Method for operating a motor vehicle closing system

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for operating a motor vehicle closing system (1), wherein the motor vehicle closing system (1) comprises a drive (2) and a control assembly (4) for actuating the drive (2), in order to provide a motorized closing function for an adjustable closure element (5) of the motor vehicle (6). It is proposed that the drive (2) is operated by means of the control assembly (4) in normal operation from a normal supply voltage of the motor vehicle (6) which lies in a predefined normal supply voltage range, that the drive (2) is operated by means of the control assembly (4) in emergency operation from an emergency supply voltage of an emergency supply with an energy store (10), and that the energy supply voltage lies below the normal supply voltage range.

Description

[0001] Method for operating a motor vehicle locking system

[0002] The present invention relates to a method for operating a motor vehicle locking system according to the preamble of claim 1, a control arrangement for operating a motor vehicle locking system according to the preamble of claim 9 and a motor vehicle locking system according to claim 10.

[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 prior art (DE 10 2020 102 775 A1) discloses a method for operating a motor vehicle locking system with a motor vehicle lock that has 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] To meet the requirements for the safety of the power supply of such motor vehicle locksmiths, a rechargeable energy storage device with a capacitor is provided, which ensures the electrical power supply of the motor vehicle locking system via an emergency supply voltage even in emergency operation, in particular in the event of a failure of the normal supply voltage. A challenge is that the energy storage voltage provided by the energy storage device for emergency operation can depend on the design of the energy storage device and its state of charge. The known prior art (DE 10 2020 102 775 A1) proposes the use of boost stages, with which even a comparatively low energy storage voltage can be boosted to an emergency supply voltage that corresponds to the normal supply voltage.

[0006] The invention is based on the problem of designing and developing the known method in such a way that the emergency supply of the motor vehicle locking system is further simplified.

[0007] The above problem is solved by the features of claim 1.

[0008] The fundamental consideration is to design the drive's power supply in such a way that it can be controlled with different supply voltages. In this case, increasing the energy storage voltage during emergency operation is not absolutely necessary or can be done to a comparatively low emergency supply voltage.

[0009] In detail, it is proposed that the drive is operated by means of the control arrangement in normal operation from a normal supply voltage of the motor vehicle which lies in a predetermined normal supply voltage range, that the drive is operated by means of the control arrangement in emergency operation from an emergency supply voltage of an emergency supply with an energy store, and that the emergency supply voltage lies below the normal supply voltage range.

[0010] Preferred voltage values ​​of the normal supply voltage and emergency supply voltage are specified in claim 2.

[0011] In the particularly preferred embodiments according to claims 3 and 4, the drive is operated via pulse width modulation (PWM) during normal operation. By modifying the PWM control, in particular via continuous control, the function of the drive in emergency operation can be largely adapted to normal operation, even given the lower emergency supply voltage.

[0012] Claim 5 relates to the use of at least one capacitor in the energy storage device, thereby providing a high power density for the motor vehicle locking system.

[0013] The emergency supply voltage can correspond directly to the energy storage voltage (claim 6), which, as already mentioned, eliminates the need for a boost converter, allowing the emergency supply to be implemented cost-effectively. Claim 7, however, further concerns the use of a boost converter, which, however, can be simplified and improved in terms of efficiency due to the low selected emergency supply voltage.

[0014] According to a further teaching according to claim 9, which has independent significance, a control arrangement for operating a motor vehicle locking system is claimed. It is essential that the control arrangement operates the drive in normal operation from a standard supply voltage of the motor vehicle that lies within a predetermined standard supply voltage range, that the control arrangement operates the drive in emergency operation from an emergency supply voltage of an emergency supply with an energy storage device, and that the emergency supply voltage lies below the standard supply voltage range. Reference is made to all explanations of the proposed method.

