METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A MOTORIZED OPENING WITH A SWING ON A MOTOR VEHICLE AND ASSOCIATED VEHICLES

Abstract

METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A MOTORIZED OPENING WITH A SWING ON A MOTOR VEHICLE AND ASSOCIATED VEHICLE The invention relates to a method for controlling a motorized opening (21) with a swing on a motor vehicle (20), the method comprising the following actions: (a) detection of an opening signal for the opening (21); (b) detection of any object(s) in the swing of the opening (21); (c) motorized opening of the opening (21) following action (a) and provided and as long as the absence of any object(s) in the swing of the opening (21) is detected by action (b); notable in that action (b) is modulated by the presence of external equipment (31) on the opening (21). (Figure to be published with the abbreviation: Figure 4)

Description

Title of the invention: METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A MOTORIZED OPENING WITH A SWING ON A MOTOR VEHICLE AND ASSOCIATED VEHICLES technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of motorized openings of motor vehicles comprising a shock protection system. More particularly, the invention relates to a method for controlling a motorized opening with a swing on a motor vehicle. Prior art

[0002] It is known from the prior art of motor vehicles equipped with motorized openings such as side doors, a trunk lid (also called a "tailgate"), a retractable roof, so-called "butterfly" doors, gull-wing doors... These motorized openings are generally equipped with protection systems against impacts during operation (opening or closing).

[0003] With reference to [Fig. 1], these systems rely on obstacle detection devices such as ultrasonic or radar sensors, integrated into the opening mechanism and coupled with its motor. The protection systems analyze the opening mechanism's movement range, and if an obstacle is detected within this range, the opening mechanism's movement is stopped. For this to work, the electronics of the detection device must be calibrated so that it knows the opening mechanism's movement range as well as its external shape.

[0004] With reference to [Fig.2], a problem arises in the case of a trunk lid When the vehicle is equipped with a bicycle rack, this accessory interferes with the impact protection system, particularly the obstacle detection function. Indeed, when the tailgate is fitted with such an accessory, the volume considered by the obstacle detection system is no longer the tailgate's travel volume, but rather the combined volume of the tailgate and the bicycle rack.

[0005] If a user wishes to transport a bicycle on their vehicle, they must use a bicycle carrier recommended by the vehicle manufacturer. In this case, the vehicle's manual specifies that the automatic movement of the cover must be disabled to avoid any risk of damage to the motor system, primarily due to the weight of the bicycle. There is then no risk of the cover colliding with the surroundings since the user operates it manually.

[0006] However, when the user removes their bicycle and leaves the bicycle rack in place, motorizing the shutter is perfectly feasible given the reduced mass of the bicycle rack. In this case, as illustrated in [Fig. 2], the actual external volume of the shutter differs from that recorded and taken into account by the obstacle detection system. Therefore, there is a risk that the assembly formed by the shutter and the bicycle rack will strike an obstacle and damage the shutter and / or its motor during operation. Description of the invention

[0007] An object of the invention is in particular to correct all or part of the disadvantages of the aforementioned prior art by proposing a solution allowing to retain a function of protection against shocks during operation for a motorized opening equipped with a bicycle rack.

[0008] To this end, the invention relates to a method for controlling a motorized opening with a swing on a motor vehicle, the method comprising the following actions: (a) detection of an opening signal from the opening; (b) detection of possible object(s) in the movement of the opening; (c) motorized opening of the opening following action (a) and provided and as long as the absence of any object(s) in the movement of the opening is detected by action (b); remarkable in that action (b) is modulated by the presence of external equipment on the opening.

[0009] According to one implementation method of the process, the presence of the external equipment on the opening is indicated by a manual entry of a parameter.

[0010] According to one embodiment, the manual entry of the parameter of presence of the external equipment on the opening is made on a human-machine interface of the motor vehicle.

[0011] According to one embodiment, action (b) includes a measurement of distances between the opening and the possible object(s) and a comparison of said distances with minimum values, the modulation of said action (b) including a modification of said minimum values.

[0012] According to one implementation method, the modification of the minimum values ​​of the distances between the opening and the possible object(s) includes an increase in said minimum values.

[0013] According to one implementation method, action (b) includes taking into account an external profile of the opening, the modification of the minimum values ​​of the distances between the opening and the possible object(s) being based on a modification of said external profile.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the opening is a rear trunk flap and the external equipment is a bicycle rack.

