ELECTRONICS SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING AN ADJUSTMENT PART BY MEANS OF AN ACCELERATION SENSOR

Abstract

An electronics system for a vehicle including at least one acceleration sensor and an electronic control unit, which on the basis of at least one measurement signal of the acceleration sensor controls at least one drive device for the power-operated adjustment of an adjustment part of the vehicle.

Claims

1. An electronics system for use in a vehicle, the electronics system comprising: an acceleration sensor; and an electronic control unit configured to control a drive device based a measurement signal of the acceleration sensor, wherein the drive device is configured to provide power-operated adjustment of an adjustment part of the vehicle.

2. The electronics system of claim 1, wherein the electronic control unit is configured to determine an adjustment position of the adjustment part within a permitted adjustment range based on the measurement signal.

3. The electronics system of claim 2, wherein the acceleration sensor is configured to generate the measurement signal during a manual adjustment of the adjustment part, and the electronic control unit is configured to provide at a parameter value based on the measurement signal, and wherein the parameter value is representative of the determined adjustment position of the adjustment part for a future power-operated adjustment of the adjustment part.

4. The electronics system of claim 1, wherein the electronic control unit is configured to generate and provide a control signal to the drive device based on the measurement signal, wherein the control signal is superimposed on a motor signal to control an electric drive motor of the drive device.

5. The electronics system of claim 4, wherein the electronic control unit is configured to generate the control signal to provide active noise cancellation of an operating noise occurring during operation of the electric drive motor.

6. The electronics system of claim 1, wherein the electronic control unit is configured to generate and provide a control signal to the drive device, wherein the control signal is based on the measurement signal, wherein the drive device is configured to, responsive to receiving the control signal, at least partially decouple the adjustment part from a drive motor of the drive device is triggered, or vary an adjusting movement of the adjustment part is as the adjustment part is adjusted.

7. The electronics system of claim 6, wherein the drive device is configured to, responsive to receiving the control signal, actuate an overload clutch of the drive device in order to at least partially decouple the adjustment part from the drive motor of the drive device.

8. The electronics system of claim 7, wherein drive device is configured to, responsive to receiving the control signal, actuate a brake of the drive device, and/or open a motor terminal of an electric drive motor of the drive device to vary the adjusting movement of the adjustment part as the adjustment part is adjusted.

9. The electronics system of claim 1, wherein the acceleration sensor is configured to be arranged on the adjustment part or in adjustment part to detect an adjusting movement of the adjustment part.

10. The electronics system of claim 1, wherein the acceleration sensor is provided on a lock or in a lock.

11. (canceled)

12. (canceled)

13. A method of providing power-operated adjustment of an adjustment part of a vehicle, the method comprising: receiving, by an electronic control unit, a measurement signal from an acceleration sensor; and controlling, by the electronic control unit, a drive device to provide power-operated adjustment of the adjustment part based on the measurement signal.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising: determining, by the electronic control unit, an adjustment position of the adjustment part within a predetermined adjustment range based on the measurement signal.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising: generating, by the acceleration sensor, the measurement signal in response to a manual adjustment of the adjustment part; and generating, by the electronic control unit, a parameter value indicative of a position of the adjustment part during or after the manual adjustment of the adjustment part.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising: generating, by the electronic control unit, a control signal; superimposing the control signal on a motor signal of a motor of the drive device; and providing the control signal to the drive device control the drive device.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising: at least partially decoupling the adjustment part from the motor of the drive device.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the at least partially decoupling step includes actuating an overload clutch of the drive device.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising: generating, by the electronic control unit, a control signal; operating the drive device based on the control signal to generate active noise cancellation of a noise generated by an electric drive motor the drive device.

20. A vehicle comprising: an acceleration sensor; and an electronic control unit configured to control a drive device based a measurement signal of the acceleration sensor, wherein the drive device is configured to provide power-operated adjustment of an adjustment part of the vehicle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0038] In the drawings:

[0039] FIG. 1 sectionally shows a vehicle with an embodiment of a proposed electronics system on a lateral vehicle door of the vehicle;

[0040] FIG. 2 sectionally shows a vehicle with an electronics system according to the proposed solution on a liftgate of the vehicle;

[0041] FIG. 3 shows a schematic representation of a control of a drive motor of a drive device, for example for the adjustment of an adjustment part corresponding to the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2, on the basis of a measurement signal of an acceleration sensor for the active noise cancellation for an operating noise of the drive motor;

[0042] FIG. 4 shows an exemplary profile of a sigmoid function for a setpoint profile in the actuation of the drive motor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0043] As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention.

