Doorhandle assembly with a vehicle doorhandle

Abstract

A door handle assembly having a vehicle door handle and a vehicle door. The vehicle door handle moves between a first, retracted position, in which an essentially planar surface of the vehicle door handle is flush with an outer face of the vehicle door, and a second, extended position, in which a grip opening between the outer face of the vehicle door and a grip inner side of the vehicle door handle is cleared for a user. The vehicle door handle is movable between the first and second positions aided by an electric motor, controlled by a control unit. The electric motor can be set in rotation starting from the second position of the door handle by application of a user's external force on the basis of a mechanical coupling of the vehicle door handle to the electric motor sensed by a sensing unit and fed to the control unit.

Claims

1. A door handle assembly having a vehicle door handle and a vehicle door, wherein the vehicle door handle is moveable between a first, retracted position, in which an essentially planar surface of the vehicle door handle is flush with an outer face of the vehicle door, and a second, extended position, in which a grip opening between the outer face of the vehicle door and a grip inner side of the vehicle door handle is cleared for a user, and wherein the vehicle door handle moves between the first position and the second position with the aid of an electric motor, which is controlled by a control unit, wherein the electric motor is adapted to be set in rotation starting from the second position of the vehicle door handle by application of an external force by a user on a mechanical coupling of the vehicle door handle to the electric motor, which then rotation is sensed by a sensing unit and fed to the control unit for evaluation during the actuation of the door handle assembly.

2. The door handle assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the external force is a force which is directed in the direction of the vehicle door or is a force which points away from the vehicle door, and wherein the direction of the external force acting on the vehicle door handle is detected by evaluating the rotational direction of the electric motor.

3. The door handle assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein after the detection of an external force directed in the direction of the vehicle door the control unit actuates the electric motor in order to move the vehicle door handle into the first position.

4. A door handle assembly having a vehicle door handle and a vehicle door, wherein the vehicle door handle is moveable between a first, retracted position, in which an essentially planar surface of the vehicle door handle is flush with an outer face of the vehicle door, and a second, extended position, in which a grip opening between the outer face of the vehicle door and a grip inner side of the vehicle door handle is cleared for a user, and wherein the vehicle door handle moves between the first position and the second position with the aid of an electric motor, which is controlled by a control unit, wherein the electric motor is adapted to be set in rotation starting from the second position of the vehicle door handle by application of an external force by a user on the basis of a mechanical coupling of the vehicle door handle to the electric motor, which rotation is sensed by a sensing unit and fed to the control unit for evaluation during the actuation of the door handle assembly, wherein after the detection of an external force directed in the direction of the vehicle door the control unit actuates the electric motor in order to move the vehicle door handle into the first position, and wherein the electric motor is controlled by the control unit in such a way that the external force of the user which external force is directed in the direction of the vehicle door between the second and the first position is compensated by an opposing force applied by the electric motor, in accordance with a predefined characteristic curve based on at least one of force or travel.

5. The door handle assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the vehicle door handle is moveable, by the application of the external force, pointing away from the vehicle door, by the user, from the second position into a third, pulled-out position in which the grip opening between the outer face of the vehicle door and a grip inner side of the vehicle door handle is enlarged in comparison with the second position.

6. The door handle assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein the external force, pointing away from the vehicle door, of the user is transmitted directly from the vehicle door handle to the vehicle door starting from when the third position is reached by a mechanical stop.

7. The door handle assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein the electric motor is controlled by the control unit in such a way that the external force of the user which external force points away from the vehicle door is compensated between the second and the third position, by an opposing force applied by the electric motor, in accordance with a predefined characteristic curve based on at least one of force or travel.

8. A door handle assembly having a vehicle door handle and a vehicle door, wherein the vehicle door handle is moveable between a first, retracted position, in which an essentially planar surface of the vehicle door handle is flush with an outer face of the vehicle door, and a second, extended position, in which a grip opening between the outer face of the vehicle door and a grip inner side of the vehicle door handle is cleared for a user, and wherein the vehicle door handle moves between the first position and the second position with the aid of an electric motor, which is controlled by a control unit, wherein the electric motor is adapted to be set in rotation starting from the second position of the vehicle door handle by application of an external force by a user on the basis of a mechanical coupling of the vehicle door handle to the electric motor, which rotation is sensed by a sensing unit and fed to the control unit for evaluation during the actuation of the door handle assembly, and wherein the control unit evaluates an induced voltage which is generated by a rotation of the electric motor which rotation is brought about by the external force, and said control unit determines the rotational angle of the electric motor which is brought about by the external force.

9. The door handle assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein a sensor is provided for detecting the rotations of the electric motor, which sensor senses the number of the rotational angle, brought about by the external force, of the electric motor.

