DOOR HANDLE ASSEMBLY FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE

Abstract

A vehicle door handle includes a sensor assembly for detecting an operation request. The door handle is fixed and actuates an electric lock. The sensor assembly includes a first capacitive sensor arranged in the door handle and oriented towards an inner side of the handle. It monitors a first handle section gripped when actuating the handle. Second and third sensors are arranged along an axial extension of the handle. The second sensor is oriented towards an outer side of the handle and monitors a touching from the outer side in a second handle section. The third sensor is oriented towards the inner side of the handle and monitors a touching from the inner side. The electronic control and evaluation device generates an opening signal when both the capacitive sensor detects a gripping of the door handle and the second sensor and the third sensor simultaneously each detect a touching.

Claims

1. Vehicle door handle including a sensor assembly for detecting an operation request, wherein the vehicle door handle is formed as a fixed door handle for actuating an electric lock (e-latch), wherein the door handle is shaped in such a manner that a user in order to actuate it reaches behind the door handle into an open space between the door handle and the vehicle door, wherein a side of the door handle that is directed towards the vehicle is referred to as the inner side of the door handle and a side of the door handle that is facing away from the vehicle is referred to as the outer side, wherein the door handle comprises an eletronic control and evaluation device, which generates control signals for the electric door lock in dependence on signals from the sensor assembly, wherein the sensor assembly has at least one first capacitive sensor that is arranged in the door handle, whereby the at least one capacitive sensor is oriented towards the inner side of the door handle, and monitors a first handle section which is to be reached behind and grasped when actuating the handle, wherein the sensor assembly comprises at least a second and a third sensor which are arranged along the axial extension of the handle in an offset manner in relation to the capacitive sensor in the door handle, wherein the at least one second sensor is oriented towards the outer side of the door handle, and monitors a touching of the door handle from the outer side in a second handle section, and wherein the at least one third sensor is oriented towards the inner side of the door handle, and monitors a touching from the inner side in the second handle section, wherein the sensor assembly is connected to the electronic control and evaluation device and wherein the electronic control and evaluation device generates an opening signal, when the capacitive sensor detects a reaching behind and grasping of the door handle, and at the same time the at least one second sensor and the at least one third sensor simultaneously each detect a touching.

2. Vehicle door handle according to claim 1, wherein the electronic control and evaluation device is designed for the activation and deactivation of the at least one second and third sensors, whereby the electronic control and evaluation device monitors the at least one first capacitive sensor and activates the at least one second and third sensors in dependence on the signals from the at least one first capacitive sensor.

3. Vehicle door handle according to claim 1, wherein the at least one third sensor is designed as a force sensor, in particular as a piezo sensor or as a LDC-sensor.

4. Vehicle door handle according to claim 3, wherein the door handle is designed in a mechanically deformable manner, at least in sections, within the area of the at least one third sensor, so that a force transmission towards the sensor that is arranged within the door handle is improved, whereby the handle is arranged at least partially with a cover made from an elastomer in the section that is covering the at least one third sensor.

5. Vehicle door handle according to claim 1, wherein the at least one second sensor is a capacitive sensor.

6. Vehicle door handle according to claim 1, wherein the at least one second sensor is a force sensor.

7. Vehicle door handle according to claim 1, wherein additional force sensors are arranged along the handle extension, which detect the exerting of force from the inner side of the handle.

8. Method for detecting an operation request on a vehicle door handle, wherein the vehicle door handle is designed as a fixed door handle for actuating an electric lock (e-latch), whereby the door handle is shaped in such a manner that a user in order to actuate it reaches behind the door handle into an open space between the door handle and the vehicle door, wherein the side of the door handle that is directed towards the vehicle is referred to as the inner side of the door handle and the side of the door handle that is facing away from the vehicle is referred to as the outer side, wherein the door handle comprises an electronic control and evaluation device, which generates control signals for the electric door lock in dependence of on signals from the sensor assembly, wherein a sensor assembly is designed for the detecting of an operation request, comprising the steps of detecting of a reaching behind and grasping of the door handle within a first section by means of a monitoring of the signals of a first capacitive sensor of the sensor assembly, detecting of a touching of the door handle from the outside within a second section by means of a monitoring of the signals of a second sensor of the sensor assembly, detecting of a touching of the door handle from the inner side within the second section by means of a monitoring of the signals of a third sensor of the sensor assembly, generating control signals with the electronic control and evaluation device, wherein an opening signal is generated when a reaching behind and grasping of the door handle is detected and at the same time the second and the third sensor each detect a respective touching.

9. Method according to claim 8, wherein an activation and monitoring of the second sensor and of the third sensor is only carried out when a reaching behind and grasping of the door handle is detected.

10. Method according to claim 8, wherein a force exertion on the inner side of the door handle is detected by means of the third sensor.

Description

[0033] The invention will now be explained in more detail by means of the attached exemplary figures.

[0034] FIG. 1a depicts the approaching of a hand to a fixed door handle;

[0035] FIG. 1b depicts a reaching behind and grasping of the fixed door handle;

[0036] FIG. 2 depicts a schematic representation of the arrangement of components within the fixed door handle according to a first embodiment;

[0037] FIG. 3 depicts a schematic representation of the arrangement of components within the fixed door handle according to a second embodiment.

[0038] FIGS. 1a and 1b clarify what is to be understood in the context of this description by a reaching behind and grasping of a fixed door handle. In FIG. 1a, a user approaches a fixed door handle of a vehicle door. As it is described further in the following, the fixed door handle is immovably attached to the vehicle door. According to the invention, sensor components in the fixed door handle, in particular a capacitive proximity sensor, monitor if the hand of the user is actually located behind the door handle. As exemplified in FIG. 1b, the associated capacitive sensor only produces a corresponding signal if the hand has reached behind the door handle. To date, appropriate approximations of a hand behind the door handle are used for example in capacitive sensors in keyless entry systems.

