Method for producing the combination of a motor vehicle sensor arrangement and a motor vehicle component equipped therewith, and associated combination

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for producing the combination of a motor vehicle sensor arrangement (1) and a motor vehicle component (2) equipped therewith. The sensor arrangement (1) is connected to the motor vehicle component (2) in such a way that a molten mass, which defines the motor vehicle component (2) in the cured state, for producing the motor vehicle component (2) at least partially surrounds the sensor arrangement (1) in the molten state. According to the invention, for this purpose, the sensor arrangement (1) is equipped with a protective cover (9; 9, 10) in order to avoid temperature-related damage and, in particular, deformations of the sensor arrangement (1) when the molten mass is applied.

Description

Kiekert Aktiengesellschaft P23065WO 1 Description Method for manufacturing the combination of a motor vehicle sensor arrangement and a motor vehicle component equipped therewith, and associated combination The invention relates to a method for manufacturing the combination of a motor vehicle sensor arrangement and a motor vehicle component equipped therewith, in particular for manufacturing the combination of a motor vehicle door handle with a motor vehicle door sensor, wherein the sensor arrangement is connected to the component in such a way that a melt mass defining the component in a hardened state for manufacturing the component at least partially envelops the sensor arrangement in a molten state. A sensor array is any arrangement of one or more sensors that, in the example of a vehicle door handle, can detect when a user activates it. The vehicle door handle in question is typically permanently attached to a door leaf of a vehicle door. The sensor array can, for example, detect a user's attempt to open the door. This attempt corresponds to an opening signal from the sensor array, which is then evaluated by a control unit. As a result, the control unit activates, for example, an electrically operated vehicle lock, particularly an electric lock. This lock is then opened electrically. In principle, the automotive sensor arrangement can also be used for other purposes and not function as a vehicle door sensor – for example, a vehicle door opening sensor – as Kiekert Aktiengesellschaft had previously done. P23065WO 2 As described above, the sensor arrangement, and in particular the vehicle door sensor, can be used to unlock or lock the vehicle door in question or the vehicle as a whole. Furthermore, it is possible to open a vehicle door electrically by activating the sensor arrangement, for example, a tailgate or a side door. It is also conceivable that the automotive sensor arrangement in question could be used in conjunction with a vehicle component that is not necessarily a vehicle door handle. In fact, the vehicle component in question could, for example, be a bumper that reacts to the approach of the operator or user as registered by the sensor arrangement—for instance, the user's leg moving towards it to open a tailgate. Alternatively, corresponding exterior surfaces on the vehicle could also be considered vehicle components with an associated sensor arrangement to initiate the previously described functional sequences, such as unlocking, locking, opening, tilting, etc., of an adjacent vehicle door or, more generally, a vehicle hatch.In this context, it is conceivable that the motor vehicle component in question is, for example, a window frame cover or another type of cover. In all of these described design variants, the general procedure is to manufacture the vehicle component equipped with the sensor assembly from plastic. For this purpose, the vehicle component in question is usually produced and manufactured using a plastic injection molding process. In this plastic injection molding process, the sensor assembly is generally placed in the still-liquid plastic material or is overmolded or encased by it. As a consequence of this, in the Kiekert Aktiengesellschaft P23065WO 3 In practice, damage to the sensor assembly can occur, either because electronic components inside the sensor assembly are damaged by the temperatures prevailing during the injection or melting process of the plastic (usually more than 150 °C), or because individual components of the sensor assembly are deformed or, in the worst case, even melt. This risk is particularly prevalent with sensor arrangements based on strain gauges. Such strain gauges typically utilize a plastic carrier film that has limited temperature resistance and can melt or at least deform during the previously described plastic injection molding process. Consequently, the overall functionality of the sensor is compromised, unless it is completely destroyed and rendered unusable during this process. The prior art defined by DE 10 2022 126 580 A1 relates to an actuating device for generating a switching signal, an associated vehicle door, and the motor vehicle equipped therewith. For this purpose, the actuating device is equipped with a sensor area in which a measuring device is arranged. The measuring device can be designed as a strain gauge, an inductive sensor, and / or a capacitive sensor. In the exemplary embodiment, a strain gauge is arranged in a base area of ​​the actuating device for this purpose. (See the corresponding paragraph.)