[0044] Sensor devices known from the prior art are known for the contactless detection of gestures for the adjustment of adjustment parts, which comprise a capacitive sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, a radar sensor and/or an optical sensor, such as a TOF camera. In particular via such sensor systems, it is also possible in addition to draw conclusions about possible damage events that have occurred at the vehicle. This in particular includes the possibility to use a corresponding sensor system to record when an adjustment part has been adjusted by gesture control, when previously or subsequently a possible damage event has been/is detected.

[0045] FIG. 1 sectionally shows a vehicle F in which a lateral body opening O in a body K of the vehicle F can be closed by a pivotally mounted vehicle door 1 as an adjustment part. The vehicle door 1 is pivotable about a pivot axis along two mutually opposite adjustment directions Vo and Vs, in order to open or to close the vehicle door 1. Proceeding from a closed position at the body K, the vehicle door 1 can be adjusted along the adjustment direction Vo in the direction of a maximally open end position. An opening angle φ defines the degree of pivoting of the vehicle door 1 from the completely closed end position.

[0046] In the present case, the vehicle door 1 is adjustable in a power-operated way by a drive device 2. The drive device 2 for instance comprises a (for example electric) drive motor as well as a transmission and/or a clutch. An adjusting force applied by the drive device 2 for positioning the vehicle door 1 here for example is controlled via an electronic control unit 3. Furthermore, an acceleration sensor 4 is arranged within the vehicle door 1, which is utilized for example to determine whether the vehicle door 1 currently is adjusted. In principle, the acceleration sensor 4 can be provided for example on a lock S of the vehicle door 1. The acceleration sensor 4 thereby is maximally spaced apart from a pivot axis of the vehicle door 1, which in turn leads to a comparatively large and hence easily detectable signal amplitude during an acceleration of the vehicle door 1.

[0047] In the illustrated embodiment, the acceleration sensor 4 alternatively or additionally is utilized to control the power-operated adjustment of the vehicle door 1 and/or to provide damage data which are representative of a possible damage to the vehicle F. The acceleration sensor 4 therefor transmits measurement signals S.sub.4 to the electronic control unit 3. On the basis of these measurement signals S.sub.4, the electronic control unit 3 for example can generate a parameter value representative of the current adjustment position of the vehicle door 1 when the vehicle door 1 is manually adjusted. The generated parameter value then for example is available for a future power-operated adjustment of the vehicle door 1, so that in the event of a subsequent power-operated adjustment by the drive device 2 the current adjustment position is known, even if a drive motor of the drive device 2 has not been active.

[0048] Alternatively or additionally, a partial decoupling of the vehicle door 1 from a drive motor of the drive device 2 can be triggered in response to a measurement signal S.sub.4 of the acceleration sensor 4. Alternatively, a currently executed adjusting movement of the vehicle door 1 can be varied, for example by actuating a brake or by reversing an adjusting movement.

[0049] In addition, a possible vibration on an outer skin of the vehicle door 1 possibly may be detectable via the at least one acceleration sensor 4 and a measurement signal S.sub.4 generated thereby, which vibration is due to knocking against the outer skin or another vibration generation. Thus, the occurrence of a possible damage event at the outer skin of the vehicle door 1 can be inferred from a corresponding measurement signal S.sub.4. The electronic control unit 3 then is adapted and provided to generate corresponding damage data and store the same for further processing. The damage data therefor can be transmitted to a memory device 6 coupled with the electronic control unit 3. Alternatively or additionally, the device 6 can also be an output device which then sends the damage data for example to a server and/or a mobile device of a user. On the basis of a transmission signal S.sub.6 from the electronic control unit 3 to the device 6, the corresponding damage data consequently can be stored for example in readable form only or can be transmitted further.

