Actuation device for an access system of a vehicle, for actuating a movable part of the vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to an actuation device (1) for an access system of a vehicle, for actuating a movable part (2) of the vehicle, in particular in the form of a door or a hinged panel of the vehicle, comprising: - a housing (20) made of a non-conductive material, - at least one sensor arrangement (4) arranged inside the housing (20), wherein the housing (20) has at least one actuation region (3) which is at least partially made of a conductive material by means of an injection moulding method, wherein the actuation region (3) interacts with the sensor arrangement in order to detect an actuation by a user.

Description

[0001] Actuating device for an access system of a vehicle, for actuating a movable part of the vehicle.

[0002] Description

[0003] The invention relates to an actuating device for an access system of a vehicle, for actuating a movable part of the vehicle, in particular in the form of a door or a hatch of the vehicle, having the features specified in the preamble of claim 1. Furthermore, the invention relates to an exterior door handle with such an actuating device.

[0004] It is known from the prior art that actuating devices in the form of exterior door handles of vehicles are used to activate an electric lock of the vehicle. The electric lock is, for example, an electrically controlled door lock. The unlocking of the lock can be triggered, for example, by an ID transmitter (identification transmitter), which transmits a code to a security system of the vehicle for authentication, for example. It may also be possible for the activation of the electric lock, such as waking up the ID transmitter and / or unlocking or opening of the lock, to only occur upon or after the operator or an operator's hand approaches the door and / or when the operator exerts force on a door handle body of the exterior door handle during or after authentication has taken place. The approach or application of force is detected by sensors in the exterior door handle.It has proven disadvantageous that detection by the sensors is often prone to errors and / or malfunctions. For example, capacitive sensors can be used to detect approach, but external influences such as moisture or rain often lead to inaccurate detection. The detection sensitivity may also be insufficient, which correspondingly reduces the operator's comfort when activating the electric lock. Furthermore, the arrangement of the corresponding sensors can only be inadequately adapted to a given design of the door handle body.

[0005] Inductive sensors are known as a sensor arrangement with an alternative detection concept and are increasingly being used in automotive engineering and vehicle door handles. Such inductive sensors typically rely on detecting the movement of a conductive, particularly metallic, object. These inductive sensors are highly sensitive and precise with regard to such movements. Therefore, metallic components are often arranged in the door handle, which are moved by user intervention relative to a sensor, which, for example, has an induction coil. These movements can be extremely small, for example, the deformation of the door handle due to mechanical tension.

[0006] Currently, more and more electronics are being installed in the cavity of the vehicle door handle, although the installation space in the cavity of the vehicle door handle is limited.

[0007] The invention is based on the object of creating a solution which makes optimal use of the space available for an actuating device and at the same time minimises the device expenditure.

[0008] The object of the invention is achieved by the characterizing part of patent claim 1. Further features and details of the invention emerge from the subclaims, the description, and the drawings.

[0009] According to the invention, the housing has a wall, wherein the wall has at least one actuation region which is formed at least partially from a conductive material by means of an injection molding process, wherein the actuation region interacts with the sensor arrangement to detect an actuation by a user. The essential advantage of this actuation device according to the invention is that no separate target element, such as a metallic foil, is required for the sensor arrangement, which must be secured to the wall of the housing. Furthermore, the assembly of the actuation device is shortened by the integration of the target in the housing. Furthermore, the implementation of the target through injection molding is better amenable to automation, which leads to reproducible results with fewer errors during assembly.