[0032] In this context, it is explained that the strain gauge, together with the evaluation electronics, can be injection-molded as a single unit consisting of the actuation area, an additional intermediate section, and part of the foot area. However, the problems described earlier are not addressed. Kiekert Aktiengesellschaft P23065WO 4 Furthermore, the general state of the art according to DE 102022208370 A1 describes a method for connecting a strain gauge to a test object. In this method, a bonding film is placed between the strain gauge and the test object. Heating the metallic components of the bonding film activates it in such a way that a metallurgical bond is created between the strain gauge and the test object. Protection of the sensor assembly from potential thermal problems is not addressed. Accordingly, the invention is based on the technical problem of further developing such a method for manufacturing the combination of a motor vehicle sensor arrangement and a motor vehicle component equipped therewith in such a way that any thermal damage to the sensor arrangement during its encapsulation with the melt mass defining the component in its hardened state is avoided. To solve this technical problem, the invention proposes, starting from a generic method, that the sensor arrangement be equipped with a protective cover in order to avoid temperature-related damage and, in particular, deformation of the sensor arrangement when applying the melting mass. The protective cover for the sensor assembly ensures, first and foremost, that the sensor assembly, whether fully or partially enclosed, ultimately does not come into contact with the molten material. This applies at least to all temperature-sensitive areas of the sensor assembly. If, for example, the sensor assembly has a metallic mounting plate, it is not necessary to equip this mounting plate with the protective cover. Rather, the protective cover is generally limited to temperature-sensitive areas of the sensor assembly that do not (directly) come into contact with the Kiekert Aktiengesellschaft. P23065WO 5 The molten mass must not come into contact with anything else in its molten state, otherwise it will be damaged or deformed. As a result, according to the invention, it is possible to avoid the temperature-sensitive components of the sensor arrangement coming into contact with the molten material during component manufacturing. In this case, for example, in a sensor arrangement designed as a strain gauge assembly, these temperature-sensitive components could be a film carrying the individual strain gauges. In principle, other temperature-sensitive components of the sensor arrangement are also protected from the molten material in this way, for example, electronic components of the sensor arrangement. These electronic components could be a microchip, an amplifier, or other electronic components that are typically temperature-sensitive and therefore generally cannot withstand temperatures above 80 °C or even above 100 °C.Such temperatures are usually significantly exceeded when encasing the sensor assembly using the molten mass, because the component is generally made of plastic and the molten mass consists of molten plastic granules. To bring the plastic granules into a molten state, they are generally heated to temperatures exceeding 150 °C. According to the invention, the molten mass is then kept away from the sensor assembly by the protective covering surrounding it, so that the sensor assembly, or at least its temperature-sensitive components, do not typically exceed maximum temperatures of 80 °C or 100 °C, even during such an overmolding process. This can be attributed to the fact that the molten mass, which at least partially encloses the sensor assembly, is heated relatively quickly, within a few seconds or sometimes... [Kiekert Aktiengesellschaft] P23065WO 6 It even hardens in less than one second, so that over this period of time it is sufficient to use the protective cover to prevent thermal contact between the molten mass and the sensor arrangement or its temperature-sensitive components. For this purpose, the protective casing is generally temperature-resistant with a melting point above 150 °C, and in particular with a melting point above 200 °C. This means that materials suitable for the protective casing should be flexible enough to at least partially or largely cover the sensor assembly and, in any case, prevent contact with the molten material applied to or attached to the casing. The invention is based on the understanding that the manufacturing of the sensor assembly combination with the vehicle component, and in particular the vehicle door handle, generally takes place inside a plastic injection mold. For this purpose, the sensor assembly is placed in the injection mold, and the molten plastic is then injected into the mold. According to the invention, if the protective cover at least partially encloses the sensor assembly, so that the molten plastic does not reach the sensor assembly itself, or at most only reaches temperature-insensitive areas of the sensor assembly, such as a metallic mounting plate, temperature-related deformations or damage to the sensor assembly during the application of the molten plastic can be avoided. This is where the main advantages lie. To implement this in detail, as an alternative to the previously described temperature-resistant protective cover, a protective cover can also be used that melts at the processing temperature