Electronic door actuation assembly

Abstract

The invention relates to an electronic door actuation assembly (1) for a vehicle (2), comprising a load circuit (3), a control circuit (4), an emergency energy source (5), and a buffer storage device (6), wherein the emergency energy source (5) is galvanically conductively connected to the load circuit (3) and the control circuit (4), the emergency energy source (5) and the buffer storage device (6) can be charged with a main supply energy provided by a main energy source (10) in a normal operating state of the vehicle (2) such that in the event of an unavailability of the main supply energy, an emergency supply energy is provided by means of the emergency energy source (5) in an auxiliary operating state, and the control circuit (4) is connected to the load circuit (3) so as to transmit signals such that the load circuit (3) can be actuated in response to a signal of the control circuit (4). The buffer storage device (6) is galvanically conductively connected between the emergency energy source (5) and the load circuit (3), and the buffer storage device (6) is designed to stabilize a voltage supply for the load circuit (3) during the actuation process. In this way, an improved energy supply for an electronic door actuation assembly in emergency situations is provided.

Description

[0001] Electronic door operating arrangement

[0002] The invention relates to an electronic door actuation arrangement for a vehicle comprising a load circuit, a control circuit and an emergency power source, wherein the emergency power source is galvanically connected to the load circuit and the control circuit, the emergency power source can be charged during normal operation of the vehicle with main supply energy provided via a main power source, so that in the event of unavailability of the main supply energy, emergency supply energy is provided by means of the emergency power source during an auxiliary operation, the control circuit is connected to the load circuit for signal transmission, so that the load circuit can be actuated upon a signal from the control circuit.

[0003] Electrically actuated door locks, door openers, and door closers are increasingly being installed in vehicles to facilitate opening, closing, and unlocking / locking the vehicle's doors and tailgate. The electrically actuated door lock, often also called an eLatch, is electrically unlocked and locked. The electrically actuated door opener, also called a presenter, is also electrically operated and serves to open the door. The electrically actuated door closer closes the opened door. Often, the electrically actuated door opener, the electrically actuated door closer, and the electrically actuated door lock are integrated into a single component. Opening and closing the door can be accomplished in various ways. For example, there are doors that swing open and close. However, there are also doors that are pushed or pulled in one direction. Such sliding doors can be found, for example, in...equipped with an automatic system to implement an electrically actuated sliding door. In this context, electrically actuated door locks, electrically actuated door openers, and electrically actuated door closers are subsumed under the term "electronic door operating arrangement".

[0004] To ensure that an electronic door operating system, such as an electrically actuated door lock without mechanical actuation, can still be operated in the event of a power failure caused by an emergency situation, e.g., after a crash or prolonged parking, emergency or auxiliary power sources such as accumulators or supercapacitors are integrated into the relevant components. These can provide emergency power for a certain period of time to guarantee the electrical opening of a lock even after a failure of a primary vehicle power source, such as the vehicle battery, caused by the emergency situation.

[0005] If the system needs to draw power from the emergency power source, this source will continuously discharge, losing energy and consequently voltage. Energy consumption depends on the loads being powered.

[0006] When a high-consumption device is switched on, such as an electric motor that triggers an opening process, a large amount of energy is drawn for a brief period of tens to hundreds of milliseconds, resulting in a high current flow. A side effect is that, depending on the internal resistance of the emergency power source, the voltage of the auxiliary power supplied by the source also drops. The voltage drop depends on the current flowing and the internal resistance of the emergency power source. The higher the internal resistance and the higher the current, the greater the voltage drop.

[0007] The opening process itself consumes only a few joules of energy, which the storage device can easily supply; however, the energy is drawn in such a short time that the voltage drop caused by the high current flow is considerable. If this voltage drop causes the voltage in a control unit of the electronic door operating device to fall below the minimum voltage required for its operation, the control unit can no longer trigger the opening process. The problem, therefore, is that short, large energy draws cause the voltage to drop below the minimum voltage, which can, for example, lead to a failure of the vehicle's emergency release.

[0008] Based on this, the object of the present invention is to provide an improved energy supply for an electronic door actuation arrangement in emergency situations.

[0009] This problem is solved by the subject matter of the independent claims. Preferred embodiments of the invention are described in the dependent claims.