[0010] Advantageously, the sensor arrangement can comprise an inductive sensor, with the actuation area serving as a target for the inductive sensor. The inductive sensor serves to detect at least one change in inductance with respect to a target. This normally requires various components and / or circuits, which in the case of the inductive sensor are combined on a chip or in an integrated circuit. The inductive sensor is designed, for example, to simultaneously measure the impedance and the resonant frequency of an LC pivoting circuit. In this case, the sensor arrangement is preferably insensitive to external influences such as moisture or contamination in the area of ​​the door handle body. Consequently, false detection due to influences such as rain, which lead to interference with, for example, capacitive sensors, can be reliably avoided.Incorrect detection due to external influences which cause force to be exerted on the door handle body can be avoided, for example, by only having a partial area of ​​the door handle body as the actuation area and by using corresponding threshold values ​​which are specific to the respective activation action. The inductive sensor also has the advantage that it is very sensitive to deformations and can therefore be used to detect the activation action very quickly and reliably. The sensor arrangement has, for example, a resolution of less than one micrometre with, for example, a bit depth for quantising the measured inductance values ​​of at least 16 bits or at least 24 bits. It is also conceivable that at least two or at least three or at least four sensor devices are arranged within the door handle body, i.e. in an interior space of the door handle body, which, for example,are arranged distributed along the inside of the door handle body. The sensors can be arranged on at least one circuit board and / or electrically connected to a (control electronics) in the interior of the door handle body. The electronics of the outside door handle can, for example, be arranged together with the sensor on the circuit board. The inductive sensor is preferably arranged on the side of the circuit board facing the actuation area. Additional electronics can be arranged on the same or the opposite side. The sensor arrangement can, for example, have at least one integrated circuit and / or at least one microprocessor and / or at least one coil and / or at least one non-volatile data memory. The sensors can, for example, each be assigned to different actuation areas of the door handle body. This allows one or more activation actions in different areas of the door handle body to be reliably detected.

[0011] The design is very cost-effective and simple if the actuating area contains conductive particles, particularly in the form of carbon black, graphite, carbon nanotubes, graphene, silver, copper, nickel, tin, aluminum, and stainless steel. These materials have been shown to improve the triggering of the sensor array.

[0012] A measure improving the invention provides that the housing forms a door handle body. This further minimizes the device complexity.

[0013] It can further be provided that the door handle body is stationary and, in particular, can be attached immovably to the vehicle, in particular to a movable part of the vehicle. As a stationary exterior door handle, the exterior door handle preferably has no movable individual parts, such as buttons or the like, which could be used, for example, to detect the application of force. The term "movable" is to be distinguished from "deformable," whereby, in particular, the deformation, in contrast to the movement of the movable individual parts, occurs monolithically and / or as a change in length and / or on the one-piece component, in particular the wall. In contrast, with buttons, for example, a relative movement occurs between separate individual parts. In particular, the deformation is therefore detected based on the activation action by the sensor arrangement.The term "fixed exterior door handle" refers in particular to the fact that the exterior door handle with the door handle body cannot be deflected or pivoted relative to the movable part, in particular a door and / or tailgate. In this case, the application of force to activate the electric lock, or the activation action, only needs to be exerted in a portion of the door handle body designed as the actuation area, and not the entire door handle body needs to be moved relative to the movable part. This has the advantage that a very comfortable and secure opening of the movable part and / or activation of the lock can be achieved.

[0014] A measure improving the invention provides that at least one first actuation region is provided on the side of the door handle body facing the vehicle, and at least one second actuation region is provided on the side of the door handle body facing away from the vehicle. A first actuation region can be designed to absorb a tensile load of a first activation action, and a second actuation region can be designed to absorb a compressive load of a second activation action. The first actuation region can preferably be assigned to the first activation action and the second actuation region to the second activation action. In this case, the first activation action is assigned, for example, a first function, such as unlocking or opening the electric lock, and the second activation action is assigned a second function, such as locking or closing the lock.This provides the advantage of allowing flexible operation of the outside door handle.

[0015] It can further be provided that a first sensor device and a second sensor device are provided within the door handle body, wherein in particular the first sensor device is designed to measure inductance in the first actuation region and the second sensor device is designed to measure inductance in the second actuation region. Here too, the first sensor arrangement can be assigned to a first activation action with a first function, and the second sensor arrangement can be assigned to a second activation action with a second function. The first activation action comprises, for example, a tensile load and the second activation action comprises, for example, a compressive load on the door handle body. The first activation action preferably takes place in the first deformation region and the second activation action preferably takes place in the second deformation region. The first and second sensor devices can, for example,be electrically connected to one another or be designed independently and / or galvanically isolated from one another. Alternatively or additionally, it is conceivable that the second sensor arrangement or a further sensor arrangement is designed to assume the function of the first sensor arrangement upon the occurrence of a fault in the first sensor arrangement and to monitor the first activation means in the first deformation region. This can ensure improved reliability.

