Pinch protection system for vehicle doors
Patent Information
- Application Number
- EP2023840887
- Authority / Receiving Office
- EP · EP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2023-01-24
- Filing Date
- 2023-12-22
- Publication Date
- 2025-12-03
AI Technical Summary
Existing anti-pinch systems for vehicle doors do not adequately prevent objects, such as hands or fingers, from becoming trapped between the vehicle door and the body during the closing process, especially when using soft-close automatic systems.
An anti-pinch system with sensors and a control device that detects objects near the joint between the vehicle door and the body, aborting the closing process if contact is detected, utilizing capacitive or inductive sensors and an optical display for visual feedback.
Effectively prevents objects from being trapped by ensuring the closing process is stopped or not initiated when an object is detected near the joint, enhancing safety and user protection during vehicle door closure.
Smart Images
Figure DE2023100990_02082024_PF_FP
Abstract
Description
[0001] Anti-pinch system for vehicle doors
[0002] The invention relates to an anti-pinch protection system for vehicle doors, a method and a vehicle.
[0003] In vehicles, particularly passenger cars, there are manual vehicle doors, which are opened and closed by hand, and automatic or automated vehicle doors, which open and close using an electric drive. Vehicle doors with electric drives have a variety of sensors to recognize the user's operating intention, but also to detect objects in the vicinity of the vehicle door and, if necessary, interrupt the opening or closing process. Especially when closing the vehicle door, it can happen that an object such as a hand or finger becomes trapped in the gap between the vehicle door(s) and the bodywork and is trapped if no appropriate measures are taken to prevent this, i.e. if no anti-trap protection is provided.
[0004] For example, a method for anti-pinch protection is already known from DE 10 2020 006 716 A1. However, there is still room for improvement in the provision of anti-pinch protection for vehicle doors.
[0005] Thus, it is an object of this invention to provide a novel and improved anti-pinch protection system for vehicle doors. This object is achieved according to the invention by the features of the independent patent claims. Advantageous embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims. A anti-pinch protection system for vehicle doors is proposed, which is designed to provide anti-pinch protection for an area within a gap between a vehicle door with a self-closing function and automatic soft-close mechanism and another vehicle door or the vehicle body. An operating point is provided on the vehicle door, the actuation of which at least automatically closes the vehicle door. The vehicle door is first brought into a pre-locking position and then, by means of the automatic soft-close mechanism, brought into a final position in which the vehicle door is completely closed.and wherein a sensor system for monitoring the self-closing function and the soft-close automatic function is arranged at or near the operating point, and wherein at least one control device is provided which is operatively connected to the operating point and the sensor system in order to control the closing process, and wherein an anti-pinch sensor system is provided at or near the operating point and near the joint, which is operatively connected to the control device, wherein the control device is configured to abort the closing process or not to start it if the anti-pinch sensor system detects a contact during the closing process.
[0006] By providing sensors directly at or near the control point, objects in the danger zone of the gap between the vehicle door(s) and / or body can be detected and a closing process of the vehicle door can be stopped, i.e. not started or aborted.
[0007] Furthermore, it is provided that the control device is designed to abort the closing process into the end position or not to start it if the anti-pinch sensor detects a contact during or immediately before the vehicle door is moved from the pre-locking position to the end position.
[0008] Furthermore, it is provided that the anti-pinch sensor system has a capacitive or inductive sensor or is designed as a capacitive or inductive sensor.
[0009] Furthermore, it is intended that the anti-pinch sensor system be part of the sensor system for monitoring the self-closing function and / or the automatic soft-close function. Furthermore, it is intended that at least one optical display device be provided at the operating point, which is designed to visually indicate the completion and / or cancellation of the closing process.
[0010] Furthermore, it is intended that the display is a colored display and that the completion of the closing process is indicated with a different color than the cancellation of the closing process.
[0011] Furthermore, a vehicle with at least one vehicle door with self-closing function and soft-close automatic is proposed, wherein the vehicle has the anti-pinch protection system.
