Door handle assembly for a vehicle door and method of operation thereof

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a door handle assembly for a vehicle door having a door face. The door handle assembly includes a handle seat, a handle, a driving device, a handle shaft and a transmission device.SOLUTION: The handle has a retracted position and a deployed position. The handle is flush with the door surface when the handle is in the retracted position, and the handle projects outwardly relative to the door surface when the handle is in the deployed position. The handle shaft is configured to rotate under driving of the driving device. The transmission device connects the handle shaft to the handle, such that the handle is movable between a retracted position and a deployed position relative to the handle seat under driving of the handle shaft. The driving device is configured such that, when the handle is in the retracted position or the deployed position, the driving device is activated in response to rotation of the handle shaft by a preset angle when the handle is pushed by an operator, to deploy or retract the handle.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2A

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE The present disclosure relates to door handle assemblies, and more particularly to door handle assemblies for vehicle doors and methods of operation of door handle assemblies. [Background technology]

[0002] A vehicle door handle assembly, for example an exterior door handle assembly, is designed to be grasped by an operator to open the door, unlock the door, etc. To this end, the handle of the vehicle door handle assembly may extend beyond the face of the door so that the operator can grasp the handle for such operations. Summary of the Invention

[0003] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, the present disclosure provides a door handle assembly for a vehicle door having a door surface, the door handle assembly including a handle seat, a handle, a drive device, a handle shaft, and a transmission device. The handle has a retracted position and an extended position. When the handle is in the retracted position, the handle is flush with the door surface, and when the handle is in the extended position, the handle protrudes outward from the door surface. The handle shaft is configured to rotate under the drive of the drive device. The transmission device connects the handle shaft to the handle such that the handle is movable between the retracted position and the extended position relative to the handle seat under the drive of the handle shaft. The drive device is configured to be activated in response to the handle shaft rotating by a preset angle when the handle is pressed by an operator when the handle is in the retracted position or the extended position, thereby extending or retracting the handle.

[0004] According to the door handle assembly in the first aspect of the present disclosure, the handle shaft is fixedly connected to the output end of the drive device.

[0005] According to the door handle assembly in the first aspect of the present disclosure, the handle is slidably mounted on the handle seat.

[0006] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, a door handle assembly includes a sliding groove on one of the handle and the handle sheet, and a slider on the other of the handle and the handle sheet, the slider cooperating with the sliding groove to enable slidable mounting of the handle on the handle sheet.

[0007] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, the door handle assembly includes a transmission device including at least one connecting arm and at least one push rod, the at least one connecting arm having a proximal end fixedly connected to the handle shaft, the at least one push rod having a proximal end pivotally connected to the handle, and the at least one push rod having a distal end pivotally connected to the distal end of the at least one connecting arm.

[0008] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, the door handle assembly includes at least one connecting arm, the two connecting arms being adjacent to two opposing ends of the handle shaft, and the at least one push rod, the two push rods being connected to the two connecting arms, respectively.

[0009] According to the door handle assembly of the first aspect of the present disclosure, the handle seat is provided with at least one limiting inclined surface, which is configured to contact at least one connecting arm when the handle reaches the extended position, thereby holding the handle in the extended position.

[0010] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, the door handle assembly further includes a sensor, the sensor being provided on the at least one limiting inclined surface, and the at least one connecting arm is configured to apply pressure to the sensor when a pulling force is applied to the handle in the extended position, causing the sensor to generate a sensing signal for opening a vehicle door lock.

[0011] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, the door handle assembly further includes a controller communicatively connected to the actuator and configured to control the actuator to rotate the handle in a first rotational direction to deploy the handle or to rotate the handle in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction to retract the handle.

[0012] According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, the present disclosure provides a method for operating a door handle assembly attached to a vehicle door, the method including the steps of: (a) detecting a signal indicating that a handle of the door handle assembly has been pressed a predetermined distance; (b) when the signal indicating that the handle has been pressed the predetermined distance is detected, determining whether the handle is in a retracted position or an extended position, and performing step (c) if the handle is detected to be in the retracted position, and performing step (d) if the handle is detected to be in the extended position; (c) activating a drive device to rotate the handle in a first rotational direction to extend it; and (d) activating the drive device to rotate the handle in a second rotational direction opposite to the first rotational direction to retract it.

[0013] According to the method of the second aspect of the present disclosure, a signal indicating that the handle has been pushed a predetermined distance is detected in step (a) by detecting that the output end of the drive device has rotated a predetermined angle in a second rotational direction.

[0014] According to the method of the second aspect of the present disclosure, during execution of step (c), if a stop signal for the drive device is detected, the drive device is controlled to rotate in a second rotational direction to retract the handle, and during execution of step (d), if a stop signal for the drive device is detected, the drive device is controlled to deploy the handle.

