METHOD FOR PERFORMING A FUNCTIONAL MOVEMENT OF A SECONDARY FUNCTION OF AN ELECTRIC DOOR HANDLE

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for performing an alternating functional movement for producing a secondary function with a hand grip (30) of an electric door handle (10) of a vehicle door (100), comprising the following steps: receiving a function request (FA) for activating the secondary function, performing the alternating functional movement, wherein the hand grip (30) is moved back and forth multiple times between at least two different functional positions (FUP).

Claims

1. Method for performing an alternating functional movement for producing a secondary function with a hand grip (30) of an electric door handle (10) of a vehicle door (100), comprising the following steps: receiving a function request (FA) for activating the secondary function, performing the alternating functional movement, wherein the hand grip (30) is moved back and forth multiple times between at least two different functional positions (FUP).

2. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that the secondary function is at least one of the following: de-icing of the hand grip (30), haptic signalling to the user of the hand grip (30), acoustic signalling to the surroundings of the vehicle (100).

3. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that the alternating functional movement moves the hand grip (30) back and forth between the at least two different functional positions (FUP) at a defined functional frequency (FF) and/or a defined functional amplitude (FAP).

4. Method according to claim 3, characterised in that the functional frequency (FF) and/or the functional amplitude (FAP) changes over the course of the functional movement.

5. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that the functional movement is divided into a first partial functional movement, in which the hand grip (30) is moved back and forth multiple times between two different functional positions (FUP), and a second partial functional movement, in which the hand grip (30) is moved back and forth multiple times between two different functional positions (FUP) which differ from at least one functional position (FUP) of the first partial functional movement.

6. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that the alternating functional movement generates a vibration of the hand grip (30) between at least two different functional positions (FUP).

7. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that the hand grip (30) is moved into a start position (STP) before the alternating functional movement is performed.

8. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that the alternating functional movement is performed again after the alternating functional movement is performed, in particular after a wait time.

9. Method according to claim 8, characterised in that at least one movement parameter is changed for the subsequent alternating functional movement, in particular one of the following parameters: at least one functional position (FUP), the movement frequency, the movement amplitude, the movement direction.

10. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that a test movement takes place with the hand grip (30) for receiving the function request (FA).

11. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that a plausibility check, in particular using environmental parameters and/or vehicle parameters, takes place before the alternating functional movement is performed.

12. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that the alternating functional movement corresponds at least in part to a natural frequency of a neighbouring component and/or a layer of ice (ES).

13. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that the functional movement is simultaneously and/or subsequently also performed on other electric door handles (10) of the vehicle (100).

14. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that the functional movements for at least two electric door handles (10) differ from one another.

15. Electric door handle (10) for a vehicle door (100), comprising a main body (20) for arrangement in the vehicle door (100), wherein a hand grip (30) is mounted on the main body (20) so as to be movable within a range of movement (BB) between a mechanically defined first end position (EP1) and a mechanically defined second end position (EP2) by means of a handle bearing (32), further comprising an electric drive (40) for a movement of the hand grip (30) between the two end positions (EP1, EP2) and at least one sensor means (50) for detecting the position of the hand grip (30) between the two end positions (EP1, EP2), wherein the electric drive (40) comprises a transmission device (42) for load-free positioning of the hand grip (30) in a gripping position (GP) of the hand grip (30) at a distance from the end positions (EP1, EP2) and for load-free positioning of the hand grip (30) in a travel position (FP) at a distance from the end positions (EP1, EP2) and from the gripping position (GP), further comprising a control device (300) for performing an alternating functional movement for producing a secondary function with a hand grip (30) of an electric door handle (10) of a vehicle door (100), said control device comprising a determining module (310) for determining a current position of the hand grip (30) within a range of movement (BB) between a first mechanically defined end position (EP1) and a second mechanically defined end position (EP2), a receiving module (320) for receiving a function request (FA) for activating the secondary function, and a performing module (330) for performing the alternating functional movement, wherein the hand grip (30) is moved back and forth multiple times between at least two different functional positions (FUP), wherein the determining module (310), the receiving module (320) and/or the performing module (330) are designed, in particular, to carry out a method having the features of claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0091] Additional advantages, features and details of the invention are apparent from the following description, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are described in detail with reference to the drawings. The features mentioned in the claims and in the description may be essential to the invention individually or in any combination. In the schematic drawings:

[0092] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of an electric door handle according to the invention in the travel position,

[0093] FIG. 2 shows the embodiment from FIG. 1 in the first end position,

[0094] FIG. 3 shows the embodiment from FIGS. 1 and 2 in the second end position,

[0095] FIG. 4 shows the embodiment from FIGS. 1 to 3 in the gripping position,

[0096] FIG. 5 shows the embodiment from FIGS. 1 to 4 in an indicative position,

[0097] FIG. 6 shows the embodiment from FIGS. 1 to 5 in a protective position,

[0098] FIG. 7 shows the embodiment from FIGS. 1 to 6 in a calibration situation,

[0099] FIG. 8 shows the course of a force-displacement curve during use of an electric door handle, and

[0100] FIG. 9 shows the time curve of the individual positions in one example,

[0101] FIG. 10 shows a representation of an electric door handle according to the invention with a layer of ice,

[0102] FIG. 11 shows the situation from FIG. 10 during de-icing,

[0103] FIG. 12 shows a possible movement curve in a method according to the invention,

[0104] FIG. 13 shows another possible movement curve in a method according to the invention,

[0105] FIG. 14 shows another possible movement curve in a method according to the invention,

[0106] FIG. 15 shows another possible movement curve in a method according to the invention, and

[0107] FIG. 16 shows another possible movement curve in a method according to the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0108] FIGS. 1 to 9 schematically illustrate a particular form of electric door handle, in particular without a mechanically defined zero position. An electric door handle 10 of this kind can particularly advantageously be used for a method according to the invention. However, in principle, classic electric door handles 10 may also be provided for a method according to the invention.

[0109] FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a door handle 100 that can be fitted via a main body 20 on a vehicle. A handle recess 22 in which the hand grip 30 is arranged so as to be flush with the outer skin of the vehicle in the travel position shown is formed here in the main body 20. In order for the hand grip 30 to be movable, a handle bearing 32 is coupled here to a transmission device 42, such that a movement into desired target positions for the hand grip 30 is possible by means of an electric drive 40. Here, the position detection is given by a sensor means 50, for example in the form of an angle sensor.

[0110] FIGS. 2 and 3 are schematic representations of two possible end positions EP1 and EP2. FIG. 2 shows the correlation between these two end positions EP1 and EP2, which specify the maximum range of movement BB. In order to specify the end positions EP1 and EP2 in a mechanically defined manner, a first stop A1 is specified in each case for the first end position EP1 and a second stop A2 is specified in each case for the second end position EP2. During normal operation of the electric door handle 10, these two end positions EP1 and EP2 should advantageously be understood to be mechanical protection positions that are preferably never assumed or only assumed in exceptional situations.

[0111] FIG. 4 shows a gripping position GP, in which it is possible, for example, to reach into or under the hand grip 30. In this position, an unlocking movement can now be performed, for example by using a gripping movement to pull the hand grip 30 further out of said gripping position GP, towards the second end position EP2.

[0112] FIG. 5 shows a possible indicative position AP, which can be optically distinguished from the gripping position GP. A movement into this indicative position AP can output a signal to the user of the electric door handle 10 in the form of a waving movement.

[0113] FIG. 6 schematically shows a protective position SP, in which the hand grip 30 is retracted further into the handle recess 22 in order to prevent undesired mechanical impairment or damage so as to be able to provide a greater protective effect.

[0114] FIG. 7 shows a possibility with a checking means 200, which temporarily limits a movement of the hand grip 30 here. If the hand grip 30 is then moved towards the second end position EP2 for a calibration method, the checking means 200 sets a new, temporarily mechanically defined end position as the travel position FP. As soon as this mechanically temporarily defined end position is reached, the calibration can set this position as the travel position FP and the checking means 200 can be removed again.

