Motor vehicle door handle

Abstract

The invention relates to a motor vehicle door handle (1) for actuating a movable part of a motor vehicle (100), in particular in the form of a door (2) or a flap of the motor vehicle (100), having: - a base section (3); - a gripping section (4) which extends at an angle from the base section (3); - a fastening section (5); - a support component (6), wherein the support component (6) extends over the base section (3), the gripping section (4) and the fastening section (5); - a housing (7), wherein the housing (7) extends over the base section (3) and the gripping section (4); - an electronic unit (8), wherein the support component has, in the region of the gripping section, a receiving trough (9) for the electronics unit (8), said receiving trough (9) being formed in a single piece with the support component.

Description

[0001] Velbert, November 27, 2024

[0002] Huf Hülsbeck & Fürst GmbH & Co. KG Steeger Straße 17 42551 Velbert

[0003] car door handle

[0004] Description

[0005] The invention relates to a motor vehicle door handle for actuating a movable part of a motor vehicle, in particular in the form of a door or a flap of the vehicle, with the features from the preamble of claim 1.

[0006] Vehicle door handles are known from the prior art which are attached to the vehicle on one side and have a shape projecting from the vehicle with an angled free end. The free end can be angled upwards or downwards. DE102022115888A1 discloses a vehicle door handle of this shape.

[0007] This particular shape presents two problems. The one-sided mounting means the car door handle is more prone to deformation under high forces, such as those required in emergency situations. Furthermore, the design offers little space for integrating electronic components.

[0008] It is therefore an object of the present invention to overcome at least one of the disadvantages described above, at least partially. In particular, it is an object of the invention to provide a motor vehicle door handle that has high stability and also incorporates electrical components. In particular, it is an object of the invention to provide a simple design that uses fewer components in order to offer a cost-effective solution.

[0009] The problem is solved by a motor vehicle door handle according to claim 1. Further features and details of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims, the description and the drawings.

[0010] The invention provides a motor vehicle door handle for operating a movable part of a motor vehicle, in particular in the form of a door or a flap of the vehicle, which makes it possible to integrate an electronic unit into a small installation space given by the shape described above while maintaining high stability.

[0011] This is achieved by the support component having a receiving tray in which the electronic unit is positioned. The receiving tray is formed as a single unit with the support component. This reduces the number of components required and simultaneously increases stability, as the support component extends over the base section, the gripping section, and the mounting section. By integrating the receiving tray into the support component, no additional components or complex geometries are required, which would otherwise reduce stability. The gripping section projects at an angle from the base section, specifically at an angle of 70 to 110 degrees, preferably at an angle between 80 and 100 degrees.

[0012] Advantageously, the electronic unit is completely or partially encapsulated within the mounting tray using a potting compound. Within the scope of the invention, the potting serves two essential purposes. Firstly, the potting protects the electronic unit from external influences. Secondly, it improves the mechanical stability of the vehicle door handle by stiffening the supporting component. This is important because high mechanical forces act on the supporting component when the vehicle door handle is operated. By increasing the stiffness, plastic deformation during operation can be avoided. Thus, the potting compound fulfills both a protective and a stiffening function.

[0013] The electronic unit preferably comprises at least one sensor and / or one switch to trigger a vehicle function. This vehicle function can, in particular, be the actuation of an electric vehicle door lock. By actuating the sensor or the switch, the vehicle door lock can be opened, and the user is able to move the door into its open position by pulling the vehicle door handle according to the invention. It is also conceivable that the door is moved into the open position by an electric drive after the sensor or switch has been actuated.

[0014] The use of a sensor or switch has the advantage that the vehicle function is triggered by an active action of the user at the vehicle door handle, thus preventing unintentional activation. In a preferred design, the sensor and / or switch can be a microswitch. This allows for simple and cost-effective activation by the user. Furthermore, by selecting a suitable switch, it is possible to provide tactile feedback to the user, so they can recognize that the switch has been activated.

[0015] In another preferred embodiment, sensors capable of detecting minute deformations are used to trigger the vehicle function. These sensors are capacitive and / or inductive. The capacitive sensors are the previously known Metal over Cap (MoC) sensors. Like inductive sensors, this type of sensor detects the approach of a metal object to the sensor surface. This approach can be very slight, thus minimizing the required operating force and ensuring user-friendly triggering.

[0016] Furthermore, another aspect of the invention provides that the electronic unit additionally includes components for communication, in particular for near-field communication or proximity detection. NFC, BLE, and / or UWB technologies, among others, can be used for communication. This allows, for example, a key query that unlocks the vehicle door lock after successful authorization.

