Control assembly and method for operating a motor vehicle locking system

Abstract

The invention relates to a control assembly for operating a motor vehicle locking system (2), the control assembly (1) being designed to control an electric drive (3) of the motor vehicle locking system (2) upon detection of an actuation event in order to provide a motorized locking function for a movable closure element (4) of the motor vehicle (5), and the control assembly (1) comprising a signal input (7) for detecting the actuation event, which signal input is provided to be connected to at least one queryable element (8) of the motor vehicle (5). According to the invention, the control assembly (1) continuously stores the signal level of the signal input (7), and the actuation event is considered to have been detected when a comparison of the current signal level at the signal input (7) with a previously stored signal level exceeds a specified deviation.

Description

[0001] CONTROL ARRANGEMENT AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A MOTOR VEHICLE LOCKING SYSTEM

[0002] The present invention relates to a control arrangement for operating a motor vehicle locking system according to the preamble of claim 1, a motor vehicle locking system according to claim 11 and a method for operating a motor vehicle locking system according to claim 13.

[0003] The motor vehicle locking system in question is used for all types of motorized locking functions for locking elements of a motor vehicle. These include, in particular, locking elements such as side doors, rear doors, tailgates, trunk lids, hoods, or the like. These locking elements can generally be designed as pivoting or sliding doors. The motorized locking function particularly relates to a motor vehicle lock associated with the motor vehicle locking system. Further examples of the relevant locking functions of a motor vehicle are drive arrangements that provide motorized adjustment of the aforementioned locking elements.

[0004] The known prior art (DE 199 04 663 A1) from which the invention is based relates to the operation of a motor vehicle locking system with a motor vehicle lock having a lock latch and a pawl as locking elements. The lock latch can be moved into a closed position in which it is in holding engagement with the locking part and in which it is fixed by the pawl. The motor vehicle lock is further equipped with an electric drive with which the pawl can be lifted out, so that the lock latch can be adjusted to its open position, releasing the locking part.

[0005] The motorized opening of the lock is triggered by an operating event, which is detected, for example, by a query element such as a sensor, button, or similar device when the operator pulls or touches an outside or inside door handle. The signal level resulting from such an operation of a door handle corresponds, for example, to a specific logic level and is determined by a control device responsible for controlling the drive. The operating event is considered detected, and the drive can be triggered to raise the locking pawl using the control device.

[0006] A challenge is that the vehicle locking system can contain a multitude of control components and a network of interrogation elements for actuation, which can lead to an unintentional change in the signal level of the interrogation elements. This places increased demands on the detection of the operating event to prevent false activations.

[0007] The invention is based on the problem of designing and developing the known control arrangement in such a way that the reliability of the detection of an operating event is optimized using simple means.

[0008] The above problem is solved by the features of claim 1.

[0009] The invention is based on the recognition that the signal level of the interrogation elements can, on the one hand, be influenced by other control components, such as door control units or flap control units provided alongside a lock control unit. On the other hand, the signal level can vary due to aging effects, contamination, or similar factors that occur during operation of the motor vehicle. In addition, there is the requirement that continuous activation should not occur in the event of a fault-related, continuous actuation, such as the sticking of a button as an interrogation element.

[0010] The fundamental idea is to consider the change in the signal level for detection, rather than a fixed criterion for the signal level, in order to identify an operator event. This measure can be easily implemented by storing the signal level, which allows a comparison with a previous signal level to be used as a reliable criterion for detecting the operator event.

[0011] In detail, it is proposed that the control arrangement continuously stores the signal level of the signal input and that the operating event is considered to be detected if a comparison of the current signal level at the signal input to a signal level stored previously exceeds a predetermined deviation.

[0012] Particularly preferably, according to claims 2 and 3, the signal level is stored and the comparison is carried out via a memory circuit, whereby further control components can initially remain deactivated before the operating event is detected.