of the molten mass and preferably evaporates almost without residue. That is to say, Kiekert Aktiengesellschaft P23065WO 7 The protective casing is designed to melt at the processing temperature of the molten material, which is typically 150 °C or higher, or to exceed its melting temperature. If, at this processing temperature, the casing then evaporates almost completely, a cavity is formed within the casing. This cavity then at least partially surrounds the sensor assembly inside the component. As a result, this design also prevents contact between the molten material and the sensor assembly, as the melting casing prevents this. Since the molten material hardens relatively quickly (within a few seconds or even less than a second), the cavity forms as desired, especially as the evaporating casing prevents the mold or die typically used at this point from hardening.the plastic injection mold can easily exit via, for example, vent openings, which are usually already implemented anyway. Another variant provides that the protective shell preferably melts at the processing temperature of the molten material and is equipped with at least one embedded, non-meltable stiffening or reinforcing element. The stiffening element can, for example, be embedded longitudinally extended tubes. These can be made of metal. It is particularly preferred if graphite-containing nanotubes are used as longitudinally extended tubes or reinforcing elements in this context. In any case, the reinforcing or stiffening element has a melting temperature that is significantly higher than the processing temperature of the molten material, usually values ​​well above 200 °C, and in particular 300 °C or more. In this way, the stiffening element or reinforcing element, or the multiple elements, can be placed and arranged in the protective shell in such a way that they prevent any temperature-related deformation of the Kiekert Aktiengesellschaft. P23065WO 8 Counteracting the sensor arrangement. That is, if the sensor arrangement exhibits an increase in length and / or width at the processing temperature of the melt, which is typically 150 °C and above, one or more reinforcing or stiffening elements can counteract this increase. For this purpose, the stiffening or reinforcing elements may each form lateral barriers of an assumed rectangular sensor arrangement, thus preventing the expansions in question in the longitudinal or transverse direction of the sensor arrangement. Since these expansions only occur during the curing time of the melt (a few seconds to less than one second), the incorporated stiffening or reinforcing elements ensure that the sensor arrangement retains its shape, even when it comes into contact with the melt in its molten state. That is to say,This prevents any temperature-related deformations of the sensor assembly. This applies regardless of whether the protective casing containing the stiffening or reinforcing elements melts at the processing temperature of the molten material or remains dimensionally stable. Generally, the design is such that the protective casing melts at the processing temperature of the molten material, allowing the embedded stiffening or reinforcing elements to align in the desired direction relative to the sensor assembly, thus preventing the described permanent temperature-related deformations of the sensor assembly. Any alignment of the relevant reinforcing or stiffening element inside the plastic injection mold or within the molten protective shell can be achieved by an externally applied electromagnetic field. This is accomplished without physical contact. Since the protective shell containing the stiffening or reinforcing elements preferably melts in this process, Kiekert Aktiengesellschaft P23065WO 9 Once the elements in question are in their molten state, they can be easily aligned within the electromagnetic field. The protective cover can be designed, for example, as a temperature-resistant or easily meltable film, taking into account the processing temperature of the molten material, which can exceed 150 °C. Alternatively, instead of a temperature-resistant film, the protective cover can be applied to the sensor assembly in liquid form and then hardened. In this case, the protective cover is usually made of liquid resin or rubber, particularly silicone-based. In its liquid state, the protective cover is applied to the sensor assembly and, once hardened, thermally insulates the sensor assembly from the molten material. This applies at least to the temperature-sensitive components of the sensor assembly that have already been discussed in detail. Such liquid resins or rubbers, especially silicone-based ones, are generally known and typically have a temperature resistance of up to 200 °C and even more than 200 °C.In fact, a so-called transparent, solvent-free, one-component silicone rubber or a transparent solvent-containing silicone resin can be used at this point, as is known, for example and without limitation, from the company HBK (Hottinger Brüel and Kjaer) as a covering agent for strain gauges. In another solution with independent significance, a generic method for manufacturing the combination of a motor vehicle sensor assembly and a motor vehicle component equipped therewith is employed such that the sensor assembly is at least partially encased in a pre-deformed configuration with the molten material, whereby the pre-deformed configuration is thermally dissolved during the hardening of the molten material. In