External opening control of a motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to an external opening control for an openable body section of a motor vehicle, comprising a housing (10), a handle (8) mounted movably on the housing (10) between a deployed position and a retracted position with a view to being recessed in the openable body section, and means for controlling the opening of the openable body section in response to pulling on the handle (8) in deployed position. The opening control additionally comprises means (14) for detecting the movement of the handle relative to the housing (10), resulting from pressure on said handle (8), said means (14) being configured to lock the openable body section and / or to move the handle.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an external opening control for a motor vehicle door. The invention also relates to a motor vehicle equipped with an external opening control for a door.

[0002] For aesthetic and aerodynamic reasons, an exterior door handle on a motor vehicle may be flush-mounted. Such a handle has an exterior surface that is level with the exterior surface of the door, so it presents no visible grip. It must first be extended or pulled out before it can be grasped by a user.

[0003] French patent document FR 2 800 784 B1 discloses a control mechanism for opening a motor vehicle door. One configuration of the control mechanism includes a flush-mounted pivoting handle, meaning that when in its rest position, also called the retracted position, it is flush with the outer surface of the door. When a user applies force to the handle in its rest position, the handle pivots, against the elastic force of a spring, to a usable position where it can be grasped to open the door. When the handle is grasped, it comes to rest against a limit switch, which generates a control signal to open the door. In this configuration, the handle is not very ergonomic or stylish because its pivot point is in a central position. Furthermore, its pivoting action is not motorized.

[0004] Patent document GB 2492319 A discloses an opening control for a motor vehicle door. The control includes a flush-mounted handle configured to pivot from a retracted to an extended position, with the pivoting being motorized. The pivoting of the handle can be controlled by the user via a remote control for locking and unlocking the vehicle. The handle may include on its surface two capacitive buttons or switches, through which the user respectively extends the handle and unlocks the doors, and retracts the handle and locks the doors. Controlling the extension and retraction via the remote control for locking / unlocking the vehicle is less ergonomic than controlling it by contact with the handle. However, the presence of buttons on the handle makes its construction complex, expensive, and prone to failure.

[0005] The GB2506350 document describes a retractable handle device for a door and a method for deploying the retractable door handle device.

[0006] The document DE102014005797 describes an exterior vehicle door handle, with a handle element, in particular for operating a door lock, with the handle element being movable between a non-use position and at least one use position relative to a base support.

[0007] The invention aims to overcome at least one of the drawbacks of the aforementioned prior art. More specifically, the invention aims to facilitate the use and installation of an external opening control for a motor vehicle door. The invention also aims to provide a simple and economical solution.

[0008] The invention relates to an external opening control for a motor vehicle door, comprising a housing; a handle movably mounted on the housing between a deployed position and a retracted position in order to be embedded in the door; means for opening the door in response to a pull on the handle in the deployed position, notable in that the opening control further comprises means for detecting displacement of the handle relative to the housing, resulting from pressure on said handle, said means being configured to lock the door and / or move the handle, wherein the detection means are of the capacitive, inductive, optical and / or pneumatic type, configured to detect a displacement stroke of the handle corresponding to less than 20%, preferably less than 10%, of a total stroke of said handle between the deployed and retracted positions.

[0009] Depending on specific embodiments, the external opening control may include one or more of the following characteristics, taken individually or in all possible technical combinations: The detection means are configured to detect depressment of the handle from the extended and / or retracted positions. The means for opening the door are mechanical or electrical. The movement of the handle from the retracted to the extended position and vice versa is operated mechanically or electrically. The handle includes a contact area on which the user can apply pressure to move the handle. The total travel of the handle between the extended and retracted positions is preferably measured at the contact area of ​​the handle. The travel of the handle is preferably 2 mm, measured at the contact area of ​​the handle. The handle is a flush-mounted type, also called a "flush" handle. Pressure applied to the handle brings the handle closer to the housing.

[0010] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising openings and a locking system for said openings, at least one of the openings comprising an external opening control; remarkable in that said control is, according to the invention, the detection means communicating with the locking system so as to lock the openings upon detection of a movement of the handle resulting from pressure from the deployed position.