[0015] According to a further teaching according to claim 10, which also has independent significance, a motor vehicle locking system is claimed, comprising a drive and a control arrangement for controlling the drive. The motor vehicle locking system is configured to implement the proposed method. In particular, the motor vehicle locking system has a proposed control arrangement. Reference is made to all statements regarding the proposed method and the proposed control arrangement.

[0016] In the preferred embodiment according to claim 11, a motor vehicle lock is further provided for the locking element of the motor vehicle, wherein the electric drive is provided for the motorized lifting of the locking pawl of the motor vehicle lock. The proposed solution can take into account the special security requirements of motor vehicle locksmiths.

[0017] In the following, the invention is explained in more detail with reference to a drawing which merely represents exemplary embodiments. In the drawing,

[0018] Fig. 1 a motor vehicle door with a motor vehicle locking system and a motor vehicle lock in respective perspective representation and

[0019] Fig. 2 is a schematic representation of the control arrangement with an energy storage device.

[0020] The invention relates to a method for operating a motor vehicle locking system 1. The motor vehicle locking system 1 has a drive 2 with an electric drive motor 3 and a control arrangement 4 for controlling the drive 2 in order to provide a motorized locking function for an adjustable locking element 5 of the motor vehicle 6.

[0021] The term "drive motor" herein encompasses all types of electric actuators, in particular rotary and linear actuators. Preferably, the drive motor 3 is a rotary electric motor, which is further preferably configured as a brushed DC motor or a brushless DC motor.

[0022] A motorized locking function is understood to mean that the adjustable locking element 5 of the motor vehicle 6 is adjusted, opened or closed, and / or locked or unlocked directly or indirectly by a movement generated by the electric drive 2. Regarding the design of the locking element 5, reference is made to the introductory explanations, whereby Fig. 1 illustrates the functionality of the motor vehicle locking system 1 for a locking element 5 designed as a side door. However, all explanations also apply to all other types of locking elements of the motor vehicle 6.

[0023] The control arrangement 4 preferably comprises control electronics for implementing the control tasks associated with the motorized locking functions. As shown in Fig. 2, the control arrangement 4 is preferably equipped with a driver unit 7 for controlling the electric drive motor 3. The control arrangement 4 further monitors the presence of an operating event, which is transmitted, for example, as an operating signal from an actuating element such as a door handle 8. Upon receipt of an operating signal, the control arrangement 4 can trigger the drive 2.

[0024] It is now essential that the drive 2 is operated by means of the control arrangement 4 in normal operation from a normal supply voltage of the motor vehicle 6, which lies within a predetermined normal supply voltage range.

[0025] The standard supply voltage used during normal operation and supplied to the drive 2 is preferably an on-board electrical system voltage of the motor vehicle 6, which is provided in an on-board electrical system 9 by the central battery of the motor vehicle 6. The central battery is preferably the battery that provides the electrical energy required for starting the motor vehicle 6 and / or for driving the motor vehicle 6. The standard supply voltage range is defined by a permissible voltage range around the nominal voltage of the on-board electrical system 9.

[0026] It is also essential that the drive 2 is operated by means of the control arrangement 4 in emergency operation from an emergency supply voltage of an emergency supply with an energy storage device 10, and that the emergency supply voltage is below the normal supply voltage range. Preferably, the control arrangement 4 has an electrical, rechargeable energy storage device 10, wherein the emergency supply voltage is provided by the energy storage device 10 in emergency operation. Emergency operation occurs in particular in the event of a failure of the on-board electrical system 9, a crash, or the like, wherein the normal supply voltage is not reliably available. In emergency operation, the emergency supply voltage can be used to supply electrical energy to not only the drive 2 but also to other parts of the control arrangement 4. The control arrangement 4 preferably has a charging circuit 11, for example having a charging controller, for charging the energy storage device 10.

[0027] In this case, the approach of using the energy storage device 10 in emergency operation to provide an emergency supply voltage within the normal supply voltage range, thus making the energy supply comparable to normal operation in terms of voltage level, is abandoned. Instead, a lower emergency supply voltage is deliberately used in emergency operation compared to normal operation.

