Actuating module for an electronic locking system of a vehicle and vehicle component

Abstract

The invention relates to an actuating module (4) for an electronic locking system of a vehicle (1), comprising at least - a sensor unit (41) for detecting an actuation, - an electronic unit (42) connected to the sensor unit (41) for triggering a switching function, and - an emergency sensor (43) for detecting a water accident involving the vehicle (1) in a body of water, wherein the emergency sensor (43) is electrically connected to the electronic unit (42) for triggering an emergency switching function (202). The invention further relates to a vehicle component with such an actuating module (4).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an actuating module for an electronic locking system, for example for unlocking, locking, opening and / or closing the electronic locking system of a vehicle, in particular a movable vehicle element, especially a vehicle door. The invention further relates to a vehicle component with such an actuating module.

[0002] For example, handle modules for vehicle doors, tailgates, or hoods are known from the prior art. These are usually equipped with a handle element that can be pivoted outwards to open the vehicle door, tailgate, or hood. Handle modules can also include electronic sensor modules for opening or closing a door lock.

[0003] The invention is based on the objective of providing an improved actuation module compared to the prior art, as well as a vehicle component, for example a handle module, a decorative element and / or a vehicle pillar, with such an actuation module.

[0004] The first problem is solved according to the invention by an actuation module having the features of claim 1. The second problem is solved according to the invention by a vehicle component having the features of claim 10.

[0005] Beneficial further training is subject to dependent claims.

[0006] The first-mentioned problem is solved according to the invention with an actuating module for an electronic locking system of a vehicle, wherein the actuating module comprises at least one sensor unit for detecting an actuation, an electronic unit connected to the sensor unit for triggering a switching function, and at least one emergency sensor for detecting a water accident of the vehicle in and / or on a body of water, wherein, in particular in the event of a detected water accident, the emergency sensor is electrically connected or connectable to the electronic unit for triggering a switching function, in particular an emergency switching function, and / or for automatically adapting a sensor behavior.

[0007] The advantages achieved with the invention consist in particular in the fact that a vehicle falling into a body of water, for example into a canal, a river or a harbor basin, can be detected in time to trigger switching functions in the vehicle.

[0008] The sensor unit (also called actuation sensor) can be activated, for example, when pressure is applied from the outside, such as a finger press.

[0009] The invention is based on the consideration that, in the case of increasing water pressure, such as during a fall into a body of water (also called a water accident / water-related accident), the resulting, usually slowly increasing, external pressure may be detected by the actuation sensor, but due to the slow increase, it does not trigger a switching function and / or sensor actuation. Consequently, an emergency switching function, for example, unlocking and opening a vehicle door, may not be triggered or may be triggered for too short a time. Therefore, there is a risk that the locking system, for example, a lock, will ultimately remain locked.

[0010] The emergency sensor located in the actuation module can be connected to, or connectable to, the electronic unit, for example, a handle electronics system, and / or the vehicle's electronics, in order to trigger an emergency mode and / or an emergency switching function upon detection of a water accident. This function could, for example, unlock and / or open a movable vehicle component. The emergency mode enables, for example, a predefined behavior of the actuation module during and / or after an accident. Additionally or alternatively, the emergency sensor can be configured to switch the sensor unit, and thus the actuation sensor, into a predefined emergency mode upon detection of a water accident. This mode is configured with a correspondingly modified emergency sensor behavior.This emergency sensor behavior differs from a normal mode of the actuation sensor in that, in emergency mode, the actuation sensor responds faster despite low actuation pressure in order to trigger the emergency switching function, for example to unlock the vehicle and enable the rescue of persons trapped inside the vehicle.

[0011] In particular, when a water accident is detected by the emergency sensor, the sensor unit can be switched to the specified emergency mode.

[0012] For example, in the event of a detected water accident, the emergency sensor can send an emergency release signal to the electronic unit and / or to the vehicle's electronics. This then allows the actuator sensor to be switched to emergency mode, or it can be switched to emergency mode, and / or an emergency activation or release of a function of a vehicle component can be initiated. For instance, if a water landing is detected on or in a body of water, the emergency switching function can automatically lower side windows, extend a retracted door handle, open a door, and / or release seat belts. This ensures safe vehicle behavior in the water and increases occupant safety. Without adapted accident behavior, for example, vehicle doors might not be able to be opened during a rescue operation.