[0012] Furthermore, a method for anti-pinch protection is proposed for an area within a gap between a vehicle door with a self-closing function and automatic soft-close mechanism and another vehicle door or the vehicle body, wherein an operating point is provided on the vehicle door, the actuation of which at least causes the vehicle door to close automatically, wherein the vehicle door is first brought into a pre-locking position and then brought into a final position by means of the automatic soft-close mechanism, in which the vehicle door is completely closed, and wherein a sensor system for monitoring the self-closing function and automatic soft-close mechanism is arranged at or near the operating point, and wherein at least one control device is provided which is operatively connected to the operating point and the sensor system in order to control the closing process,and wherein an anti-pinch sensor is provided at or near the operating point and near the joint, which is operatively connected to the control device, wherein the closing process is aborted or not started if the anti-pinch sensor detects a contact during the closing process,
[0013] Furthermore, it is provided that an anti-pinch sensor is provided at or near the operating point and near the joint, which is operatively connected to the control device, wherein the closing process is aborted or not started if the anti-pinch sensor detects a contact during or immediately before the vehicle door is moved from the pre-locking position to the end position.
[0014] Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments of the invention, with reference to the figures of the drawing, which illustrate details of the invention, and from the claims. The individual features can be implemented individually or in combination in a variant of the invention.
[0015] Preferred embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0016] Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of important components of the anti-pinch protection system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0017] Figures 2 to 4 show schematic representations of an open position, a pre-locking position and an end position of a vehicle door.
[0018] In the following descriptions of the figures, the same elements or functions are provided with the same reference symbols.
[0019] The basic concept of the invention is to provide an anti-pinch protection system for vehicle doors 1, in which pinching, for example, of a user's hand or finger when closing the vehicle door 1 in the gap 2 between the vehicle door(s) 1 and / or the vehicle body is avoided as far as possible. The gap 2 can be both the gap 2 between two adjacent vehicle doors 1 (e.g., between the front and rear doors, as indicated in Figure 1) and the gap between a vehicle door 1 and the body (e.g., between the rear door and the rear fender or the vehicle door and the body area behind it, in each case not shown).
[0020] A basic requirement for the proposed anti-pinch protection system is that the vehicle door 1 can at least close automatically, i.e., it has a self-closing function already known in the prior art (with corresponding known actuators, sensors, and control). A so-called soft-close automatic system, also referred to as SCA below, is also advantageously present, by which the vehicle door 1 is closed in two steps, as schematically indicated in Figures 2 to 4, with the direction of movement of the vehicle door 1 being indicated in Figure 1 by the double arrows 13.
[0021] During the closing process, in a first step, the vehicle door 1 is moved from an open position P1 (as indicated in Figure 2) into a pre-locking position P2, in which the vehicle door 1 is almost closed, but a gap 2 still exists between the vehicle door 1 and an adjacent vehicle door 10 (which does not necessarily have a self-closing function or SCA) or between the vehicle door 1 and the body of the vehicle, as indicated in Figure 3. This gap 2 is large enough for a human hand or finger to fit into and become trapped in the gap 2 when fully closed. In a second step, in which the SCA is active, the vehicle door 1 is then moved to an end position P3, in which it assumes a completely closed position, as indicated in Figure 4.As already known, the automatic closing is realized via corresponding actuators (not shown), for example via an electric drive.
[0022] The closing process is advantageously controlled by a control device 4. This can be installed near the vehicle door 1 or at another location in the vehicle. In Figure 1, it is schematically indicated as a box outside the enlarged view of the vehicle door 1 with the operating point 12, with the double arrow indicating the interaction between the control device 4 and components on the vehicle door 1 (sensors, actuators, etc.) of the proposed anti-trap protection system. It is essential that the control device 4 is operatively connected to the actuators and the sensors described below.