this case, the sensor assembly is thus deliberately and intentionally installed in a pre-deformed configuration for encasement with the molten material. This pre-deformed configuration is what Kiekert Aktiengesellschaft refers to. P23065WO 10 This results in a deformation of the sensor arrangement, which is subsequently compensated by the temperature of the molten mass, such that after the temperature treatment with the molten mass the sensor arrangement no longer exhibits any deformation. Consider, for example, a rectangular sensor array and assume that both its width and length will increase due to the applied molten material at temperatures of 150 °C and above. This previously determined increase in length and width, for instance, 3% each, can be accommodated by pre-deforming both the length and width of the sensor array. In this specific example, this pre-deformation is reduced to approximately 97% of the target values. When the sensor array subsequently comes into contact with the molten material, this pre-deformed configuration is thermally dissolved as the molten material hardens.Applied to the example case, this means that, for instance, the length increases by 3% from approximately 97% of the target dimension through contact with the molten mass, and thus reaches approximately 100% of the length after hardening, so that in the hardened state the sensor arrangement has the desired and specified dimensions, consequently the pre-deformed configuration has been thermally resolved. The sensor arrangement is generally equipped with a protective film that supports and, if necessary, surrounds it. By way of example, and without limitation, the sensor arrangement can be a strain gauge arrangement, which is particularly preferred. However, the sensor arrangement can also operate inductively and / or capacitively, as is generally known in this context. Combinations of the measurement principles described above are also conceivable. The invention also relates to a combination of the automotive sensor arrangement with the vehicle equipped with it (Kiekert AG). P23065WO 11 Component that has been manufactured according to the previously described procedure. Finally, the design is further such that the sensor assembly is generally pre-fixed inside the injection mold or on a carrier plate. In the example given, this can be achieved using temperature-resistant adhesive. Alternatively, the sensor assembly can also be equipped with a self-adhesive film surrounding it. In the described example, the film again ensures that the sensor assembly is pre-fixed to the carrier plate. The sensor assembly, including the carrier plate, is then at least partially encased in the molten material to enable the production of the automotive component equipped with the sensor assembly. In all these cases, both the adhesive and the self-adhesive film used to pre-fix the sensor assembly retain their adhesive properties during the process.even in the case of heating by the molten mass. This approach increases overall process reliability because, during the manufacturing of the vehicle component, which is typically made of plastic, the sensor assembly located in or on the component is protected from potential temperature-related damage and, in particular, deformation. This ensures the flawless operation of the sensor assembly during subsequent use. This applies especially to safety-critical applications, such as detecting an operator's request to open a door. False detections are thus avoided. These are the key advantages. The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to a drawing that illustrates only one embodiment; the drawing shows: Kiekert Aktiengesellschaft P23065WO 12 Fig. 1 schematically shows the inventive method for manufacturing the combination of a motor vehicle sensor arrangement and a motor vehicle component equipped therewith in the form of a motor vehicle door handle, and the combination in question. Fig. 2 shows the sensor arrangement used at this location in a top view. Fig. 3 shows the object according to Fig. 2 in a schematic sectional view, Fig. 4 shows a top view of the sensor arrangement according to Fig. 2 in one variant and Fig. 5 shows the object according to Fig. 1 again schematically in a further embodiment of the invention. The figures show the combination of a vehicle-specific sensor arrangement 1 and a vehicle component 2 equipped with it, and their manufacture. According to Figures 2 to 4, the vehicle-specific sensor arrangement 1 is a strain gauge arrangement 3, 4, 5. In the exemplary embodiment, this strain gauge arrangement 3, 4, 5 essentially consists of a carrier film 4 and measuring grids 3 or corresponding resistance conductors applied to the carrier film 4. In fact, the strain gauge arrangement 3, 4, 5 shown in Figures 2 to 4 can be configured in detail as described in principle in DE 2902242 B1. Kiekert Aktiengesellschaft P23065WO 13 That is, in the exemplary embodiment, the carrier film 4 is made of temperature-resistant plastic such as polyamide, forming a web, tape, or strip. The measuring grid 3 is applied to the carrier film 4 and may be covered by an additional protective film. Furthermore, an additional solder layer 5 is visible on the measuring grid 3, which is used to make contact with the measuring grid 3, as can be seen from the connecting leads leading away from the measuring grid 3. The measuring grid 3 is connected via these connecting leads to a control unit 6, which is only indicated and evaluates