[0015] According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, the present disclosure provides a door handle assembly for a vehicle door having a door surface, the door handle assembly including a handle seat, a handle, a handle shaft, and a transmission device. The handle is slidably mounted on the handle seat and has a retracted position and an extended position. When the handle is in the retracted position, the handle is flush with the vehicle door surface, and when the handle is in the extended position, the handle protrudes outward from the door surface. The handle shaft is configured to rotate under drive of a drive device. The transmission device connects the handle shaft to the handle such that the handle is slidable between the retracted position and the extended position relative to the handle seat under drive of the handle shaft.

[0016] According to a door handle assembly in a third aspect of the present disclosure, a sliding groove is provided on one of the handle and the handle sheet, and a slider is provided on the other of the handle and the handle sheet, and the slider cooperates with the sliding groove to enable slidable mounting of the handle on the handle sheet.

[0017] According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a door handle assembly, wherein the transmission device includes at least one connecting arm and at least one push rod, wherein the at least one connecting arm has a proximal end fixedly connected to the handle shaft, the at least one push rod has a proximal end pivotally connected to the handle, and the at least one push rod has a distal end pivotally connected to the distal end of the at least one connecting arm.

[0018] According to the door handle assembly of the third aspect of the present disclosure, the handle seat is provided with at least one limiting inclined surface, which is configured to contact at least one connecting arm when the handle reaches the extended position, thereby holding the handle in the extended position.

[0019] According to the door handle assembly in the third aspect of the present disclosure, the handle shaft is fixedly connected to the output end of the drive device.

[0020] According to a fourth aspect of the present disclosure, the present disclosure provides a door handle assembly for a vehicle door having a door surface, the door handle assembly including a handle seat, a handle, a handle shaft, at least one connecting arm, and at least one push rod. The handle is slidably mounted on the handle seat and has a retracted position and an extended position. When the handle is in the retracted position, the handle is flush with the vehicle door surface, and when the handle is in the extended position, the handle protrudes outward relative to the door surface. The handle shaft is configured to rotate under the drive of a drive device. The at least one connecting arm has a proximal end fixedly connected to the handle shaft. The at least one push rod has a proximal end pivotally connected to the handle, and the at least one push rod has a distal end pivotally connected to a distal end of the at least one connecting arm.

[0021] According to a fourth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a door handle assembly including a slider on one of the handle and the handle sheet, and a sliding groove on the other of the handle and the handle sheet, the slider cooperating with the sliding groove to enable slidable mounting of the handle onto the handle sheet.

[0022] According to the door handle assembly in the fourth aspect of the present disclosure, the handle shaft is fixedly connected to the output end of the drive device. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0023] [Figure 1A] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a door handle assembly according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 1B] FIG. 1B is a rear perspective view of the door handle assembly shown in FIG. 1A. [Figure 1C] FIG. 1B is a perspective view of a vehicle having the door handle assembly of FIG. 1A. [Figure 1D] FIG. 1B is a top view of the door handle assembly shown in FIG. 1A with the handle in the extended position. [Figure 1E] FIG. 1B is a top view of the door handle assembly of FIG. 1A with the handle in a retracted position. [Figure 2A] 1B is a front exploded view of the door handle assembly shown in FIG. 1A with the rear cover removed. FIG. [Figure 2B] 1B is a rear exploded view of the door handle assembly shown in FIG. 1A with the rear cover removed. FIG. [Figure 3A] FIG. 1B is a rear view of the door handle assembly shown in FIG. 1A with the rear cover removed. [Figure 3B] FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 3A. [Figure 3C] FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC in FIG. 3A. [Figure 4A] 1B is a cross-sectional view of the door handle assembly shown in FIG. 1A with the handle in a retracted position. [Figure 4B] 1B is a cross-sectional view of the door handle assembly shown in FIG. 1A with the handle in the deployment trigger position. [Figure 4C] 1B is a cross-sectional view of the door handle assembly shown in FIG. 1A with the handle in the extended position. [Figure 4D] 1B is a cross-sectional view of the door handle assembly shown in FIG. 1A with the handle in the retracted trigger position. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of elements of a door handle assembly in communication with a controller according to one embodiment of the disclosure. [Figure 6]10 is a flowchart illustrating the process of deploying and retracting a handle according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a control device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024] Various specific embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described with reference to the drawings that form a part of this specification. In this disclosure, directional terms such as "front," "rear," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "top," and "bottom" are used to describe structural parts and elements in various examples of the present disclosure. However, it should be understood that these terms are used herein for ease of illustration only and are determined based on the exemplary orientations shown in the accompanying drawings. Because the arrangements in the embodiments disclosed in this disclosure can be in various directions, these directional terms are merely exemplary and should not be considered limiting.