[0017] To initiate such a query, proximity detection components, particularly capacitive proximity sensors, may be present in the electronic unit. These detect the user's approach to the vehicle door handle and then, for example, initiate the key query. Proximity detection can also be used to prevent false triggering by the sensor and / or switch when the door lock is opened.

[0018] The additional components of the electronic unit described above increase the comfort and security of the system by preventing false triggering and ensuring automatic unlocking of the lock after successful authorization.

[0019] Within the scope of the invention, it is conceivable that the receiving tray has an opening for the cables of the electronic unit, the opening being sealed with a gasket. This makes it possible to route the cables out of the tray and connect them to an associated control unit and / or a power source outside the vehicle door handle. The opening is closed with a gasket to prevent the potting compound from leaking out during potting. Due to the limited installation space, it is necessary to arrange as many electronic components as possible, such as the control unit or the communication evaluation unit, outside the vehicle door handle; this is made possible by connecting the electronic unit via cables.

[0020] Advantageously, the supporting component is made of a high-strength material, in particular fiber-reinforced plastic. This increases the mechanical stability of the entire vehicle door handle.

[0021] An additional increase in stability can also be achieved through reinforcing ribs in the base section and / or the gripping section.

[0022] Furthermore, it is advantageous if the supporting component has fastening means in the fastening area, such as screw points, in order to be attached to a door or flap, especially in the area of ​​shaft sealing.

[0023] In an advantageous embodiment, an actuating element is arranged on the receiving tray, the actuating element consisting in particular of a soft component and a hard component. By arranging the actuating element on the receiving tray, the underlying switch and / or sensor can be actuated in a controlled manner. The combination of soft and hard components allows the actuating element to approach the switch and / or sensor. The hard component forms the actuating surface and is surrounded by the soft component. The soft component enables the actuating element to approach the switch and / or sensor. Depending on the required proximity to the sensor, it is conceivable that the soft component is also responsible for returning the actuating element to its initial position.

[0024] In the case of a MoC or inductive sensor, a metallic object, such as a sheet or foil, is advantageously located on the inside of the actuating surface, or the actuating surface itself may contain metallic particles, with the sensor then detecting the approach as an actuation. When using a sheet, it can be attached to the actuating element using domes; after positioning, the sheet is permanently fixed by hot stapling. This method ensures a permanent and consistent position of the sheet.

[0025] Another aspect of the invention is that the described actuating element is attached to the edge of the receiving tray by means of laser welding or bonding. This attachment seals the interior containing the electronic unit and protects it from environmental influences.

[0026] Additionally, it is conceivable that at least one return element, particularly made of foam, is arranged between the electronic unit and the actuating element. This return element ensures that the actuating element is forced back into its initial position after actuation; this is particularly useful in the case of larger deformations.

[0027] This function can be implemented cost-effectively and easily by using foam.

[0028] In another aspect of the invention, the actuating element is arranged in an opening of one of the housing halves, advantageously in the housing half facing away from the user.

[0029] This allows for haptic differentiation between the housing and the actuating element, indicating to the user where to operate the handle to trigger the vehicle function. The actuating element can vary in material, structure, and appearance. For example, it can have a textured surface or be translucent to emit light from a lighting unit mounted on the electronics and illuminate the area between the vehicle door handle and the door.

[0030] Further advantages, features, and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are described in detail with reference to the drawings. The drawings may be used to illustrate these embodiments.

[0031] The features mentioned in the claims and description may each be essential to the invention, either individually or in any combination. This demonstrates:

[0032] Fig 1 shows a motor vehicle with a motor vehicle door handle according to the invention;

[0033] Fig 2 shows a movable part of a motor vehicle with a motor vehicle door handle according to the invention;

[0034] Fig 3 shows a motor vehicle door handle according to a first embodiment;

[0035] Fig 4 shows the support component of the motor vehicle door handle of Figure 3;

[0036] Fig 5 Components of the motor vehicle door handle of Figure 3 with the housing and actuating element removed;

[0037] Fig 6 Components of the motor vehicle door handle of Figure 3 with the housing removed;

[0038] Figures 1 and 2 show a vehicle door handle 1 according to the invention on a vehicle 100, more precisely on the upper part of a vehicle door 2. Figure 2 shows that the vehicle door handle 1 is arranged in the area of ​​the door panel cover and thus integrates well into the overall design. Figure 3 shows the vehicle door handle 1 according to a first embodiment. It consists, among other things, of a support component 6, a housing 7, and an actuating element 12. The actuating element 12 is located on the side facing the vehicle and is arranged in an opening in one of the, in particular, two housing halves. Figure 3 shows the angled shape typical of the vehicle door handle 1 according to the invention.