[0010] According to the invention, an electronic door actuation arrangement for a vehicle is provided, comprising a load circuit, a control circuit, an emergency power source, and a buffer storage device, wherein the emergency power source is galvanically connected to the load circuit and the control circuit, the emergency power source and the buffer storage device can be charged with main supply energy provided via a main power source during normal operation of the vehicle, so that in the event of unavailability of the main supply energy, emergency supply energy is provided by means of the emergency power source during an auxiliary operation, the control circuit is connected to the load circuit for signal transmission, so that the load circuit can be actuated upon a signal from the control circuit, wherein the buffer storage device is galvanically connected between the emergency power source and the load circuit.and the buffer storage is designed to stabilize the voltage supply of the load circuit during actuation.

[0011] Under normal operating conditions, the load circuit of the electronic door control system is powered by the vehicle's main power source. In the event of a failure or unavailability of the main power supply, the emergency power source provides the backup power required to operate the electronic door control system. Since current spikes occur during the actuation of the electronic door control system's load circuit, which can lead to a collapse of the emergency power supply, a buffer is connected between the emergency power source and the load circuit. Current spikes refer to high current flows through a load.

[0012] According to the invention, the buffer storage device stabilizes the voltage supply in the load circuit. In the context of the invention, "stabilized" means that voltage dips in the emergency power supply provided by the emergency power source are prevented, so that, in particular, the control circuit can continue to actuate the load circuit. In the load circuit, the buffer storage device is a component that temporarily stores electrical energy. The buffer storage device serves to stabilize the power supply of the load circuit and, consequently, also the power supply of the control circuit. Time differences between the provision of the emergency power supply and its consumption in the load circuit are compensated for or dampened by the buffer storage device.

[0013] In this context, a buffer storage system is understood to be an energy storage device that supports the emergency power supply provided by the emergency power source in the auxiliary operating state in such a way as to ensure the activation of the load circuit. With the buffer storage system, the provision of emergency power is therefore more stable than without it. By placing the buffer storage system between the emergency power source and the load circuit, it is ensured, in particular, that the control circuit is supplied with voltage from the emergency power source.

[0014] Actuating the load circuit means that a load within the load circuit, such as an electromechanical actuator, an electric motor, or an actuator, is activated. The load circuit primarily serves to supply this actuator and / or electric motor with electrical energy, so that upon receiving a corresponding signal from the control circuit, the actuator, electric motor, or actuator is activated. The control circuit is an electronic circuit for controlling or regulating other electronic components or circuits. The present control circuit is used to actuate the load circuit and to monitor the state of the main power source.

[0015] In auxiliary operation mode, when the load circuit is activated in response to a trigger from the control circuit, the load circuit is initially supplied with energy from the buffer storage. If the buffer storage is depleted, the emergency power supply from the emergency power source is provided.

[0016] The essential aspect of the invention is that current peaks occurring at the beginning of the activation of the load circuit can be effectively absorbed by the buffer storage, thus ensuring a sufficient voltage supply to the control circuit and stabilizing the voltage of the load circuit and, consequently, the emergency supply energy of the electronic door actuation arrangement itself.

[0017] In principle, the buffer storage device can be designed to stabilize the voltage supply at different voltages. However, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the buffer storage device is designed to maintain the voltage of the emergency power source above a predetermined limit when the load circuit is activated.

[0018] In principle, various limit values ​​are conceivable. However, in this context, a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention provides that the limit value corresponds to a minimum supply voltage of the control circuit. The predetermined limit value is thus determined by the voltage necessary to keep the control circuit functioning. In this way, the energy supply to the control circuit is ensured, since the buffer storage is adequately dimensioned and connected to the load circuit.

[0019] The minimum supply voltage of the control circuit is the voltage that is necessary to supply the control circuit with sufficient energy.

[0020] The buffer storage can be connected to the load circuit in various ways. However, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the galvanically conductive connection of the emergency power source with the intermediate buffer storage and the load circuit is galvanically isolated from the galvanically conductive connection of the emergency power source with the control circuit.

[0021] This ensures that the energy provided by the buffer storage is exclusively available to the load circuit during auxiliary operation. Simultaneously, this relieves the emergency power source to such an extent that the voltage supply to the control circuit is also guaranteed. The current peaks that occur when the load circuit is actuated by the control circuit are absorbed by the buffer storage, thus stabilizing the voltage of the electronic door actuation assembly. "Galvanically isolated" in this context means that there is no galvanically conductive connection between the emergency power source and the load circuit, and thus between the control circuit and the load circuit. Both the load circuit and the control circuit are supplied separately by the emergency power source. The buffer storage's connection to the load circuit's voltage supply acts like a low-pass filter in terms of signal processing.The size of the buffer storage depends on the time to be bridged during the voltage dip or on the consumers in the load circuit.