[0025] 1A and 1B show the overall structure of a door handle assembly 100 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, with FIG. 1A being a front perspective view of the door handle assembly 100 and FIG. 1B being a rear perspective view of the door handle assembly 100. As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the door handle assembly 100 is a hidden door handle assembly including a handle sheet 110, a handle 120, and a handle rear cover 160. The handle 120 is attached to the handle sheet 110 from the front side thereof, and the rear side of the handle sheet 110 is closed by the rear cover 160. The handle 120 is movable relative to the handle sheet 110 and therefore has a retracted position and an extended position.

[0026] FIG. 1C shows a perspective view of a vehicle 190 having the door handle assembly 100 of FIG. 1A. As shown in FIG. 1C, the vehicle 190 has a door 192, which has an exterior door surface 195, and the handle sheet 110 is housed in the door 192 and is not visible in FIG. 1C. When the handle 120 is in the retracted position, the handle 120 is flush with the vehicle's exterior door surface 195, so the handle 120 is hidden within the door 192 and an operator cannot pull the handle 120. When the handle 120 is in the extended position, the handle 120 protrudes outward relative to the vehicle's exterior door surface 195, allowing an operator to pull the handle 120. In addition to the extended position, the handle 120 may have other non-retracted positions, such as an unlocked position in which the handle protrudes further outward relative to the door 192 than when in the extended position. In the unlocked position, the handle can trigger the unlocking of the vehicle's door locks. In other embodiments, door handle assemblies according to embodiments of the present disclosure may be used in situations where the door is opened from the inside of the door and the handle is flush with the inside door surface.

[0027] 1D and 1E show two states of the handle 120: FIG. 1D is a top view of the door handle assembly 100 with the handle 120 in the extended position, and FIG. 1E is a top view of the door handle assembly 100 with the handle 120 in the retracted position. As shown in FIG. 1D, the handle 120 is formed with a gripping portion 125. When the handle 120 is in the extended position, the gripping portion 125 protrudes from the handle seat 110, allowing an operator to reach into the gripping portion 125 to pull the handle 120. When the handle 120 is in the retracted position, as shown in FIG. 1E, the handle 120 is retracted into the handle seat 110 except for a portion that is flush with the vehicle's exterior door surface 195.

[0028] 2A and 2B show the detailed structure of the handle assembly 100 through front and rear exploded views, respectively. For ease of explanation, the rear cover 160 is not shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B. As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, in addition to the handle sheet 110, the handle 120, and the rear cover 160 (not shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B), the door handle assembly 100 further includes a drive unit 180, a handle shaft 130, and a transmission unit 150. The drive unit 180 is, for example, a motor or an actuator equipped with a motor. One end of the handle shaft 130 is fixedly connected to an output end 183 of the drive unit 180 so as to rotate under the drive of the drive unit 180. The handle shaft 130 is also connected to the handle 120 via the transmission unit 150 so that the handle 120 can move between a retracted position and an extended position under the action of the handle shaft 130.

[0029] The handle 120 is slidably mounted on the handle seat 110 so that the handle 120 slides relative to the handle seat 110 when the handle 120 is moved between the retracted position and the deployed position. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B , the handle seat 110 is provided with a storage cavity 115, and a pair of cantilever sliders 118 are disposed within the storage cavity 115 at a distance from an upper surface 119 of the storage cavity 115 (as shown in the enlarged partial view of a portion within the dashed box in FIG. 2A ). The pair of sliders 118 are disposed adjacent to the left and right sides of the handle seat 110 along the length of the handle seat 110, and extend in a direction from the rear side to the front side of the handle seat 110. The end of the slider 118 closest to the rear side of the handle seat 110 is connected to the handle seat 110, and the end closest to the front side of the handle seat 110 is a free end. The handle 120 is provided with a pair of sliding grooves 128, which are adapted to cooperate with a pair of sliders 118 on the handle seat 110, respectively, to achieve slidable mounting of the handle 120 on the handle seat 110. As shown in the enlarged partial view within the dashed box in FIG. 2B , each sliding groove 128 is formed by a pair of spaced apart cantilever beams 126 provided on the handle 120, with the spacing between the beams 126 forming the sliding groove 128. The arrangement of the sliding grooves 128 and the sliders 118 does not affect the accommodation of the handle 120 in the handle seat 110, as shown in FIG. 1E . In other embodiments, sliding grooves may be provided in the handle seat 110 and sliders may be provided on the handle 120, as long as slidable mounting of the handle 120 on the handle seat 110 can be achieved.