10. The door handle assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein when a first predefined rotational angle is exceeded, the control unit outputs a signal for unlocking a door lock if the evaluation of the rotational direction reveals that the external force points away from the vehicle door.

11. The door handle assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein when a second predefined rotational angle is exceeded, the control unit outputs a signal for locking a door lock if the evaluation of the rotational direction reveals that the external force points in the direction of the vehicle door.

12. The vehicle door assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control unit carries out the locking or unlocking of the vehicle doors and/or the actuation of the electric motor after the checking of authorization.

13. The door handle assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein after the detection of an external force directed in the direction of the vehicle door the control unit actuates the electric motor in order to move the vehicle door handle into the first position.

14. The door handle assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein the electric motor is controlled by the control unit in such a way that the external force of the user which external force points away from the vehicle door is compensated between the second and the third position, by an opposing force applied by the electric motor, in accordance with a predefined characteristic curve based on at least one of force or travel.

15. The door handle assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein the sensor is a Hall sensor.

16. The door handle assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein when a first predefined rotational angle is exceeded, the control unit outputs a signal for unlocking a door lock if the evaluation of the rotational direction reveals that the external force points away from the vehicle door.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Aspects of the invention are explained in greater detail below on the basis of an exemplary embodiment in the drawings. In the figures:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a door handle assembly according to an aspect of the invention in which a vehicle door handle is located in its first, retracted position;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a schematic illustration of the door handle assembly according to an aspect of the invention in which the vehicle door handle is located in its second, extended position;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a schematic illustration of the door handle assembly according to an aspect of the invention in which the vehicle door handle is moved from the second, extended position in the direction of a third, pulled-out position by applying an external force, and

(5) FIG. 4 shows a schematic illustration of the door handle assembly according to an aspect of the invention in which the vehicle door handle is moved from the second, extended position in the direction of the first, retracted position by applying an external force.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(6) FIGS. 1 to 4 each show a door assembly according to an aspect of the invention in a schematic cross-sectional illustration. The door assembly comprises, as essential components, a vehicle door handle 1 which is illustrated in the side view, and a vehicle door 2, of which a door panel can be seen in the drawings. The internal region of the vehicle door 2 is characterized by the reference number 40 and the external region of the vehicle door 2 by the reference number 50.

(7) A control unit 3 and an electric motor 4 which is mechanically coupled to the vehicle door handle 1 are also provided in the internal region 40 of the vehicle door 2. The electric motor 4 is assigned a sensing unit 5 in the form of a voltage measuring means or a rotational angle sensor which transmit a sensing signal to the control unit 3. The control unit 3 serves to actuate the electric motor 4 in order to drive the vehicle door handle 1 in the way described below.

(8) The vehicle door handle 1 can be moved between a first, retracted position EP and a second, extended position AP with the aid of the electric motor 4 driven by the control unit 3. FIG. 1 shows the situation in which the vehicle door handle 1 is in the first, retracted position EP, in which an essentially planar surface 11 of the vehicle door handle 1 is flush with an outer face 21 of the vehicle door. In the first, retracted position EP, the vehicle door handle 1 can bear with its end directed into the interior of the vehicle 40 against a mechanical stop (not shown in any more detail).

(9) The vehicle door handle 1 has a grip opening 12 which, when the vehicle door handle 1 is in the first, retracted position EP, is positioned in the internal region 40 of the vehicle door 2, so that the latter is not accessible by a user's hand.

(10) FIG. 2 shows the vehicle door handle 1 in a second, extended position AP. The movement between the first, retracted position EP and the second, extended position AP takes place as a result of actuation of the electric motor 4 with the aid of the control unit 3. The movement from the first, retracted position EP into the second, extended position AP can then take place, for example, when a user of the vehicle approaches the vehicle with a radio key or another identification means (e.g. token). In the second, extended position AP, the grip opening 12 between the outer face 21 of the vehicle door and a grip inner side 13 of the vehicle door handle is released for a user. A user can put his hand into the grip opening 12 in order to carry out an unlocking or opening in a way known from bow handles.

(11) If the vehicle door handle 2 is in the extended position, the electric motor 4 can thus be actuated by the control unit 3 in such way that this position AP is maintained independently of destructions such as wind, gravity and the like. The compensation forces which are necessary therefor and which are applied by the electric motor are significantly smaller here than an external force which is applied by a user to the vehicle door handle 1 when it is activated.

