Automobile door positioning device

Abstract

The invention relates in its basic design to a positioning device for a car door, which comprises an electric motor drive (7) for the positioning elements (1, 2), at least one sensor (6) assigned to the positioning elements (1, 2) and a movement element (9) for optionally locking or unlocking the positioning elements (1, 2) and / or the car door. The sensor (6) is capable of measuring at least the force engaging the positioning elements (1, 2). According to the invention, the movement element (9) can act at least independently of an operator according to a signal from the sensor (6).

Description

[Technical field]

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to a positioning device for a vehicle door, comprising an electric motor drive for a positioning element, at least one sensor assigned to the positioning element and capable of at least measuring the force engaging the positioning element, and a movement element optionally acting on the positioning element and / or the vehicle door.

[0002]

[0002] For aerodynamic reasons, attempts are increasingly being made to design motor vehicles, and in particular their car doors, without door handles for opening from the outside. In order to be able to open the car door, such a positioning device is provided. By means of the positioning device, the car door is opened after a possible prior question / answer dialogue between the operator and the car, and possibly after a prior unlocking. This corresponds to an opening between the car door and the associated car body.

[0003]

[0003] This opening allows, for example, an operator wishing to enter, after a positioning procedure, to grasp and open the vehicle door, thereby gaining access to the interior of the vehicle.

[0004]

[0004] In a positioning device for a motor vehicle door as described in DE 10 2016 105 760 A1, a first sensor is provided which is assigned to a drive element and is able to distinguish at least between a positioning process and a manual opening process of the motor vehicle door, which is intended to provide a low weight while providing improved comfort.

[0005] Further prior art according to DE 102018 132666 A1 provides that the force measuring device is accommodated in the positioning device so as to be able to detect the movement of a gear carrier, which is a component of a gear unit belonging to an electric motor drive and is arranged between the positioning element and the electric motor drive.

[0006]

[0006] The general prior art according to DE 2018 132 665 A1 proceeds from a positioning device such that a gear unit is adjustably arranged between a positioning element and an electric motor drive so that the associated motor vehicle door can be moved. Furthermore, the motor vehicle door can be held in a predetermined position using the positioning element. For this purpose, a locking means, in particular a locking lever, is additionally provided. The locking means and / or the locking lever can be electronically controlled, in particular by the electric motor drive. A sensor can be used to detect a force acting on the positioning device. A procedure here is such that, for example, an operator's pulling force is detected by the sensor, which initiates an unlocking of the locking means and / or the locking lever.

[0007]

[0007] The main purpose of the locking means and / or locking lever is to enable the closing movement by the positioning device. This means that the positioning device can function as a combined positioning and closing device. In this context, the sensor finally performs a locking function, making it possible to stop, prevent or cancel the lock in case of excessive forces. This prevents damage to the positioning device.

[0008]

[0008] The prior art is promising in principle, but there is still room for improvement. A general problem with such positioning devices is that the forces acting on the positioning device and / or on the car door from the outside cannot be controlled or can only be controlled to a very limited extent. These external forces are, for example, the wind hitting the car door. In practice, however, other requirements arise, mainly parking a car with a car door on an uphill or downhill road section. In this case, the positioning device may not be able to prevent the car door from opening independently after it has been opened, for example as a result of the action of a downhill inclination force. In any case, the prior art does not yet provide a convincing solution for controlling the independent opening of the car door, especially after the positioning process. The present invention as a whole aims to improve this. Summary of the Invention

[0009]

[0009] The invention is based in particular on the technical problem of further developing such a positioning device in such a way that an independent opening process of the motor vehicle door subsequent to the positioning process is controlled.

[0010]

[0010] In order to solve this technical problem, the invention proposes that in a general positioning device, the movement element is actable or is acted upon according to signals from a sensor, at least independently of an operator.

[0011]

[0011] Within the scope of the present invention, the movement element is initially acted upon independently of the operator or operator intervention, which means that the action on the movement element occurs primarily and at least independently of the operator. The movement element is acted upon according to signals from sensors.

[0012]

[0012] If the sensor assigned to the positioning element records a low or even decreasing force, for example during a positioning process using an electric motor drive, this indicates that the car door, which is moved using the positioning device, is additionally exposed to external forces. These external forces can be, for example, wind gusts or gravity acting on the car door when the vehicle is parked on a slope.