[0030] 2A and 2B , the transmission device 150 includes a pair of connecting arms 153 and a pair of push rods 155. The proximal ends of the pair of connecting arms 153 are fixedly connected to the handle shaft 130, the distal ends of the pair of connecting arms 153 are pivotally connected to the distal ends of the pair of push rods 155 by first connecting pins 152, respectively, and the proximal ends of the pair of push rods 155 are pivotally connected to the handle 120 by second connecting pins 157. The pair of connecting arms 153 may, for example, be integrally formed with the handle shaft 130 or fixedly connected to the handle shaft 130 in another manner. The pair of connecting arms 153 are disposed adjacent opposite ends of the handle shaft 130 and extend substantially perpendicular to the handle shaft 130. Relative rotation of the connecting rod 155, the connecting arm 153, and the handle 120 can drive the handle shaft 130 to slide the handle 120 relative to the handle seat 110. Furthermore, when the handle 120 is in the retracted position or the extended position, the transmission device 150, which includes the connecting rod 155 and the connecting arm 153, can also drive the rotation of the handle shaft 130 when the operator pushes the handle 120 inward, thereby rotating the output end 183 of the drive device 180, thereby triggering the activation of the drive device 180 to perform the extension or retraction operation of the handle, as will be described in detail below. In other embodiments, the transmission device 150 may include other structures or components instead of the push rod and the connecting arm, as long as the above-mentioned functions are achieved. Furthermore, in other embodiments, the number of push rods 155 and the connecting arms 153 is not limited to one pair, and may be one each, or two or more pairs.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 2B , a pair of limiting inclined surfaces 170 are provided at the bottom of the accommodating cavity 115 of the handle seat 110, and the limiting inclined surfaces 170 extend obliquely upward toward the slider 118 in a direction from the rear to the front of the handle seat 110. The limiting inclined surfaces 170 are configured so that when the handle reaches the extended position, the pair of limiting inclined surfaces 170 contact the pair of connecting arms 153, respectively, to prevent further rotation of the handle shaft 130 and hold the handle 120 in the extended position. The door handle assembly 100 further includes a sensor 140 disposed on one of the pair of limiting inclined surfaces 170. The sensor 140 is configured to generate a sensing signal for unlocking the vehicle door lock. When a pulling force is applied to the handle 120 in the extended position, the connecting arm 153 can apply sufficient pressure to the sensor 140 to cause the sensor to generate an unlock signal, as described above.

[0032] 2B, a support portion 113 is further provided at the bottom of the accommodating cavity 115 of the handle seat 110 to support the handle shaft 130 in the handle seat 110. The support portion 113 is a pair of support slots spaced apart by a certain distance, and the two ends of the handle shaft 130 are accommodated in the support slots.

[0033] 3A to 3C show the assembly relationship between the components of the door handle assembly 100, in which Fig. 3A is a rear view of the door handle assembly 100 shown in Fig. 1A with the rear cover removed, Fig. 3B is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in Fig. 3A, and Fig. 3C is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC in Fig. 3A. As shown in Fig. 3B, the handle shaft 130 is supported on the support portion 113 of the handle seat 110, and the slider 118 of the handle seat 110 is inserted into the sliding groove 128 of the handle 120.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 3C , the push rod 155 is pivotally connected to a connection block 127 of the handle 120 by a second connection pin 157. The handle 120 is a two-piece structure including a handle housing 122 and a handle core 124 located inside the handle housing 122, the handle core 124 defining a handle receiving cavity 121, and a connection block 127 connected to the push rod 155 located at the bottom of the handle receiving cavity 121. A beam 126 defining a sliding groove 128 is located partially inside the handle receiving cavity 121 and extends rearward from the handle receiving cavity 121. A majority of the push rod 155 may be housed in the handle receiving cavity 121. The front sidewall 128 of the handle housing 122 is configured to be flush with the vehicle door to "hide" the handle 120 within the vehicle door.

[0035] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, when the handle shaft 130 rotates under the drive of the drive device 180, the connecting arm 153 rotates therewith, and the rotation of the connecting arm 153 causes the push rod 155, which is pivotally connected to the connecting arm 153, to rotate and move relative to the connecting arm 153, thereby causing the push rod 155 to drive the handle 120 to slide on the handle seat 110. This allows the handle 120 to move between a retracted position and an extended position under the drive of the drive device 180. When the handle shaft 130 is driven by the drive device 180 to rotate in a first rotational direction, the drive device 180 drives the handle 120 to move from the retracted position to the extended position, and when the handle shaft 130 is driven by the drive device 180 to rotate in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction, the drive device 180 drives the handle from the extended position to the retracted position.

