DOOR ACTUATING DEVICE

Abstract

A door actuating device for controlling a door locking device, including an actuating surface for the user to apply an actuating force, a first switching device with a sensor device for detecting the actuating force and for transmitting an unlocking signal to the door lock device via an operating circuit when a predetermined first minimum force is detected, and a second switching device with a mechanical switch which can be closed when a predetermined second minimum force greater than the first minimum force is applied. When the switch is closed, an unlocking signal can be transmitted to the door lock device via an associated emergency circuit.

Claims

1. A door actuating device for controlling a door locking device, comprising: an actuating surface for the user to apply an actuating force, a first switching device comprising a sensor device for detecting the actuating force and for transmitting an unlocking signal to the door locking device via an operating circuit when a predetermined first minimum force is detected, and a second switching device comprising a mechanical switching means which can be closed when a predetermined second minimum force greater than the first minimum force is applied, wherein, when the switching means is closed, an unlocking signal can be transmitted to the door lock device via an associated emergency circuit.

2. The door actuating device according to claim 1, wherein the contact surface is arranged on a support component which is movably mounted on a holding component, wherein the switching means can be actuated via a movement of the support component.

3. The door actuating device according to claim 2, wherein the switching means is arranged on the holding component and can be actuated via an actuating section provided on the support component.

4. The door actuating device according to claim 2, wherein the support component is fixed in a basic position by means of holding means acting between the support component and the holding component, which holding means can be released when the second minimum force is reached.

5. The door actuating device according to claim 4, wherein the holding means are magnetic elements, or in that the holding elements are locking or clip elements.

6. The door actuating device according to claim 1, wherein the first minimum force is 1.5-4.0 N and the second minimum force is 8.0-12.0 N.

7. The door actuating device according to claim 1, wherein the switching means has a stroke of 0.1-1.0 mm.

8. An interior trim component of a motor vehicle, comprising at least one door actuating device according to claim 1.

9. The interior trim component according to claim 8, characterized in that, it is an inner door panel, in particular an armrest of such an inner door panel.

10. A motor vehicle comprising at least one interior trim component according to claim 8.

11. The door actuating device according to claim 3, wherein the support component is fixed in a basic position by means of holding means acting between the support component and the holding component, which holding means can be released when the second minimum force is reached.

12. The door actuating device according to claim 2, wherein the first minimum force is 1.5-4.0 N and the second minimum force is 8.0-12.0 N.

13. The door actuating device according to claim 3, wherein the first minimum force is 1.5-4.0 N and the second minimum force is 8.0-12.0 N.

14. The door actuating device according to claim 4, wherein the first minimum force is 1.5-4.0 N and the second minimum force is 8.0-12.0 N.

15. The door actuating device according to claim 5, wherein the first minimum force is 1.5-4.0 N and the second minimum force is 8.0-12.0 N.

16. The door actuating device according to claim 2, wherein the switching means has a stroke of 0.1-1.0 mm.

17. The door actuating device according to claim 3, wherein the switching means has a stroke of 0.1-1.0 mm.

18. The door actuating device according to claim 4, wherein the switching means has a stroke of 0.1-1.0 mm.

19. The door actuating device according to claim 5, wherein the switching means has a stroke of 0.1-1.0 mm.

20. The door actuating device according to claim 6, wherein the switching means has a stroke of 0.1-1.0 mm.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0019] Further advantages and details of the present invention will be apparent from the exemplary embodiments described below and in reference to the drawings. In particular:

[0020] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a door actuating device according to the invention,

[0021] FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of the circuit structure, and

[0022] FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram of a motor vehicle according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a door actuating device 1 according to the invention, which is designed in the manner of a switch or button. The door actuating device comprises a holding component 2, which is, for example, pot-shaped and made of plastic. It further comprises a support component 3, which is also made of plastic and which engages in the holding component 2. The support component 3 is fixed in a basic position on the holding component 2 via holding means 4, in the example shown magnetic elements 5. However, these holding means 4 can be released so that the support component 3 can be pressed into the holding component 2. Instead of such magnetic elements 5, fixing in the basic position via locking or clip elements would also be conceivable.