[0022] In principle, the buffer storage device can be designed in various ways. However, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the buffer storage device is provided to be an accumulator, a capacitor, or an inductor.

[0023] The capacitor can store electrical charge and release it when needed. If the emergency power supply experiences a brief voltage dip due to current spikes in the load circuit, the capacitor acts as a buffer to temporarily supply the missing energy and stabilize the voltage supply to the load circuit.

[0024] The accumulator or rechargeable battery can draw energy from the main power source or the emergency power source and store it. If the emergency power supply experiences a brief voltage drop due to current spikes in the load circuit, the missing energy is temporarily supplied via the accumulator as a buffer storage device to stabilize the load circuit's voltage supply.

[0025] Inductors can also be used as buffer storage devices by storing electromagnetic energy in a magnetic field. Inductors are passive electronic components consisting of a coil of wire that can generate magnetic energy when an electric current flows through it. This magnetic energy is stored in the magnetic field that forms around the coil. In the case of the voltage dip mentioned above, caused by current spikes in the load circuit, the missing energy is briefly supplied via the inductor to stabilize the voltage supply of the load circuit.

[0026] In principle, both the load circuit and the control circuit can be configured in various ways or comprise different electronic devices. However, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the load circuit has at least one actuator and the control circuit has at least one control unit, and the control unit is configured to actuate the actuator in the load circuit.

[0027] The actuator is preferably an electric motor, which is actuated by the main power source in normal operation and by the emergency power supply in auxiliary operation, thus enabling it to release a door lock, operate a door handle, or open or close a door. For this purpose, the actuator is positively connected to a mechanism within the door lock, door opener, or door closer, which then releases the mechanism upon action of the actuator.

[0028] The control unit in the control circuit is connected to the actuator via a signal path, enabling the control unit to trigger the actuator's operation. This control unit preferably requires a minimum voltage of 3.3 V to remain operational. According to the invention, the buffer memory stabilizes the voltage in such a way that this limit of 3.3 V is not undershot, ensuring the control unit remains operational even when current spikes occur during actuator operation.

[0029] The buffer storage device can be arranged in various ways between the load circuit and the emergency power supply. However, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the buffer storage device is arranged within the load circuit. In this context, according to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the buffer storage device is directly galvanically connected to the actuator. This results, on the one hand, in a more compact design of the electronic door actuation device itself, and on the other hand, enables the electronic door actuation device to be manufactured in a modular design. The load circuit can be modularly designed with a buffer storage device corresponding to the actuator, so that it generally only needs to have one interface each for the actuation signal and the power supply.In the context of the invention, the term corresponding buffer storage means that the buffer storage is adapted to the current peaks occurring in the actuator used and provides an energy density corresponding to the duration of the current peaks.

[0030] Similarly, the immediate proximity of the buffer storage device to the actuator enables a particularly advantageous transmission path for the energy provided by the buffer storage device. Due to the short transmission path between the buffer storage device and the actuator, fewer power losses occur, and the buffer storage device itself provides the energy more efficiently. In principle, it is possible to design the electronic door actuation arrangement with a buffer storage device. However, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the electronic door actuation arrangement is provided with a further buffer storage device, wherein the further buffer storage device is galvanically connected between the emergency power source and the control circuit. In this way, the voltage supply of the control circuit, in particular the control unit, is further stabilized.If both the load circuit and the control circuit are equipped with a buffer storage device, the activation of the load circuit is ensured even while the control circuit is simultaneously supplied with voltage or power. This also makes it possible to dimension each buffer storage device smaller, and therefore more cost-effectively. The power supply to the control circuit, especially the control unit, is always guaranteed by the additional buffer storage device. Similar to the buffer storage device of the load circuit, the additional buffer storage device provides a separate power supply for the control circuit for the duration of current peaks.

[0031] In principle, various emergency power sources can be used. However, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the emergency power source is a supercapacitor array. Supercapacitors are particularly suitable for use as emergency power sources due to their increased energy density. Supercapacitors have a double layer at the interface between the electrodes and the electrolyte. This enables fast and efficient charging and discharging. The electrodes of a supercapacitor often consist of porous materials with a large surface area to ensure high capacitance. The invention also relates to the use of the electronic door actuation arrangement, as described above, on a vehicle door.