[0036] Furthermore, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, when it is desired to deploy the handle 120 in the retracted position, and when it is desired to retract the handle 120 in the deployed position, the operator pushes the handle 120 to move it, thereby rotating the handle shaft 130, which triggers activation of the drive device 180. In particular, when the operator applies a pushing force to the handle 120 when the handle 120 is in the retracted position or the deployed position, the handle shaft 130 is driven by the handle 120 to rotate in the second rotational direction, and in response to the handle shaft 130 rotating by a preset angle when the operator pushes the handle 120, the drive device 180 is activated to drive the rotation of the handle shaft 130, thereby retracting or deploying the handle. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the handle shaft 130 is connected to the output end 183 of the drive unit 180. When the operator pushes the handle 120, the handle shaft 130 rotates in the second rotational direction, causing the output end 183 of the drive unit 180 to rotate in the second rotational direction. By detecting that the output end 183 of the drive unit 180 has rotated a preset angle in the second rotational direction, it can be determined that the operator has triggered the deployment or retraction of the handle 120. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the preset angle is in the range of 6 to 9 degrees. To rotate the handle shaft 130 a preset angle of 6 to 8 degrees, the operator pushes the handle 120 to move it a distance of approximately 5 mm.

[0037] 4A is a cross-sectional view of the door handle assembly 100 with the handle 120 in the retracted position. As shown in FIG. 4A, when the handle 120 is in the retracted position, the handle 120 is housed inside the handle seat 110, and a front wall 128 of the handle 120 is located outside the handle seat 110 and is accessible to the operator. When it is desired to deploy the handle, the operator pushes the handle 120 inward via the front wall 128, triggering activation of the driver 180 and causing the driver 180 to perform the deployment operation of the handle 120.

[0038] FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view of the door handle assembly 100 with the handle 120 in the deployment trigger position. As shown in FIG. 4B, when the handle 120 is in the deployment trigger position, the handle 120 is retracted somewhat toward the interior of the handle seat 110 compared to when the handle 120 is in the retracted position shown in FIG. 4A. The connecting arm 153 is rotated counterclockwise (a second rotation direction) by a predetermined angle (e.g., 6 to 9 degrees), and the angle between the connecting arm 153 and the push rod 155 is reduced. Because the connecting arm 153 is fixedly connected to the handle shaft 130, the angle by which the connecting arm 153 rotates reflects the angle by which the handle shaft 130 rotates, and the two are identical. When the handle 120 moves to the deployment trigger position, the drive unit 180 is activated in response to the rotation of the handle shaft 130 by the predetermined angle, and the deployment operation of the handle 120 begins.

[0039] 4C is a cross-sectional view of the door handle assembly 100 with the handle 120 in the extended position. As shown in FIG. 4C, when the handle 120 is in the extended position, the handle 120 is pushed out of the handle seat 110 by the connecting arm 153 and the push rod 155, exposing the grip portion 125. Therefore, when the handle 120 is in the extended position, an operator can pull the handle via the grip portion 125 to unlock the door, open the door, etc. When the handle 120 is in the extended position, the connecting arm 153 is rotated clockwise (a first rotation direction) by a certain angle, and the angle between the connecting arm 153 and the push rod 155 is larger than in the retracted position shown in FIG. 4A.

[0040] When unlocking is desired, the operator can pull the handle 120 outward in the deployed position and continue to rotate the connecting arm 153 clockwise (first rotation direction) to press the sensor 140 on the limiting ramp 170. When the connecting arm 153 applies sufficient pressure to the sensor 140, the sensor 140 generates a sensing signal to unlock the vehicle door locks and perform the unlocking operation.

[0041] When it is desired to retract the handle, the operator can trigger activation of the drive unit 180 by pushing or depressing the handle 120 inward in the deployed position, causing the drive unit 180 to perform the retraction movement of the handle 120.

[0042] FIG. 4D is a cross-sectional view of the door handle assembly 100 with the handle 120 in the retracted trigger position. As shown in FIG. 4D, when the handle 120 is in the retracted trigger position, the handle 120 is retracted somewhat toward the interior of the handle seat 110 compared to when the handle 120 is in the extended position shown in FIG. 4C. The connecting arm 153 is rotated counterclockwise (a second rotation direction) by a predetermined angle (e.g., 6 to 9 degrees), and the angle between the connecting arm 153 and the push rod 155 is reduced. Because the connecting arm 153 is fixedly connected to the handle shaft 130, the angle by which the connecting arm 153 rotates reflects the angle by which the handle shaft 130 rotates, and the two are identical. When the handle 120 moves to the retracted trigger position, the drive unit 180 is activated in response to the rotation of the handle shaft 130 by the predetermined angle, and the retraction of the handle 120 begins.

[0043] 5 is a block diagram of elements of the door handle assembly 100 in communication with a controller, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 5, the door handle assembly 100 further includes a controller 570 and a door lock switch 510. The door lock switch 510, the actuator 180, and the sensor 140 are communicatively connected to the controller 570.