[0013] During normal vehicle operation, the actuation module, particularly the sensor unit, can be activated to perform or trigger a switching function, such as unlocking and opening a movable vehicle component. Because an emergency sensor for detecting a water landing is integrated into the actuation module, the emergency sensor can be positioned simply and compactly at a location suitable for timely detection of a water landing. For example, the emergency sensor is located in a place where water does not typically enter, especially during normal vehicle operation.

[0014] For example, the sensor unit is configured to detect an initial external pressure, corresponding to an actuation pressure, and trigger a first switching function. Additionally, in emergency mode, the sensor unit can be configured to detect a second external pressure, corresponding to water pressure acting on or into the vehicle from the outside, as an emergency signal and trigger the emergency switching function as a second switching function.

[0015] For example, the sensor unit can be configured to trigger the first switching function when the first pressure detected exceeds a predefined pressure threshold. If the sensor unit is in emergency mode, it can be configured to adapt its sensor behavior (also called emergency sensor behavior) and trigger the emergency switching function as a second switching function when the second pressure is detected, which rises less than the first pressure, and / or when a predefined second pressure threshold is exceeded. The adapted sensor behavior of the sensor unit can, for example, be defined such that the detected sensor signal(s) of the second pressure exhibit a slowly rising signal characteristic, and in particular, exceed(s) a predefined minimum emergency differential threshold.

[0016] For example, the emergency sensor and the sensor unit are designed and arranged separately. The sensor unit can be housed in a casing. Within this casing, the electronic unit can be encapsulated and / or sealed against water and / or moisture. Alternatively, the sensor unit can be located in a separate housing component. The emergency sensor can be located in the vicinity of the sensor unit, in a separate housing component, or at another suitable location on the vehicle. The housing can include at least one opening in the area of ​​the sensor unit for water entering during a water-related incident. This allows the sensor unit, when switched to emergency mode, to detect the secondary pressure due to the water entering through the opening and trigger the emergency switching function as a secondary switching function.

[0017] The actuation module can, for example, comprise at least one interior space in which at least the sensor unit and, optionally, the electronic unit, in particular encapsulated, are located. The actuation module can comprise at least one second interior space in which the emergency sensor is located. Alternatively, the emergency sensor can be located on the outside of the actuation module or at another suitable location on the vehicle.

[0018] The sensor unit can, for example, be a so-called MoC sensor (MoC = Metal over Capacitive). The sensor unit can comprise at least one movable sensor element and one fixed sensor element. The fixed sensor element can be spaced apart from and positioned opposite the movable sensor element. The movable sensor element and the fixed sensor element can each form electrodes that are spaced apart from each other, so that a measuring field is formed between them. When the movable sensor element is pressed and / or in emergency mode, when a second pressure increases slightly due to water ingress at the movable sensor element, the change in the capacitive measuring field can be detected in order to trigger a corresponding switching function, in particular the first switching function as an activation request or the second switching function as an emergency switching function.The electronic unit can be electrically connected to the sensor elements to trigger a corresponding switching signal. The sensor unit can alternatively be designed as a pressure sensor, a capacitive sensor, or an inductive sensor.

[0019] The emergency sensor can be, for example, a capacitive sensor, a pressure sensor, an accelerometer, or the like. The emergency sensor can be in the form of an electrode, in particular an additional sensor electrode of the sensor unit, and / or in the form of a short-circuit switch. The emergency sensor can be installed and / or encapsulated in a suitable location that is dry during normal operation. At least one opening can be provided in the area of ​​the emergency sensor through which water can enter in the event of an accident. Upon detection of a water leak, a signal is sent from the emergency sensor to the electronics.

[0020] The vehicle component according to the invention comprises at least one actuation module as described above, wherein the vehicle component is a door, a tailgate, a handle module, a vehicle pillar, a shaft strip or a vehicle window.

[0021] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail with reference to the drawings. These show: Fig. 1. Schematic perspective view of a vehicle with an externally arranged actuation module, and Fig. 2 schematically an embodiment of an actuating module according to the invention.

[0022] Corresponding parts are marked with the same reference symbols in all figures.

[0023] Fig. Figure 1 schematically depicts a vehicle 1. The vehicle 1 has several electronically switchable areas on its exterior. For example, the vehicle 1 has an actuation module 4 for an electronic locking system in the area of ​​a door 2 and / or a tailgate 3. The actuation module 4 can be used to unlock, lock, open, and / or close the electronic locking system, for example, an electronic lock, of the door 2 and / or the tailgate 3. In particular, the actuation module 4 serves to detect at least one manual actuation by a user's hand. For improved clarity, a coordinate system is shown, having a longitudinal axis x, a transverse axis y, and a vertical axis z.

