METHOD FOR OPERATING AN ACCESS SYSTEM FOR A VEHICLE AND VEHICLE

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for operating an access system for a vehicle, in particular for an electrically powered motor vehicle. The invention further relates to a motor vehicle.

[0002] As part of the development of new vehicles and the introduction of digitalization into the automotive sector, it is planned to replace conventional mechanical keys, preferably with digital keys.

[0003] Such digital keys make it possible, for example, to eliminate the need for keys in the conventional sense. Instead, the digital keys are stored on mobile devices or on the key body itself, so that, according to this example, the mobile device or the key body then functions as the key for the vehicle. For the purposes of this invention, the term "key body" refers, for example, to an electronic remote control with buttons. More generally, the term "key body" can be understood as a key that, in particular, does not have any mechanical parts for locking or unlocking the vehicle. With such keys, this is preferably done electronically. Therefore, when digital keys are mentioned below, this refers either to a key stored on a mobile device and / or to a key that preferably does not have any mechanical parts.The authorization to open, close, and start the vehicle is then stored, for example, in the form of a digital signature on the mobile device, which is recognized by the vehicle.

[0004] A disadvantage of this key concept, however, is that the vehicle can no longer be unlocked using the method described above, also known as electronic unlocking. Such a scenario occurs, for example, if the vehicle's energy storage system is so depleted that it can no longer adequately supply the components necessary for electronic unlocking with electrical energy. If a mechanical key is present, it is possible to gain access to the vehicle using this key.

[0005] Retaining a mechanical key, especially for the aforementioned electrically powered vehicles, involves significant logistical and configuration effort. Furthermore, hardware modifications within the vehicle are necessary for unlocking (lock cylinder, Bowden cable, lock mechanism, etc.). Additionally, the mechanical components of the key, in terms of size and weight, also influence its visual appearance.

[0006] For example, US 2014 / 0347163A1 discloses a system for accessing a vehicle when the main battery is unable to provide sufficient power to activate the vehicle's electric door locks / latches. The system comprises: a power supply in the door or lock handle that supplies power to the vehicle's electric locking mechanism; an entry authentication device for receiving one or more inputs to authenticate a user's access to the vehicle, the entry authentication device being powered by the rechargeable power supply; and a locking controller that is powered by the power supply and operationally connected to the electric locking mechanism and the one or more entry authentication devices to receive information from the entry authentication device in accordance with the one or more inputs.The locking controller can authenticate a user's access to the vehicle in order to move the electric lock to an unlocked state so that the door can be opened.

[0007] DE 197 55 093 A1 discloses an energy receiving port through which electrical energy can be supplied to a vehicle, comprising a second locking device that prevents access to the energy receiving port in the locked state and enables access in the unlocked state, wherein an energy receiving device is provided which, in the locked state of the energy receiving port, can receive energy from an external device to unlock the second locking device. This second locking device has an electrically visible flap behind which an electrical connection is located.

[0008] US 2015 / 0149221A1 discloses an electric vehicle charging service that allows electric vehicles to be charged when certain conditions are met (e.g., at specific times, when certain battery charge levels are reached, when they are at specific locations, etc.) without the need for the users of these electric vehicles to charge the vehicles themselves. Other features for charging electric vehicles are also provided, such as an application for estimating the range (e.g., distance and / or time) available based on the current battery charge level of an electric vehicle.

[0009] Based on this, the invention aims to provide a method for operating an access system for a vehicle and a vehicle, with the help of which access to the vehicle without a mechanical key is realized in a simple way.

[0010] With regard to the method, the problem is solved according to the invention by a method having the features of claim 1. With regard to the vehicle, the problem is solved according to the invention by a vehicle having the features of claim 8.

[0011] Advantageous designs, further developments and variants are the subject of the subclaims.

[0012] The advantages and preferred designs listed with regard to the process are to be transferred analogously to the vehicle and vice versa.

[0013] Specifically, the problem addressed in the procedure is solved by a method for operating an access system for a vehicle, in particular for an electrically powered motor vehicle. An electrically powered motor vehicle can be understood here as a motor vehicle, for example a passenger car, which has either an electric motor in addition to an internal combustion engine or exclusively as its drive motor.

[0014] In a first step, when a predetermined voltage value of the vehicle's energy storage device is reached or falls below a certain threshold, an external power supply unit of the vehicle is enabled or unlocked. In the context of the present invention, the vehicle's energy storage device is preferably understood to be a vehicle battery, and more specifically, an energy storage device that supplies at least the components responsible for locking and unlocking the vehicle with electrical energy. Preferably, the energy storage device is a low-voltage battery with a maximum voltage level of 12 volts. In the context of the present invention, the predetermined voltage value of the energy storage device is understood to be a voltage value that corresponds, for example, to 5% to 10% of the maximum voltage level of the energy storage device.For example, the specified voltage value for a 12V low-voltage battery is in the range of 0.6V to 1.2V. This specified voltage value is stored, for instance, in an energy management system, which records the actual voltage of the energy storage device and compares it to the specified value.

