LOCKING DEVICE FOR CAR DOORS

Abstract

The invention relates to a locking device for car doors, especially for car doors without door handles, having an electronic control unit for the authorization of access, which is connected to one or more sensors for a first operating step, i.e. a proximity sensor, a touch sensor etc. and/or an antenna for a wireless communication, i.e. a NFC(near field communication)antenna for NFC-communication with a smart device like a smart card, a mobile phone, a smart watch, a smart key, etc., and a driven mechanical lock/or unlock unit including a latching element for latching the closed door end position.

According to the invention, a latching element is provided to block an intermediate position 3 of the car door 1, wherein at least one sensor 5, 5′ is accessible and/or active in the intermediate position 3 of the car door 1 for a second operating step and not accessible and/or not, active in the closed end position 2 of the car door.

Claims

1-13. (canceled)

14. A locking device for car doors without door handles, comprising: an electronic control unit for authorization of access, the electronic control unit is connected to one or more sensors for a first operating step and/or an antenna for a wireless communication with a smart device; and a driven mechanical lock/or unlock unit including a latching element for latching a closed end position of a car door wherein a latching element is provided to block an intermediate position of the car door, and wherein at least one sensor is accessible and/or active in an intermediate position of the car door for a second operating step and not accessible and/or not active in the closed end position of the car door.

15. The locking device according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate position of the car door enables a grip through a gap between the car door and a car body and an activation of the at least one sensor for the second operating step.

16. The locking device according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate position of the car door activates the at least one sensor for generating an appearing proximity signal to allow the second operating step.

17. The locking device according to claim 1, wherein a control unit is provided to unlatch the intermediate position of the car door in the second operating step and/or to initiate further movement of the car door into an open end position in the second operating step.

18. The locking device according to claim 17, wherein the control unit executes a second access authorization check in the second operating step.

19. The locking device according to claim 14, wherein the at least one sensor for the second operation step is sealed against influences of an outer environment of the car in the closed end position of the car door.

20. The locking device according to claim 14, wherein a driving means is provided for movement of the car door from the closed end position into the intermediate position.

21. The locking device according claim 17, wherein a driving means is provided for the movement of the car door from the intermediate position into the open end position.

22. The locking device according to claim 17, wherein a driving is provided for movement of the car door from the intermediate position and/or the open end position into the closed end position.

23. The locking device according to claim 14, wherein an electronic control unit is adopted to move the car door from the intermediate position into the closed end position dependent on a time interval without a second operating step sensor operation.

24. The locking device according to claim 23, wherein the electronic control unit is adopted to move the car door from the intermediate position into the closed end position dependent on a time interval without movement the car door and/or dependent on a detection of a disappearing proximity signal.

25. A locking device according to claim 1, wherein a control unit controls a signal light to generate a light signal for indication of the intermediate position of the car door.

26. A locking device according to claim 25, wherein the signal light is arranged to illuminate the at least one sensor for the second operating step.

27. The locking device as in claim 14, wherein the one or more sensors are at least one of the following: a proximity sensor, a touch sensor and the smart device is at least one of the following: a smart card, a mobile phone, a smart watch, and a smart key.

28. The locking device as in claim 14, wherein the antenna is a near field communication antenna.

29. The locking device as in claim 20, wherein the driving means is at least one of the following: a motor, a spring, and an air bottle.

30. The locking device as in claim 21, wherein the driving means is at least one of the following: a motor, a spring, and an air bottle.

Description

[0023] In detail show

[0024] FIG. 1 a schematic illustration of three different door positions,

[0025] FIG. 2 a side view to the outer side of the car door,

[0026] FIG. 3 perspective illustration of the inner side of the car door,

[0027] FIG. 4 perspective illustration of the narrow side of the car door and

[0028] FIG. 5 an illustration of the different door positions inside different proximity zones.

[0029] The car door 1 in FIG. 1 is shown in three positions 2, 3, 4, the closed end position 2, the intermediate position 3 and the open end position 4. A sensor 5 is located in the narrow side 6 of the car door 1 covered by the car door 1 in the closed position 2.

[0030] As can be seen in FIG. 1 and FIG. 4 the sensor 5 is arranged proximate to the B-column 7 of the car body in the door. Alternatively or in combination with the door sensor 5 a sensor 5′ could be arranged in the B-column 7 of the car body.

[0031] When the door 1 is in the closed position 2, the sensor 5 is not accessible and covered by the door. After authorization in a second operating step of the locking device for example using a proximity sensor or a NFC-communication the control unit of the locking device opens the door into the intermediate position 3.

[0032] Now the sensor 5 and/or the sensor 5′ is accessible for a person who can grip around the back edge 8 of the door 1. The sensor 5 can be operated for example by touching or nearing and consequently the control unit will execute the second operating step. This includes the unlatching of the intermediate position 3 and so the person can pull the door at the back edge 8 into the open end position 4.

[0033] Alternatively this position can reached by driven movement in an automatic embodiment.

[0034] The second operating step may also include a second authorization i.e. a finger print scanner can be arranged as sensor 5 or joined to the sensor 5 for identification of the car user. In this embodiment the authorization of access is realized as two step authorization and the safety of the access routine is improved.

[0035] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 the access authorization is made by an authorization device like a key or a smartphone or a smartcard, etc. A keyless entry is possible i.e. using a proximity sensor detecting and identifying such an authorized device. In this case the different door positions 2, 3, 4 can be associated to different, preferably configurable distances as shown in FIG. 5.

[0036] For example in the middle distance 9 the intermediate position 3 can be activated and in the near distance 10 the movement into the open end position 4 can be started. This movement can then be stopped by the user near by the door. On the other hand the movement from the open end position 4 or from the intermediate position 3 into the closed end position 2 can be started when the authorizing device or person is leaving the car 12, especially the spaced distance 11. This distance can also be a welcome distance in which the car gives signals when the user is nearing to the car 12. [0037] 1 car door [0038] 2 closed end position [0039] 3 intermediate position [0040] 4 open end position [0041] 5 sensor [0042] 5′ sensor [0043] 6 narrow side [0044] 7 B-column [0045] 8 back edge [0046] 9 middle distance [0047] 10 near distance [0048] 11 spaced distance [0049] 12 car