[0013] The detection of the operating event can preferably be used for the activation of a control unit and thus for a wake-up functionality of control components according to claim 4. Consequently, an energy saving is achieved for the operation of the motor vehicle locking system.

[0014] Energy savings can be particularly advantageous in the embodiment according to claim 5, according to which an energy storage device is used for emergency operation of the motor vehicle locking system. Especially when using a capacitor as an energy storage device, preventing premature discharge of the energy storage device is of great importance, so that the proposed solution optimizes the reliability of the motor vehicle locking system.

[0015] In the particularly preferred embodiments according to claims 6 and 7, a cyclical query of the signal level is provided, whereby signal levels of successive cycles can be easily compared to detect the operating event. To further increase robustness against false triggering, a filter is provided for a switch-on phase of the cycle according to claim 8.

[0016] The proposed solution also enables the use of several interrogation elements which can be distinguished by means of a resistance coding according to claim 9, since the reliability of the evaluation of the signal level required in this case can be achieved.

[0017] According to a further teaching according to claim 11, which has independent significance, a motor vehicle locking system comprising an electric drive with an electric drive motor and a proposed control unit is claimed. Reference is made to all statements regarding the proposed control arrangement.

[0018] In the preferred embodiment according to claim 12, a motor vehicle lock is further provided, wherein the electric drive serves as an opening drive for lifting the locking pawl of the motor vehicle lock. The proposed solution can accommodate the special security requirements of motor vehicle locksmiths.

[0019] According to a further teaching according to claim 13, which also has independent significance, a method for operating a motor vehicle locking system is claimed. The control arrangement continuously stores the signal level of the signal input, whereby an operating event is deemed to have been detected if a comparison of the current signal level at the signal input with a previously stored signal level exceeds a predetermined deviation. Upon detection of an operating event, the drive of the motor vehicle locking system is activated by the control arrangement. Reference is made to all statements regarding the proposed control arrangement and the proposed motor vehicle locking system.

[0020] In the following, the invention is explained in more detail with reference to a drawing which merely represents exemplary embodiments. In the drawing,

[0021] Fig. 1 shows a motor vehicle door with a proposed motor vehicle locking system comprising a motor vehicle lock with a proposed control arrangement in a respective perspective view and

[0022] Fig. 2 a) the control arrangement, b) a network of interrogation elements and c) the memory circuit in schematic representations.

[0023] The exemplary embodiment shown in the figures and thus preferred relates to a control arrangement 1 for operating a motor vehicle locking system 2. The control arrangement 1 is designed to control an electric drive 3 of the motor vehicle locking system 2 upon detection of an operating event in order to provide a motorized locking function for an adjustable locking element 4 of the motor vehicle 5.

[0024] In this case, the drive 3 can comprise all types of electric actuators, in particular rotary and linear actuators. A drive motor 6 of the drive 3 is preferably a rotary electric motor, which is further preferably designed as a brushed DC motor or a brushless DC motor.

[0025] A motorized locking function is understood to mean that the adjustable locking element 4 of the motor vehicle 5 is fixed and / or released, adjusted, opened or closed, and / or locked or unlocked, directly or indirectly by a movement generated by the electric drive 3. Regarding the design of the locking element 4, reference is made to the introductory explanations, whereby Fig. 1 illustrates the functionality of the motor vehicle locking system 2 for a locking element 4 designed as a side door. However, all explanations also apply to all other types of locking elements 4 of the motor vehicle 5.