[0016] A measure improving the invention provides that at least one bearing point of the actuating device is provided, at which in particular the door handle body is mounted on the vehicle, and preferably the mounting of the sensor device takes place at the mounting point. For example, a first mounting point and a second mounting point are provided in order to mount the outside door handle, in particular the door handle body, on the vehicle. The mounting of the sensor arrangement preferably takes place on the mounting of the outside door handle, in particular the door handle body, i.e. in the region of the mounting points of the outside door handle. In this case, it is particularly possible for the sensor mounting point to be provided at the mounting point and / or to be arranged identically to the mounting point.

[0017] Conveniently, at least the mounting point of the actuating device can be designed as a fixed bearing. In other words, the sensor mounting point and / or the mounting point, in particular, provide fixed bearing points that substantially or completely prevent all translational movements of the mounted body (i.e., e.g., the sensor device or the outside door handle or door handle body). This results in a highly reliable mounting that is independent of movements in the actuating area and is supported by the outer wall of the actuating device in the outside door handle.

[0018] A measure improving the invention provides that the sensor arrangement is arranged on a circuit board, wherein a communication module is provided on the circuit board, which communicates according to an NFC standard and / or BLE standard and / or UWB standard. The actuation area is arranged offset from the communication module in such a way that communication takes place without interference. This prevents the communication from being shielded by the conductive actuation area.

[0019] The present invention also relates to an outside door handle for operating a movable part of the vehicle, in particular in the form of a door or a hatch of the vehicle, comprising at least one actuating device according to the invention, wherein the actuating device is arranged in the cavity of the outside door handle. Thus, an outside door handle according to the invention offers the same advantages as those explained in detail with regard to the actuating device according to the invention.

[0020] The construction is very cost-effective and simple if the outside door handle is designed as a fixed outside door handle and can be attached immovably to the vehicle, in particular to a movable part of the vehicle.

[0021] A measure improving the invention provides that the outside door handle has an outside door handle wall, wherein the outside door handle wall interacts with the actuating area in such a way that an opening signal or locking signal for a lock can be triggered by the deformation of the outside door handle wall with a force F. It is understood that the features mentioned above and those to be explained below can be used not only in the respective combination specified, but also in other combinations or on their own, without departing from the scope of the present invention. The scope of the invention is defined only by the claims.

[0022] Further details, features, and advantages of the subject matter of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the figures, which illustrate exemplary preferred embodiments of the invention. The figures show:

[0023] Fig. 1a is a front view of an actuating device according to the invention,

[0024] Fig. 1 shows a schematic sectional view (according to the section plane BB in Figure 1a) of an actuating device according to the invention, Fig. 2 shows further schematic sectional views of an actuating device according to the invention, Fig. 3 shows further schematic sectional views of an actuating device (module) according to the invention, Fig. 4 shows further schematic sectional views of an actuating device (module) according to the invention,

[0025] Figure 1a shows the front view of an actuating device for an access system of a vehicle, for actuating a movable part 2 of the vehicle, in particular in the form of a door or a flap of the vehicle.

[0026] Figure 1 shows the actuating device 1 according to the invention in the present exemplary embodiment, which is designed as an outside door handle 1. The outside door handle has an elongated portion that is essentially straight or at least slightly curved. A leg extends on each side of the elongated portion, via which the outside door handle 1 is attached to the door panel at a distance from the door panel, forming a handle recess for engaging a hand.