[0013]

[0013] In order to be able to determine such an external force acting additionally on the motor vehicle door or the associated motor vehicle door leaf, the invention generally proceeds in such a way that, for example, a time-dependent force curve is stored as a target force for acting on the positioning element in a control unit, which in any case is already provided for acting on the electric motor drive and for reading the sensor. This time-dependent force curve can be an averaged force curve, which has been recorded or determined beforehand, for example by operating the positioning device several times in a motor vehicle placed on a horizontal surface and then recording each curve of the forces detected by the sensor over time and then averaging them. Of course, it is also possible to store such a force curve averaged or standardized over time in the control unit from the very beginning, based on previously determined values. This target force is compared with the measured actual force to determine the deviation. If the actual force is below the target force, this indicates an additional force acting on the motor vehicle door (and acting in the opening direction).

[0014]

[0014] It is further possible to simply measure the actual force acting on the positioning element and determined (independently of time) using a sensor and compare it with a target force stored in the control unit. This target force represents the maximum force that occurs when the positioning element is acted on when the vehicle is in a horizontal plane. As soon as the measured actual force falls below this target force, this indicates that an additional external force is acting on the vehicle door or on the vehicle door leaf, for example in the form of wind or as a result of gravity.

[0015]

[0015] The target force stored in the control unit and compared with the actual force acting on the sensor can also simply be embodied as an average force acting on the positioning element (rather than as a maximum force as before), which is observed when the car is on a horizontal plane and no additional forces act on the car door, for example as a result of wind. Similarly, a corresponding target force curve over time can be defined and stored in the control unit.

[0016]

[0016] In either case, the target force over time or the target force curve is compared with the actual force actually acting on the positioning element or with the actual force curve over time, at which point the control unit ensures that the motion element is acting as soon as the actual force or the actual force-time curve indicates that an additional external force is acting on the door leaf of the motor vehicle door.

[0017]

[0017] The action on the motion element as a result of an external force acting on the car door corresponds to a positioning element and / or a motion element which holds the car door in a predetermined position. In this way, the invention ensures that after a positioning process with the positioning device according to the invention, the positioned car door does not swing open uncontrolled. This prevents damage to the car door and also prevents accident situations, for example, where the car door swings open onto a bicycle path and a cyclist collides with it. All this is prevented according to the invention by ensuring that, when an external force acts on the car door, the motion element acts, taking into account the risk of unintended full opening, and that the positioning element and / or the car door are held in a predetermined position by the motion element. These are the main advantages.

[0018]

[0018] In particular, the motion element may act on a lock pin or lock bracket that is typically located on the associated vehicle door, but it is also possible for the motion element to engage around another hook or recess on the vehicle door to prevent the vehicle door from swinging open uncontrollably.

[0019]

[0019] The above-mentioned target force and / or target force-time curve are stored in the control unit, so that it is possible not only to prevent the car door from opening automatically when an external force acts on the car door, but also to ensure that the actual force or the actual force-time curve acting on the car door eventually "goes below" the target force or the target force-time curve. Alternatively, an additional external force acting on the motion element when the motion element is held in place can be determined using a sensor assigned to the positioning element, which has the additional possibility of being able to trace, for example, the footsteps of an operator who wants to open the car door. This additional force can be used to ensure that the control unit deactivates the motion element or that the motion element releases the positioning element and / or the car door.

[0020]

[0020] This means that the control unit acts on the deactivated motion element according to a signal from the sensor to hold the positioning element and / or the car door in a predetermined position when an additional external force occurs. In this case, the action on the deactivated motion element corresponds to the fact that the positioning element and / or the car door is held in a predetermined position. At the same time, the control unit is designed to act on the activated motion element according to a signal from the sensor to release the positioning element or the car door when an additional external force occurs again. In this case, the positioning process itself is terminated and the motion element is activated. An external signal of an acting force, which can be detected using a sensor, is detected when the car door is positioned and, when the motion element is activated, the control unit interprets this as corresponding, for example, to a request by the operator to swing the car door completely open. This opening request is then interpreted and implemented by the control unit according to a signal from the sensor when the motion element is activated, so that the motion element releases the positioning element and / or the car door.

[0021]

[0021] Of course, this is only necessary if the motion element has been previously activated and holds the positioning element and / or the vehicle door in place. Such an approach is usually combined with an additional external force being generated. Moreover, within the scope of the present invention, this is done independently of the operator. In principle, the motion element can act both independently of the operator and dependent on the operator.

[0022]

[0022] If the catch element is acted upon depending on the operator, it is conceivable that the movement element is used by the operator to lock the motor vehicle door. In this connection, it is also conceivable that the actuated movement element is or can be released in the manner of an emergency release.

[0023]

[0023] According to an advantageous embodiment, the sensor can be assigned to the electric motor drive. It has proven to be particularly advantageous if the sensor is integrated into the electric motor drive. Such integration can be advantageously carried out by using the sensor to measure the current consumed by the electric motor as part of the electric motor drive. In principle, no separate additional sensor is required for this purpose. Rather, the curve of the current and the current consumed by the electric motor over time can be detected.