[0026] The operating event is generally an action performed by an operator of the motor vehicle 5, which is aimed at triggering the motorized closing function. The control arrangement 1 has a signal input 7 for detecting the operating event, which is provided for interconnection with at least one interrogation element 8 of the motor vehicle 5. The interrogation element 8 is preferably a sensor, in particular a button, which detects a manual actuation such as touching or pulling an operating element, preferably an outside door handle 9 or an inside door handle 10. The actuation of the interrogation element 8 changes a signal level at the signal input 7. Here and preferably, a high logic level is provided for the signal level when the interrogation element 8 is not actuated at the signal input 7. This high logic level can correspond to a supply voltage.When the query element 8 is actuated, the signal level is set to a low logic level, which can correspond to a reference potential such as ground. The exact signal level when the query element 8 is actuated or not actuated can, however, depend on other factors. In Fig. 1, according to a preferred embodiment, a control unit 11 is provided, in this case a door control unit, which, in normal operation to be explained below, is higher-level than the control arrangement 1 and can also query the query elements 8 with regard to the presence of the operating event. Via the interconnection with the control unit 11, the exact signal level at the signal input 7 of the control arrangement 1 can vary, for example, via the flow of cross-currents, which is symbolized in the equivalent circuit diagram in Fig. 2b) as an additional resistor RQ.Factors such as aging, wear, and contamination of the interrogating element or other components connected to it can also influence the signal level, which is symbolized in Fig. 2a) by the resistor RS. A particular challenge here is that these effects can vary over time.

[0027] It is now essential that the control arrangement 1 continuously stores the signal level of the signal input 7 and that the operating event is considered to be detected if a comparison of the current signal level at the signal input 7 with a signal level stored previously exceeds a predetermined deviation.

[0028] Continuous storage means that the control arrangement 1 repeatedly stores the current signal level. In this case, a time profile of the signal level can be stored, or, for example, a single piece of information representative of the signal level can be stored by overwriting the previous signal level.

[0029] The comparison preferably determines a measure of the deviation between the current signal level and the previously stored signal level, for example, via a difference and / or a quotient of values ​​representative of the signal level, such as respective voltage values. The previously stored signal level is preferably the most recently stored signal level. The specified deviation is preferably a specification regarding a relative and / or absolute deviation between the signal levels.

[0030] If the specified deviation is exceeded, the operating event is considered detected, so that activation of the drive 3 is provided. However, activation of the drive 3 can also be subject to further conditions. Here and preferably, locking states of the motor vehicle locking system 2, such as "unlocked," "locked," "theft-proof," and especially "child-proof," are also managed by the control arrangement 1. Depending on the locking state, the operating event can trigger the activation or suppress activation.

[0031] The signal level can be stored in various ways. One conceivable approach is to store a value representative of the signal level in an electronic memory of the control device 1. Here, however, and preferably, the signal level is stored in circuitry, with an electrical quantity in the circuit quantitatively representing the signal level.

[0032] In a preferred embodiment, the control arrangement 1 comprises a memory circuit 12 configured to continuously store the signal level of the signal input 7 and to output a comparison of the current signal level with the previously stored signal level. The memory circuit 12 can be a discrete and / or integrated circuit that enables storage and comparison.

[0033] As shown in Fig. 2c), the storage circuit 12 preferably has a reference capacitor 13 for storing the signal level. The reference capacitor 13 is charged according to a signal level at the signal input 7 and can thus represent a measure of a temporally preceding signal level via the charge or the capacitor voltage. Here and preferably, the reference capacitor 13 is charged via an operational amplifier 14 with a peak voltage resulting from the signal level. By comparing the capacitor voltage of the reference capacitor 13 with a voltage value for the current signal level, a change in the signal level and thus an actuation of the interrogation element 8 can be inferred.

[0034] Here, and preferably, the memory circuit 12 includes a comparator 15 for comparing the current signal level with the signal level stored via the reference capacitor 13. Here, and preferably, the comparator 15 includes an operational amplifier 16, wherein the voltages supplied for comparison are further determined via the resistors R1, R2, R3.

[0035] Furthermore, it is preferably provided here that the control arrangement 1 has a control unit 17, in particular a microcontroller, for controlling the drive 3, and that the control arrangement 1 activates the control unit 17 upon detection of the operating event.