[0039] If the user moves his hand into the position of FIG. 1b, the triggering of the capacitive sensor activates a number of other sensors in the door handle, as shown below.

[0040] FIG. 2 depicts a first embodiment of a door handle according to the invention in a schematic representation. A schematic section through the door handle is shown, as it is depicted in the FIGS. 1a and 1b in a three-dimensional representation. The door handle is firmly arranged on a door panel 1, wherein a handle 2 is intended to be e.g. in the end sections on that door panel. It is possible to provide mounting elements on one side of the handle, which can also reach through the door panel 1, but details are not depicted in this case as they are not relevant for the invention. A capacitive sensor 3 is arranged on the inside of handle 2. This sensor is directed towards the inside of the handle, thus towards the side of the door and monitors the reaching behind and grasping of a hand into the open space 4 behind the handle. The capacitive handle can e.g. be designed in a shielded manner towards the outside, in order to be insensitive with regards to any approaching from the outer side. It is for example possible to equip the capacitive sensor system 3 with a sensor electrode and an active shield, as it is known from the prior art in so-called active-shield sensors.

[0041] The capacitive sensor 3 is connected to a control unit 5. According to this embodiment, the capacitive sensor 3 is held active all the time, so that a reaching behind and grasping of the door handle can be detected. If such a reaching behind and grasping occurs, the control unit 5 activates the sensors 6 and 7. Sensor 6 is another capacitive sensor that uses its field of detection to monitor a short area on the side of the door that is facing towards the outside. On the side of the handle that is facing away from the area that is monitored by sensor 6, a force-sensitive sensor 7 is arranged. This sensor is designed as a piezo sensor in this embodiment, and it is connected to the handle surface on the inside. Sensor 6 monitors an approaching of the thumb of a hand of the user, while sensor 7 monitors the exertion of pressure on the inside of the handle. For this purpose, the immediate area in front of sensor 7 can be made from a deformable material, e.g. from an elastomer, if the handle material as such only allows for extremely limited deformations.

[0042] Control unit 5 is coupled with the electronic lock 8, which can be caused to open the door when it is activated. Lock 8 is depicted symbolically here, it may particularly comprise an electrically actuated rotary latch which can securely hold or open the door in cooperation with a locking pin.

[0043] The control unit 5 monitors the signals from the capacitive sensor 3 as well as the capacitive sensor 6 and the piezo sensor 7. Only when all three sensors indicate that the user's hand has reached behind the door handle and a thumb portion is positioned in front of sensor 6, as well as pressure is applied onto sensor 7, a deliberate operation of the door is detected, and lock 8 is unlocked. This coupling of the sensors leads to a particularly reliable detection of a conscious and deliberate actuation. Force sensor 7 also ensures that the door handle is firmly grasped and a force is exerted in the opening direction. Thus, the electric door opening cannot unpleasantly surprise the user, since his applying of force is already exerted in the opening direction and correspondingly, the door cannot hit against his hand, in particular, against the back of his hand.

[0044] By means of this schematic diagram it is clear, that random environmental influences can hardly cause an activation. Only if an object reaches behind the door handle and from there exerts pressure onto the inner sensor 7 and there is an approaching from the outside at the same time, an opening request would be detected.

[0045] Generally, it is also possible to design sensor 6 as a pressure sensor, so that it is necessary to apply a squeezing force on sections of the door handle that are facing away from each other in the region of the sensors 6 and 7, in order to achieve a door opening.

[0046] In that case, sensor 6 may also be formed as a piezo sensor or as another force sensor.

[0047] FIG. 3 depicts another embodiment with a grip handle 12, which is fixed to a door panel 11. In this embodiment, all sensor components are arranged on one circuit board 13. The capacitive sensor 14 is arranged in the center region of circuit board 13, to the left of the capacitive sensor 14, an inductive sensor 17a, 17b is arranged. A coil assembly 17a is mounted on circuit board 13 and a metallic sensor part 17b is positioned with some distance to the coil assembly 17a on the inner side of the handle. A corresponding sensor design is also arranged on the right side of the capacitive sensor 14 in form of the sensor 19a, 19b. A metallic part 19b is attached on the inner side of the handle, while a coil assembly 19a is arranged on circuit board 13. A further capacitive sensor 16 in turn monitors the portion which faces away from the vehicle in this section.

[0048] The circuit board is connected to a control unit 15, whereby this control unit 15 may generally also be arranged on the circuit board itself. A door lock 18 can be controlled by control unit 15 and can be caused to open. Sensors with inductive coupling are known from the prior art, in particular as so-called LDC sensors. This embodiment comprises a total of four sensors for the monitoring of an actuation. The sensors 17a and 19a detect a change in the distance or change in position of the metallic parts 17b, 19b with regard to the respective sensor 17a or 19a. However, these sensors generally react to changes in position, so that, for example, a twist of the door handle or a deformation could already be detected as an actuation. It is not possible to determine with these sensors whether the coils come closer to their respective counterparts, or if the handle is deformed or engaged from its inner side. This is where the capacitive proximity sensor 14 comes into play, which carries out the monitoring of a reaching behind and grasping according to the before-mentioned explanation. Only when a reaching behind and grasping of the handle is detected as well as an actuation by a deformating of the door handle, and furthermore a touch has occurred in the region of sensor 16 on the outside, control circuit 15 will detect an actuation of the door handle and open the door lock.

[0049] The depicted embodiments significantly increase the security in the detection of a clear operation request. The safety of the controlling of electric door locks by means of fixed door handles is thereby increased.