System for adjusting a closure element of a vehicle

Abstract

A system for adjusting a closure element of a vehicle comprises an adjustment drive for adjusting the closure element relative to a vehicle body of the vehicle between a closed position and an open position, a control device for actuating the adjustment drive for executing an adjusting movement of the closure element between the closed position and the open position, and a light generating device for generating a light signal. The control device is configured to actuate the light generating device for generating a first light signal during an adjusting movement of the closure element and for generating a second light signal when the closure element is in the open position.

Claims

1. A system for adjusting a closure element of a vehicle, the system comprising an adjustment drive configured to adjust the closure element relative to a vehicle body of the vehicle between a closed position and an open position; a control device configured to actuate the adjustment drive for executing an adjusting movement of the closure element between the closed position and the open position; and a light generating device configured to generate a light signal visible to a user; wherein the control device is configured to actuate the light generating device, wherein the light generating device is configured to generate, upon actuation, a first visible light signal during an adjusting movement of the closure element and a second visible light signal different than the first visible light signal when the closure element is in the open position, said first visible light signal being configured to inform a user that the closure element is moving and said second light signal being configured to indicate to a user that the closure element is in the open position; wherein the light generating device includes a projection device configured to generate a visible light projection on a ground outside the vehicle.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the light generating device includes a light element arranged on the vehicle body or the closure element.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first visible light signal marks a region across which the closure element is moved during an adjustment operation.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first visible light signal marks an opening limit up to which the closure element is opened during an opening operation.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first visible light signal is temporally variable.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the second visible light signal marks an access region providing for an access of a user to the vehicle.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the second visible light signal is temporally variable.

8. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a sensor device configured to detect at least one an object in a path of movement of the closure element and a collision with an object.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein the control device is configured to set, based on a detection of the sensor device, an opening limit up to which the closure element is opened, wherein the first visible light signal indicates the opening limit.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the control device is configured to generate the second visible light signal based on the opening limit.

11. The system according to claim 8, wherein the control device is configured to actuate the light generating device, the light generating device being configured to generate, upon actuation, a third visible light signal based on a detection of said sensor device.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The idea underlying the invention will be explained in detail below with reference to the exemplary embodiments illustrated in the Figures.

(2) FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a vehicle with a closure element in the form of a vehicle side door that is to be adjusted electromotively via an adjustment drive.

(3) FIG. 2 shows a further schematic view of a vehicle.

(4) FIGS. 3A-3C show views of a vehicle on opening of a vehicle side door, with a projected first light signal.

(5) FIG. 4 shows a view of a vehicle with open vehicle side door, with a second light signal for indicating a boarding region for a user.

(6) FIGS. 5A, 5B show views of the vehicle on boarding of a user.

(7) FIGS. 6A, 6B show views of a vehicle on opening of a vehicle side door, in dependence on a foreign vehicle parking beside the vehicle.

(8) FIG. 7 shows a view of the vehicle with open vehicle door as shown in FIGS. 6A, 6B.

(9) FIGS. 8A-8C show views of a vehicle with different first light signals.

(10) FIGS. 9A, 9B show views of a vehicle, with a second light signal with open vehicle side door.

(11) FIG. 10 shows a view of a vehicle with another second light signal.

(12) FIG. 11 shows a view of a vehicle with a third light signal for warning against a collision with the vehicle side door.

(13) FIG. 12 shows a separate view of an example of a third light signal.

(14) FIG. 13 shows a view of a section of a vehicle side door with a door handle of a vehicle, with a light element in the form of an LED strip arranged thereon.

(15) FIG. 14 shows a view of a vehicle with light elements on door handles.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(16) FIGS. 1 and 2 show schematic views of a vehicle 1 that includes a closure element in the form of a vehicle (side) door 11 adjustably arranged on a vehicle body 10, which can be moved relative to the vehicle body 10 between a closed position and an open position via an electromotive adjustment drive 12.

(17) The adjustment drive 12 is part of a system for adjusting the vehicle door 11 between a closed position and an open position. The system includes a control device 13, a communication device 14, light generating devices in the form of a projection device 15 and a light element 16, and a sensor device 17, which cooperate during an adjusting operation of the vehicle door 11.

(18) The control device 13 serves for actuating the electromotive adjustment drive 12 for adjusting the vehicle door 11 relative to the vehicle body 10. An adjusting operation can be initiated for example by a user N outside the vehicle 1, who has a communication device 2 for example in the form of a radio key, a remote control unit, a mobile phone or the like, which wirelessly communicates with the communication device 14 in order to authorize the user N and trigger a control command for example opening the vehicle door 11.

(19) The control device 13 is designed to actuate the projection device 15 and/or the light element 16 in dependence on a position of the vehicle door 11 or an adjusting operation of the vehicle door 11 in order to inform a user N of an opening or closing movement of the vehicle door 11 and signal to a user N that the vehicle door 11 for example has been transferred into its open position and a user N thus can board the vehicle.

(20) By means of the projection device 15 a light signal L is generated on the ground B in a region in front of the vehicle door 11, which contains information for the user N.