[0015] In the context of the present invention, the vehicle's external power supply unit is understood to be a connection point for the vehicle to an external power supply. "Unlocking" here means that access to the external power supply unit is granted. In other words, the external power supply unit is, for example, covered by a flap and is inaccessible until the predetermined voltage value of the energy storage device is reached or falls below a certain threshold.

[0016] Subsequently, at least one vehicle access component of the vehicle's control unit is supplied with electrical energy via the external power supply unit. The vehicle access component of the control unit is preferably understood to be the part of the control unit and / or the vehicle's on-board electrical system infrastructure responsible for locking and / or unlocking the doors or other access points to the vehicle. For this purpose, the external power supply unit is electrically connected to the vehicle, and specifically to at least the vehicle access component, via the external power supply unit.

[0017] The term "external power supply device" can be understood as an external energy storage device designed to supply electrical energy, specifically via the external power supply unit to the vehicle.

[0018] In a subsequent step, the vehicle's locking mechanism is released by the electrically powered vehicle access component of the control unit, thus enabling access to the vehicle. Enabling access to the vehicle, as defined in the present invention, means that, after the vehicle component has been supplied with electrical power, the driver can open the vehicle as usual with their preferably digital key by issuing an unlock command, thereby gaining access. The unlock command can be issued, for example, by pressing a button on the digital key, by touching a sensor surface on the exterior door handle, or by distance detection of the digital key, where the unlock command is sent when the digital key is within a defined radius of the vehicle.Allowing access without the unlock command is specifically not intended.

[0019] This makes it possible to access the vehicle, even without a mechanical key and even when the energy storage is depleted, as no mechanical components are required. The core of the present invention therefore lies in a makeshift, external power supply for the part of the vehicle (vehicle access component) responsible for accessing the vehicle, specifically for locking and unlocking it.Especially with a purely digital vehicle key, access to the vehicle is still guaranteed in an emergency, as the necessary measures (unlocking and enabling the external power supply) are initiated by the vehicle itself. This is because the vehicle primarily monitors the voltage of the energy storage device and, if the voltage falls below the predefined threshold, unlocks and enables the external power supply without any action or intervention from the driver. Unlocking with a mechanical key is therefore no longer strictly necessary. Furthermore, it is ensured that no unauthorized access to the vehicle occurs, as the external power supply is inaccessible under normal circumstances, for example, when the energy storage device is fully charged.

[0020] Furthermore, it is ensured that the granted access to the vehicle allows for subsequent measures to be taken to restart the vehicle. For example, once access to the vehicle has been granted, the vehicle's hood can be opened from inside the vehicle, thus activating the (emergency) charging ports for the vehicle's energy storage system.

[0021] The method described above is applicable according to the invention to all locks found in the automotive sector. This includes mechanical locks, in which the application of current for locking and unlocking activates a mechanical action, as well as electric locks, in which the states "locked" and "unlocked" are logical states. A combination of the two aforementioned locks is also included.

[0022] In one embodiment, the vehicle access component is electrically connected to the vehicle's electrical system in such a way that the external power supply via the external power source only provides electrical energy to the vehicle access component. This ensures, firstly, that only the portion of the vehicle's electrical system required for access is supplied with energy, thus saving energy. Secondly, this prevents any external energy input into the vehicle's electrical system when the energy storage device's voltage level is sufficient (i.e., when the specified voltage value has not been reached or fallen below). This has the advantage of preventing incorrect operation.

[0023] According to an alternative embodiment, the entire control unit, and thus not just the vehicle access component of the control unit, is supplied with electrical energy via the external power supply unit. This has the advantage that, with a sufficient energy supply for the entire control unit and the associated electrical infrastructure of the vehicle, further external charging options, such as the previously mentioned emergency charging via the engine compartment, are also enabled.

[0024] According to a suitable embodiment, the external power supply and the external power supply unit have corresponding connections, preferably designed according to the USB Power Delivery standard. Specifically, the connections are USB-C ports, capable of transmitting electrical power up to 60W. This enables, firstly, a fast external power supply for at least the vehicle access component of the control unit. Secondly, USB-C ports are currently, and will continue to be, integrated into various components / devices serving as external power supplies, making the vehicle's external power supply unit compatible with multiple powering devices. Examples of external power supplies include a power bank, a smartphone, or a laptop.

[0025] In one embodiment, in addition to the vehicle access component, at least one radio receiver for the vehicle's central locking system is also supplied with electrical energy by the external power supply. This radio receiver is designed to receive the signal from one or more digital keys, in particular the unlock command mentioned above. Thus, in this alternative or supplementary embodiment, it is possible to additionally grant access to the vehicle via an existing key using authentication.

