Door handle module

Abstract

A door handle module for a movable part of a vehicle, in particular for a side door, tailgate, bonnet or luggage compartment hatch, comprising a handle support that can be mounted on the outer skin of the movable part, a handle mounted movably on the handle support and having an operating mechanism that can be hidden at least in part by the outer skin, the operating mechanism being operatively connectable to a latch or a latch drive so that an, in particular mechanical, operation of the latch of the movable part can be performed, and further comprising a sensor unit having at least one sensor element in order to detect a user intention in an operating region of a door handle depression of the movable part so that the lock or the latch drive is electrically actuatable in the operating region in the event that a user intention is identified.

Claims

1. A door handle module for a movable part of a vehicle, the door handle module comprising: a door handle cup mounted on a shell of the movable part, wherein the door handle cup defines an indentation with respect to the shell of the movable part, wherein a handle of the door handle module covers a first portion of the indentation and a second portion of the indentation is always left exposed to permit a user to engage in the door handle cup to operate the handle, wherein a portion of the shell covers the first portion of the indentation such that the handle is concealed between the portion of the shell and the door handle cup, wherein the handle is movably mounted on a handle support and has an operating mechanism that is covered, at least in portions, by the shell, wherein the handle is movable relative to the portion of the shell while the portion of the shell is stationary and the handle is arranged on the handle support such that movement of the handle is entirely concealed by the shell, wherein the handle support is mounted on the shell of the movable part, wherein the handle support is arranged around the door handle cup on the shell of the movable part, an electrically operable latch, wherein the operating mechanism is operatively connected to the latch for mechanical operation of the latch, and a sensor unit having at least one sensor element to detect a user intention of a user in an operating region of the door handle cup, wherein the latch is electrically operated in response to a detected user intention in the operating region.

2. The door handle module according to claim 1, wherein the handle is formed as a rotatably mounted lever and is pivoted by the user, by hand, in parallel with or orthogonally to the shell of the movable part.

3. The door handle module according to claim 1, wherein the sensor unit includes a fingerprint sensor and/or a capacitive sensor and/or an optical sensor and/or a biometric sensor and/or an image acquisition unit.

4. The door handle module according to claim 3, wherein the sensor unit includes the fingerprint sensor and can identify at least two different fingers and/or at least one gesture of the user.

5. The door handle module according to claim 1 further comprising a display element configured to illuminate the door handle cup and/or the shell, at least in portions.

6. The door handle module according to claim 1, wherein the operating mechanism comprises at least one lever mechanism and/or a Bowden cable for forming a mechanical operative connection between the handle and the latch.

7. The door handle module according to claim 1 further comprising a power connection for supplying the latch with electrical power from outside the vehicle.

8. The door handle module according to claim 7, wherein the power connection faces out of the door handle cup.

9. The door handle module according to claim 1, wherein the handle is pivotably spring-mounted about a pin, wherein the handle is moved automatically back into an original position following a mechanical operation of the handle by the user.

10. The door handle module according to claim 1 further comprising a receptacle for a locking cylinder arranged on the handle support, the locking cylinder being arranged in the receptacle such that at least the locking cylinder is concealed by the shell and/or the handle, at least in portions.

11. The door handle module according to claim 10, wherein the locking cylinder and the receptacle are arranged in the door handle cup.

12. The door handle module according to claim 1, wherein the handle comprises a bidirectionally acting operating mechanism, wherein opening of the latch is achieved in a first operating direction, and closure of the latch is achieved in a second opposing operating direction.

13. The door handle module according to claim 12, wherein the first operating direction is directed orthogonally away from the shell, and the second opposing operating direction is directed toward the shell, wherein, during an accident and an associated unintended action of force on the handle, the handle is operated in the second opposing operating direction.

14. A motor vehicle latching system comprising at least one door handle module according to claim 1 and the electrically operable latch.

15. The door handle module according to claim 1, wherein the movable part is a side door, tailgate, engine cover, or luggage area flap.

16. The door handle module according to claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor element is elongated.

17. The door handle module according to claim 1, wherein the handle comprises a hinge pin and the handle is pivoted about the hinge pin.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) In the drawings:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a first possible embodiment of a motor vehicle latching system according to the invention comprising a first possible embodiment of a door handle module according to the invention,

(3) FIG. 2 shows a further possible embodiment of a door handle module according to the invention,

(4) FIG. 3 shows a further possible embodiment of a door handle module according to the invention, and

(5) FIG. 4 shows a motor vehicle comprising a motor vehicle latching system according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(6) FIG. 1 describes a motor vehicle latching system according to the invention comprising a door handle module according to the invention, in a first embodiment. In this case, the door handle module 10 is mounted on a movable part 110. The movable part 110 comprises a shell 111, the handle support 11 of the door handle module 10 being mounted on the shell 111 of the movable part 110. In this case, the handle support 11 is arranged around a door handle cup 40 on the shell 111 of the movable part 110. The door handle cup 40 thus makes it possible for a hand 50 or a finger 51 of a user to engage in the door handle cup, and for the handle 12 to be controlled by a finger 51 of a user. For this purpose, the handle 12 comprises a hinge pin 12.1, the handle 12 being able to be pivoted, in FIG. 1, by the finger 51, in parallel with the shell 111. In FIG. 1, this means that the handle 12 is designed as a lever and can be pivoted to the right or to the left, about the hinge pin 12.1, in the plan view in FIG. 1. The handle 12 is connected to an operating mechanism 13, the operating mechanism consisting of a lever arm and a Bowden cable. By means of operation, i.e. pivoting, of the lever 12, a lever arm 13 is now operated such that a Bowden cable 13 is moved by the lever arm 13. In this case, the Bowden cable 13 is connected to the latch 20, such that mechanical operation of the latch by the user is possible. The handle, in this case the lever 12, is concealed by the shell 111 at least in portions.