(21) On opening of the vehicle door 11, as this is shown in FIGS. 3A to 3C, the projection device 15 generates a first light signal L1 on the ground B in front of the vehicle door 11, which indicates the adjusting movement of the vehicle door 11 and marks such a region over which the vehicle door 11 moves on opening (or inversely on closing). The first light signal L1 marks the limit of the opening region and the position of the vehicle door 11 in the open position by means of an optically marked opening limit O, so that a user N is informed of the point up to which the vehicle door 11 will move on opening and in what region he/she should not stay during the adjusting movement of the vehicle door 11.

(22) The first light signal L1 for example can have a warning color (red). The first light signal L1 can be variable dynamically, so that by means of the first light signal L1 for example a current (dynamically changing) position of the vehicle door 11 is signaled and thus the dynamic adjusting movement is also marked optically.

(23) When the open position is reached, the control device 13 actuates the projection device 15 for projecting a second light signal L2, as it is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5A, 5B. The second light signal L2 marks such a region that is available to a user N for example for boarding the vehicle 1, in particular such a region that is cleared by the vehicle door 11 after opening. A user N thus can board the vehicle 1, as this is shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B.

(24) The second light signal L2 for example can also welcome the user N and for this purpose contain word elements (“Welcome”). Parts of the second light signal L2 for welcoming the user N can also be individualized for the user N and for example be displayed user-dependently, in particular in dependence on an identification of the user N through communication of the communication device 2 of the user N with the communication device 14 of the vehicle 1.

(25) The second light signal can have a pleasant, welcoming coloring, for example in green colors.

(26) As is shown in FIGS. 6A, 6B and 7, the first light signal L1 and the second light signal L2 can be dependent on a concrete adjusting movement of the vehicle door 11, in particular on the concrete opening position of the vehicle door 11. When it is recognized for example by means of the sensor device 17, as this is shown in FIGS. 6A, 6B, that beside the vehicle 1 a foreign vehicle 3 is parked and the vehicle door 11 thus cannot be opened completely, the opening limit O for opening the vehicle door 11 correspondingly can be fixed such that the vehicle door 11 does not collide with the foreign vehicle 3 on opening. The first light signal L1 is adapted correspondingly, which thus indicates the current adjustment range with the adapted opening limit O, as this is shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B. In this case, by a marked region on the other side of the opening limit O the first light signal L1 in particular also indicates that the vehicle door 11 is not opened completely.

(27) When the vehicle door 11 has been opened up to the opening limit O, as this is shown in FIG. 7, a corresponding second light signal L2 is displayed, which signals a boarding region (limited by the adapted opening limit O) to the user N.

(28) FIGS. 8A to 8C show different examples of first light signals L1 for indicating an adjusting movement of the vehicle door 11, which for example can also be configured according to user wishes.

(29) FIGS. 9A, 9B and 10 on the other hand show different examples of second light signals L2 for marking a boarding region and for welcoming a user N, which likewise can be configurable user-dependently.

(30) By means of the sensor device 17 it can possibly also be recognized whether on opening of the vehicle door 11 or when the vehicle door 11 is in the open position there possibly is a risk of collision with an approaching, dynamic object, such as for example a cyclist F, as this is illustrated in FIG. 11. When an evaluation of sensor signals of the sensor device 17 by the control device 13 reveals that there possibly is a risk of collision, the control device 13 can actuate the projection device 15 for generating a suitable third light signal L3 that warns a user N and in particular also the approaching cyclist F against such a collision and for this purpose marks the adjustment range of the vehicle door 11 and in addition outputs a suitable warning signal (“!”).

(31) In addition, for example an acoustic warning signal, such as a horn signal or the like, can also be generated, so that the cyclist in addition is warned acoustically.

(32) FIG. 12 shows another example of such a third light signal L3.

(33) In addition or as an alternative to the projection of light signals via the projection device 15, light signals can also be generated and output via the light element 16, which for example is formed by an LED strip extending around a handle 110 of a vehicle door 11, as this is illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14. The light element 16 for example can generate signals that indicate an opening of the vehicle door 11 and signal to the user N that the open position is reached and he/she thus can board the vehicle 1.

(34) The light signals generated by the projection device 15 and/or the light element 16 in principle can be static or dynamic. It here is conceivable and possible that the light signals include static elements and dynamic elements that are shown superimposed (for example static arrows can be superimposed with temporally variable, dynamic arrows).

(35) The light signals generated by the projection device 15 and/or the light element 16 in particular can also be different in their color. For example, the first light signal L1 can have a first color (e.g. red), while the second light signal L2 is shown in a second color (e.g. green). The coloring of the light signals L1, L2, L3 can also be variable, or each signal can include different signal elements with different colors.

(36) The light signals generated by the projection device 15 and/or the light element 16 can include graphical elements and also text elements for displaying information. In particular, words (“Welcome”, “Vorsicht!” or the like) can also be output and displayed by means of the light signals in order to provide concrete indications.

(37) The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described above, but can also be realized in principle in a completely different way.

(38) A system as described here can serve not only for adjusting a vehicle door, but also for adjusting other closure elements, for example a liftgate.

(39) Different light generating devices can be used here and be arranged at entirely different places in or on a vehicle.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

(40) 1 vehicle 10 vehicle body 11 closure element (vehicle door) 12 adjustment drive 13 control device 14 communication device 15 projection device 16 light element (LED strip) 17 sensor device 2 communication device 3 foreign vehicle B ground F cyclist L light projection L1, L2, L3 light signal N user O opening limit