[0026] In a further alternative or supplementary embodiment, only one door lock of the vehicle, and thus only one door, is unlocked by the electrically powered vehicle access component. This results in energy savings because the electrical energy that must be supplied externally to the vehicle access component to enable access to the vehicle is reduced, since the electrical supply to the vehicle access component only needs to be sufficient to unlock one door instead of, for example, all of the vehicle's doors.

[0027] According to the invention, a wireless data connection is established between a vehicle key and the vehicle access module, such that the key is activated when the vehicle access module is supplied with electrical energy. Activation here means that the key is, for example, imprinted with a vehicle signature, so that it can subsequently be used to open and close only that specific vehicle. This process is also referred to as "pairing." The embodiment described above has proven particularly advantageous in cases where a predetermined voltage value has been reached or fallen below, and only a spare key, which has never previously been used within or for the vehicle, is available.

[0028] This, and specifically the activation of the key via the wireless data connection, thus enables access to the vehicle in this case as well. The wireless data connection for activating the key is preferably encrypted.

[0029] Specifically, the task directed at the vehicle is solved by a vehicle, in particular an electrically powered motor vehicle, which has at least one energy storage device, a vehicle access component of a vehicle control unit, and an external power supply unit. The external power supply unit can be activated depending on the voltage value of the energy storage device.

[0030] The vehicle according to the invention is particularly designed to carry out the method described above, such that the external power supply unit is configured to supply at least one vehicle access component of a control unit with electrical energy via an external power supply in order to unlock access to the vehicle.

[0031] In one embodiment, the external power supply unit is electrically connected to the vehicle access component of the control unit, independent of the vehicle's on-board power supply.

[0032] Preferably, the external power supply device and the external power supply unit have corresponding connections, in particular according to the USB Power Delivery standard.

[0033] An embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the figure. This figure shows a partially simplified representation: Fig. 1 shows a sketched vehicle designed to carry out the method according to the invention.

[0034] The in Fig. 1 The illustrated vehicle 2 is designed to carry out a method according to the invention for operating an access system. The vehicle 2 in the exemplary embodiment according to Fig. 1The vehicle 2 is designed as an electrically powered motor vehicle. That is, the vehicle 2 has an electric motor (not shown) as its drive motor. Furthermore, the vehicle 2 has an energy storage device 4, which specifically supplies all components of the vehicle 2 not responsible for propulsion with electrical energy. Such components are typically supplied with electrical energy via a 12V electrical system, which is why, in this exemplary embodiment, the energy storage device 4 is designed as a battery with a target voltage level of 12V. Alternatively, the energy storage device is designed as a 24V battery, which, however, has no bearing on the method according to the invention.

[0035] Furthermore, the vehicle 2 has a control unit 6 which includes a vehicle access component 8. The vehicle access component 8 serves to control at least one door lock 20, in particular all door locks 20 of the vehicle 2, and thus enables the locking or unlocking of the vehicle 2.

[0036] Furthermore, the vehicle has an external power supply unit 10, which, according to the inventive method, is unlocked and thus enabled when the voltage of the energy storage device 4 falls below a predetermined value. For this purpose, the external power supply unit 10 is, for example, covered by a flap (not shown), which is unlocked and can be opened when the predetermined voltage of the energy storage device 4 is reached or falls below the aforementioned predetermined value. The external power supply unit 10 serves here as an external (emergency) supply of electrical energy to the vehicle access component 8. For this purpose, an external power supply device 12 is used, which is preferably connected to the vehicle 2 and specifically to the vehicle access component 8 via the external power supply unit 10 by means of a cable.Both the external power supply 12 and the external power supply unit 10 have corresponding connections 14 for this purpose, which are preferably designed according to the USB Power Delivery standard. The external power supply 12 is, for example, a smartphone, a power bank, a laptop, or another, in particular portable, energy storage device that can be carried by the driver of the vehicle 2 either normally or easily.

[0037] In order to enable access to the vehicle 2, especially in the case of a discharged energy storage device 4, the external power supply unit 10 is unlocked and thus released according to the inventive method as already mentioned.

[0038] Subsequently, it is possible to supply at least the vehicle access component 8 of the control unit 6, and alternatively the entire control unit 6, with electrical energy via the external power supply unit 10 using the external power supply unit 12, in order to release a door lock. In other words, at least the vehicle access component 8 is electrically "emergency-powered" via the external power supply unit 12, so that the vehicle 2 can be unlocked by an unlock command. With access to the vehicle 2 thus ensured, the hood 16 of the vehicle 2 can then, for example, be unlocked and opened from the interior, so that the energy storage device 4 can be fully recharged via charging ports (not shown) located under the hood 16.

