unit 12 upon an approach and / or actuation of the handle element 3 detected by the sensor unit 15 such that a haptic signal 202 can be generated or is generated as a haptically perceptible movement on the handle element 3.

[0050] For example, a vibration is generated at the handle element 3 as a haptic signal 202. In particular, depending on the detected approach and / or the detected actuation of the handle element 3, the control signal 200, which drives and controls the drive unit 12, is changed to generate the haptic signal 202.

[0051] For example, the control signal 200 is a pulse signal, in particular a variable pulse signal, for example, a modulated pulse signal. In particular, the generated pulse signal has a constant amplitude with a variable pulse duration. Due to the inertia of the drive unit 12 controlled by the variable control signal 200, mechanical vibrations of the electric drive unit 12 occur, which propagate and are transmitted through the handle carrier 17 and / or a handle housing to the handle element 3 as a haptic signal 202. This mechanical vibration is perceptible on the handle element 3 gripped by the user.

[0052] A variable pulse signal is also understood to mean a pulse reversal in order to effect a change in the direction of rotation 204 on the drive unit 12, which also leads to the generation of the haptic signal 202.

[0053] By a desired / targeted adjustment of the pulse duration and / or pulse reversal, an undesired shift in the position of the handle element 3 can be avoided. The signal strength and signal frequency of the haptic signal 202 generated as a mechanical vibration can be adjusted via the controllable / variable pulse duration and / or pulse reversal of the control signal 200, which controls the drive unit 12. This allows a characteristic, tangible, haptic signal 202 (also called feedback or feedback signal) to be generated as a haptically perceptible movement on the door handle / handle element 3. Variations of the haptic signal 202 can be adjusted and generated by repeating the pulses at a predeterminable frequency (also called clock frequency or clock rate) and / or a predeterminable time interval (also called pulse duration or period duration) and / or by changing the sign. LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS 1 vehicle door 1.1 Vehicle door wall 2 Door handle arrangement 3 handle element 4 display unit 5 Eccentric unit 6 Output shaft 7 axis of rotation 8 Deployment contour 8.1 Deployment contour section 8.2 Vibration contour section 8.2.1 Profile 9 Roller element 9.1 Profile 10 Holding arm 11 Adjustment mechanism 12 electric drive unit 13 Control unit 15 Sensor unit 17 handle supports 100, 101 angular range 200 control signal 202 haptic signal 204 Change of direction of rotation F vehicle H rear P0 starting position P1 Open position V front

Claims

[1] Door handle arrangement (2), in particular outside door handle arrangement, comprising at least: - a handle element (3), - an electric drive unit (12) coupled to the handle element (3) to move the handle element (3) between a starting position (P0) and an open position (P1), wherein the electric drive unit (12) is configured to directly or indirectly generate a movement on the handle element (3) that is haptically perceptible to a user. [2] Door handle arrangement (2) according to claim 1, wherein the electric drive unit (12) is configured to generate both an opening movement or a lifting movement of the handle element (3) and the haptically perceptible movement on the handle element (3), in particular a vibration on the handle element (3). [3] Door handle arrangement (2) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the electric drive unit (12) drives an eccentric unit (5) which is rotatably mounted and is movement-coupled to the handle element (3), wherein the eccentric unit (5) is designed to transfer the handle element (3) from the starting position (P0) into the gripping position when rotated over a predetermined first angular range (100) and to generate a vibration and / or a haptic message on the handle element (3) as a haptically perceptible movement when rotated over a predetermined second angular range (101). [4] Door handle arrangement (2) according to claim 3, wherein the eccentric unit (5) has a deployment contour (8) which is designed to generate both the deployment movement or the lifting movement of the handle element (3) and the haptically perceptible movement on the handle element (3), in particular a vibration. [5] Door handle assembly (2) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the electric drive unit (12) drives a cam which is rotatably mounted and is motion-coupled to the handle element (3). [6] Door handle arrangement (2) according to claim 5, wherein the cam has a cam contour which is designed to generate both the opening movement or the lifting movement of the handle element (3) and the haptically perceptible movement on the handle element (3), in particular a vibration. [7] Door handle arrangement (2) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a control unit (13) is provided and arranged to control the drive unit (12) by means of a control signal (200), and a sensor unit (15) is provided and configured to detect an approach and / or an actuation of the handle element (3), wherein the control unit (13) is further configured to control the drive unit (12) upon an approach and / or actuation of the handle element (3) detected by means of the sensor unit (15) in such a way that a haptic signal (202) can be generated or is generated as a haptically perceptible movement on the handle element (3). [8] Door handle arrangement (2) according to claim 7, wherein the control unit (13) is configured to change a control signal (200) depending on the approach detected by the sensor unit (15) and / or the detected actuation of the handle element (3), which control signal drives and controls the drive unit (12) in order to generate the haptically perceptible movement on the handle element (3). [9] Door handle arrangement (2) according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the control unit (13) generates a pulse signal with a variable pulse duration as the control signal (200) for the drive unit (12). [10] Vehicle door (1) with a door handle arrangement (2) according to one of the preceding claims.

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