[0024]

[0024] In general, however, the sensor is designed to measure the output force generated by the electric motor drive. In this context, the sensor can be designed as a force sensor. In this case, the sensor is a force sensor assigned to the Bowden cable of the drive.

[0025]

[0025] In order to be able to act on the movement element, for example to actuate the movement element from its actuated holding state to its deactuated release state and vice versa, the electric motor drive can act on the movement element. However, in general, the movement element is equipped with its own electric motor drive. This electric motor drive can be actuated according to signals from the sensor using the control unit. This means that the control unit not only reads the sensor, but also actuates the electric motor drive for the positioning element according to this, and also by the control unit can control and act on the electric motor drive for the movement element according to signals from the sensor.

[0026] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the design is such that the movement element and the associated electric motor drive are designed together as a technically independent catch module. This means that this catch module can, for example, be equipped with its own housing and can be combined in any way with the positioning device according to the invention as a technically independent unit or not. In addition, it is possible to design the positioning device completely independently and separately from the vehicle lock, in particular the vehicle door lock, which is usually additionally provided.

[0027] According to an advantageous embodiment, the subject of the invention is also a lock for a motor vehicle, in particular a lock for a motor vehicle door, with the above-mentioned positioning device. In this case, the positioning device is therefore integrated into the motor vehicle lock. This also makes it possible to design the electric motor drive for the positioning element as a closing drive for the locking mechanism, which is required in any case. The locking mechanism in this case typically consists of a rotary catch and a claw.

[0028]

[0028] This means that in this case the electric motor drive not only supplies the load to the positioning element, but also performs the positioning process already described, and furthermore also serves as a closing drive on the locking mechanism, ensuring, for example, that it can be moved from the pre-locking position to the main locking position.

[0029]

[0029] As a result, a positioning device is provided which in a very simple manner prevents the associated vehicle door from opening automatically due to an external force. Due to such an external force, the motion element is acted upon by the motion element according to a signal from the sensor, independently of any intervention by the operator. In this case, the motion element actually ensures that the positioning element and / or the vehicle door are held in position. This makes it possible to prevent the vehicle door from being damaged or involved in an accident. These are the main advantages. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0030]

[0030] The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the drawings which show only one exemplary embodiment. [Figure 1] FIG. 1 shows a positioning device according to the invention together with an associated motor vehicle lock in a first functional position / before the positioning process. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 shows the motor vehicle lock according to FIG. 1 including the positioning device after completion of the positioning process. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 shows a further view of the subject matter according to FIGS. 1 and 2, in which movement elements are visible.

[0031] Detailed Description of the Invention

[0032]

[0034] The figure shows a positioning device for a vehicle door (not shown in detail). In fact, all that can be seen on the vehicle door is a locking pin 8, which can be seen in particular in FIG. 2. The locking pin 8 is connected to the front wall of the vehicle door and interacts with a locking mechanism, essentially consisting of a rotary catch and a pawl, of a vehicle lock in which the positioning device is integrated (also not shown in detail). The closed state of the vehicle door corresponds to the locking pin 8 being fully or almost fully retracted into the vehicle lock, as shown in FIG. 1. In contrast, FIG. 2 shows the functional position in which the locking pin 8, and thus the vehicle door, is positioned. In this case, the locking pin 8 is provided on the door side and the vehicle lock on the body side. Of course, this can also be reversed.

[0033]

[0035] The positioning device according to the invention is used for positioning the locking pin 8. For this purpose it has positioning elements 1, 2. The positioning element 1, 2 consists of a positioning lever 1 and a positioning slider 2 connected thereto. Due to the combined effect of the positioning lever 1 in conjunction with the positioning slider 2, the locking pin 8 can be moved during the positioning process from the retracted position shown in FIG. 1 to the positioned state shown in FIG. 2. As a result, an opening is observed between the vehicle door and the vehicle body, into which the operator can insert his hand following the positioning process so that the vehicle door can be fully opened.

[0034]

[0036] The positioning elements 1, 2 are acted upon by a toggle lever arrangement 3, which is pivotably mounted about an axis 4 and is acted upon by an electric motor drive 7. For this purpose, the electric motor drive 7 acts upon a Bowden cable 5. It can also be seen from the figure that a sensor 6 is provided.

[0035]

[0037] In the exemplary embodiment, the sensor 6 is a force sensor 6 assigned to the Bowden cable 5. In fact, the Bowden cable 5 is connected via the force sensor 6 to an electric motor drive 7.

