DETECTION DEVICE AND DETECTION SYSTEM FOR ACTIVATING AT LEAST ONE FUNCTION OF AN APPARATUS, AND APPARATUS COMPRISING THE DETECTION SYSTEM

Abstract

A device includes an apparatus, including a fixed part attached to an activation part, and at least one detection device configured to activate at least one function of the apparatus upon detection of force applied to the activation part. Every detection device of the at least one detection device includes a blade and a sensor. The blade includes first and second bearing parts that bear against the activation part or the fixed part. The sensor is on the blade between the first and second bearing parts. The sensor measures deformation of the blade when the force is applied on the activation part and collects a deformation signal to be transmitted to a controller. At least one of the first bearing part and the second bearing part is secured to the activation part or to the fixed part by at least one overmolded securing portion.

Claims

1. A device comprising: apparatus including a fixed part and an activation part fixedly attached to the fixed part; and at least one detection device configured to activate at least one function of the apparatus upon detection of a force applied to the activation part of the apparatus, every detection device of the at least one detection device including: a blade including a first bearing part and a second bearing part, wherein the first bearing part and the second bearing part both bear against the activation part or the fixed part; and at least one sensor arranged on the blade on a sensor location of the blade that is located between the first bearing part and the second bearing part, wherein the at least one sensor is configured to measure a deformation of the blade when the force is applied on the activation part and collect a deformation signal to be transmitted to a controller, wherein at least one of the first bearing part and the second bearing part is secured to the activation part or to the fixed part by at least one overmolded securing portion.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one overmolded securing portion includes a first overmolded securing portion and a second overmolded securing portion, wherein the first bearing part is secured to the activation part or to the fixed part by the first overmolded securing portion, wherein the second bearing part is secured to the activation part or to the fixed part by the second overmolded securing portion.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the sensor location is formed in a recess between the first overmolded securing portion and the second overmolded securing portion.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the blade is made of metal material.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor is adhered to the blade.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor is a strain gage sensor.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein the at least one sensor is a full-bridge strain gage.

8. The device according to claim 6, wherein the at least one sensor is a half-bridge strain gage.

9. The device according to claim 1, further comprising the controller configured to receive the deformation signal transmitted by the at least one sensor and to activate the at least one function of the apparatus when the deformation signal corresponds to predetermined criteria.

10. The device according to claim 9, wherein the apparatus is a handle of a vehicle door.

11. The device according to claim 10, wherein the at least one detection device includes a first detection device and a second detection device, the first detection device being arranged at a first location of the fixed part and the second detection device being arranged at a second location of the fixed part.

12. The device according to claim 11, wherein the first and second locations of the fixed part are spaced apart.

13. The device according to claim 11, wherein the activation part is fixedly secured to the fixed part at a first mounting area and at a second mounting area, wherein the first and second locations of the fixed part are at the first and second mounting areas respectively.

14. The device according to claim 10, wherein the at least one detection device includes a first detection device and a second detection device, the first detection device being arranged at a first location of the activation part and the second detection device being arranged at a second location of the activation part.

15. The device according to claim 14, wherein the first and second locations of the activation part are spaced apart.

16. The device according to claim 14, wherein the activation part is fixedly secured to the fixed part at a first mounting area and at a second mounting area, wherein the first and second locations of the activation part are at the first and second mounting areas respectively.

Description

DRAWINGS

[0056] In order that the disclosure may be well understood, there will now be described various forms thereof, given by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0057] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an activation part of a doorhandle of a door, in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure;

[0058] FIG. 2 is a front view of the door handle of FIG. 1, illustrated without an external cover;

[0059] FIG. 3 is a rear view of the door handle of FIG. 1, according to a first construction;

[0060] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a first mounting area and a first detection device of the door handle of FIG. 1;

[0061] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a second mounting area and a second detection device of the door handle of FIG. 1; and

[0062] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a blade of a detection device of the door handle of FIG. 1.

[0063] The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0064] The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses. It should be understood that throughout the drawings, corresponding reference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts and features.