deformations of the strain gauge arrangement 3, 4, 5. Depending on the signal emitted by the sensor arrangement 1, the control unit 6 actuates a vehicle lock 7, indicated only in Fig. 4. If the signal emitted by the sensor arrangement 1 is an opening signal for the vehicle lock 7, the vehicle lock 7 is opened by an electric motor. In principle, the vehicle lock 7 can also be locked or unlocked using a signal from the sensor arrangement 1. Opening a vehicle door equipped with the vehicle lock 7 (not shown) is also conceivable in this way. In the example case, the carrier film 4 is made of a temperature-resistant plastic such as polyamide, which in the embodiment is suitable for temperatures up to max. The measuring grid 3 is suitable for temperatures up to 150 °C. The measuring grid 3 is applied to the carrier film 4, for example by vapor deposition. The measuring grid 3 itself can be made of a precious metal alloy and is formed into the grid structure shown using a photolithographic process. This is, of course, only an example and should in no way be understood as a limitation. Figure 1 shows that the sensor arrangement 1 is generally connected to the component 2 in such a way that a melt mass defining the component 2 in its hardened state is used to produce the Kiekert Aktiengesellschaft P23065WO 14 Component 2 at least partially encases the sensor assembly 1 in a molten state. The molten material used here is generally plastic, because component 2 is made of plastic. In the exemplary embodiment and as shown in Figures 1 and 5, the component in question, or rather the vehicle component 2, is a vehicle door handle 2, specifically an exterior vehicle door handle 2 permanently attached to a door leaf 8 of the vehicle door (not shown). This is only an example. To manufacture component 2, a plastic injection mold defining the shape of the component is used. Sensor assembly 1 is placed into this mold. The mold is then filled with molten material, or the sensor assembly 1 is overmolded with this material. The molten material consists of molten plastic granules made from a thermoplastic such as PE, PP, etc. This material is typically injected into the mold in a molten state, meaning at a temperature usually exceeding 150 °C, and sometimes even 200 °C or higher. To prevent temperature-related damage and, in particular, deformation of the sensor arrangement 1 during the application of the molten material, the sensor arrangement 1 is equipped with a protective cover 9, 10. As shown in Figures 2 to 4, the protective cover 9, 10 is designed to be temperature-resistant. Specifically, this means that the protective cover 9, 10 has a melting point of more than 150 °C and, in particular, more than 200 °C, so that the sensor arrangement 1 equipped with the protective cover 9, 10 inside the plastic injection mold (not shown) for manufacturing the automotive component 2 prevents the molten material filled or injected into the plastic injection mold from penetrating the mold. P23065WO 15 The melting mass or plastic mass does not reach the sensor arrangement 1 because of the protective cover 9, 10 and therefore cannot damage it. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 4, the protective cover 9, 10 is additionally equipped with at least one embedded and non-meltable stiffening element 10. According to the embodiment shown in Figures 2 and 3, the protective cover 9, 10 can be applied to the sensor assembly 1 as a liquid resin or rubber, particularly silicone-based. In its cured state, the protective cover 9, 10 thermally insulates the sensor assembly 1 from the molten material. In the embodiment shown in Figures 2 and 3, the protective coating in question, made of liquid silicone-based resin or rubber, is applied to and completely encases the measuring grid 3, the carrier film 4, and the solder joint or solder layer 5. Since the liquid silicone-based resin or rubber hardens after application and has a temperature resistance of more than 200 °C up to 450 °C, the sensor assembly 1, including the protective coating 9, 10, can then be placed in the plastic injection mold after it has hardened and subsequently overmolded with the molten material or plastic compound. In this case, the protective coating 9, 10, due to its temperature resistance, ensures that the molten material or plastic compound remains within the molten state.The plastic compound does not damage the sensor arrangement 1 inside the protective cover 9, 10 and in particular does not cause any deformation of the sensor arrangement 1. In the variant shown in Fig. 4, a protective shell made of a liquid resin or rubber can again be used as described above. However, in this embodiment, the protective shell 9, 10 melts at the processing temperature of the molten material (150 °C and above) and is fused with the embedded stiffening elements 10, which do not melt at this processing temperature. (Kiekert Aktiengesellschaft) P23065WO 16 is equipped. That is, as soon as the sensor arrangement 1 has been equipped with the protective cover 9, 10 according to the variant shown in Fig. 4 and is placed in the injection mold, the protective cover 9, 10 melts down to the stiffening elements 10. In other words, the stiffening elements 10 can move freely within the protective cover 9 or the molten plastic that is usually used at this point. In this exemplary embodiment, the stiffening or reinforcing elements 10 are longitudinally extended tubes 10, which are designed in particular as graphite-containing