[0044] The driver 180 is controlled by the controller 570 to rotate in either a first rotational direction or a second rotational direction. Additionally, the controller 570 can monitor the driver 180 and receive a signal indicating the rotational direction and angle of the output end 183 of the driver 180. For example, when the driver 180 is in its initial position (retracted position), the initial angle of its output end 183 is 0 degrees; when the driver 180 drives the handle 120 in the first rotational direction to the deployed position, the rotational angle of the output end 183 is 60 degrees; when the driver 180 rotates in the second rotational direction to cause the handle 120 to reach the deployed trigger position, the output end 183 rotates by 6 to 9 degrees relative to the initial position; and when the driver 180 rotates in the second rotational direction to cause the handle 120 to reach the retracted trigger position, the output end 183 rotates by 6 to 9 degrees relative to the deployed position.

[0045] For this purpose, the drive unit 180 is provided with an angle detection device 580 for detecting or obtaining the rotation angle of the output end 183 of the drive unit 180. In some embodiments, the angle detection device 580 may include, for example, a plurality of position sensors that can detect whether the output end 183 of the drive unit 180 has reached the deployed position, the deployed trigger position, the retracted trigger position, etc., and send the detected signal to the control device 500. In some embodiments, the angle detection device 580 is, for example, an encoder, and the rotation angle of the output end 183 of the drive unit 180 can be obtained via a pulse signal output by the encoder.

[0046] Regarding the rotation direction of the output end 183 of the driving device 180, when the output end 183 of the driving device 180 is controlled by the control device 500 to rotate, the control device 500 can obtain information about the rotation direction of the output end 183 of the driving device 180 from the direction of the control current. When the operator presses the handle 120 and the handle shaft 130 rotates by a preset angle, the driving device 180 generates a back excitation current, and the control device 500 can obtain information about the rotation direction of the output end 183 of the driving device 180 from the direction of the back excitation current.

[0047] Additionally, the sensor 140 can communicate with the controller 570 and send an unlock signal to the controller 570. The door lock switch 510 is controlled by the controller 570 to be opened, thereby unlocking the door lock.

[0048] FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a process for extending and retracting the handle 120 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 6, in step 610, the control device 570 starts operation. In step 620, the control device 570 monitors the drive device 180 to determine whether the handle has been pushed a predetermined distance. If the handle has not been pushed, the control device 570 continues monitoring. If the handle has been pushed, the control device 570 proceeds to step 630. In step 630, the control device 570 determines whether the handle is in the retracted position or the deployed position and determines whether to execute a handle extension operation or a handle retraction operation. If the handle is determined to be in the retracted position, the control device 570 proceeds to step 640. If the handle is determined to be in the deployed position, the control device 570 proceeds to step 650.

[0049] In step 640, to initiate the handle deployment operation, the controller 570 activates the driver 180 to rotate in a direction to deploy the handle. While the driver 180 is deploying the handle, the controller 570 monitors the driver 180 to determine whether a signal to stop the driver 180 has been received. If the controller 570 receives a signal to stop the driver 180, the process proceeds to step 645. In step 645, the controller 570 controls the driver 180 to change the direction of rotation to retract the handle 120 to the retracted position. If the controller 570 does not receive a signal to stop the driver 180, the process proceeds to step 647. In step 647, the controller 570 controls the driver 180 to continue the handle deployment operation until the handle reaches the deployed position.

[0050] In step 650, to initiate the retraction of the handle, the controller 570 activates the driver 180 to rotate in a direction to retract the handle. While the driver 180 is retracting the handle, the controller 570 monitors the driver 180 to determine whether a stop signal for the driver 180 has been received. If the controller 570 receives a stop signal for the driver 180, the process proceeds to step 655. In step 655, the controller 570 controls the driver 180 to change the rotation direction to deploy the handle 120 to the deployed position. If the controller 570 does not receive a stop signal for the driver 180, the process proceeds to step 657. In step 657, the controller 570 controls the driver 180 to continue the retraction of the handle until the handle reaches the retracted position.

[0051] In step 620 above, the control device 570 determines that the handle 120 has been pushed a predetermined distance by receiving a signal that the output end of the drive device 180 has been rotated a predetermined angle in the second rotational direction.

[0052] During the extension and retraction of the handle 120 under the drive of the driver 180, if a foreign object obstructs further extension or retraction of the handle 120, this may cause the driver 180 to stop. The stop signal for the driver 180 can be obtained, for example, by detecting whether the current of the driver 180 exceeds a certain threshold for a certain period of time. The handle assembly 100 of the present disclosure can detect the stop signal for the driver 180 and control the driver 180 to rotate in a reverse direction based on the stop signal, thereby allowing the driver to still rotate in the original direction and preventing pinching of an object (such as a human hand) if the handle is obstructed by the object. Therefore, the handle assembly 100 of the present disclosure has a pinch prevention function.