(12) Taking the second, extended position AP of the vehicle door handle 1 shown in FIG. 2 as a starting point, FIG. 3 shows a situation in which a user's hand or finger 30 engages in the grip opening 12 and pulls the vehicle door handle 1 with an external force FO on the vehicle door handle 1 which points away from the vehicle door handle 2. A rotor of the electric motor 4 is set in rotation on the basis of the mechanical coupling of the vehicle door handle 1 to the electric motor 4. This rotation and the rotational direction are sensed by the sensing unit 5, and an angle which corresponds to the rotation and the rotational direction are transmitted to the control unit for evaluation. If the control unit 3 receives, from the sensing unit 5, a signal that the electric motor 4 is set in rotation by an external force acting on the vehicle door handle 1, the control unit 3 infers a desired opening process of the vehicle door. The direction of the external force (in FIG. 3 the external force FO acts as a pulling force away from the vehicle door 2), can be determined here by detecting the rotational direction of the electric motor 4.

(13) During the application of the external force FO, the electric motor 4 preferably applies, under the control of the control unit 3, an opposing force FM which counteracts the external force FO and is smaller than the external force FO (pulling force of the user) to the vehicle door handle 1. The electric motor 4 is preferably actuated by the control unit 3 in such a way that the external force FO by the user is compensated between the second and a third, pulled-out position OP in accordance with a predefined force/travel characteristic curve. As a result, haptics which are known from conventional spring-loaded bow handles are simulated for the user.

(14) If the vehicle door handle 1 finally reaches the third, pulled-out position OP as a result of the external force FO by the user, a mechanical stop of the vehicle door handle 1 (not shown) is thus reached. This means that from the point when the third, pulled-out position OP is reached, the force FO by the user is transmitted directly from the vehicle door handle 1 to the vehicle door by a mechanical stop in order to open it.

(15) If the vehicle door was firstly locked by a lock, it can furthermore be provided so that a signal for unlocking the door lock is issued during the movement of the vehicle door handle 2 from the second, extended position AP to the third, pulled-up position OP. This signal is preferably output as a function of a predefined rotational angle, detected by the sensing unit 5, of the mechanically rotated electric motor 4.

(16) Finally, after the opening by actuating the electric motor, the vehicle door handle 1 can be returned again to the second position AP, as a result of which a restoring force is simulated. An external force FO by the user can also be compensated here in order to simulate a spring.

(17) FIG. 4 shows a situation in which the vehicle door handle 1 is pressed by a hand or a finger 30 of the user in the direction of the door 2 starting from the second, extended position AP. The user's hand or finger 30 applies for this purpose an external force FE which acts in the direction of the vehicle door handle 2. The direction of the external force FE can be detected by the rotational direction of the electric motor 4 which is set in rotation by the movement of the vehicle door handle, and the associated sensing unit 5. After the detection of the external force FE which is directed in the direction of the vehicle door handle 2, the control unit 3 then actuates the electric motor 4 in order finally to move the vehicle door handle into the first, retracted position EP. It is also in turn expedient here that the control unit 3 actuates the electric motor 4 in such a way that during the application of the external force FE, directed in the direction of the vehicle door 2, by the user an opposing force FM, applied by the electric motor 4, is generated in accordance with a predefined force/travel characteristic curve. The opposing force FM is smaller here than the external pressure force FE which is applied by the user. As a result, predefined haptics can be generated in turn during the condition of the vehicle door handle 1.

(18) Furthermore, when a predefined rotational angle of the electric motor 4 is exceeded, the control unit can output a signal for locking the door lock (not shown) if the evaluation of the rotational direction has revealed that the external force FE is directed in the direction of the vehicle door.

(19) The locking and unlocking of the described door lock can be made dependent on the fact that the control unit was able to positively execute an authorization for opening and closing the motor vehicle.

(20) The sensing unit 5 can be embodied without sensors. In this case, electronics of the sensing unit (or alternatively also a unit which is located in the control unit 3) evaluates the voltage induced by the mechanical rotation of the electric motor 4. As a result of the presence of the voltage it is possible to infer that a movement of the vehicle door handle takes place on the basis of an external force FO or FE. The sign of the voltage can be used to detect the rotational direction of the electric motor 4. Furthermore, on the basis of the level and/or the duration of the sensed induced voltage it is possible to infer a rotational angle of the electric motor in order, on the one hand, to carry out actuation of the door lock and/or to generate an opposing force FM which is suitable for the acting external force.

(21) Furthermore, the sensing unit 5 can also have a sensor. In particular a Hall sensor can be used as the sensor, with the aid of which Hall sensor it is possible to determine the position of the motor as well as a rotational angle. With the aid of one or more sensors it is possible to detect a manual external force and generate a signal for actuating the door lock. Furthermore, the use of a sensor permits a force/travel characteristic curve for generating an opposing force to be generated easily in order to generate desired haptics.