[0039] The background of the method according to the invention is specifically to ensure and enable access to the vehicle when no mechanical key is present or provided. Particularly in the field of electromobility, but also in the context of digitalization and autonomous driving, the issuance of a mechanical key is increasingly being dispensed with.

[0040] Alternatively or additionally, in addition to the electrical supply of the vehicle access component 8, an electrical supply is also provided to at least one radio receiver 18, which serves to receive a signal emitted by a central locking system in the form of a key, for example the unlocking command.

[0041] According to an alternative or supplementary embodiment, only one door lock 20 of the vehicle 2 is unlocked by the electrically supplied vehicle access component 8. In this case, the electrical energy required to ensure access can be reduced to a minimum, which has a positive effect on the energy consumption of the external power supply 12 and a reduction in charging time.

[0042] It is planned that one in Fig. 1 A wireless data connection 22, schematically represented by a double arrow, is formed between a key 24 of the vehicle 2 and the vehicle access component 8 of the control unit 6. The key 24 can either be a key 24 designed separately from the external power supply 12 (in Fig. 1(as shown) or alternatively, the external power supply 12 itself. Alternatively or additionally, the key 24 can also be a radio remote control of a known type, which simply lacks any mechanical components for unlocking the vehicle 2 and is therefore also designed as a digital key 24. The unlocking command is preferably issued in a known manner by pressing a button.

[0043] In this process, the key 24 is activated after or in parallel with the supply of electrical energy to the vehicle access component 8, i.e., paired with a signature of the vehicle 2. The underlying principle of this design is that access to the vehicle 2 is also possible when the energy storage device 4 is discharged as described above and, for example, only a (spare) key 24 is available with which the vehicle 2 has never previously been locked or unlocked. By activating the key 24 via the wireless data connection 22, the key 24 is then available for use with the vehicle 2. Reference symbol list

[0044] 2 Vehicle 4 Energy storage 6 Control unit 8 Vehicle access component 10 External power supply unit 12 External power supply unit 14 Connections 16 Hood 18 Radio receiver 20 Door lock 22 Wireless data connection 24 Key

Claims

1. Method for operating an access system for a vehicle (2), in particular an electric motor-driven motor vehicle, wherein: • upon reaching or falling below a predetermined voltage value of an energy storage device (4) of the vehicle (2), access to an external feeding device (10) of the vehicle (2) is released by the vehicle (2), • at least one vehicle access portion (8) of a control unit (6) of the vehicle (2) is supplied with electrical energy via the external feeding device (10) with an external supply means (12), and • the vehicle access portion (8) of the control unit (6) supplied with electrical energy releases a locking of the vehicle (2) upon an additional receipt of an unlocking command, so that access to the vehicle (2) is enabled, wherein a wireless data connection (22) is formed between a key (24) of the vehicle (2) and the vehicle access portion (8), so that when supplying the vehicle access portion (8) with electrical energy, the key (24) is activated.

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle access portion (8) is electrically connected to an on-board electrical system of the vehicle such that only the vehicle access portion (8) is supplied with electrical energy with the external supply means (12) via the external feeding device (10).

3. Method according to claim 1, wherein the entire control unit (6) is supplied with electrical energy with the external supply means (12) via the external feeding device (10).

4. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the external supply means (12) and the external feeding device (10) have mutually corresponding connections (14), preferably according to USB Power Delivery Standard, via which at least the vehicle access portion (8) of the control unit (6) is supplied with electrical energy.

5. Method according to one of the preceding claims 2 to 4, wherein in addition to the vehicle access portion (8) also at least one radio receiver (18) for a central locking system of the vehicle (2) is supplied with electrical energy by the external supply means (12).

6. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein only one door lock (20) of the vehicle (2) is unlocked by the vehicle access portion (8) supplied with electrical energy.

7. Method according to the preceding claim, wherein the digital key (24) is authenticated in order to enable the unlocking.

8. Vehicle (2), in particular electric motor-driven motor vehicle, comprising: • at least one energy storage device (4), • an external feeding device to which access is released by the vehicle (2) upon reaching or falling below a predetermined voltage value of the energy storage device (4), and • a control unit (6) with at least one vehicle access part (8), • a key of the vehicle, wherein the external feeding device (10) is configured to supply the at least one vehicle access portion (8) with electrical energy by an external supply means (12), for enabling access to the vehicle (2), and wherein the vehicle is configured to form a wireless data connection (22) between the key (24) and the vehicle access portion (8), so that when supplying the vehicle access portion (8) with electrical energy, the key (24) is activated.

9. Vehicle (2) according to claim 8, wherein the external feeding device (10) is electrically connected to the vehicle access portion (8) of the control unit (6) independently of an on-board electrical system of the vehicle (2).

10. Vehicle (2) according to one of claims 8 or 9, wherein the external feeding device (10) and the external supply means (12) have mutually corresponding connections (14), in particular according to USB Power Delivery Standard.