nanotubes (shown enlarged). This allows the stiffening elements 10 to be aligned, for example, in an electromagnetic field (not shown) in the longitudinal direction L of the measuring grid 3, as shown in Fig. 4. The alignment of the stiffening or reinforcing elements 10 in the longitudinal direction L of the measuring grid 3 ensures that temperature-induced deformation of the sensor arrangement 1 is counteracted by means of the stiffening or reinforcing elements 10. This can be achieved by the stiffening or reinforcing elements 10 counteracting an increase in the width of the measuring grid 3 transverse to its longitudinal extent L, because they extend along the edges and in the longitudinal direction L of the measuring grid 3 in question. This effectively clamps the measuring grid 3 between the reinforcing or stiffening elements 10. Since the stiffening elements 10 in question are subject to the application of the melt mass or...The reinforcing elements 10 prevent the plastic mass from retaining its shape in the plastic injection mold, thus avoiding the lateral expansion of the rectangular sensor arrangement 1 caused by the associated unavoidable heating of the sensor arrangement 1, and thus counteracting the temperature-induced deformation of the sensor arrangement 1. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 5, the design is such that the protective cover 9 or 9, 10 at the processing temperature of Kiekert Aktiengesellschaft P23065WO 17 The molten material inside the plastic injection mold melts. Furthermore, the protective cover 9, as shown in Fig. 5, also evaporates, so that the sensor assembly 1 inside component 2 is at least partially surrounded by a cavity 11. This cavity 11 was previously defined by the protective cover 9. Because the protective cover 9 inside the plastic injection mold melts and evaporates due to the molten material (the plastic mass) that was poured into the mold, the cavity 11 is formed. The evaporating protective cover 9 then exits the plastic injection mold through vent holes, which are typically provided in the mold. Not explicitly shown is an additional variant in which the sensor arrangement 1 is at least partially encased in a pre-deformed configuration by the molten material. This pre-deformed configuration of the sensor arrangement 1 may correspond to the fact that the rectangular sensor arrangement 1 undergoes a deliberate reduction in width during installation in the plastic injection mold, thus assuming the pre-deformed configuration. When the molten material is introduced or injected into the plastic injection mold, the temperature exposure of the sensor arrangement 1 results in a temperature-induced increase in width in the example under consideration. This corresponds to the fact that the pre-deformed configuration is thermally dissolved during the curing of the molten material.This means that the previously observed width reduction in the pre-deformed state increases in width due to the molten material at a processing temperature of more than 150 °C, by the amount by which the width was previously reduced. As a result, the sensor assembly 1 finally has its desired target dimensions in the cured state of the automotive component 2, thus ensuring the generation of reliable signals. Kiekert Aktiengesellschaft. P23065WO 18 The sensor assembly 1 is typically applied inside the injection mold (not shown) using an adhesive. This can be done on a holder, a carrier, etc., inside the plastic injection mold. Alternatively, the sensor assembly 1 can also be applied by encasing it in a self-adhesive film, which then facilitates the desired application. In any case, the adhesive, or rather the adhesive layer of the self-adhesive film, is designed so that its adhesive properties remain unchanged even after the molten plastic compound is poured into the mold, thus ensuring that the sensor assembly 1 is attached to the desired location inside or on the edge of the resulting automotive component 2, specifically the vehicle door handle 2. It can be seen that, in the schematically depicted variant according to Figures 1 and 2, the sensor arrangement 1 is located inside the vehicle door handle 2. Of course, mounting the sensor arrangement 1 near the surface is also conceivable. In any case, a pulling or pushing force applied to the vehicle door handle 2, as indicated in Figure 1, causes the sensor arrangement 1 located inside to deform accordingly. This is indicated by the respective double arrows. If, for example, the vehicle door handle 1 is subjected to a pulling force, the measuring grid 3 of the strain gauge arrangement 3, 4, 5 is stretched. Conversely, if the vehicle door handle 1 is subjected to a pushing force by an operator, the measuring grid 3 is compressed. In each case, the measuring grid 3 generates corresponding sensor signals that can be acquired and evaluated by the control unit 6 and lead to corresponding control commands, for example, for actuating the vehicle lock 7 as described. Kiekert Aktiengesellschaft P23065WO 19 Reference symbol list I (motor vehicle technical) sensor arrangement, motor vehicle door sensor 2 Motor vehicle component, motor vehicle door handle, motor vehicle door exterior handle 2 3 measuring grids 3, 4, 5 Strain gauge arrangement 4 carrier film 5 Solder layer, solder joint 6 Control unit 7 Motor vehicle lock 8 door leaves 9; 9, 10 Protective cover 10 Stiffening element, reinforcing element, longitudinally extended tube, surfaces II Cavity L Longitudinal direction