[0065] In the following description, positioning terms such as front, back, left, right, etc., refer to an orthogonal basis comprising the following three directions: front-back, left-right and top-bottom. In this description, theses three directions correspond to the usual directions attached to the motor vehicle. However, the teachings of the present disclosure can apply to other forms in which the directions front-back, left-right and top-bottom could be any set of arbitrary directions forming an orthogonal basis.

[0066] FIGS. 1 to 6 show one form of an apparatus according to the present disclosure, wherein the apparatus is a handle 3 of a vehicle door (not shown) of a vehicle, wherein the activation part 9 is a gripping part, protruding from the outer wall of the door. In another form, the apparatus may be a motorized flap for example.

[0067] The handle 3 includes a fixed part 7, corresponding to a bracket of the handle 3, integral with the door (not shown) of the vehicle, and an activation part 9. The activation part 9 is firmly attached to the fixed part 7. The activation part 9 may optionally be in polycarbonate. The activation part 9 is configured to be activated by a user. The activation part 9 is movable relatively to the fixed part 7 at a scale wherein the movement of the activation part 9 is not detectable by the user. In other words, when pulling or pushing the activation part 9, the user feels that the activation part 9 is fixedly attached to the fixed part 7 even though the activation part 9 slightly moves relative thereto.

[0068] The handle 3 further comprises one detection system 13 configured to activate at least one function of the handle 3 upon the detection of a force applied to the activation part 9 by the user. The function may be a function of an electric lock (not shown) of the vehicle door (not shown), such as an opening/closing or a locking/unlocking function. The detection system 13 includes, in the example provided, a first detection device 15, a second detection device 15-2 and a controller 17. The controller 17 may be positioned in the fixed part 7 or in the activation part 9 or in the vehicle door, for example.

[0069] The activation part 9 is mounted on the fixed part 7 at two mounting areas 11, 11-2. The detection system 13 includes the first detection device 15, arranged at the first mounting area 11 and the second detection device 15-2 arranged at the second mounting area 11-2.

[0070] The detection system 13 includes one controller 17 for both the detection devices 15, 15-2. In another form, the detection system 13 may include a first controller configured to communicate with the first detection device 15 and a second controller configured to communicate with the second detection device 15-2.

[0071] The first detection device 15 is described in the following description. The second detection device 15-2 can be similar to the first detection device 15, except as otherwise shown or described herein. Accordingly, the description of the first detection device 15 also applies to the second detection device 15-2. As such, the first detection device 15 is generally called herein after the detection device 15. The detection device 15 includes a blade 19. The detection device 15 includes a sensor 21 arranged on the blade 19 and configured to measure the deformation of the blade 19 when a force is applied to the activation part 9 and to transmit a deformation signal to the controller 17.

[0072] Referring to FIG. 6, the blade 19 includes a first bearing part 23 and a second bearing part 25 configured to bear against the activation part 9. The first and second bearing parts 23, 25 are secured to the activation part 7 via overmolded securing portions 34a, 34b.

[0073] The overmolded securing portions 34a, 34b are formed with the activation part 7.

[0074] The sensor 21 is configured to be arranged on the blade 19 at a sensor location 22 of the blade 19 between the first bearing part 23 and the second bearing part 25.

[0075] The material and the thickness of the sensor location of the blade 19 where the sensor 21 is arranged are adapted such that the blade 19 deforms at this location when the user applies a force on the activation part 9.

[0076] In the example provided, the force applied by the user may be between 5 and 100 N. In one form, the force applied by the user may be between 10 and 40 N.

[0077] For example, the thickness of the sensor location 22 is between 0.5 and 1 mm. For example, the thickness of the sensor location 22 is substantially 0.8 mm.

[0078] The blade 19 may be of metal material such as steel.

[0079] In the example provided, the sensor 21 is adhered to the blade 19. In an alternative form, the sensor 21 may be fixed to the blade 19 by any other suitable means known by the skilled person.