[0053] Furthermore, the control device 570 of the handle assembly 100 according to the present disclosure is further configured to, when the drive device 180 is de-energized and re-energized during operation, first determine from information regarding the rotation angle of the drive device 180 whether the handle 120 is in a position between the retracted position and the deployed position, and if so, move the handle 120 by the drive device 180 to its initial position (retracted position) before performing subsequent operations as necessary.

[0054] FIG. 7 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a controller 570. As shown in FIG. 7, the controller 570 includes a bus 702, a processor 704, an input interface 706, an output interface 708, and a memory 714 in which a program 716 is stored. The processor 704, the input interface 706, the output interface 708, and the memory 714 are each communicatively coupled to the bus 702, allowing the processor 704 to control the operation of the input interface 706, the output interface 708, and the memory 714. The memory 714 is used to store programs, instructions, and data. The processor 704 can read programs, instructions, and data from the memory 714 and write data to the memory 714. The program 716 includes a program that implements the control flow described in FIG. 6. The input interface 706 is connected to the driving device 180 and its angle detection device 580 and the sensor 140, and is used to obtain signals indicating the rotation direction and rotation angle of the driving device 180, and to receive the sensing signal sent by the sensor 140 for unlocking. The output interface 708 is connected to the driving device 180 and the door lock switch 510, and is used to send control signals to the driving device 180 and the door lock switch 510 to control the extension or retraction of the handle 120 and the unlocking of the door lock.

[0055] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a door handle assembly according to the present disclosure includes a handle shaft connected to an output end of a drive device and to a handle, and the drive device is configured to activate in response to an operator pushing the handle when the handle is in a retracted or extended position, rotating the handle shaft by a preset angle, thereby eliminating the need for an additional electronic element (e.g., a microswitch) to detect an operator's action to extend or retract the handle, or an additional button to extend or retract the handle. Thus, the door handle assembly according to the present disclosure enables the deployment and retraction of a concealed door handle with fewer components and a simpler appearance.

[0056] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, in a door handle assembly according to the present disclosure, the structure for transmitting motion between the handle and the actuator is simplified, thus allowing for a simpler mechanical configuration to deploy and retract the concealed door handle.

[0057] While the present disclosure has been described with reference to the example embodiments outlined above, various alternatives, modifications, variations, improvements, and / or substantial equivalents that are known or that may be currently or soon be contemplated may be apparent to at least those skilled in the art. In addition, the technical effects and / or technical problems described herein are exemplary and not limiting. Thus, the disclosure herein may be used to solve other technical problems, may have other technical effects, and / or may solve other technical problems. Thus, the example embodiments of the present disclosure described above are intended to be exemplary and not limiting. Various changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure. Thus, the present disclosure is intended to embrace all known or previously disclosed alternatives, modifications, variations, improvements, and / or substantial equivalents.

Claims

1. 1. A door handle assembly for a vehicle door having a door face, comprising: A steering wheel seat (110), a handle (120) having a retracted position and an extended position, wherein the handle (120) is flush with the door surface when the handle (120) is in the retracted position and protrudes outward from the door surface when the handle (120) is in the extended position; a drive unit (180); a handle shaft (130) configured to rotate under the drive of the drive device (180); a transmission device (150) connecting the handle shaft (130) to the handle (120) so that the handle (120) is movable between the retracted position and the extended position relative to the handle seat (110) under the drive of the handle shaft (130); Equipped with The drive device (180) is configured to be activated in response to the handle shaft (130) rotating by a preset angle when the handle (120) is in the retracted position or the deployed position, and to deploy or retract the handle (120). Door handle assembly.

2. 2. The door handle assembly of claim 1, wherein the handle shaft (130) is fixedly connected to an output end (183) of the drive device (180).

3. The door handle assembly of claim 1, wherein the handle (120) is slidably mounted on the handle sheet (110).

4. 4. The door handle assembly of claim 3, wherein a sliding groove is provided on one of the handle and the handle seat, and a slider is provided on the other of the handle and the handle seat, the slider cooperating with the sliding groove to enable slidable mounting of the handle onto the handle seat.

5. The transmission device (150) at least one connecting arm (153) whose proximal end is fixedly connected to said handle shaft (130); at least one push rod (155) whose proximal end is pivotally connected to said handle (120) and whose distal end is pivotally connected to the distal end of said at least one connecting arm (153); The door handle assembly of claim 1 , comprising:

6. The at least one connecting arm (153) includes two connecting arms (153), the two connecting arms (153) being adjacent to two opposite ends of the handle shaft (130), respectively; 6. The door handle assembly of claim 5, wherein the at least one push rod (155) includes two push rods (155), the two push rods (155) being connected to the two connecting arms (155), respectively.