Claims

Patent claims 1. Method for manufacturing the combination of a motor vehicle sensor arrangement (1) and a motor vehicle component (2) equipped therewith, in particular for manufacturing the combination of a motor vehicle door handle (2) with a motor vehicle door sensor (1), wherein the sensor arrangement (1) is connected to the motor vehicle component (2) in such a way that a molten mass defining the motor vehicle component (2) in a hardened state for manufacturing the motor vehicle component (2) at least partially encloses the sensor arrangement (1) in a molten state, The ad urchge indicates that the sensor arrangement (1) is equipped with a protective cover (9; 9, 10) to avoid temperature-related damage and, in particular, deformation of the sensor arrangement (1) when applying the melting mass.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the protective cover (9; 9, 10) is made temperature-resistant with a melting point of more than 150 °C, in particular more than 200 °C.

3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the protective covering (9; 9, 10) melts at the processing temperature of the molten mass and preferably evaporates almost without residue, so that the sensor arrangement (1) inside the motor vehicle component (2) is at least partially surrounded by a cavity (11).

4. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the protective sheath (9; 9, 10) preferably melts at the processing temperature of the molten mass and is equipped with at least one embedded and non-meltable stiffening element (10).

5. A method according to claim 4, characterized in that the stiffening element (10) is designed, for example, as an elongated tube (10), in particular a graphite-containing nanotube.

6. Method according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the reinforcing element (10) counteracts a temperature-induced deformation of the sensor arrangement (1).

7. Method according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the protective cover (9; 9, 10) is applied to the sensor arrangement (1) as a liquid resin or rubber, in particular silicone-based, and in the cured state thermally insulates the sensor arrangement (1) from the molten mass.

8. Method according to the preamble of claim 1, characterized in that the sensor arrangement (1) is at least partially encased in a pre-deformed configuration with the molten mass, wherein the pre-deformed configuration is thermally dissolved in the course of the hardening of the molten mass.

9. Method according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the sensor arrangement (1) is equipped with a protective film supporting and optionally surrounding it and is designed, for example, as a strain gauge arrangement (3, 4, 5).

10. Combination of a motor vehicle sensor arrangement (1) and a motor vehicle component (2) equipped therewith, in particular a combination of a motor vehicle door handle (2) with a motor vehicle door sensor (1), preferably manufactured according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the sensor arrangement (1) is connected to the motor vehicle component (2) in such a way that a molten mass defining the motor vehicle component (2) in its hardened state for the manufacture of the motor vehicle component (2) at least partially encloses the sensor arrangement (1) in its molten state, characterized by the fact that the sensor arrangement (1 ) is equipped with a protective cover (9; 9, 10) to prevent temperature-related damage and, in particular, deformation of the sensor arrangement (1 ) during the application of the melt mass.

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