[0036]

[0038] Thus, when the electric motor drive 7 acts via the Bowden cable 5 on the toggle lever arrangement 3, which is pivoted about its axis 4 so as to act on the positioning elements 1, 2, the force acting on the Bowden cable 5 and applied by the electric motor drive can be measured by means of the sensor 6. To open the vehicle door, the toggle lever arrangement is pivoted about its axis 4 counterclockwise.

[0037]

[0039] A comparison of Fig. 1, Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 reveals that an additional movement element 9 is provided. By means of the movement element the positioning elements 1, 2 and / or the motor vehicle door can be retained or released at will. For this purpose, according to an exemplary embodiment, the movement element 9 is designed, without being limited thereto, as a catch hook 9. The catch hook 9 can retain the locking pin 8 in an actuated state or release it in an inactivated state. For this purpose, the catch hook 9 is equipped with its own electric motor drive 10. The electric motor drive 10 ensures that the catch hook 9 can be pivoted about its axis 11, as shown in Fig. 3. Basically, the catch hook 9 can also be designed differently. That is to say, within the scope of the present invention, the catch element 9 generally ensures that the locking pin 8 can be retained or released at will.

[0038]

[0040] For this purpose, the catch elements or catch hooks 9 and / or their associated electric motor drives 10 are connected to a control unit 12. The same applies to the sensors and / or force sensors 6 and the electric motor drives 7 for actuating the positioning elements 1, 2.

[0039]

[0041] In this way, the sensor and / or force sensor 6 can essentially act on the catch element 9 independently of an operator and / or act on the catch element 9 according to its signals. This means that as soon as an external force acting on the motor vehicle door is determined by the sensor and / or force sensor 6 by the control unit 12, the control unit 12 ensures that the catch hook 9 is acted on via the electric motor drive 10.

[0040]

[0042] In particular, this means that, starting from the state in which the vehicle lock is closed, the electric motor drive 7 acts on the positioning elements 1, 2 at the beginning of the positioning process such that the lock pin 8 moves from its position in FIG. 1 to the left during the transition to FIG. 2. During this process, the force exerted by the electric motor drive 7 on the positioning elements 1, 2 via the Bowden cable 5 is measured by the sensor and / or force sensor 6. If this measurement of the force in the sensor 6 indicates that this measured actual force is, for example, below or is a target force stored in the control unit 12, as already explained at the beginning, this indicates that an additional external force is acting on the vehicle door. This can be caused, for example, by gravity, which is caused by parking the relevant vehicle on a slope.

[0041]

[0043] This results, according to the invention, in the action of the catch element 9 after the positioning process is completed or after the locking pin 8 has travelled its positioning path, as shown in Fig. 2. According to an exemplary embodiment, this is done according to a signal from the sensor 6, completely independent of the operator.

[0042]

[0044] Indeed, starting from the beginning of the positioning process and the closed state of the motor vehicle door, the catch element 9 is in its deactivated position, as shown in Fig. 1. This corresponds to the fact that the catch element 9 does not hold or engage the locking pin 8. As soon as the positioning process is finished and the functional position according to Fig. 2 is reached, a separate electric motor drive 10 assigned to the catch element 9 ensures that the catch element 9 is moved from the previously assumed deactivated position or position releasing the locking pin 8 to a position in which it holds the locking pin 8 when an external force acts on it. This corresponds to a clockwise pivoting movement of the catch element and / or the catch hook 9 about the axis 11 according to the embodiment of Fig. 3.

[0043]

[0045] As mentioned above, this only occurs if, with the help of the sensor 6, an additional external force acts on the positioning elements 1, 2, which acts in addition to the force generated on the positioning elements 1, 2 by the electric motor drive 7.

[0044]

[0046] When the locking pin 8, and thus the positioning device and / or the associated vehicle door, is in a positioned state as shown in FIG. 2 and the positioning process is finished, the force acting on the locking pin 8 can be measured again by the control unit 12 using the sensor and / or force sensor 6. This state can be notified to the control unit 12, for example, by a travel sensor of the vehicle door. In such a case, when the catch element 9 is actuated, this force may correspond to an operator's attempt to open the vehicle door held in place by the catch element 9. When the catch element 9 is actuated or holds the locking pin 8, this leads to the application of such a force to the electric motor drive 10, which, with the help of the control unit 12, acts on the catch element and / or the catch hook 9, in the embodiment according to FIG. 3, so that the catch element 9 moves counterclockwise about its axis 11. This corresponds to the locking pin 8 being released. During this process and after the positioning process is completed, the electric motor drive 7 is not in operation. Nevertheless, the sensor 6 is in fact interposed between the electric motor drive 7 and the Bowden cable 5, and in the above-mentioned case the forces acting on the locking pin 8 or on the vehicle door can be reliably measured by the sensor 6. These forces are interpreted and evaluated by the control unit 12 so that the catch element or catch hook 9 releases the locking pin 8.

