An actuating module for a movable part of a vehicle

Abstract

An actuating module for a movable part (1) of a vehicle, comprising: a support device (3) for fastening the actuating module to the movable part (1) of the vehicle, a cover element (4) which is accessible to a user from outside the vehicle, an electronics unit (5) which has an actuation sensor for detecting an actuation action, in particular in the form of an approach to and / or touching of the cover element (4) by a user, a housing (6) for receiving the electronics unit (5) which is mounted in or on the support device (3), wherein the housing (6) is mounted in or on the support device (3) so as to be translationally movable in one direction.

Description

[0001] An actuation module for a moving part of a vehicle

[0002] The invention relates to an actuating module for a movable part of a vehicle, for example a door or a flap.

[0003] It is known from the prior art that presence-detecting sensors can be provided in vehicles. Such sensors can be used in a door handle, in a handle recess, in the outer door skin or in an adjacent component of the door, such as a vehicle pillar, in order to detect the approach of or contact by the user. Most sensor modules are accessible from the outside in order to carry out a successful measurement. In response to detection by the corresponding sensor, a vehicle function can be activated, for example activating an electronic lock or carrying out identification verification with a user identification device. In this way, the door can be opened intuitively. It is an object of the present invention to provide an actuation module for a movable part, such as e.g.a door or a flap of a vehicle, which offers a more reliable means of detecting the actuation action. In particular, the design and mechanical complexity when using the actuation module according to the invention on the vehicle should be kept to a minimum.

[0004] With regard to the actuation module, the object is achieved according to the invention with the features specified in claim 1.

[0005] An actuating module according to the invention for a movable part of a vehicle comprises: a carrier device for fastening the actuating module to the movable part of the vehicle, a cover element which is accessible to the user from the outside of the vehicle, an electronic unit which has an actuating sensor for detecting an actuating action, in particular in the form of an approach and / or a touch, of a user on the cover element a housing for accommodating the electronic unit which is mounted on or in the carrier device, wherein the housing is flexibly mounted in or on the carrier device in the vehicle Y direction. In the context of the invention it is understood that the housing is theoretically displaceable in the vehicle Y direction and has freedom for translational movement.In particular, this freedom allows easy use of the housing on the carrier device during assembly of the actuation module. The negative influence caused by manufacturing or installation tolerances of any components of the actuation module and the movable part of the vehicle is eliminated by the ability to move in the vehicle’s Y-direction. It is conceivable that, when installed, the housing is held steady in one position under the loading forces of other adjacent components. It is particularly advantageous that the housing can be arranged particularly close to the cover element and that the actuation action on the cover element can take place as close as possible in the detection area in front of the actuation sensor. This ensures reliable detection of the actuation action.Actuation sensor at or below 3 mm, preferably below 2.5 mm, particularly preferably at 2 mm.

[0006] Preferably, a sealing element is provided between the cover element and the housing to prevent potential interference with the electronic unit located in the housing, such as dirt, water, or moisture entering the moving part of the vehicle. In particular, the sealing element is a foam pad. The foam pad has a thickness of only 1 mm, for example, so that the user's actuation can take place as close as possible to the detection area in front of the actuation sensor.

[0007] According to a technically advantageous embodiment of the invention, the actuation sensor is a capacitive sensor. The user's approach and / or touch on the cover element is detected based on the change in the electric field in the area in front of the sensor electrode.

[0008] It is also conceivable for the electronics unit in the housing to be sealed by the potting compound in order to protect the electronics unit against water, dirt and moisture. The housing can be designed as a semi-open shell component. In a further development of the invention, the housing has at least one suspension element, as a result of which the housing is spring-mounted in or on the carrier device. In this way, the flexible mounting of the housing in the vehicle Y-direction is ensured. Furthermore, the mounting of the housing is stabilized in the installed position. While driving, the forces exerted on the housing from the vehicle Y-direction are at least partially absorbed by the suspension element.

[0009] According to the above-mentioned embodiment, the suspension element may be a foam pad. The foam pad may be glued to the housing and / or the support device. In the installed position of the housing, the foam pad is elastically compressed under the loading forces from the housing and the support device.

[0010] Alternatively, the spring element is a leaf spring or a flat spring. The leaf spring or flat spring can be formed as a single piece from the housing or separately from the housing. For example, the spring element is provided directly on the housing.

[0011] Furthermore, the housing can be provided with at least one guide element, particularly in the form of a projection, which is displaceably mounted in a guide of the support device. This provides a guided translational movement of the housing in the vehicle's Y direction. The guide restricts the housing's freedom of movement in the vehicle's X and / or Z directions.

[0012] Further advantages, features, and details will become apparent from the following description, in which exemplary embodiments are described in detail, where appropriate with reference to the drawings. Identical, similar, and / or functionally equivalent parts are provided with the same reference numerals.

[0013] They show:

[0014] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a movable part of a vehicle, for example in the form of a door, to which an actuating module according to the invention can be attached, Fig. 2 is a schematic sectional view of an actuating module according to the invention in one exemplary embodiment, Fig. 3 is a schematic sectional view of an actuating module according to the invention in a further exemplary embodiment, Fig. 4 is a schematic sectional view of an actuating module according to the invention in a further exemplary embodiment, Fig. 5 is a schematic sectional view of an actuating module according to the invention in a further exemplary embodiment,

[0015] Figure 1 shows a movable part 1 of the vehicle on which the actuation module 2 according to the invention is arranged. A movable part 1 can be, for example, a door or a hatch of the vehicle. The vehicle as a whole is not shown in the figures solely for reasons of simplicity. The actuation module 2 can preferably be designed as an individually handleable, coherent modular component. After the assembly of its individual elements, the actuation module 2 can be mounted as a whole at a designated location on the movable part 1, in particular on a recess in the movable part.