[0036] Preferably, the control unit 17 remains in a deactivated, here power-off, state until the operating event is deemed to have been detected. It is also conceivable for the control unit 17 to remain in a power-saving mode until activated. Here and preferably, the output of the comparator 15 is connected to a wake-up input 18 of the control unit 17 such that activation occurs when the comparison of the signal levels exceeds the predetermined deviation. Here and preferably, the control unit 17 is assigned a self-holding device 19, which keeps the control unit 17 active until it is switched off, for example, via the control unit 17 itself.

[0037] The described embodiment with a memory circuit 12 requires only a low power consumption, so that only a small amount of energy is required for activating the control unit 17 as needed during operation.

[0038] It is particularly preferably provided that the control arrangement 1 has an emergency supply 20 with an electrical energy storage device 21, which provides an electrical emergency supply voltage in emergency operation. The drive 3 is operated in normal operation on the basis of a supply voltage from the on-board electrical system of the motor vehicle 5, which is preferably provided by the central battery of the motor vehicle 5. The central battery is preferably the battery that provides the electrical energy required for starting the motor vehicle 5 and / or for driving the motor vehicle 5. Normal operation is accordingly provided when the on-board electrical system is available to operate the drive 3. In normal operation, the operating event can be detected via the control unit 11, which causes the control arrangement 1 to control the drive 3.

[0039] The emergency power supply 20 provides the supply voltage for querying the query element 8 and for the drive 3 in emergency operation. Emergency operation is intended for situations in which the vehicle electrical system is not reliably available. Examples of this include a failure of the vehicle electrical system, for example due to a significant discharge of the central battery or a failure of electrical lines in the vehicle electrical system, and a crash of the motor vehicle 5. In this case, the power supply to the control unit 11 can also fail, and the control arrangement 1 assumes at least part of the functionality of the control unit 11.

[0040] The emergency power supply 20 preferably has, as energy storage device 21, at least one capacitor and a boost converter 22 connected downstream of the capacitor, which is configured to boost a capacitor voltage of the capacitor. The use of multiple capacitors in the emergency power supply 20, which can be connected in series and / or parallel, is conceivable. However, the emergency power supply 20 preferably has only a single capacitor, in particular a single double-layer capacitor. The boost converter 22 is preferably configured to boost the capacitor voltage to an emergency supply voltage, which can correspond to the supply voltage resulting from the vehicle electrical system or be slightly lower.

[0041] The control arrangement 1 can activate the boost converter 22 upon detection of the operating event. Preferably, the control unit 17 is supplied with electrical energy via the boost converter 22 in emergency operation, whereby the control unit 17 is also activated upon activation of the boost converter 22. Alternatively, the control unit 17 can be activated upon detection of the operating event, which in turn activates the boost converter 22 to control the drive 3.

[0042] Furthermore, it is preferably provided here that the control arrangement 1 carries out a cyclic query of the at least one query element 8, preferably that the control arrangement 1 cyclically applies a supply voltage to the at least one query element 8, in particular for the query via a pull-up resistor.

[0043] A cyclic query is a time-controlled query which, in particular, implements a query at regular intervals in the manner of polling in order to achieve further energy savings, particularly in emergency operation.

[0044] For cyclical polling, it is preferably provided that the operator event is considered detected if the signal level at signal input 7 in the current cycle exceeds the specified deviation from the signal level stored for the previous cycle. In this case, a charge representative of the signal level is stored in the reference capacitor 13 for each cycle, which serves for comparison in the subsequent cycle.

[0045] In the embodiment shown in Fig. 2a), it is further provided that the control arrangement 1 has a filter 23 for suppressing a switch-on phase of the comparison of the current signal level to the previously stored signal level for the respective cycle.

[0046] By suppressing the switch-on phase, switch-on effects at the beginning of the cycle, such as the fact that the voltage at comparator 15 still has to build up briefly, are suppressed. The filter 23 can be represented as an analog circuit, such as a low-pass filter or the like. A digital filter 23 can also be implemented. For example, the wake-up input 18 of the control unit 17 ignores the signal present there during the switch-on phase. As shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2b), the control arrangement 1 can be configured to assign the operating event to at least one of the plurality of interrogation elements 8 via resistance coding of a plurality of interrogation elements 8 provided for interconnection with the signal input 7.