[0045]

[0047] The catch elements or catch hooks 9 and the associated electric motor drive 10 can be designed as a technically independent catch module 9, 10. In this situation, the catch module 9, 10 may have its own housing. Furthermore, it is within the scope of the invention if the positioning device is designed to be completely independent and to be attached and detached from the vehicle lock. This means that the variants shown in the exemplary embodiment with the vehicle lock and the integrated positioning device are only optional. By integrating the positioning device into the vehicle lock, it is possible to use the electric motor drive 7 for the positioning elements 1, 2, preferably at the same time, as a closing drive for the locking mechanism (not shown in detail and / or already mentioned above). In this case, the electric motor drive 7 ensures that the locking mechanism consisting of the rotary catch and the claw is closed in the working and / or rotational direction. For this purpose, the electric motor drive 7 can act directly or indirectly on the rotary catch.

[0046]

[0048] In this connection, the electric motor drive 7 can be equipped with a (built-in) clutch (not explicitly shown), by which it can be switched between the function as a closing drive on the one hand and the function as an opening drive on the other hand. The control unit 12 can be used for this purpose. In principle, the catch hook 9 can also be used for the closing function of the electric motor drive 7. In any case, there is a special advantage that the sensor 6 and / or the force sensor 6 can be used both when closing and when opening, so that the forces acting on the relevant motor vehicle door can be determined with the aid of the control unit 12. In addition, an electric motor drive 7 is used in both cases.

[0047]

[0049] In the other working and / or rotational direction, when the locking mechanism is open, the electric motor drive 7 can act on the positioning elements 1, 2. For this purpose, for example, a clutch controlled by the control unit 12 can ensure a previous corresponding action in the other working direction.

[0048]

[0050] The positioning elements 1, 2 and the catch elements or catching hooks 9 can be arranged parallel to one another and in spaced-apart planes, i.e. parallel to the locking case 13, to which the locking mechanism (not explicitly shown) and the positioning device as a whole are mounted. It is however also possible to install the positioning elements 1, 2 and the catch elements 9 on different sides of the locking case 13, again in parallel planes. The only decisive factor is the fact that both the positioning slider 2 as a component part of the positioning elements 1, 2 and the catch elements and / or catching hooks 9 can interact with the locking pin 8 in the described manner. [Explanation of symbols]

[0049] 1 operating lever, Positioning elements 1,2, Positioning slider 2, Toggle lever arrangement 3, Axis 4, Bowden cable 5, Sensors / Force Sensors 6, Drive unit 7, Lock pin 8, Catching hook / catching element 9, Catch module 9,10, Drive unit 10, Axis 11, Control unit 12.

Claims

1. A positioning device for a vehicle door, comprising: an electric motor drive (7) for the positioning elements (1, 2); at least one sensor (6) assigned to said positioning element (1, 2) and capable of at least measuring the forces acting on said positioning element (1, 2); a movement element (9) acting optionally on the positioning element (1, 2) and / or the vehicle door; and 10. A device characterized in that said movement element (9) is able to act at least independently of an operator according to signals from said sensor (6).

2. 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the movement element (9) can act both independently of the operator and dependently on the operator.

3. 3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the sensor (6) is assigned to the electric motor drive (7).

4. 4. The device according to claim 3, characterized in that the sensor (6) is integrated in the electric motor drive (7) and measures, for example, the current consumption of the electric motor.

5. 5. The device according to claim 4, characterized in that the sensor (6) measures the output force generated by the electric motor drive (7).

6. 6. The device according to claim 5, characterized in that the sensor (6) is designed as a force sensor (6) assigned to a Bowden cable (5) of the electric motor drive (7).

7. 7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that it comprises a control unit (12) acting on the electric motor drive (7) and reading the sensors (6).

8. 8. Device according to claim 7, characterized in that the movement element (9) is equipped with its own electric motor drive (10) which can be acted upon by the control unit (12) in response to a signal from the sensor (6).

9. 9. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that the movement element (9) with its own electric motor drive (10) is designed as a technically independent catch module (9, 10).

10. A lock for a motor vehicle, in particular a lock for a motor vehicle door, characterized by a positioning element (1, 2) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, A lock for a motor vehicle, wherein the electric motor drive (7) for the positioning elements (1, 2) is preferably simultaneously designed as a closing drive for the locking mechanism.

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