[0011] In particular embodiments, the vehicle may include one or more of the following features, taken individually or in all possible technical combinations: The detection means are configured to, in addition, trigger a retraction of the handle upon detection of handle movement resulting from pressure applied from the extended position. The detection means are configured to super-lock the openings upon detection of handle movement resulting from pressure applied from the retracted position within a predefined time period after locking, upon detection of handle movement resulting from pressure applied from the extended position. The detection means are configured to unlock the openings upon detection of handle movement resulting from pressure applied from the retracted position outside of a predefined time period after locking, upon detection of handle movement resulting from pressure applied from the extended position. The predefined time period after locking is preferably 3 seconds.

[0012] In general, the specific modes of each object of the invention are also applicable to the other objects of the invention. To the extent technically feasible, each object of the invention is combinable with the other objects.

[0013] The features of the invention are interesting because the handle's deployment no longer depends on detecting force applied to the handle, but rather on detecting a movement of the handle resulting from slight pressure. Applying pressure to the handle also retracts it, locking and super-locking the vehicle's doors and windows. The invention also eliminates the need for visible buttons on the handle, thus improving the aesthetics of this area. The costs and installation time for the handles and exterior opening controls are also reduced.

[0014] Other features and advantages of the present invention will be better understood with the aid of the description given by way of example and with reference to the drawings, among which: There figure 1 features a motor vehicle opening equipped with a control for opening the opening; The figure 2 presents a cross-sectional view of the opening mechanism along axis II-II' drawn on the figure 1 ; There figure 3 represents the cross-sectional view of the figure 2 where the handle is in an extended position.

[0015] There figure 1 represents an opening 2. Opening 2 can be a vehicle opening (not shown), in particular a motor vehicle.

[0016] However, other applications are possible. The opening is shown here from the outside of the vehicle, the outside being related to the vehicle's interior.

[0017] The opening 2 may correspond to a passenger door. The opening 2 may include an outer sheet metal 4, also called skin, which forms the outer surface 6 of the opening.

[0018] The opening sash 2 includes an external opening control. The external opening control comprises a handle 8 and a housing on which the handle is movable between a deployed position and a retracted position so that it is flush with the sash. In its retracted position, the handle 8 is level with the outer surface 6 of the sash. In its deployed (not visible) position, the handle protrudes from the outer surface 6 of the sash so that it can be operated by a user. These handles are flush-mounted handles.

[0019] The external opening control also includes means for opening the sash (not shown) in response to a pull on the handle in the extended position. The pull on the handle is usually performed by a user. The means for opening the sash can be mechanical or electrical.

[0020] There figure 2 represents a cross-section of the opening mechanism illustrated in figure 1 The cut is made along the II-II' axis drawn on the figure 1 . There figure 3 represents the handle in an extended position.

[0021] THE figures 2 And 3The figures represent the handle 8 in its retracted and extended positions, respectively. The handle is movably mounted on a housing 10 by means of a pivot joint 12. In the specific case of these representations, the movable mounting of the handle 8 relative to the housing 10 pivots about an axis (not visible) generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the handle 8. It is understood, however, that other movable mountings are possible.

[0022] In its retracted position ( figure 2 ), the handle 8 is housed in the casing 10 so as to be recessed into the opening. In its deployed position ( figure 3 ), the handle 8 protrudes from the outer surface of the opening so that it can be manipulated by a user.

[0023] The external opening control includes means 14 for detecting the displacement of the handle 8 relative to the housing 10, the displacement of the handle resulting from pressure being applied to the handle. The handle 8 may include a support area 16 on which a user will apply pressure in order to move the handle. The support area 16 may be located at one end of the handle, preferably at the end opposite the pivot joint 12.

[0024] The detection means 14 are configured to lock the door and / or move the handle. According to the invention, the detection means 14 are configured to detect a handle displacement corresponding to less than 20%, preferably less than 10%, of the total travel of said handle between the extended and retracted positions. The detection means 14 can be located in the housing 10 or at the pivot joint 12; these placements are not limiting. Furthermore, according to the invention, the detection means 14 are of the capacitive, inductive, optical, and / or pneumatic type. They can, for example, be absolute encoder or Hall effect sensor types, which will allow them to detect different pre-configured handle positions. This type of sensor will also allow the detected travel to be adjusted according to requirements.