[0015] According to one embodiment, action (b) includes the use of a radar disposed on the opening.

[0016] Another object of the invention is a motor vehicle comprising a motorized opening with a swing on said motor vehicle, notable in that the motor vehicle is configured to perform the method according to the invention. Brief description of the drawings

[0017] [Fig-1] already presented, represents a vehicle, known from the prior art, equipped with a motorized trunk lid equipped with a shock protection system;

[0018] [Fig.2] already presented, is a view of a vehicle equipped with a bicycle rack on an opening;

[0019] [Fig.3] is a view of a vehicle comprising a motorized opening with a swing on the vehicle according to the invention;

[0020] [Fig.4] is a view of a vehicle comprising a motorized opening equipped with exterior equipment according to the invention; Detailed description

[0021] Figure 3 represents an example of an embodiment of a motor vehicle 20 according to the invention. The vehicle includes an automatic opening system with impact protection for at least one motorized opening 21, activated by detecting any object(s) in the movement of this at least one opening 21.

[0022] In the example illustrated in [Fig. 3], at least one motorized opening 21 is a rear trunk lid. This example is in no way limiting and the invention can be applied to other types of vehicle openings 20 such as doors.

[0023] The opening 21 includes at least one motorization device 22 such as a motorized cylinder in order to maneuver the motorized opening 21 in opening or closing.

[0024] The vehicle includes at least one obstacle detection device 23 configured to detect the possible presence of object(s) in the movement of the opening 21. The obstacle detection device 23 may be a radar, a lidar, a camera, an ultrasonic detection system, an infrared sensor, or any other equivalent type of detector. In one embodiment, the vehicle 20 includes a combination of these detectors to implement obstacle detection.

[0025] According to one embodiment, the obstacle detection device 23 is located in or on the motorized opening 21 of the vehicle 20. Alternatively, the detection device 23 is located outside the opening 21, for example in or on the bumper or any other location on the vehicle 20 that allows it to detect at least one possible object within the movement of the opening 21.

[0026] The motorized opening 21 includes a controllable lock 24 arranged to lock said opening 21 onto the body of the vehicle 20 automobile.

[0027] In order to be able to communicate with each other, the motorization device 22, the obstacle detection device 23 and the lock 24 are connected to an on-board network 25. The on-board network 25 is configured to allow the exchange of data between the different devices connected to this network 25.

[0028] The vehicle 20 includes at least one control unit 26 configured to control the opening or closing of a motorized opening 21. For this purpose, the control unit 26 is connected to the vehicle 20's on-board network 25.

[0029] According to one embodiment, the control unit 26 of a motorized opening 21 of a motor vehicle 20 is located in said motorized opening 21.

[0030] According to another embodiment, the control unit 26 is common to several openings 21 and is configured to control the operation of the automatic opening or closing of the different openings 21 of the vehicle 20.

[0031] The method of controlling a motorized opening 21 with a travel on a motor vehicle 20 according to the invention is now detailed.

[0032] When a signal to open or close a motorized opening 21 is detected, for example, by the control unit 26, a detection of any object(s) in the movement of the opening 21 is initiated. The obstacle detection device 23 then scans the area near the opening 21 and analyzes the scan data to detect the presence or absence of any object(s). If no object or obstacle is detected, the opening or closing maneuver of the motorized opening 21 is performed with object detection. The maneuver continues as long as no object is detected.

[0033] Following the detection of a signal requesting operation (opening or closing) of an opening 21, if an object is detected in the travel of this opening 21, the operation of the latter is not carried out.

[0034] According to one embodiment, the detection of possible object(s) in the movement of the motorized opening 21 is performed iteratively. The iteration of the detection of possible object(s) has, for example, a time interval of less than 0.5 s.

[0035] According to one implementation method of the process, the time interval is equal to 50 ms.

[0036] According to one embodiment, the detection of possible object(s) in the travel of the motorized opening 21 includes measuring the distances between the opening 21 and the possible object(s) and comparing these distances with minimum values. The minimum distance values ​​are, for example, stored in a memory area of ​​the electronics of the automatic opening system with shock protection. The memory area is, for example, located in the electronics of the obstacle detection device 23 or that of the control unit 26.