[0039] The shape of the vehicle door handle 1 is determined, among other things, by the shape of the support component 6. Figure 4 shows the three different sections. In this embodiment, the base section 3 is provided with reinforcing ribs 11. Extending from it on one side are the gripping section 4, which has a receiving recess 9, and on the other side, a mounting section 5, which has fastening means 13 in the form of screw points. The gripping section 4 and the mounting section 5 project at an angle from the base section 3. Figure 5 shows the support component described above, with an electronic unit 8 now located within the receiving recess 9. In this embodiment, the electronic unit comprises a microswitch 10, which is mounted on a circuit board. The electronic unit is connected via cables that are guided through an opening. As shown in Figure 5, this opening is sealed by a gasket 9.1. Closed.

[0040] Figure 6 shows that the receiving tray 9 is covered and closed by an actuating element 12. As can be seen, the actuating element of the exemplary embodiment consists of a soft component 12.1 and a hard component 12.2. The soft component 12.1 surrounds the hard component 12.2 like a frame. The soft component rests on the edge of the receiving tray. In this exemplary embodiment, the edge of the receiving tray 9.2 is laser-welded to the soft component, thereby joining and simultaneously sealing both parts.

[0041] The invention described above is, of course, not limited to the embodiments described and illustrated. It is evident that numerous modifications, obvious to a person skilled in the art according to the intended application, can be made to the embodiments shown in the figure without departing from the scope of the invention. The invention includes everything contained in the description and / or illustrated in the drawing, including anything that would be obvious to a person skilled in the art in contrast to the specific embodiments. List of reference symbols

[0042] 1 car door handle

[0043] 2 doors

[0044] 3 Basic section

[0045] 4 Gripping section

[0046] 5 Mounting section

[0047] 6 Support component

[0048] 7 cases

[0049] 8 Electronic unit

[0050] 9 Receiving tray

[0051] 9.1 Seal

[0052] 9.2 Edge of the receiving tray

[0053] 10 switches

[0054] 11 reinforcing ribs

[0055] 12 Actuating elements

[0056] 12.1 Soft component

[0057] 12.2 Hard component

[0058] 13 Fasteners

[0059] 100 motor vehicles

Claims

Patent claims 1. Motor vehicle door handle (1) for operating a movable part of a motor vehicle (100), in particular in the form of a door (2) or a flap comprising: - a basic section (3) - a gripping section (4) which extends at an angle from the base section - a fastening section (5) - a support component (6), wherein the support component (6) extends over the base section (3), the gripping section (4) and the fastening section (5). - a housing (7), wherein the housing (7) extends over the base section (3) and the gripping section (4) - an electronic unit (8) characterized in that the carrier component (6) has a receiving tray (9) for the electronic unit (8) in the area of ​​the gripping section (4), which is formed in one piece with the carrier component.

2. Motor vehicle door handle (1 ) according to claim 1 , characterized in that the electronic unit (8) in the receiving tray (9) is completely or partially encapsulated with a potting material.

3. Motor vehicle door handle (1 ) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the electronic unit (8) has at least one sensor and / or a switch (10), in particular a microswitch, a capacitive and / or an inductive sensor to trigger a vehicle function, in particular to actuate an electric vehicle door lock.

4. Motor vehicle door handle (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electronic unit (8) has components for communication, in particular for near field communication and / or components for proximity detection, in particular capacitive sensors.

5. Motor vehicle door handle (1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the receiving tray has an opening for the cables of the electronic unit (8), wherein the opening is closed with a seal (9.1 ).

6. Motor vehicle door handle (1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support component (6) consists of a high-strength material, in particular synthetic fiber reinforced plastic.

7. Motor vehicle door handle (1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support component has reinforcing ribs (11 ) in the base section and / or in the gripping section.

8. Motor vehicle door handle (1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an actuating element (12) is arranged on the receiving tray, wherein the actuating element consists in particular of a soft component (12.1 ) and a hard component (12.2).

9. Motor vehicle door handle (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that the actuating element (12) is attached to the edge of the tub by means of laser welding or gluing and seals the interior.

10. Motor vehicle door handle (1) according to one of claims 8 or 9, characterized in that at least a return element, in particular made of foam, is arranged between the electronic unit and the actuating element.

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