[0024] The support component 3 has a contact surface 6 onto which the user can press with a finger and apply an actuating force F for actuation. In the interior, i.e. the cavity defined by the holding component 2 and the support component 3, a first switching device 7 comprising sensor device 8 is arranged. On the one hand, this comprises a sensor surface 9 arranged below the actuating surface 6, which serves as a force sensor and is designed, for example, as a strain gauge and via which an actuating force F applied to the actuating surface 6 is detected. A capacitive sensor element 10 is assigned to the sensor surface 9, but this is optional. This capacitive sensor element 10 can detect whether the actuating surface 6 is actually pressed with a finger and therefore an intentional actuation takes place, or whether it is only accidentally touched, for example, with a body part such as the elbow or the like. Furthermore, an actuator 11 is provided which, when a minimum force is detected via the sensor surface 9, which is for example approximately 2.5 N, sends a haptic signal to the structure above, which is detected via the finger, which is still lying on the contact surface 6, whereby the user receives feedback that his actuation or control request has been detected. The actuator can, for example, be a piezo element, so that active haptics are integrated. A lighting device 13, e.g. an LED, can also be provided to backlight the actuating surface.

[0025] Furthermore, sensor device 8 comprises a microcontroller 12, via which a control signal can be output, which is sent as an unlocking signal to a door locking device, comprising an electrical actuator which is integrated in an operating circuit and which is then energized via this and releases a locking element of the door locking device so that the door can be opened. The sensor device 8 is therefore part of the first switching device 7, via which an electrical control signal, i.e. the unlocking signal, is given to energize the actuator of the door locking device. This represents the normal operation to unlock the door. If a person in the vehicle wants to open the door, they simply press lightly with their finger on the touch surface 6. The sensor surface 9 determines the strength of the force. If this reaches a relatively low first minimum force of, for example, 2.5 N, a corresponding detection signal is output to the microcontroller 12, which then sends the unlocking signal to the door locking device or its actuator, so that it is actuated via the operating circuit. At the same time, a haptic feedback signal is sent to the user via actuator 8.

[0026] However, the door actuating device 1 according to the invention is also equipped with an emergency function. For this purpose, a second switching device 14 is provided, comprising a mechanical switching means 15 which can be actuated in an emergency and via which an emergency power circuit is closed, in which the door locking device or its actuator is integrated, so that in an emergency, when only emergency power is available, the latter can be briefly controlled and operated via the emergency power circuit. This emergency function is provided when normal operation is not possible, i.e. the operating circuit is not active or the operating current is not available.

[0027] The mechanical switching means 15 is actuated via the support component 3, which for this purpose has an actuating section 16 arranged adjacent to the switching means 15, for example a simple switch. As described, the support component 3 is fixed by the holding means 4, but these holding means 4 can be released when a sufficiently high force is applied to the actuating surface 6. If the user presses the actuating surface 6 with sufficient force in an emergency situation, for example with a second minimum force of approximately 10 N, the support component 3 is moved from a basic position and pressed minimally into the holding component 2. With this small movement, which is for example in the range of 0.1-1 mm, the actuating section 16 runs against the mechanical switching means 15 and closes it. This sometimes very brief closing of the switching means 15 generates a short switching front or emergency current edge, which is sufficient for the actuator of the door locking device to be energized and to unlock the door. It is therefore possible to safely open the assigned door from the interior via the door actuating device 1 even in an emergency, when only an emergency power supply is possible, usually with an emergency current <0.02 A, but no operating power supply, usually with an operating current >0.02 A.

[0028] FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of the basic circuit structure. Shown is the first switching device 7, via which an operating current can be switched to the door locking device 18 via an operating circuit 17, or its actuator can be controlled. Also shown is the second switching device 14, i.e. the emergency switching device, via which an emergency current can be switched to the door locking device 18 or the actuator via an emergency circuit 19 in an emergency.

[0029] FIG. 3 finally shows a motor vehicle 20 according to the invention, with two doors 21, each having an interior trim component 22 with an armrest 23, wherein a door actuating device 1 according to the invention is integrated in each armrest 23 and is therefore located in the immediate gripping range of a person sitting adjacent to the door 21.