[0047] Here, and preferably, each interrogation element 8 is assigned a respective resistor RS1, RS2, ... Alternatively or in addition to the interrogation elements 8 shown for the outside door handle 9 and inside door handle 10, further interrogation elements 8 can be provided. It is also conceivable for the control arrangement 1 to interrogate interrogation elements 8 of several locking elements 4, for example.

[0048] Furthermore, it is preferably provided here that the memory circuit 12 has a reset circuit 24 which resets the storage of the previously stored signal level upon a reset event, preferably that the reset event is formed by the onset of emergency operation and / or by the commencement of driving operation of the motor vehicle 5.

[0049] Here, and preferably, the reference capacitor 13 is discharged via the reset circuit 24. The reset circuit 24 is controlled, for example, via the control unit 17. Resetting ensures, for example, that the comparison is made with an actual, previously stored signal level.

[0050] According to a further teaching, a motor vehicle locking system 2 is proposed, comprising an electric drive 3 with an electric drive motor 6 and a proposed control unit 17. Preferably, the motor vehicle locking system 2 can have at least one interrogation element 8 connected to the signal input 7. Reference may be made to all statements regarding the proposed control arrangement 1.

[0051] Furthermore, it is preferably provided here that the motor vehicle locking system 2 has a motor vehicle lock 25 with a lock latch 26 and at least one pawl 27 and that the drive 3 is designed to adjust the at least one pawl 27 into an opening state in which the at least one pawl 27 releases the lock latch 26 when controlled by the control unit 17.

[0052] The motor vehicle lock 25 is shown in Fig. 1 in a partially disassembled perspective view and is equipped with a pivoting lock latch 26 for the holding engagement with a locking part (not shown) and at least one pawl 27 associated with the lock latch 26. The locking part can be a striker, a locking bolt, or the like. For example, the motor vehicle lock 25 is arranged on the locking element 4, while the locking part is arranged fixedly to the body of the motor vehicle 5.

[0053] The at least one pawl 27 forms a pawl system and can be brought into a locked state (not shown), in which the pawl system holds the lock latch 26 in a closed position. Furthermore, the pawl system can be motor-driven into an open state by means of the electric drive 3, whereby the pawl system releases the lock latch 26. For this purpose, the drive motor 6 of the drive 3 is connected to the pawl system via a drive train 28.

[0054] In addition to or instead of the locking function of the motor vehicle lock 25 explained in more detail here, the motor vehicle locking system 2 can also have a drive arrangement for motor-driven adjustment of an aforementioned locking element 4 of the motor vehicle 5, wherein the drive arrangement serves for motor-driven adjustment, in particular opening and / or closing, of the locking element 4. Further examples of locking functions include motor-driven adjustment of control elements as well as interior and exterior elements of the motor vehicle 5, such as fan elements, interior mirrors, side mirrors 29, lighting, or the like.

[0055] According to a further teaching, a method is proposed for operating a motor vehicle locking system 2, comprising an electric drive 3 with an electric drive motor 6 for providing a motorized locking function for an adjustable closure element 4 of the motor vehicle 5 and a control arrangement 1 for controlling the drive 3, wherein the control arrangement 1 has a signal input 7 for detecting the operating event, which is connected to at least one interrogation element 8 of the motor vehicle 5, wherein the signal level of the signal input 7 is continuously stored by means of the control arrangement 1, wherein an operating event is deemed to be detected if a comparison of the current signal level at the signal input 7 with a signal level stored previously in time exceeds a predetermined deviation, and wherein the drive 3 of the motor vehicle locking system 2 is controlled by means of the control arrangement 1 upon detection of an operating event.

[0056] Reference may be made to all statements relating to the proposed control arrangement 1 and the proposed motor vehicle locking system 2.