[0027] The outside door handle 1 according to the invention is designed as a fixed outside door handle 1. The outside door handle 1 has a door handle body with a wall 22, wherein, according to Figure 1a, a part of the wall 22 facing away from the vehicle is shown in order to be able to view an outer side 20.1 of the door handle body 20. The wall 22, i.e. both a vehicle-side part of the wall 22 and the part of the wall 22 facing away from the vehicle, which can be seen, for example, in Figure 1, forms an (at least partially closed) interior space (cavity) 20.3. The outside door handle 1 shown can be fastened and / or mounted detachably or non-detachably, in particular movable or immovable, to a movable part 1 of the vehicle by means of a fastening device 80, in particular in the region of a first bearing point 81a and / or a second bearing point 81b.

[0028] On the vehicle-facing inner side 20.2 of the wall 22, an actuation region 3 is provided, which is formed at least partially from a conductive material by means of an injection molding process. The actuation region 3 interacts with a sensor arrangement 4 arranged in the interior 20.3 of the door handle body 20 to detect a user's actuation, which can be monitored by the sensor arrangement 4. The actuation region 3 comprises conductive particles, in particular in the form of soot, graphite, carbon nanotubes, graphene, silver, copper, nickel, tin, aluminum, and stainless steel. Sandwich injection molding, for example, can be used as an injection molding process.

[0029] Figure 1 shows a sectional view (according to the sectional plane BB in Figure 1a) of an actuating device 1 according to the invention. Furthermore, the fastening device 80 with corresponding bearing means at bearing points 81 can be seen, which can, for example, be inserted into a respective receptacle of the movable part 2. The outside door handle 1 shown in Figure 2 is mounted immovably on the movable part 2 and is thus designed as a fixed outside door handle 1. At least one or two or all of the bearing means of the fastening device 80 at the at least one bearing point 81a, 81b can be designed as a fixed bearing. The at least one bearing point 81a, 81b thus forms a fixed bearing point.

[0030] Furthermore, Figure 1 shows that the mounting of the sensor assembly 4 in the interior space 20.3 of the door handle body 20 is preferably designed independently of the actuating area 3 and / or the wall 22. For example, the sensor assembly 4 can be attached to the wall 22 in such a way that any deformation or movement in the actuating area 3 does not (essentially or in the same way) affect the position of the sensor assembly 4.

[0031] Additionally or simultaneously, the exertion of force, i.e., the activation action, in the actuation area 3 can be detected by the sensor arrangement 4. It is conceivable, for example, that this triggers the activation of a function of the vehicle 3, e.g., opening or locking / unlocking of the electric lock. Figure 2 shows a sectional view through the section plane B-B indicated in Figure 1a. It can be seen that the actuation area 3 forms a closed surface on the outside, on the outside 20.1 of the door handle body 20, and on the inside, on the inside 20.2. Thus, the actuation area 3 is not visible to the operator from the outside.

[0032] The sensor device 30 is arranged at a distance from the actuating area 3. Furthermore, it can be provided that the sensor arrangement 4 is arranged on a circuit board 5 and / or is electrically connected to further electronics (possibly on the same circuit board 5). The sensor arrangement 4 is fastened to a circuit board 5 and serves to hold the sensor arrangement 4 on the door handle body 20, so that a deformation of the actuating area 3 due to an activation action essentially does not affect the position of the sensor arrangement 4 in the interior 20.3. In other words, the deformation has a significant and specific effect on the distance between the sensor arrangement 4 and the actuating area 3, whereby the degree of deformation can be measured based on the distance and / or the change in inductance.

[0033] According to Figure 2, the actuating device 1 can be provided with an external actuating region 3 on at least one outer side 20.1 of a wall 22 of a door handle body 20 of the outside door handle 1 according to the invention. This has the advantage that the actuating region 3, at which in particular an activation action is carried out by an operator, is recognizable for the operator. At this actuating region 3, for example, a force can be exerted on the wall 22, which causes a deformation of the wall 22 in the actuating region 3 and a reduction in the distance between the actuating region 3 and the sensor arrangement 4. According to Figure 3, both a first actuating region 3 and a second actuating region 3a, which is designed to be conductive, can be provided.