(7) Furthermore, FIG. 1 shows a receptacle 17 for a locking cylinder 17.1 on the handle support 11 of the door handle module. In this case, the locking cylinder 17 and the locking cylinder receptacle 17.1 are arranged in the door handle cup 40 such that this is concealed, at least in portions, by the shell 111 of the movable part 110. In the case of normal operation of the door handle module, i.e. when a user approaches the movable part, for example a door, the locking cylinder 17.1 cannot be identified.

(8) Furthermore, FIG. 1 shows a sensor unit 14 on the door handle module 10, comprising a sensor element 15. In FIG. 1, the sensor unit 14 is provided with an elongate sensor element 15, such that engagement therein or a touch by a finger 51 of a user can be identified. Furthermore, FIG. 1 shows a power connection 70 which faces out of the door handle cup 40.

(9) The movable part is shown as a side door or passenger door, but, within the spirit and scope of the present invention, any vehicle door, including swing doors or tailgates, engine covers, side sliding doors, tail lifts, or the like, can be envisaged.

(10) FIG. 2 shows a further embodiment of a door handle module according to the invention. In this case, the door handle module 10 is arranged on a shell 111 of a movable part 110, having a toward the handle support 11. In FIGS. 1 and 2, the movable part 110 is shown schematically as a door of a motor vehicle. A door handle cup 40 is arranged on the movable part 110, which cup is formed as a concave recess in the movable part 110. This makes it possible for a user to insert a hand into the door handle cup 40. The hand can then be moved in the operating region 30, as a result of which electrical/electronic and/or electromechanical or purely mechanical operation can take place. For this purpose, the door handle module 10 comprises a handle 12 which is arranged so as to be movable about a hinge pin 12.1.

(11) In FIG. 2, the handle 12 is rotatable about the hinge pin 12.1 such that the user can move the handle 12 toward or away from him, and thus pivot it about the hinge pin 12. Furthermore, the handle is substantially entirely concealed by the shell 111. This means that the user can simply grasp inside the door handle cup 40 from below, in order to operate the handle. Therefore, the handle is substantially, i.e. in normal use, not visible from the outside of the vehicle. As a result, an optically improved appearance of the vehicle, in particular of the shell, is made possible.

(12) For electronic or electromechanical operation, the handle 12 comprises a sensor unit 14 which is arranged in the handle 12. As a result, a user intention can be identified by the sensor unit 14 being approached or the handle 12 being touched. Furthermore, mechanical pivoting of the handle 12 about the pin 12.1 can achieve purely mechanical operation. For this purpose, an operating mechanism 13 in the form of a lever is arranged on the handle 12. In this case, the lever can be mechanically connected to the latch for example by means of a Bowden cable or a further lever.

(13) The handle 12 is bidirectionally operable and is connected to a bidirectionally acting operating mechanism 13. Accordingly, the handle 12 can be moved in a first operating direction x and a second y which opposes the first operating direction. It is thus possible for opening of a latch to be achieved in a first operating direction x, and for closure of a latch to be achieved in a second opposing operating direction y. The first operating direction x is directed orthogonally away from the vehicle shell 111, and the second opposing operating direction y is directed toward the vehicle shell 111, such that, as a result of an accident and an associated unintended action of force, for example by deformation of the shell, on the handle 12, the handle 12 is operated in the closing direction. This makes it possible to prevent the latch of a movable part from being able to be opened or unlocked.

(14) FIG. 3 shows a further embodiment of a door handle module 10 according to the invention. In this case, too, the door handle module 10 is mounted on a shell 111 of a movable part. In this case, the handle 12 is mounted so as to be rotatable or pivotable about a pin 12.1. It is thus possible for a user to pivot the handle 12 about the pin 12.1 by means of a finger 51, for example by pulling or pushing. Furthermore, at least one spring 12.2, in particular a double torsion spring 12.2, is arranged on the pin 12.1 of the handle 12. This allows for automatic, i.e. independent, movement of the handle 12 into the original position thereof. A sensor unit 14 is arranged on the handle 12, such that it is possible to detect, by sensor means, a finger 51 approaching or touching the handle 12.

(15) In FIG. 3, too, the handle is substantially entirely concealed by the shell 111. This means that the user can simply grasp inside the door handle cup 40 from below, in order to operate the handle 12. Therefore, the handle 12 is substantially, i.e. in normal use, not visible from the outside of the vehicle. As a result, an optically improved appearance of the vehicle, in particular of the shell 111, is made possible.

(16) FIG. 4 shows a vehicle 100 comprising a movable part 110 and a motor vehicle latching system 200 and a door handle module 10 according to the invention.

(17) The above explanation of the embodiments describes the present invention exclusively within the context of examples. Of course, individual features of the embodiments can, if technically expedient, be freely combined with one another, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(18) 10 door handle module 11 handle support 12 handle 12.1 hinge pin of the handle 12.2 spring 13 operating mechanism 14 sensor unit 15 sensor element 16 control unit 17 receptacle for locking cylinder 17.1 17.1 locking cylinder 20 latch 30 operating region 40 door handle cup 50 hand 51 finger 60 display element 70 power connection 100 vehicle 110 movable part 111 shell of the movable part 110 x first operating direction y second operating direction