Claims

Patent claims 1. Control arrangement for operating a motor vehicle locking system (2), wherein the control arrangement (1) is designed to control an electric drive (3) of the motor vehicle locking system (2) upon detection of an operating event in order to provide a motorized closing function for an adjustable locking element (4) of the motor vehicle (5), wherein the control arrangement (1) for detecting the operating event has a signal input (7) which is provided for connection to at least one interrogation element (8) of the motor vehicle (5), characterized in that the control arrangement (1) continuously stores the signal level of the signal input (7) and that the operating event is deemed to be detected if a comparison of the current signal level at the signal input (7) with a signal level stored previously exceeds a predetermined deviation.

2. Control arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the control arrangement (1) has a memory circuit (12) which is designed to continuously store the signal level of the signal input (7) and to output a comparison of the current signal level with that of a temporally preceding, stored signal level.

3. Control arrangement according to claim 2, characterized in that the memory circuit (12) has a reference capacitor (13) for storing the signal level and a comparator (15) for comparing the current signal level with the signal level stored via the reference capacitor (13).

4. Control arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control arrangement (1) has a control unit (17), in particular a microcontroller, for controlling the drive (3), and that the control arrangement (1) activates the control unit (17) upon detection of the operating event.

5. Control arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control arrangement (1) has an emergency supply (20) with an electrical energy store (21), which provides an electrical emergency supply voltage in emergency operation, preferably that the emergency supply (20) has as energy store (21) at least one capacitor and a boost converter (22) connected downstream of the capacitor, which is designed to boost a capacitor voltage of the capacitor, and that the control arrangement (1) activates the boost converter (22) when the operating event is detected.

6. Control arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control arrangement (1) carries out a cyclical query of the at least one query element (8), preferably in that the control arrangement (1) cyclically applies a supply voltage to the at least one query element (8), in particular for the query via a pull-up resistor.

7. Control arrangement according to claim 6, characterized in that the operating event is considered to be detected if the signal level at the signal input (7) in the current cycle exceeds the predetermined deviation from the signal level stored for the previous cycle.

8. Control arrangement according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the control arrangement (1) has a filter (23) for suppressing a switch-on phase of the comparison of the current signal level to the previously stored signal level for the respective cycle.

9. Control arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control arrangement (1) is designed to assign the operating event to at least one of the plurality of interrogation elements (8) via a resistance coding of a plurality of interrogation elements (8) provided for connection to the signal input (7).

10. Control arrangement according to one of claims 2 to 9, characterized in that the memory circuit (12) has a reset circuit (24), which resets the storage of the previously stored signal level upon a reset event, preferably that the reset event is formed by the onset of emergency operation and / or by the commencement of ferry operation of the motor vehicle (5).

11. Motor vehicle locking system comprising an electric drive (3) with an electric drive motor (6) and a control unit (17) according to one of the preceding claims.

12. Motor vehicle locking system according to claim 11, characterized in that the motor vehicle locking system (2) has a motor vehicle lock (25) with a lock latch (26) and at least one pawl (27) and that the drive (3) is designed to adjust the at least one pawl (27) into an opening state in which the at least one pawl (27) releases the lock latch (26) when controlled by means of the control unit (17).

13. A method for operating a motor vehicle locking system (2), comprising an electric drive (3) with an electric drive motor (6) for providing a motorized locking function for an adjustable locking element (4) of the motor vehicle (5), and a control arrangement (1) for controlling the drive (3), wherein the control arrangement (1) has a signal input (7) for detecting the operating event, which signal input is connected to at least one interrogation element (8) of the motor vehicle (5), wherein the signal level of the signal input (7) is continuously stored by means of the control arrangement (1), wherein an operating event is deemed to be detected if a comparison of the current signal level at the signal input (7) with a signal level stored previously in time exceeds a predetermined deviation, and wherein the drive (3) of the motor vehicle locking system (2) is controlled by means of the control arrangement (1) upon detection of an operating event.

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