[0024] The actuation module 4 can be located in a handle module 5 of the door 2 or the tailgate 3 or a vehicle pillar 6, for example the A-pillar and / or B-pillar of the vehicle 1.

[0025] The actuation module 4 enables the simple activation of a corresponding switching function of the vehicle 1, such as unlocking and / or opening the door 2, unlocking and / or opening a tailgate lock or front hood lock, unlocking and / or opening the tailgate 3. For this purpose, the vehicle 1 can be equipped with several actuation modules 4.

[0026] Fig. Figure 2 schematically shows an embodiment of an actuating module 4 according to the invention.

[0027] The actuation module 4 includes at least one sensor unit 41 for detecting an actuation, for example, a manual actuation. For example, the sensor unit 41 is designed as a so-called MoC sensor (MoC = Metal-over-Cap or Metal over Capacitive), in which internal sensor elements, for example electrodes, are encapsulated from the outside.

[0028] The actuation module 4 comprises at least one electronic unit 42 connected to the sensor unit 41 for triggering a switching function 100. The electronic unit 42 includes, for example, handle electronics and / or an evaluation unit.

[0029] The actuation module 4 further comprises at least one emergency sensor 43 for detecting a water accident of the vehicle 1 in and / or on a body of water, wherein the emergency sensor 43 is electrically connected to the electronic unit 42 for triggering a switching function 100, in particular an emergency switching function 202.

[0030] The advantages achieved with the invention consist in particular in the fact that a fall accident of the vehicle 1 into a body of water, for example into a canal, a river or a harbor basin, can be detected in time in order to trigger emergency switching functions in the vehicle 1.

[0031] The sensor unit 41 and the emergency sensor 43 are arranged separately from each other.

[0032] For example, the actuation module 4 can comprise a housing 8. In a first interior space 8.1, the sensor unit 41 and the electronic unit 42 are arranged, for example. The electronic unit 42 is, in particular, completely encapsulated, and the sensor unit 41 is partially encapsulated against moisture and / or water, for example, by foaming, overmolding, or the like. The emergency sensor 43 is arranged in a second interior space 8.2. The second interior space 8.2 has at least one opening 7 for water ingress in the event of a water accident involving the vehicle 1. Instead of the second interior space 8.2, the emergency sensor 43 can be arranged remotely from the sensor unit 41 and the electronic unit 42 at a suitable location in or on the vehicle 1 to directly detect a water accident.

[0033] Additionally, the housing 8 has a passage 7 in the area of ​​the sensor unit 41 to allow water to enter in the event of a possible water accident involving the vehicle 1.

[0034] The sensor unit 41 and the emergency sensor 43 can be configured differently. For example, the sensor unit 41 can be configured as a MoC sensor and the emergency sensor 43 can be configured as a short-circuit switch. Alternatively, the emergency sensor 43 can be configured as an additional sensor electrode of the sensor unit 41.

[0035] The emergency sensor 43, located in the actuation module 4, is connected to the electronic unit 42 to trigger an emergency mode 200 and / or directly an emergency switching function 202 upon detection of a water incident. This function might involve, for example, unlocking and / or opening a movable vehicle component of the vehicle 1 and / or a correspondingly adapted emergency sensor behavior of the sensor unit 41. The emergency sensor 43 can, for example, send an emergency release signal 204 to the electronic unit 42 and / or to on-board electronics to trigger the emergency mode 200 and / or the emergency switching function 202. This allows the emergency mode 200 of the sensor unit 41 to be activated and / or an emergency operation or release of vehicle components to be initiated as an emergency switching function 202.For example, if a water accident is detected, the system can automatically control the lowering of side windows, especially window panes, the extension of a retracted door handle, the opening of a door 2 and / or the opening of seat belts.

[0036] The sensor unit 41 can, for example, be configured and activated in normal operation such that when external pressure, such as finger pressure, is applied, a first switching function 100 is triggered. In normal operation of the vehicle 1, the actuating module 4, in particular the sensor unit 41, can be actuated to execute or trigger the first switching function 100, for example, unlocking and opening a movable vehicle element of the vehicle 1. The sensor unit 41 can comprise at least one movable sensor element (not shown) and one fixed sensor element (not shown). The sensor elements can be designed as sensor electrodes. The sensor unit 41 can, for example, comprise two sensor electrodes arranged at a distance from each other.The movable sensor electrode can be flexible, in particular designed as a spring-loaded sheet, and arranged at a distance from a circuit board of the electronic unit 42. The fixed sensor electrode can, for example, be arranged as a metal surface directly on the circuit board opposite the first sensor electrode. When the actuating module 4 is actuated by a user, the movable sensor electrode is mounted so that it can move relative to the fixed sensor electrode and, for example, approaches or moves away from the second sensor electrode, so that the electric field between the sensor electrodes changes and the electronic unit 42 can derive a corresponding actuating stroke or actuating pressure based on these changes.Depending on the actuation stroke or actuation pressure, a switching function can then be triggered, in particular a lock unlocked or locked, a light switched on or off, or a similar function activated.