[0034] Both actuating areas 3, 3a are formed at least partially from a conductive material using an injection molding process. The actuating areas 3, 3a comprise conductive particles, particularly in the form of carbon black, graphite, carbon nanotubes, graphene, silver, copper, nickel, tin, aluminum, and stainless steel.

[0035] In the area of ​​the first actuation area 3, for example, a first activation action can be carried out by the operator 5, and in the second actuation area 3a, a second activation action can be carried out, each of which activates different functions of the vehicle 3. For example, a tensile load from the first actuation action can cause the electric lock 2 to open, and a compressive load in the second actuation area 3a can cause the electric lock 2 to close, due to the second activation action. Accordingly, a first sensor arrangement 4 for monitoring the first actuation area 3 and a second sensor arrangement 4a for monitoring the second actuation area 3 are also provided. Furthermore, a capacitive sensor (not shown) can also be provided to detect further actions by the operator. This can, for example,An operator's approach can be detected to activate additional functions of the vehicle or a vehicle's security system. The security system of a vehicle detects the approach of an operator 5 by a capacitive sensor. A wake-up signal can then be sent to an ID transmitter to initiate an authentication process. It can be provided that an electric lock can only be opened by the activation action, which is detected by a sensor arrangement 4, after successful authentication.

[0036] Figure 3 shows a schematic sectional view of an actuating device 1 according to the invention. This is designed as a individually handleable module intended for arrangement in an outside door handle 40. The module has a housing 20. The housing 20 has a wall 22, wherein the wall 22 comprises an outer side 20.1 and an inner side 20.2. The outer side 20.1 and the inner side 20.2 form an (at least partially closed) interior space (cavity) 20.3.

[0037] Electronics are arranged in the cavity 20.3 of the housing. The electronics can be embedded in a potting compound 7. The electronics further comprises a circuit board 5 with a sensor arrangement 4 arranged thereon in the form of an inductive sensor, a communication module 60, and evaluation electronics. The sensor arrangement 4 is arranged on a circuit board 5, with a communication module 60 provided on the circuit board 5, which communicates according to an NFC standard and / or BLE standard and / or UWB standard. These interfaces are used for communication with an ID transmitter or a smartphone. The actuation area 3 is arranged offset from the communication module 60 in such a way that communication takes place without interference.

[0038] Figure 4 shows a schematic sectional view of an actuating device 1 (module) according to the invention. A module according to Figure 3 can be seen, which is arranged in the cavity 20.3 of an outside door handle 40. The cavity 20.3 is formed by the outside door handle wall 41, which comprises an inner side 20.2 and an outer side 20.1. The outside door handle wall (41) interacts with the actuating area (3) in such a way that an opening signal or locking signal for a lock can be triggered by the deformation of the outside door handle wall with a force F.

[0039] The illustrated exterior door handle 40 can be releasably or permanently, in particular movable or immovable, fastened and / or mounted to a movable part 1 of the vehicle by a fastening device 80, in particular in the region of a first mounting point 81a and / or a second mounting point 81b. The illustrated exterior door handle 40 is immovably mounted on the movable part 2 and is thus designed as a fixed exterior door handle 40. At least one or two or all of the mounting means of the fastening device 80 at the at least one mounting point 81a, 81b can be designed as fixed bearings. The at least one mounting point 81 thus forms a fixed bearing point. The inner side 20.2 and / or an outer side 20.1 can have a plunger that interacts with the actuating area 3. By applying a force F to the inner side 20.2 and / or an outer side 20.1, a deformation occurs, which triggers an opening signal or a closing signal in the actuating device 1 via the plunger. The signals are transmitted to an internal vehicle control unit.

[0040] An arrangement of at least one actuation area 3 with the complementary sensor arrangements 4, both on the outer side 20.1 and on the inner side 20.1 according to Figure 2, can be used in all embodiments. The offset arrangement of the sensor arrangement 4 relative to the communication module 60 can also be implemented in all embodiments. To protect against moisture, the electronics in the cavity 20.3 can be used with potting compound 7 in all embodiments.