[0037] With reference to [Fig. 4], when the user of a vehicle 20 transports lightweight external equipment 31 on a motorized opening 21 equipped with an impact protection system, the analysis of the obstacle detection device 23 is disrupted. Indeed, under these conditions, the enclosure of the motorized opening 21 is modified. The measurement to be taken into account, in order to ensure effective impact protection, is that between the external equipment 31 installed on the opening 21 and any object(s) detected.

[0038] The external equipment 31 is, for example, an empty bicycle rack. By way of illustration, [Fig. 4] shows such equipment installed on the rear tailgate of the vehicle 20.

[0039] According to a particularity of the method according to the invention, the protection system against impacts of the opening 21 takes into account the presence of an external equipment 31 on the motorized opening 21 by modulating the detection of possible object(s) in the movement of the opening 21.

[0040] In order for the impact protection system to effectively modulate the detection of any object(s), the presence of the external equipment 31 on the opening 21 is, for example, indicated by a manual parameter entry by the vehicle user. The manual entry of the parameter indicating the presence of the external equipment 31 on the opening 21 is, for example, made via a human-machine interface of the vehicle 20.

[0041] According to one embodiment, following the installation of an external device 31 on a motorized opening 21, the user selects, for example, a particular option on a configuration interface located on the dashboard of the vehicle 20. Then, when removing the device, the user deselects the aforementioned particular option or selects an option representing the absence of device on the opening 21.

[0042] When the presence of equipment on the opening 21 is not indicated, the obstacle detection device 23 identifies the possible presence of object(s) in the movement of the opening 21 by measuring different distances between the opening and the detected object(s). The device 23 then compares these distances with minimum values.

[0043] When the presence of the external equipment 31 on the opening 21 is indicated, the modulation of the detection of any object(s) in the movement of the opening 21 is carried out by modifying the minimum reference values. The modification minimum reference values ​​include, for example, an increase in these minimum values.

[0044] In a preferred embodiment, the detection of any object(s) within the movement of the opening 21 includes taking into account an external profile of the opening 21. This external profile of the opening 21 is, for example, stored in a memory area of ​​the system protecting the opening 21 against impacts. In this embodiment, the modification of the minimum distance values ​​between the opening 21 and the potential object(s) is then based on a modification of the stored external profile. In one embodiment, the modification of the stored external profile values ​​includes an increase in these values.

[0045] Advantageously, the method according to the invention makes it possible to benefit, during the automatic maneuvers of the opening 21, from protection against impacts with obstacles included in the travel volume of the opening even if an external equipment 31 is mounted on this opening 21.

Claims

Demands

1. A method for controlling a motorized opening (21) with a travel on a motor vehicle (20), the method comprising the following actions: (a) detection of an opening signal for the opening (21); (b) detection of possible object(s) in the travel of the opening (21); (c) motorized opening of the opening (21) following action (a) and provided and as long as an absence of possible object(s) in the travel of the opening (21) is detected at action (b); characterized in that action (b) is modulated by the presence of an external piece of equipment, for example an empty bicycle rack, (31) on the opening (21); the presence of the external piece of equipment (31) on the opening (21) being informed by a manual input of a parameter.

2. Method according to the preceding claim, wherein the manual entry of the presence parameter of the exterior equipment (31) on the opening (21) is made on a human-machine interface of the motor vehicle (20).

3. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein action (b) comprises measuring distances between the opening (21) and the possible object(s) and comparing said distances with minimum values, the modulation of said action (b) comprising modifying said minimum values.

4. Method according to the preceding claim, wherein the modification of the minimum values ​​of the distances between the opening (21) and the possible object(s) includes an increase in said minimum values.

5. A method according to any one of claims 3 and 4, wherein action (b) includes taking into account an external profile of the opening (21), the modification of the minimum values ​​of the distances between the opening (21) and the possible object(s) being based on a modification of said external profile.

6. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the opening (21) is a rear trunk flap and the external equipment (31) is a bicycle carrier.

7. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein action (b) comprises the use of a radar disposed on the opening (21).

8. Motor vehicle (20) comprising a motorized opening (21) with a swing on said motor vehicle, characterized in that the motor vehicle (20) is configured to perform the method according to one of the preceding claims.

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