[0080] The sensor 21 may have a thickness between 0.2 and 0.8 mm. In one form, the sensor 21 may have a thickness of 0.5 mm.

[0081] The sensor 21 may communicate with the controller 17 by wire, or by any other suitable communication means known by the skilled person.

[0082] In the example provided, the first bearing part 23 comprises a first hole 29 and the second bearing part 25 comprises a second hole 33. The first and second holes 29, 33 are positioning holes, configured to help positioning the blade on the activation part 9.

[0083] When the user pulls the activation part, the force applied by the user generates a deformation of the activation part 9 and, therefore, a deformation of the blade 19. The sensor 21 is configured to generate a deformation signal based on the deformation of the blade 19.

[0084] The controller 17 is then configured to collect the deformation signal transmitted by the sensor 21 and to activate the at least one function of the handle 3 when the deformation signal corresponds to predetermined criteria.

[0085] The predetermined criteria may correspond to a predetermined range of the numeral values of the signal and/or a predetermined range of the duration of a modification of the signal and/or a predetermined range of the speed of a modification of the signal.

[0086] The modification of the signal is a rise or a decrease of the value of the signal relatively to a rest value of the signal, the rest value corresponding to the absence of deformation of the blade.

[0087] The limit values of the range of the signal value and/or the limit values of the duration range of a modification of the signal and/or the limit values of the speed range of a modification of the signal may be chosen in accordance with the aging of the detection device 15 and/or the outside temperature.

[0088] These predetermined criteria are chosen such that the function of the apparatus is not activated by modifications of the signal that may be due to the aging of the detection device 15 and/or a variation of the outside temperature.

[0089] It is to be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to the forms described above and illustrated in the drawings; rather, the skilled person will recognize that many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

[0090] Unless otherwise expressly indicated herein, all numerical values indicating mechanical/thermal properties, compositional percentages, dimensions and/or tolerances, or other characteristics are to be understood as modified by the word “about” or “approximately” in describing the scope of the present disclosure. This modification is desired for various reasons including industrial practice, material, manufacturing, and assembly tolerances, and testing capability.

[0091] As used herein, the phrase at least one of A, B, and C should be construed to mean a logical (A OR B OR C), using a non-exclusive logical OR, and should not be construed to mean “at least one of A, at least one of B, and at least one of C.”

[0092] In this application, the term “controller” and/or “module” may refer to, be part of, or include: an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC); a digital, analog, or mixed analog/digital discrete circuit; a digital, analog, or mixed analog/digital integrated circuit; a combinational logic circuit; a field programmable gate array (FPGA); a processor circuit (shared, dedicated, or group) that executes code; a memory circuit (shared, dedicated, or group) that stores code executed by the processor circuit; other suitable hardware components (e.g., op amp circuit integrator as part of the heat flux data module) that provide the described functionality; or a combination of some or all of the above, such as in a system-on-chip.

[0093] The term memory is a subset of the term computer-readable medium. The term computer-readable medium, as used herein, does not encompass transitory electrical or electromagnetic signals propagating through a medium (such as on a carrier wave); the term computer-readable medium may therefore be considered tangible and non-transitory. Non-limiting examples of a non-transitory, tangible computer-readable medium are nonvolatile memory circuits (such as a flash memory circuit, an erasable programmable read-only memory circuit, or a mask read-only circuit), volatile memory circuits (such as a static random access memory circuit or a dynamic random access memory circuit), magnetic storage media (such as an analog or digital magnetic tape or a hard disk drive), and optical storage media (such as a CD, a DVD, or a Blu-ray Disc).

[0094] The apparatuses and methods described in this application may be partially or fully implemented by a special purpose computer created by configuring a general-purpose computer to execute one or more particular functions embodied in computer programs. The functional blocks, flowchart components, and other elements described above serve as software specifications, which can be translated into the computer programs by the routine work of a skilled technician or programmer.

[0095] The description of the disclosure is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the substance of the disclosure are intended to be within the scope of the disclosure. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.