[0028] Preferably, the emergency supply voltage is at most 75%, particularly preferably at most 50% of a nominal voltage of the on-board electrical system 9 of the motor vehicle 6. In particular, the amount of the emergency supply voltage is selected to be at least 1 V and preferably at least 3 V lower than the lower limit of the normal supply voltage range.

[0029] In a preferred embodiment, the normal supply voltage range is specified from 9 V to 16 V. The nominal voltage of the vehicle electrical system 9 can correspond to 12 V. Preferably, the emergency supply voltage is at most 8 V, in particular at most 5 V.

[0030] The above voltage values ​​can be adjusted accordingly if the nominal voltage of the on-board electrical system 9 differs from 12 V. Examples of other nominal voltages for on-board electrical systems 9 of motor vehicles are 24 V and 48 V. It is particularly preferably provided that the drive 2 is controlled by means of the control arrangement 4 during normal operation via pulse width modulation. The PWM control can, for example, take place according to a control specification during an adjustment process of the motor-driven closing function, wherein the duty cycle is predetermined, for example. Likewise, a control of the adjustment process, for example to a desired speed, can be implemented via the PWM control, wherein the duty cycle is predetermined by the control system. The duty cycle of the PWM control can lie within a predetermined duty cycle range.

[0031] The drive 2 can also be controlled by the control arrangement 4 in emergency mode via pulse width modulation, the duty cycle of which is above the duty cycle range at least for a certain period of time. This means that during control, there is at least one period of time in which the duty cycle in emergency mode is above the duty cycle in normal operation.

[0032] Preferably, the drive 2 is controlled in emergency operation such that the effective value of the electrical power corresponds to the effective value (also in view of the reduced voltage) of the electrical power in normal operation.

[0033] In a particularly preferred embodiment, it is provided that the drive 2 is controlled by the control arrangement 4 during normal operation via pulse width modulation and that the drive 2 is controlled continuously by the control arrangement 4 during emergency operation, at least for certain time periods. This means that during control there is at least one time period in which continuous control is carried out in emergency operation and in which pulsed control is provided in normal operation. Preferably, in emergency operation, the drive 2 is predominantly, more preferably completely, controlled continuously during the adjustment process. Continuous control can also be implemented via PWM control with a duty cycle of 100%.

[0034] As shown in the figures, the energy storage device 10 has at least one capacitor 12, preferably a double-layer capacitor. The emergency supply voltage is generally provided based on the capacitor voltage of the at least one capacitor 12. A double-layer capacitor has an electrochemical double layer, also known as a "Helmholtz layer." Such a double-layer capacitor is also referred to as a "supercapacitor," "supercap," "ultracap," or the like. In addition to the at least one capacitor 12, the energy storage device 10 can have further storage elements, such as primary and / or secondary cells.

[0035] When using multiple capacitors 12, the capacitors 12 can generally be connected in series and / or in parallel. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the energy storage device 10 has a single capacitor 12, in particular a single double-layer capacitor.

[0036] Furthermore, it is preferably provided here that the emergency supply voltage corresponds to an energy storage voltage of the energy storage device 10. The energy storage voltage is therefore used as the emergency supply voltage for the drive 2 without significant influence via other electronic components. Particularly preferably, at least two series-connected double-layer capacitors are provided, whereby, in particular at a respective nominal voltage of approximately 2.7 V, the aforementioned emergency supply voltages are provided directly by the entire capacitor voltage of the series-connected double-layer capacitors. When using at least three, in particular at least four series-connected double-layer capacitors, a sufficient emergency supply voltage can even be provided even when the energy storage device 10 is partially discharged.