[0023] In addition, a sensor system 3 is provided on or near the operating point 12 to monitor the self-closing function and the automatic soft-close function SCA, by means of which the closing process is requested, e.g. by touch. The sensor system 3 serves, among other things, to detect the user's wish to start a closing (or opening) process. For this purpose, a capacitive or inductive sensor can be provided on a surface of the operating point 12, as indicated in Figure 1. In addition, further sensors 31 can be provided which serve to detect obstacles so that the vehicle door does not hit an obstacle when opening. Such sensor system 31 is often a radar sensor 31 (indicated in Figure 1 as a box outside the enlarged view of the vehicle door 1 with operating point 12), which is installed, for example, on an outer region of the body or the vehicle door 1.However, this sensor system 31 cannot detect objects that are located close to the gap 2. This can lead to an object such as a hand or a finger being trapped when closing the vehicle door 1, particularly during the SCA phase (transition from P2 to P3), if it is located there.
[0024] Since, in the case of an existing soft-close automatic system, this is often activated directly as soon as the pre-locking position P2 is reached, detection of an object in the gap 2 is necessary in order to activate anti-pinch protection and abort or prevent (not start) the closing of the vehicle door 1. This is achieved according to the invention by providing an anti-pinch sensor system 32 with which an object in the vicinity of the gap 2 can be detected. If this anti-pinch sensor system 32 detects an object in the vicinity of the gap 2, i.e. detects a contact, the control device 4 can abort the closing process or not start it at all (in particular the part carried out by the soft-close automatic system, i.e. moving from the pre-locking position P2 to the end position P3).
[0025] This anti-pinch protection sensor 32 is advantageously a capacitive or inductive sensor or comprises one. Thus, an object can be detected both when it touches the area where the sensor is arranged and when it is at a (close) distance from it (depending on the sensor and its detection range), whereby both options are referred to as detecting a contact. The anti-pinch protection sensor 32 used for the anti-pinch protection can also be a sensor 3 already present for monitoring the self-closing function and automatic soft-close function, as indicated in Figure 1, which is provided at a suitable location on or near the joint 2. Alternatively, the anti-pinch protection sensor 32 can be provided exclusively for detecting an object on or near the joint 2.Advantageously, the sensor system is provided at the operating point 12 or in the vicinity of the operating point 12 and on the body or an outer area of the vehicle door 1 close to the joint 2.
[0026] In one embodiment, it is also provided that the operating point 12 has an optical display device 5, e.g. in the form of one or more lamps. These are advantageously arranged on one or more visible sides thereof, such as LEDs, as indicated in Figure 1. This optical display device 5 serves to indicate when the closing process is aborted or not started at all (as a warning display). The optical display device 5 can also serve to indicate that the closing process is being carried out (as an information display). In this case, it is provided that the display of the optical display device 5 for the warning display is different from that for the information display. For example, the light color can be different.
[0027] The operating point 12 can be designed as a handle or a wing element 121. Figure 1 shows an operating point 12 formed as a wing element 121 arranged above a parapet 11 of the vehicle door 12 (between the window area 14 and the door body 15).
[0028] Of course, the vehicle door 1 can also provide an automatic opening, although this is not relevant for the present invention and the described anti-pinch protection and is therefore not considered.
[0029] The described anti-pinch protection system thus comprises an operating point 12 on a vehicle door 1 with self-closing function and automatic soft-close function and sensors 3, 32 arranged on or near it, as well as a control device 4 which can control the actuators of the closing mechanism (for self-closing function and automatic soft-close function) of the vehicle door 1 and can process the sensor data received from the sensors 3, 32 in such a way that it can determine an abort or non-activation of a closing function of the vehicle door 1 and can output the corresponding command to the actuators.