[0025] The detection means 14 can be configured to detect a depressment of the handle 8 from the deployed position and / or the retracted position.

[0026] When a user presses on the handle 8 in its retracted or extended position, preferably on the contact area 16, it causes a displacement of the handle 8, more specifically a depressing of the handle. The pressure on the handle is preferably exerted for at least 200 ms, more preferably for at least 100 ms, with a force on the order of 10 Newtons, preferably of at least 5 Newtons. After being pressed, the handle 8 then travels in the direction indicated by the arrow, the travel being detected by the detection means 14. The displacement preferably corresponds to a travel of 2 mm, this being measured at the contact area 16 of the handle 8. The displacement of the handle is represented by dashed lines on the figures 2 And 3 .

[0027] The detection means 14 communicate with a locking system (not shown) for the vehicle's openings so as to lock the openings when a movement of the handle 8 is detected, resulting from pressure being applied from the handle 8's deployed position. Similarly, when a movement of the handle 8 is detected, resulting from pressure being applied from the deployed position, the detection means 14 can command a retraction movement of the handle 8. Thus, when pressure is applied to the handle 8 from its deployed position, this causes the handle to move to its retracted position and the openings to lock.

[0028] If a user presses the handle 8 in the retracted position within a predefined time after locking, upon detection of handle movement resulting from pressure from the extended position, the detection means 14 will again detect handle movement and activate a super-locking mechanism for the vehicle's doors and windows. The super-locking mechanism can perform various functions and is inherently understood by those skilled in the art. The predefined time interval is preferably 3 seconds. However, any other value may be selected.

[0029] If a user presses on the retracted handle outside the predefined time period after locking, the detection means 14 will detect a movement of the handle and the unlocking of the openings will be activated. Similarly, the handle 8 will then be moved from its retracted position to its extended position. The user will then be able to manipulate the handle and pull on it to open the corresponding opening.

[0030] The movements of the handle from the retracted position to the deployed position and from the deployed position to the retracted position are operated mechanically or electrically.

Claims

1. External opening control for a motor vehicle door (2), comprising: - a housing (10); and - a handle (8) movably mounted on the housing between an extended position and a retracted position for embedding in the door (2); order means for opening the door in response to traction on the handle in the deployed position; and means of detecting (14) the displacement of the handle (8) by report to the housing (10), resulting from a pressure on said handle, said means (14) being configured to lock the door (2) and / or to displace the handle (8), wherein the detection means (14) are of the capacitive, inductive, optical and / or pneumatic type, configured to detect a displacement stroke of the handle corresponding to less than 20%, preferably less than 10%, of a total stroke of said handle between the deployed and retracted positions.

2. Outer opening command according to claim 1, wherein the detection means (14) are configured to detect a depression of the handle (8) from the deployed position and / or the retracted position.

3. Control of exterior opening according to one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the order means for opening the door (2) are mechanical or electrical.

4. Outer opening control according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the movement of the handle (8) from the retracted position to the deployed position and vice versa is performed mechanically or electrically.

5. Motor vehicle comprising doors and a system for locking said doors, at least one of the doors comprising an exterior opening control; wherein said order is in accordance with one of claims 1 to 4, the detection means (14) communicating with the locking system so as to lock the doors when a displacement of the handle (8) resulting from a pressure from the deployed position is detected.

6. Vehicle according to claim 5, wherein the detection means (14) are configured to further order a retraction movement of the handle (8) upon detection of a displacement of the handle resulting from a pressure from the deployed position.

7. Vehicle according to one of Claims 5 and 6, characterised in that the detection means (14) are configured to super-lock the doors when detecting a displacement of the handle (8) resulting from a pressure from the retracted position in a predefined period of time after the locking when detecting a displacement of the handle (8) resulting from a pressure from the deployed position.

8. Vehicle according to one of Claims 5 to 7, characterised in that the detection means (14) are configured to unlock the opening leaves upon detection of a displacement of the handle (8) resulting from a pressure from the retracted position outside a predefined period of time after the locking upon detection of a displacement of the handle (8) resulting from a pressure from the deployed position.

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