[0037] In a further embodiment, the emergency supply has a boost converter 13 connected downstream of the energy storage device 10, which is designed to boost the energy storage voltage of the energy storage device 10 to the emergency supply voltage. A boost converter 13 is used in particular in an embodiment of the energy storage device 10 with a small number of capacitors 12, in particular with a single capacitor 12. The boost converter 13 is optionally shown in Fig. 2. Possible embodiments of the method according to the invention relate to the use of an energy storage device 10, on the one hand, with a boost converter 13 and, on the other hand, without a boost converter 13. However, a combined embodiment is also conceivable, wherein, in particular depending on the magnitude of the energy storage voltage, the emergency supply voltage is provided with or without the use of the boost converter 13.The emergency supply voltage can correspond to the energy storage voltage until, for example, due to progressive discharging of the energy storage device 10, the energy storage voltage falls below a minimum value, whereupon the boost converter 13 is used.

[0038] Furthermore, it is preferably provided here that the control arrangement 4 has a control unit 14, preferably a microcontroller, for controlling the drive 2 and that a supply voltage of the control unit 14 in emergency operation corresponds to the energy storage voltage of the energy storage device 10.

[0039] As shown in Fig. 2, the control unit 14 controls the driver unit 7 and further monitors the presence of an operating event, which is transmitted, for example, as an operating signal from an actuating element such as the door handle 8. The control unit 14 can, for example, also perform the control depending on a locking state stored in the control unit 14, such as theft-proof, locked, unlocked, or the like. The energy storage voltage can be used to supply the control unit 14, wherein, in particular, a boost converter 13 is activated solely to control the drive 2.

[0040] According to a further teaching, a control arrangement 4 for operating a motor vehicle locking system 1 is proposed, wherein the control arrangement 4 is configured to control a drive 2 of the motor vehicle locking system 1 in order to provide a motorized locking function for an adjustable closure element 5 of the motor vehicle 6. Provision is made for the control arrangement 4 to operate the drive 2 in normal operation from a standard supply voltage of the motor vehicle 6, which lies within a predetermined standard supply voltage range, for the control arrangement 4 to operate the drive 2 in emergency operation from an emergency supply voltage of an emergency supply with an energy storage device 10, and for the emergency supply voltage to lie below the standard supply voltage range. Reference may be made to all explanations of the proposed method.

[0041] According to a further teaching, a motor vehicle locking system 1 is proposed, comprising a drive 2 and a control arrangement 4 for controlling the drive 2, the motor vehicle locking system 1 being configured to implement the proposed method. Reference is made to all statements regarding the proposed method and the proposed control arrangement 4.

[0042] Furthermore, it is preferably provided here that a motor vehicle lock 15 is provided for the locking element 5 of the motor vehicle 6, that the motor vehicle lock 15 is equipped with a lock latch 16 for the holding engagement with a locking part and a pawl 17 assigned to the lock latch 16, and that the drive 2 is provided for the motorized lifting of the pawl 17. Particularly preferably, the proposed control arrangement 4 is integrated into a housing 18 of the motor vehicle lock 15.

[0043] The motor vehicle lock 15 is shown in Fig. 1 in a partially disassembled perspective view and is equipped with a pivoting lock latch 16 for the holding engagement with a locking part (not shown) and at least one pawl 17 associated with the lock latch 16. The locking part can be a striker, a locking bolt, or the like. For example, the motor vehicle lock 15 is arranged on the locking element 5, while the locking part is arranged fixedly to the body of the motor vehicle 6.

[0044] The at least one pawl 17 forms a pawl system and can be brought into a locked state (not shown), in which the pawl system holds the lock latch 16 in a closed position. Furthermore, the pawl system can be motor-driven into an open state by means of the electric drive 2, whereby the pawl system releases the lock latch 16. For this purpose, the drive motor 3 is connected to the pawl system via a drive train 19 of the drive 2.

[0045] As an alternative to the previously mentioned integration of the control arrangement 4 into the motor vehicle lock 15, it is also conceivable for the control arrangement 4 to be part of a separate control unit 20 for the motor vehicle lock 15. Examples of such a control unit 20 are a flap control unit and a door control unit, which can also perform further electronic functions in the locking element 5.