[0016] Fig. 2 to Fig. 5 serve to show the actuation module 2 in the context of the invention in detail in schematic cross-section. It can be seen that the actuation module 2 comprises: a carrier device 3 for fastening the actuation module 2 to the movable part 1 of the vehicle, a cover element 4 which is accessible to the user from the outside of the vehicle, an electronics unit 5 which has an actuation sensor for detecting an actuation action, in particular in the form of an approach and / or a touch, of the user on the cover element 4. a housing 6 for receiving the electronics unit 5, which is mounted on or in the carrier device 3.

[0017] It is provided that the housing 6 is flexibly mounted in or on the carrier device 3 in the vehicle Y direction.

[0018] 2 shows that the housing 6 is designed as a shell that is open towards the inside of the vehicle. The electronics unit 5 is sealed by the potting compound 7 so that the electronics unit 5 is protected against water, dirt and moisture. A foam pad 8 is inserted between the cover element 4 and the outer wall of the housing 6 for sealing purposes. The ingress of moisture can lead to incorrect operation of the actuation sensor. This can be prevented by the foam pad 8. So that the housing 6 is flexibly mounted in or on the carrier device in the vehicle Y-direction, a foam pad 9 is inserted between the potting compound 7 of the housing 6 and the inner wall of the carrier device 3. The foam pad can be glued to the potting compound 7 and / or the inner wall of the carrier device 3. During assembly, the production orInstallation tolerances of any components of the actuation module 2 and the movable part 1 of the vehicle are compensated for by the foam pad 9 being compressed and by the housing 6 finding a suitable position in the installed state after self-adapting adjustment in the vehicle Y direction. In addition, two guide elements 10 in the form of projections from the outer wall are provided on the housing 6, which are each slidably inserted in the guides 11 of the carrier device 3. This specifies a guided translational movement of the housing 6 in the vehicle Y direction. A stop surface 12 is provided at the end of the guide 11 for abutment.

[0019] Fig. 3 shows another exemplary embodiment of the actuation module 2, wherein the housing 6 is flexibly or resiliently mounted in the support device by foam pads 9. Unlike in Fig. 2, two foam pads 9 are used between the outer wall of the housing 6 and the inner wall of the support device 3. This allows a different shape of the housing 6. Likewise, the movement path of the housing 6 in the vehicle Y-direction is predetermined by two guide elements 10 in the form of projections in the guides 11 of the support device 3.

[0020] Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 show the actuation module 2 according to the invention in two further exemplary embodiments, wherein the housing 6 is flexibly or resiliently mounted on or in the support device by a leaf spring 13. Fig. 4 shows that, unlike in Fig. 3, two spring struts are used instead of the foam pad 9. The spring struts are designed as leaf springs 13.

[0021] In Fig. 5, the housing 6 has two clamp-shaped bearing elements in the form of a leaf spring 13 or flat spring 13. The bearing elements can be formed integrally from the housing 6 or separately from the housing 6. The two guide elements 10 of the housing in the form of projections are slidably inserted in the guides 11 of the carrier device 3. The guides 11 each have two stop surfaces 12 at both ends. The above explanation of the embodiments describes the present invention exclusively by way of examples. Of course, individual features of the embodiments can be freely combined with one another, provided that this is technically expedient, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0022] List of reference symbols

[0023] 1 moving part of the vehicle

[0024] 2 actuation module

[0025] 3 Carrier device

[0026] 4 Cover element

[0027] 5 Electronic unit

[0028] 6 housings

[0029] 7 Potting dimensions

[0030] 8 Sealing element

[0031] 9 Suspension element, foam pad

[0032] 10 Guide element

[0033] 11 Guide

[0034] 12 Stop surface

[0035] 13 Suspension element, leaf spring, flat spring

Claims

Claims 1. Actuation module (2) for a movable part (1) of a vehicle, comprising: a carrier device (3) for fastening the actuation module (2) to the movable part (1) of the vehicle, a cover element (4) which is accessible to the user from the outside of the vehicle, an electronic unit (5) which has an actuation sensor for detecting an actuation action, in particular in the form of an approach and / or a touch, of a user on the cover element (4), a housing (6) for receiving the electronic unit (5) which is mounted on or in the carrier device (3), characterized in that the housing (6) is mounted flexibly in the vehicle Y direction in or on the carrier device (3).

2. Actuating module (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that a sealing element (8), in particular in the form of a foam pad (8), is provided between the cover element (4) and the housing (6).

3. Actuation module (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the actuation sensor is a capacitive sensor.

4. Actuating module (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electronic unit (5) is sealed in the housing by the potting compound (7).

5. Actuating module (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (6) has at least one Suspension element (9) (13), whereby the housing is resiliently mounted in or on the support device.

6. Actuating module (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the suspension element (9) is a foam pad (9).

7. Actuating module (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the spring element (13) is a leaf spring (13) or a flat spring (13).

8. Actuating module (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the spring element (13) is formed integrally from the housing (6).

9. Actuating module (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (6) has at least one guide element (10), in particular in the form of a projection (10), which is displaceably mounted in a guide (11) of the carrier device (3).

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