[0032] The invention further relates to a vehicle with the electronic door actuation arrangement described above, and the main power source, wherein the main power source is galvanically connected to the emergency power source, and the control circuit for signal transmission is connected to the main power source, so that the control circuit can detect a failure of the main power supply.

[0033] The invention further comprises a method for operating an electronic door actuation arrangement of a vehicle, wherein the electronic door actuation arrangement has a load circuit, a control circuit, an emergency power source and a buffer storage device, wherein the emergency power source is galvanically connected to the load circuit and the control circuit, wherein the emergency power source and the buffer storage device can be charged with main supply energy provided via a main power source during normal operation of the vehicle, so that in the event of unavailability of the main supply energy, emergency supply energy is provided by means of the emergency power source during an auxiliary operating state, and the control circuit is connected to the load circuit for signal transmission, so that the load circuit can be actuated upon a signal from the control circuit.wherein the buffer storage is galvanically connected between the emergency power source and the load circuit, comprising the following step: stabilizing a voltage supply in the load circuit with the buffer storage immediately when the load circuit is actuated in response to a signal from the control circuit.

[0034] In principle, the buffer storage device can stabilize the voltage supply in various operating states. However, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the step of stabilizing a voltage supply in the load circuit with the buffer storage device is carried out exclusively in the auxiliary operating state.

[0035] The invention is described in more detail below with reference to the drawings and preferred embodiments.

[0036] The drawings show

[0037] Fig. 1 schematically shows an electronic door actuation arrangement according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

[0038] Fig. 2 schematically shows an electronic door actuation arrangement according to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, and

[0039] Fig. 3 shows a vehicle with the electronic door actuation arrangement according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

[0040] Figure 1 shows an electronic door actuation arrangement 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. The electronic door actuation arrangement 1 has an emergency power source 5 and a control circuit 4 with a control unit 14, which is galvanically connected to the emergency power source 5. Furthermore, the emergency power source

[0041] 5 with an intermediate buffer storage device 6, which in this case is designed as an inductor, is galvanically connected to a load circuit 3 having an actuator 12. The emergency power source 5 itself is a supercapacitor group, which is galvanically connected to a main power source 10, corresponding to a battery of a vehicle 2 shown in Fig. 3. The electronic door actuation arrangement 1 is in the form of an electrically actuated door lock and is installed in a door 16 of the vehicle 2.

[0042] The emergency power supplied by emergency power source 5 in an auxiliary operating state is provided separately to load circuit 3 and control circuit 4. The galvanically conductive connection from emergency power source 5 to load circuit 3 via buffer storage 6 is galvanically isolated from the galvanically conductive connection from emergency power source 5 to control circuit 4.

[0043] The load circuit 3 includes an actuator 12, which is designed to actuate an unspecified mechanism of the door lock and is positively connected to it. Actuation of the actuator activates the mechanism accordingly, and the door lock is released. A control unit 14, located in the control circuit 4, is connected to both the actuator 12 and the main power source 10 for signal transmission. In normal operating conditions, the control unit triggers the actuator 12, causing it to open or close the door lock. The control unit 14 and the actuator 12 are supplied with power from the main power source.If the main power source fails, for example in an accident situation, the control unit 14 registers the failure, and the emergency power source 5 takes over the power supply to the control circuit 4 and the load circuit 3 with the emergency power supply in the auxiliary operating state. Upon a release request registered by the control unit 14, the load circuit 3 is activated, or the actuator 12 is actuated. Although this process consumes only a few joules of energy overall, it is triggered so quickly that the voltage drop caused by the high current flow, a current spike, is considerable. The effect of this current spike, in the form of the voltage drop, is dampened by the buffer capacitor 6, so that the overall power supply of the load circuit 3 is stabilized, and consequently, the power supply of the electronic door actuation arrangement 1 is also stabilized.The power supply to the control unit 14 in the control circuit 4 is ensured.