[0030] The described anti-pinch protection system is part of a vehicle, preferably a passenger car, and is provided in the area of at least one vehicle door 1. List of reference symbols
[0031] 100 vehicles
[0032] 1 vehicle door
[0033] 10 adjacent vehicle doors
[0034] 11 Parapet of the vehicle door
[0035] 12 control point
[0036] 121 wing element
[0037] 13 Opening direction of the vehicle door
[0038] 14 Window area
[0039] 15 door bodies
[0040] 2 Fugue
[0041] 3 Sensor technology
[0042] 31 additional sensors, radar
[0043] 32 anti-pinch sensors, capacitive / inductive sensor
[0044] 4 Control device
[0045] 5 optical display device
[0046] P1 Open position
[0047] P2 Pre-lock position, almost closed position
[0048] P3 End position
Claims
Patent claims 1. A pinch protection system for vehicle doors (1) designed to provide pinch protection for an area within a gap (2) between a vehicle door (1) with a self-closing function and automatic soft-close mechanism and another vehicle door (1) or the vehicle body, wherein an operating point (12) is provided on the vehicle door (1), the actuation of which at least causes the vehicle door (1) to close automatically, wherein the vehicle door (1) is first brought into a pre-locking position (P2) and then brought into an end position (P3) by means of the automatic soft-close mechanism, in which the vehicle door (1) is completely closed, and - wherein a sensor system (3, 31, 32) for monitoring the self-closing function and soft-close automatic is arranged at or near the operating point (12), and - wherein at least one control device (4) is provided which is operatively connected to the operating point (12) and the sensor system (3, 31, 32) in order to control the closing process, and - wherein an anti-pinch sensor system (3, 32) is provided on or near the operating point (12) and near the joint (2), which is operatively connected to the control device (4), wherein the control device (4) is designed to abort the closing process or not to start it if the anti-pinch sensor system (3, 32) detects a contact during the closing process.
2. Anti-pinch protection system according to claim 1, wherein the control device (4) is designed to abort or not start the closing process into the end position (P3) if the anti-pinch protection sensor system (3, 32) detects a contact during or immediately before the vehicle door (1) is brought from the pre-locking position (P2) into the end position (P3).
3. Anti-pinch protection system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the anti-pinch protection sensor (3, 32) comprises a capacitive or inductive sensor or is formed as a capacitive or inductive sensor.
4. Anti-pinch protection system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the anti-pinch protection sensor system (3, 32) is part of the sensor system (3) for monitoring the self-closing function and / or the soft-close automatic function.
5. Anti-pinch protection system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one optical display device (5) is provided at the operating point (12), which is designed to optically indicate the execution and / or termination of the closing process.
6. Anti-pinch system according to claim 5, wherein the display is a colored display and the completion of the closing process is displayed with a different color than the cancellation of the closing process.
7. Vehicle with at least one vehicle door (1) with self-closing function and soft-close automatic, wherein the vehicle has an anti-pinch protection system according to one of the preceding claims.
8. Method for anti-pinch protection for an area within a gap (2) between a vehicle door (1) with self-closing function and automatic soft-close and another vehicle door (1) or the vehicle body, wherein an operating point (12) is provided on the vehicle door (1), the actuation of which at least one automatic closing of the vehicle door (1) takes place, wherein the vehicle door (1) is first brought into a pre-locking position (P2) in order to then be brought by means of the automatic soft-close into an end position (P3) in which the vehicle door (1) is completely closed, and - wherein a sensor system (3, 31, 32) for monitoring the self-closing function and soft-close automatic is arranged at or near the operating point (12), and - wherein at least one control device (4) is provided which is operatively connected to the operating point (12) and the sensor system (3, 31, 32) in order to control the closing process, and - wherein at or near the operating point (12) and near the joint (2) an anti-pinch sensor system (3, 32) is provided, which is operatively connected to the control device (4), wherein the closing process is aborted or not started if the anti-pinch sensor (3, 32) detects a contact during the closing process.
9. Method according to claim 8, wherein an anti-pinch sensor system (3, 32) is provided on or near the operating point (12) and near the joint (2), which is operatively connected to the control device (4), wherein the closing process is aborted or not started if the anti-pinch sensor system (3, 32) detects a contact during or immediately before the vehicle door (1) is moved from the pre-locking position (P2) to the end position (P3).