[0037] The emergency sensor 43 can be a short-circuit switch, a pressure sensor, an acceleration sensor, a capacitive sensor, or the like, each configured to detect water ingress quickly and reliably. The emergency sensor 43 can also be designed as an additional electrode, in particular an additional sensor electrode of the sensor unit 41. The emergency sensor 43 can be installed in a suitable location that is dry during normal operation. At least one opening 7 can be provided in the area of ​​the emergency sensor 43, through which water can enter in the event of an accident. Upon detection of the water ingress, the emergency release signal 204 is sent by the emergency sensor 43 to the electronic unit 42.

[0038] By integrating or coupling an emergency sensor 43 for the rapid and direct detection of a water accident in such an actuating module 4, the emergency sensor 43 can be provided in a simple and compact manner at a location suitable for the timely detection of a water accident.

[0039] Because the actuating module 4 is provided with at least one passage 7 in the area of ​​the sensor unit 41, the sensor unit 41 can be switched to emergency mode 200 and thus be configured for both normal and emergency operation. For example, the sensor unit 41 can be configured to trigger a first switching function 102 when an initial pressure is detected that is greater than a predefined pressure threshold and, in particular, corresponds to an actuation request. If the sensor unit is switched to emergency mode 200 (also called emergency mode), it can be configured to adapt its sensor behavior (also called emergency sensor behavior) and, upon detection of a second pressure that rises less than the first pressure and / or upon exceeding a predefined second pressure threshold for the second pressure, trigger the emergency switching function 202 as a second switching function 104.The adapted sensor behavior of the sensor unit 41 can, for example, be defined such that the detected sensor signal(s) of the second pressure exhibit a slowly increasing signal characteristic, in particular exceeding a specified minimum emergency differential threshold. REFERENCE MARK LIST 1 vehicle 2 doors 3. Tailgate 4 Actuating module 41 Sensor unit 42 Electronic unit 43 Emergency sensor 5 Handle module 6 Vehicle column 7 Passage 8 cases 8.1 first interior 8.2 second interior 100 switching functions 102 first switching function 104 second switching function 200 Emergency Mode 202 Emergency switching function 204 Emergency release signal x Longitudinal axis y transverse axis z vertical axis

Claims

[1] Actuating module (4) for an electronic locking system of a vehicle (1), comprising at least - a sensor unit (41) for detecting an actuation, - an electronic unit (42) connected to the sensor unit (41) for triggering a switching function (100), and - an emergency sensor (43) for detecting a water accident of the vehicle (1) in and / or on a body of water, wherein the emergency sensor (43) is electrically connected or connectable to the electronic unit (42) for triggering an emergency switching function (202). [2] Actuating module (4) according to claim 1, wherein, upon detection of a water accident by means of the emergency sensor (43), the sensor unit (41) can be switched into an emergency mode (200) or is switched into an emergency mode (200). [3] Actuating module (4) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the sensor unit (41) is configured to detect an externally applied first pressure corresponding to an actuating pressure and to trigger a first switching function (102). [4] Actuating module (4) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the sensor unit (41) is configured in emergency mode (200) to detect an externally applied second pressure corresponding to an acting water pressure as an emergency signal and to trigger the emergency switching function (202) as a second switching function (104). [5] Actuating module (4) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the emergency sensor (43) is designed and arranged separately from the sensor unit (41). [6] Actuating module (4) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a housing (8) in which the sensor unit (41) is arranged. [7] Actuating module (4) according to claim 6, wherein the housing (8) in the area of ​​the sensor unit (41) comprises at least one passage (7) for water penetrating in the event of a water accident. [8] Actuating module (4) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the emergency sensor (43) is a pressure sensor, an acceleration sensor, an additional sensor electrode, a short-circuit switch, a capacitive sensor or an inductive sensor. [9] Actuating module (4) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the sensor unit (41) is a pressure sensor, a capacitive sensor, an inductive sensor or a metal-over-cap sensor. [10] Vehicle component of a vehicle (1) with an actuating module (4) according to one of the preceding claims.

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