[0115] FIG. 8 schematically clearly shows how freely adjustable force characteristics can, for example, be set by means of an electric door handle 10 of this kind. Proceeding from a travel position FP (not shown in FIG. 8), a movement of the hand grip 30 into the gripping position GP takes place by means of a movement force BK. The hand grip 30 is held in this position by means of the holding force HK. If the user of the electric door handle 10 then grips the hand grip 30 and pulls it further out towards an unlocking position ERP, said user thus introduces an activation force AK until unlocking is achieved. In the process, the electric drive 40 applies a counterforce GK that increases with increasing displacement to the hand grip 30 until a maximum is reached at the unlocking position ERP. Here, either the movement of the hand grip 30 is terminated or a clicking sensation is produced for the user by means of a significant reduction in the counterforce GK over the remaining displacement path. Over the remaining displacement path, it can clearly be seen that the counterforce GK increases sharply even before the second end position EP2 is reached, in order to ensure a maximum blockade effect against said second end position EP2 actually being reached by the hand grip 30.

[0116] FIG. 9 is a schematic representation of how the individual angular positions can be assumed over time. For example, the travel position FP can be defined here as the zero position. In this movement, for example a service movement of the hand grip 30, the movement takes place from the second end position EP2 via an unlocking position ERP, an indicative position AP, a gripping position GP, a travel position FP and a protective position SP into the first end position EP1. Of particular importance is the range of the movement between the unlocking position ERP into the travel position FP and the movement duration BD required for this. If said movement duration is longer than a defined specification or a defined limit value, this may be due, for example, to a trapping situation, which can be detected by means of the time and position curve alone and without a separate trapping sensor.

[0117] FIGS. 10 and 11 are schematic representations of the same electric door handle 10 from FIGS. 1 to 7. However, in these figures, the control device 300—which is also present in the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 7—is also shown. This control device 300 comprises a determining module 310, for example for determining the travel position FP as the current position of the hand grip 30 in FIG. 10. Subsequently, it is possible to receive a function request FA using the receiving module 320 according to FIG. 11 and then, in this case, to perform a de-icing function as the secondary function using the performing module 330. FIG. 11 shows how the hand grip 30 is made to vibrate between two functional positions FUP and how, in this way, cracks are created in the layer of ice ES. Due to these cracks, the layer of ice ES falls off or is even actively blasted off from the surface of the electric door handle 10.

[0118] FIG. 12 schematically shows a curve of a functional movement of this kind, wherein a functional amplitude FAP with a constant functional frequency FF can be run through proceeding from the travel position FP in an oscillating manner between two functional positions FUP. In FIG. 13, the functional amplitude FAP has visibly been reduced, with the lower functional position FUP being different from in FIG. 12. Here, the functional movement may be an alternative or subsequent alternating functional movement.

[0119] FIG. 14 schematically shows how various functional movements one after the other can be combined with one another after a wait time. Here, both the functional amplitude FAP and the functional frequency FF change between the two partial functional movements.

[0120] FIG. 15 and FIG. 16 show two examples of a so-called sweep. FIG. 15 shows a lower functional position FUP that varies over time such that the functional amplitude FAP also changes accordingly. FIG. 16 shows a sweep across the frequency range while the functional amplitude FAP stays the same.

[0121] The explanation given above merely serves to provide examples. Of course, individual features of the embodiments may be freely combined with one another, provided that this is technically feasible, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

REFERENCES

[0122] 10 Electric door handle [0123] 20 Main body [0124] 22 Handle recess [0125] 30 Hand grip [0126] 32 Handle bearing [0127] 40 Electric drive [0128] 42 Transmission device [0129] 50 Sensor means [0130] 100 Vehicle door [0131] 200 Checking means [0132] 300 Control device [0133] 310 Determining module [0134] 320 Receiving module [0135] 330 Performing module [0136] BK Movement force [0137] HK Holding force [0138] AK Activation force [0139] GK Counterforce [0140] BD Movement duration [0141] BB Range of movement [0142] GP Gripping position [0143] FP Travel position [0144] AP Indicative position [0145] SP Protective position [0146] ABP Defensive position [0147] ERP Unlocking position [0148] EP1 First end position [0149] EP2 Second end position [0150] A1 First stop [0151] A2 Second stop [0152] SA Pivot axis [0153] ES Layer of ice [0154] FA Function request [0155] FUP Functional position [0156] STP Start position [0157] FF Functional frequency [0158] FAP Functional amplitude