[0044] Finally, Fig. 2 shows an electronic door actuation arrangement 1 according to a further preferred embodiment. The electronic door actuation arrangement 1 shown in this figure has similar features to the electronic door actuation arrangement 1 of Fig. 1, but is provided with an additional buffer memory 8, which is interposed between the emergency power source 5 and the control circuit 4. This ultimately results in an even higher reliability of the electronic door actuation arrangement 1. List of reference numerals

[0045] 1 electronic door operating arrangement

[0046] 2 Vehicle 3 Load circuit

[0047] 4 Control circuit

[0048] 5 Emergency power source

[0049] 6 buffer storage tanks

[0050] 8 additional buffer storage 10 main energy source

[0051] 12 Actuator

[0052] 14 Control unit

Claims

Patent claims 1. Electronic door control arrangement (1) for a vehicle (2) comprising a load circuit (3), a control circuit (4), an emergency power source (5) and a buffer storage device (6), wherein the emergency power source (5) is galvanically connected to the load circuit (3) and the control circuit (4), the emergency power source (5) and the buffer storage device (6) are chargeable during a normal operating state of the vehicle (2) with a main supply energy provided via a main power source (10), so that in the event of an unavailability of the main supply energy, an emergency supply energy is provided by means of the emergency power source (5) during an auxiliary operating state, the control circuit (4) is connected to the load circuit (3) for signal transmission, so that the load circuit (3) can be actuated upon a signal from the control circuit (4), wherein the buffer storage (6) is galvanically connected between the emergency power source (5) and the load circuit (3), and the buffer storage (6) is designed to stabilize a voltage supply of the load circuit (3) during actuation.

2. Electronic door actuation arrangement (1) according to claim 1, wherein the buffer storage (6) is configured to maintain a voltage of the emergency power source (5) above a predetermined limit value when the load circuit (3) is actuated.

3. Electronic door actuation arrangement (1) according to claim 2, wherein the limit value corresponds to a minimum supply voltage of the control circuit (4).

4. Electronic door actuation arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the galvanically conductive connection of the emergency power source (5) with the intermediate buffer storage (6) and the load circuit (3) is galvanically isolated from the galvanically conductive connection of the emergency power source (5) with the control circuit (4) .

5. Electronic door actuation arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the buffer storage (6) is an accumulator or a capacitor or an inductor.

6. Electronic door actuation arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the load circuit (3) has at least one actuator (12) and the control circuit (4) has at least one control unit (14), and the control unit (14) is configured to actuate the actuator (12) in the load circuit (3).

7. Electronic door actuation arrangement (1) according to claim 6, wherein the buffer storage (6) is arranged in the load circuit (3).

8. Electronic door actuation arrangement (1) according to claim 7, wherein the buffer storage (6) is directly galvanically connected to the actuator (12).

9. Electronic door actuation arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims with a further buffer storage device (8) , wherein the further buffer storage device (8) is galvanically conductive between the emergency power source (5) and the control circuit (4) are connected.

10. Electronic door actuation arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the emergency power source (5) is a supercapacitor group.

11. Use of the electronic door actuation arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims on a door (16) of the vehicle (2).

12. Vehicle (2) with the electronic door actuation arrangement (1) according to one of claims 1 to 10, and the main power source (10) , wherein the main power source (10) is galvanically connected to the emergency power source (5), and the control circuit (4) for signal transmission is connected to the main power source (10) so that the control circuit (4) can detect a failure of the main power supply .

13. Method for operating an electronic door actuation arrangement (1) of a vehicle (2), wherein the electronic door actuation arrangement (1) comprises a load circuit (3), a control circuit (4), an emergency power source (5) and a buffer storage device (6), wherein the emergency power source (5) is galvanically connected to the load circuit (3) and the control circuit (4), the emergency power source (5) and the buffer storage device (6) are rechargeable during a normal operating state of the vehicle (2) with a main supply energy provided via a main power source (10), so that in the event of a failure Availability of the main power supply, an emergency power supply is provided by means of the emergency power source (5) during an auxiliary operating state, the control circuit (4) is connected to the load circuit (3) for signal transmission, so that the load circuit (3) can be actuated in response to a signal from the control circuit (4), wherein the buffer storage (6) is galvanically connected between the emergency power source (5) and the load circuit (3), comprising the following step: Stabilizing a voltage supply in the load circuit (3) with the buffer storage (6) immediately when the load circuit (3) is activated in response to a signal from the control circuit (4).

14. Method according to the preceding claim, wherein the step of stabilizing a voltage supply in the load circuit (3) with the buffer storage (6) is carried out exclusively in the auxiliary operating state.

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