[0050] In one embodiment, a gesture sensor 5 additionally is integrated in the vehicle door 1. This gesture sensor 5 for example comprises a capacitive sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, a radar sensor and/or an optical sensor in order to detect a gesture executed by a person in an environment of the vehicle door 1 as a possible operating event for opening or closing the vehicle door 1. To trigger an adjustment of the vehicle door 1 in response to a correspondingly detected gesture-based operating event, a measurement signal ss of the gesture sensor 5 is transmitted to the electronic control unit 3, which in dependence thereon can actuate the drive device 2 for adjusting the vehicle door 1. In one embodiment, a measurement signal S.sub.5 received from the gesture sensor 5 furthermore can likewise be utilized for generating damage data relating to possibly occurred damage events.

[0051] Furthermore, in one embodiment, a measurement signal S.sub.N of an acceleration sensor integrated in the drive device 2 is received and evaluated by the electronic control unit 3. A drive-side acceleration sensor for generating the measurement signal S.sub.N is provided for example in the form of an MEMS sensor and (primarily) serves the determination of an acceleration of the vehicle door 1. On the basis of the proposed solution, this measurement signal S.sub.N of the drive-side acceleration sensor—alternatively or in addition to the measurement signal S.sub.4 of the other acceleration sensor 4—can be utilized to superimpose a motor current signal for the control of an electric drive motor of the drive device 2 with a control signal generated by the electronic control unit 3, in order to achieve an active noise cancellation of operating noise occurring in operation of the electric drive motor. Thus, a corresponding acceleration sensor can be utilized as a “microphone” for a structure-borne sound emitted and/or generated by the drive motor. Thus, a measurement signal of the corresponding acceleration sensor serves as a measure for the structure-borne sound, all the more so as an inverted control signal can be formed, which during superposition with an actual setpoint current signal for the control of the drive motor serves to reduce the amplitude of the structure-borne sound in total.

[0052] As is illustrated by way of example with reference to the embodiment of FIG. 2, the proposed solution can also be utilized for example in connection with a liftgate 1 as an adjustment part on the vehicle F.

[0053] Furthermore, FIG. 3 by way of example illustrates the procedure outline above for an active noise cancellation. The measurement signal S.sub.4 and/or S.sub.N generated by the acceleration sensor 4 and/or a drive-side acceleration sensor here is supplied to an evaluation logic 3c of the electronic control unit 3 configured with a cancellation algorithm, which determines a control signal i.sub.setpoint,z on the basis of the measurement signal S.sub.4 and/or S.sub.N of the acceleration sensor 4. This control signal i.sub.setpoint,z is superimposed on a motor control signal i.sub.setpoint,n, which is generated by a speed regulator 3a of the electronic control unit 3 on the basis of a setpoint speed n.sub.setpoint. The superposition results in a setpoint signal i.sub.setpoint which is supplied to a current regulator 3b of the electronic control unit 3. The current regulator 3b in turn generates a motor current signal i.sub.M for an electric drive motor 2a of the drive device 2. A drive moment generated by this drive motor 2a is supplied to a transmission 2b and then leads to the adjusting force for the adjustment of the respective adjustment part 1, which in FIG. 3 is represented by a load L.

[0054] FIG. 4 by way of example illustrates a sigmoid function and hence an S-shaped profile for a motor current signal to the electric drive motor 2a of the drive device 2. This S-shaped profile with smooth transitions in principle can be utilized to operate the drive motor 2a comparatively jerk-free and hence more quietly.

[0055] The following is a list of reference numbers shown in the Figures. However, it should be understood that the use of these terms is for illustrative purposes only with respect to one embodiment. And, use of reference numbers correlating a certain term that is both illustrated in the Figures and present in the claims is not intended to limit the claims to only cover the illustrated embodiment.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0056] 1 vehicle door/liftgate (adjustment part)

[0057] 2 drive device

[0058] 2a transmission

[0059] 2b motor

[0060] 3 electronic control unit

[0061] 3a speed regulator

[0062] 3b current regulator

[0063] 3c evaluation logic

[0064] 4 acceleration sensor

[0065] 5 gesture sensor

[0066] 6 output device/memory device

[0067] F vehicle

[0068] K body

[0069] L load

[0070] O body opening

[0071] S lock

[0072] S.sub.4, S.sub.5, S.sub.6 signal

[0073] S.sub.N signal

[0074] V.sub.O, V.sub.S adjustment direction

[0075] φopening angle

[0076] While exemplary embodiments are described above, it is not intended that these embodiments describe all possible forms of the invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Additionally, the features of various implementing embodiments may be combined to form further embodiments of the invention.