7. 6. The door handle assembly of claim 5, wherein the handle seat (110) is provided with at least one limiting inclined surface (170), and the limiting inclined surface (170) is configured to contact the at least one connecting arm (153) when the handle (120) reaches the extended position, thereby retaining the handle (120) in the extended position.

8. The door handle assembly further comprises a sensor (140), the sensor (140) being disposed on the at least one limiting ramp (170); 8. The door handle assembly of claim 7, wherein the at least one connecting arm is configured such that when a pulling force is applied to the handle in the extended position, the at least one connecting arm applies pressure to the sensor, causing the sensor to generate a sensing signal to open a door lock of the vehicle.

9. 10. The door handle assembly of claim 1, further comprising a control device communicatively connected to the driver and configured to control the driver to rotate the handle in a first rotational direction to deploy the handle or to rotate the handle in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction to retract the handle.

10. 1. A method of operating a door handle assembly mounted on a vehicle door, comprising: (a) detecting a signal indicating that the handle of the door handle assembly has been depressed a predetermined distance; (b) when the signal indicating that the handle has been pushed the predetermined distance is detected, determining whether the handle is in a retracted position or an extended position, and performing step (c) if the handle is detected to be in the retracted position, and performing step (d) if the handle is detected to be in the extended position; (c) activating a driver to rotate the handle in a first rotational direction to deploy the handle; (d) actuating the driver to rotate the handle in a second direction opposite the first direction of rotation to retract the handle; A method comprising:

11. 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the signal indicating that the handle has been pushed the predetermined distance in step (a) is detected by detecting that the output end of the drive device has rotated a predetermined angle in the second rotational direction.

12. If a stop signal for the drive unit is detected during the execution of step (c), the drive unit is controlled to rotate in the second rotation direction to retract the handle; The method of claim 10 , wherein if the stop signal for the driver is detected during step (d), the driver is controlled to deploy the handle.

13. 1. A door handle assembly for a vehicle door having a door face, comprising: A steering wheel seat (110), a handle (120) slidably mounted on the handle seat (110) and having a retracted position and an extended position, wherein the handle (120) is flush with the door surface of the vehicle when the handle (120) is in the retracted position, and the handle (120) protrudes outward from the door surface when the handle (120) is in the extended position; a handle shaft (130) configured to rotate under the drive of the drive device (180); a transmission device (150) connecting the handle shaft (130) to the handle (120) so that the handle (120) is slidable between the retracted position and the extended position relative to the handle seat (110) under the drive of the handle shaft (130); A door handle assembly comprising:

14. 14. The door handle assembly of claim 13, wherein a sliding groove is provided on one of the handle and the handle seat, and a slider is provided on the other of the handle and the handle seat, the slider cooperating with the sliding groove to enable slidable mounting of the handle onto the handle seat.

15. The transmission device (150) at least one connecting arm (153) whose proximal end is fixedly connected to said handle shaft (130); at least one push rod (155) whose proximal end is pivotally connected to said handle (120) and whose distal end is pivotally connected to the distal end of said at least one connecting arm (153); 14. The door handle assembly of claim 13, comprising:

16. 16. The door handle assembly of claim 15, wherein the handle seat (110) is provided with at least one limiting ramp (170), and the limiting ramp (170) is configured to contact the at least one connecting arm (153) when the handle (120) reaches the extended position, thereby retaining the handle (120) in the extended position.

17. 14. The door handle assembly of claim 13, wherein the handle shaft (130) is fixedly connected to an output end (183) of the drive device (180).

18. 1. A door handle assembly for a vehicle door having a door face, comprising: A steering wheel seat (110), a handle (120) slidably mounted on the handle seat (110) and having a retracted position and an extended position, wherein the handle (120) is flush with the door surface of the vehicle when the handle (120) is in the retracted position, and the handle (120) protrudes outward from the door surface when the handle (120) is in the extended position; a handle shaft (130) configured to rotate under the drive of the drive device (180); at least one connecting arm (153) whose proximal end is fixedly connected to said handle shaft (130); at least one push rod (155) whose proximal end is pivotally connected to said handle (120) and whose distal end is pivotally connected to the distal end of said at least one connecting arm (153); A door handle assembly comprising:

19. 19. The door handle assembly of claim 18, wherein a slider is provided on one of the handle and the handle seat, and a slide groove is provided on the other of the handle and the handle seat, the slider cooperating with the slide groove to enable slidable mounting of the handle onto the handle seat.

20. 19. The door handle assembly of claim 18, wherein the handle shaft (130) is fixedly connected to an output end (183) of the drive device (180).

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