[0041] The invention described above is, of course, not limited to the described and illustrated embodiments. It is clear that numerous modifications to the embodiments illustrated in the figure may be made according to the intended application, without thereby departing from the scope of the invention. The invention encompasses everything contained in the description and / or illustrated in the drawings, including anything that deviates from the specific embodiments and is obvious to the person skilled in the art. List of reference symbols

[0042] Actuating device movable part of the vehicle, in particular in the form of a door or a flap

[0043] Operating area a second operating area

[0044] Sensor arrangement

[0045] circuit board

[0046] control unit

[0047] Casting compound 0 Door handle body / housing 0.1 Outside 0.2 Inside 0.3 Interior (cavity) 2 Wall 0 Vehicle flaps 0 Outside door handle 1 Outside door handle wall 2 Tappet 0 Communication module 0 Fastening device 1a First bearing point 1b Second bearing point

Claims

Patent claims 1 . Actuating device (1) for an access system of a vehicle, for actuating a movable part (2) of the vehicle, in particular in the form of a door or a flap of the vehicle, comprising: - a housing (20) made of a non-conductive material, - at least one sensor arrangement (4) arranged within the housing (20), characterized in that the housing (20) has a wall (20), wherein the wall (20) has at least one actuation region (3) which is formed at least partially from a conductive material by means of an injection molding process, wherein the actuation region (3) cooperates with the sensor arrangement (4) in order to detect an actuation of a user.

2. Actuating device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the sensor arrangement (4) has an inductive sensor, wherein the actuating region (3) serves as a target for the inductive sensor.

3. Actuating device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the actuating region (3) comprises conductive particles, in particular in the form of soot, graphite, carbon nanotubes, graphene; silver, copper, nickel, tin, aluminum, and stainless steel.

4. Actuating device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (20) forms a door handle body.

5. Actuating device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the door handle body (20) is designed to be stationary and, in particular, can be attached immovably to the vehicle, in particular to a movable part (2) of the vehicle.

6. Actuating device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one first actuating area (3) is provided on the side of the door handle body facing the vehicle, and at least one second actuating area (3a) is provided on the side of the door handle body facing away from the vehicle.

7. Actuating device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a first sensor arrangement (4) and a second sensor arrangement (4a) are provided within the door handle body (20), wherein in particular the first sensor arrangement (4) is designed to measure inductance at the first actuating area (3) and the second sensor arrangement (4a) is designed to measure inductance at the second actuating area (3a).

8. Actuating device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one mounting point (81a,b) of the actuating device (1) is provided, at which in particular the door handle body (20) is mounted on the vehicle, and preferably the mounting of the sensor arrangement (3,3a) takes place at the mounting point (81a,b).

9. Actuating device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least the bearing point (81a,b) of the actuating device (1) is designed as a fixed bearing.

10. Actuating device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sensor arrangement (4) is arranged on a circuit board (5), wherein a communication module (60) is provided on the circuit board (5), which communicates according to an NFC standard and / or BLE standard and / or UWB standard, wherein the actuating area (3) is arranged offset from the communication module (60) in such a way that communication takes place without interference.

11. Outside door handle (40) for actuating a movable part (2) of the vehicle, in particular in the form of a door or a flap of the vehicle, comprising at least one actuating device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the actuating device (1) is arranged in the cavity (20.3) of the outside door handle (40).

12. Outside door handle (40) according to claim 11, characterized in that the outside door handle is designed as a fixed outside door handle (40) and can be attached in particular immovably to the vehicle, in particular to a movable part (2) of the vehicle.

13. Outside door handle (40) according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the outside door handle has an outside door handle wall (41), wherein the outside door handle wall (41) interacts with the actuating area (3) in such a way that a signal for a vehicle function, in particular in the form of a Opening signal or locking signal for a lock, which can be triggered by the deformation of the outside door handle wall with a force F.

Images