[0046] In addition to or instead of the locking function of the motor vehicle lock 15 explained in more detail here, the motor vehicle locking system 1 can also have a drive arrangement for motor-driven adjustment of an aforementioned locking element 5 of the motor vehicle 6, wherein the drive arrangement serves for motor-driven adjustment, in particular opening and / or closing, of the locking element 5. Further examples of locking functions include motor-driven adjustment of control elements as well as interior and exterior elements of the motor vehicle 6, such as fan elements, interior mirrors, side mirrors, lighting, or the like.

Claims

Patent claims 1. Method for operating a motor vehicle locking system (1), wherein the motor vehicle locking system (1) has a drive (2) and a control arrangement (4) for controlling the drive (2) in order to provide a motorized closing function for an adjustable closure element (5) of the motor vehicle (6), characterized in that the drive (2) is operated by means of the control arrangement (4) in normal operation from a normal supply voltage of the motor vehicle (6) which lies in a predetermined normal supply voltage range, that the drive (2) is operated by means of the control arrangement (4) in emergency operation from an emergency supply voltage of an emergency supply with an energy store (10), and that the emergency supply voltage lies below the normal supply voltage range.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the normal supply voltage range is predetermined from 9 V to 16 V, preferably that the emergency supply voltage is at most 8 V, in particular at most 5 V.

3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the drive (2) is controlled by means of the control arrangement (4) in normal operation via a pulse width modulation whose duty cycle lies in a predetermined duty cycle range, and in that the drive (2) is controlled by means of the control arrangement (4) in emergency operation via a pulse width modulation whose duty cycle in the control lies at least in time segments above the duty cycle range.

4. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drive (2) is controlled by means of the control arrangement (4) in normal operation via a pulse width modulation and that the drive (2) is controlled continuously at least in time segments by means of the control arrangement (4) in emergency operation.

5. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the energy storage device (10) has at least one capacitor (12), preferably a double-layer capacitor, and that the emergency supply voltage is provided on the basis of the capacitor voltage of the at least one capacitor (12), preferably that a plurality of capacitors (12) connected in series and / or in series or a single capacitor (12) are provided.

6. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the emergency supply voltage corresponds to an energy storage voltage of the energy storage device (10).

7. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the emergency supply has a boost converter (13) connected downstream of the energy storage device (10), which is designed to boost the energy storage voltage of the energy storage device (10) to the emergency supply voltage.

8. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control arrangement (4) has a control unit (14), preferably a microcontroller, for controlling the drive (2) and that a supply voltage of the control unit (14) in emergency operation corresponds to the energy storage voltage of the energy storage device (10).

9. Control arrangement for operating a motor vehicle locking system (1), wherein the control arrangement (4) is designed to control a drive (2) of the motor vehicle locking system (1) in order to provide a motorized closing function for an adjustable closure element (5) of the motor vehicle (6), characterized in that the control arrangement (4) operates the drive (2) in normal operation from a normal supply voltage of the motor vehicle (6), which lies in a predetermined normal supply voltage range, that the control arrangement (4) operates the drive (2) in emergency operation from an emergency supply voltage of an emergency supply with an energy storage (10) and that the emergency supply voltage is below the normal supply voltage range.

10. Motor vehicle locking system comprising a drive (2) and a control arrangement (4) for controlling the drive (2), the motor vehicle locking system (1) being configured to carry out the method according to one of claims 1 to 8.

11. Motor vehicle locking system according to claim 10, characterized in that a motor vehicle lock (15) is provided for the locking element (5) of the motor vehicle (6), that the motor vehicle lock (15) is equipped with a lock latch (16) for the holding engagement with a locking part and a pawl (17) assigned to the lock latch (16), and that the drive (2) is provided for the motorized lifting of the pawl (17).

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